We Made the School Switch
We officially pulled DS from virtual school on Monday and are now home schooling. Who are we?! We actually did this with DD for one year of middle school way back when as well. It is not ideal for me, but DS and I were both getting frustrated with the technology piece of virtual school. Mainly, the classes are set up very inefficiently. I was actually shocked by how much clicking around he/we had to do in order to set up things so he could actually then start working on an assignment. The classes are not set up intuitively. Other parents are complaining as well, and I am sort of in awe that DD has navigated so well on her own the past few years.
I finished ordering DS’ curriculum today. We are currently using Teaching Textbooks which is an online program for math (they have a free trial which is how we are accessing it). I ordered Saxon 7/6 math though so once it arrives, I anticipate we will make the switch to old school pencil/paper. I’m kind of bummed because it’s super convenient to have him do that online, and it takes me out of the equation completely which is nice (since I have other kids at home during the day and my own work to do). Saxon is spendy. That alone was almost $90.
I ordered grammar books for him too. We are going to use Growing with Grammar which was the cheapest thing I picked up for him. $30 for everything. DH tends to be better on the grammar train than I am, so I may have him head this part up. Plus, it should be relatively short so it is something DS could do later in the day after DH is home from work.
I’m using Apologia anatomy and physiology for science. I used Apologia for DD too and we were happy with it. It’s fairly popular in the Christian home schooling circles. That may be due in part to getting a 40% discount if you are in ministry or the military. We didn’t qualify for either (I was hoping that they would count foster care as ministry, but they didn’t). I paid $50 for both a workbook and a textbook so not too bad. (I bought them through a discounted site as opposed to going through Apologia itself.)
I’m using The Story of the World and The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia for social studies. I ordered the entire seventh grade set of Sonlight curriculum for DD, and even though DS is not quite to that grade, other home schooling moms told me that they were using Story of the World so I’m just going with that. DS was already paging through the encyclopedia on his own because he thought it was interesting so score one for mom. I’m also doing some historical read aloud books with him that I am mostly reading to him. The one we started with is called The Golden Goblet. The language is unfamiliar and challenging which is why I’m reading, but he seems interested in it so it works. I like having time to just do these things with him.
One of my besties who teaches in the business department suggested a free site online for DS to learn typing so I set him up with that. It’s about a 15 minute less each day. I think keyboarding is a critical skill to have, and I’m glad that he can learn it and be independent in learning it, at no cost to me.
Finally, I’m hoping to do a bible study with both DS and DD. We have a book. I ordered DS a new bible as his was falling apart thanks to some rough handling at summer camp (it got wet). In terms of faith, I think it’s important to know why you believe what you believe. Hoping this will prompt some conversation in those areas.
He will continue on with band and art at the neighborhood school.
Life is by no means perfect here, but the change in DS is inescapable. Now that he is home in the mornings, he seems so much better. He seems more relaxed, happier, more loving, etc. I am starting to wonder if traditional school was just too much for him in terms of having to hold it together all day. Too much noise, too many kids, etc. I could be totally wrong. He never had a lot of problems at school, but we obviously have had our fair share of problems at home. I am really glad for this time with him.
