Time4learning.com Review.

Time4learning.com Review I was given a chance to review time4learning for a month with my 3rd grade child. I would for sure say that the curriculum offered here are well rounded materials. The curriculum is presented in such a way where the lessons are fun, colorful and entertaining. The character who is doing the speaking does not talk down to the student, or treat them as lesser person, but as a teacher that enjoys their job and that can't wait to share their information with the child. I thoroughly love that. This works very well on lower grade levels say from preschool on up to 4th grade. I love the set up and the fact that you not only get access to your child’s grade level but the grade level above and below as well. We personally used the website along side our normal curriculum as a kind of review of the concepts we had covered earlier in the school yr. I found the math and language arts to be very animated and just what my daughter enjoys . We decided to only use it for math and the language arts programs, but the social studies and science areas are good too. They just don't quite fit for DD's learning style. We needed more color, more visuals, less text. My suggestion would be to add in some imbedded videos or game simulation type material to the science and history. For anyone just now starting out as a homeschool parent and not really sure what to cover or even how to keep records this site can be a life saver. You not only get a clear laid out plan of what is covered in most state standards you get a printable grade book that can be by the day, week, or month. I found the parent forum to be a great place to visit not just for time4learning information but over all homeschool ideas and or websites. I personally would not recommend this as an all inclusive homeschool curriculum for a few reasons. One I think that kids not only need to learn state standards but they need access to material that allows them to follow their own interest. Two for the hands on child this may not be the best way for them to learn. Three even though the curriculum covers a good bit I don’t think it gives enough review in some areas or digs deep enough in others. I would love to see them add more animation to the science and history areas as well as more review in math. Overall I would recommend the website to any homeschool family starting out and not sure what to do or ones lookinf for an affordable site to use for reviewing concepts. I feel it is well worth the $20 dollars a month but I could see where it could be costly for parents with multiple children. Maybe a bigger discount would help there. …… Rayne Cater

DRUM ROLL Please!!

Finally I think I have narrowed it down. A curriculum that works for my child. After trying many wonderful curriculum and website on the market. I finally have found what at least at the moment is working for Alyssa. Math- we are using AHa Math at learning.com It is very visual and interactive with instructional videos, lessons, games, journal writing on what they learned, quizzes, and even worksheets you can print out. At $15 a year it is a steal. Great for my visual learner. We will also add in math worksheets from my numerous files saved or websites when the extra work is needed to master the concept. Science- The simplehomeschool interactive lessons plus printouts. This is a unit study bases science curriculum and again very visual. So far we are loving it. Cost me $36 on the black Friday sale but normal price will run you around $76 a yr. We will also add in the numerous website resource simpleschooling has listed with each unit study. History- we are mainly using the resources of discoveryeducation.com which Ga. homeschool families get access to free of charge through GPS. Once a month we will also be doing a Unit study on famous people, places, and events in History using numerous unit studies and websites I have collected. Grammar- Workbook wise we will be using Growing with Grammar $38 a yr for everything, worksheets off sites like Superteacherworksheets.com Video wise we will 4 days a week work with the free video lesson off Learnzillion.com you can set up a free account and it is aligned with common core standards. Again it is visual which in my daughters case is highly important. Spelling- We will be using Soaring with Spelling and Voc $ about 20 a yr for all workbooks including teacher book. Plus we will continue with our rainbow spelling words and or dancing spelling words. Writing- We will be using Winning with Writing $ 28 a yr for everything. We will also be introducing typing skills next yr. She will continue with journal writing 3 times a week. Reading- we are using numerous books we have and ones at the library. We have a sit down circle talk time where we discus the books, plot, setting, characters ect. She will continue with her daily a-z readers this cost about $50 a yr but you can find it on sale from time to time. These are small maybe 10-20 minute readers you can printout and make a book out of. They have numerous ones from prek- 5th grade on all kinds of wonderful topics. She will also continue with book reports and or projects on the larger books she reads. Spanish- we will continue with our Hooked on Spanish program- This program runs about $99 off Amazon. We work with it 3 times a week. Extra activities- She will be involved in 4-H and an art class. Will take bi weekly field trips, and be allowed at least two hrs of free time to visit educational sites of her choice off a list off about 200 that I feel she would benefit from. Well there you have it the best plan I have come up with and one that as I said is working at least as off right now.