Search Results for: blog why are some curriculum so expensive

Good News and Bad News About Rosetta Stone Language Software

Somehow I missed the news last week that Rosetta Stone program had introduced an online learning option called Rosetta Stone TOTALe This program delivers Rosetta Stone directly to your browser and requires a high speed internet connection. Rosetta Stone TOTALe consists of three parts. 1. There is RosettaCOURSE which is comparable to the traditional CDrom version many homeschoolers are already using. It teaches languages through the immersion method which teaches the language in a whole language approach. 2. RosettaSTUDIO allows users to practice with other learners in an online environment and also with Coaches in one hour sessions. Finally homeschooling … Continue reading →

Why are Some Curriculum So Expensive?

I had a rough start this year, basically because I spent so much money for curriculums. I realize I could have taken a cheaper route by using internet based free resources, but this would have taken more time and energy than I had available. My options were to take teaching and piecing together a curriculum on my own, or paying through the nose. This was my most expensive year to date, mostly because my son is high school level now and I needed a good self-learning curriculum Spanish and for Geometry. The other reason the year was so expensive is … Continue reading →

Homeschool Smackdown

We’ve made the decision to homeschool. We’ve turned away from the pressures of trying to compete with the public school and we’re good with our decision to be a little different. We’ve found our curriculum, we’ve organized our supplies, and we’re really happy with how we’ve decided to proceed. Invariably, though, we’ll find ourselves in a conversation like this: Us: “So, you homeschool too?” Them: “Why, yes, I do. I’ve had all twenty-four of my children at home, with no drugs, and I’ve taught them at home since birth. They all said their ABC’s shortly after their first diaper change, … Continue reading →

Pairing Work and Homeschooling

Our fall schedule appears to be exploding, and so is my head. I’ve come to a realization that this is sometimes why people put their children in school: school is at one location and at a specific time. That seems so easy. Really, it’s not so bad. I’m just trying to wrap my head around our first official year of home learning, and my brain is exploding. That is all. At times like these, I wish I was a work at home or stay at home mom. However, I know that every life has different challenges. Stay at home moms … Continue reading →

The Cost of Homeschooling VS The Cost of Public School

I was sent a link this morning for an article called Even government envious of homeschooling success. The article begins with the following: “Question: If Method 1 spends – on a national average – $10,000 per child annually, and Method 2 spends only $500 per child, but Method 2 delivers better academic results, which method is preferable? Fact: The average government school spends $10,000 per child per year, but its students scored 1.4 points lower than the family sponsored homeschooled child on the ACT, according to results from 2009.” As much as I want to side with homeschoolers in this … Continue reading →

Homeschool Buyers Co-op saves money on homeschool materials

I tell people all the time to never get too comfortable that they know everything they need to know about homeschooling, and to never stop looking for new resources because new homeschooling websites and curriculum are started every day. In the last couples of weeks alone, I have discovered Life of Fred, and the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. The homeschool buyers co-op is an organization organized to pool the buying power of homeschoolers in an effort to allow us the same curriculum prices schools enjoy. Free membership (with a promise to not sell information), affords deep discounts on many popular and … Continue reading →

The Hazards of Homeschooling through High School

Homeschool opponents like to point out that homeschoolers avoid talking about downsides of homeschooling. So I thought I would take this moment to mention that homeschooling through high school can be downright hazardous. This is not to say that you should not homeschool through high school, but to inform you that you should be ready and in fighting form. Hazard #1: Their crowd gets smaller every year. Each year as we gather at our homeschool classes or activities we find that the number of kids in our children’s age group has gotten smaller. There seems to be a gazillion teeny … Continue reading →

Do You Think Like a Homeschooler? Quiz

Here is a test I made up to help you decide if you think like a homeschooler. Take the test and come back to read my next post to see if you are a homeschooler at heart and why. 1. You receive a lunch calendar for public school and see that you do not agree with some of the meals being served this month. You A. Toss the list and do not worry about it because at least half of the meals are healthy. B. Write a letter to the school requesting a healthier menu. C. Put the menu on … Continue reading →

A Foreign Language Plan for Upper Elementary Students

Awhile ago, I wrote about why I believe that teaching foreign languages to young students is over rated. It’s quite hard to teach your child a foreign language if you don’t speak it yourself. Consequently, I do not advise parents to spend an arm and a leg on a foreign language curriculum in the early elementary grades. You will find that it does very little, if any good towards producing a child that can speak the foreign tongue. Exposure on the other hand is never a bad thing. I do feel like I need to make the point that I … Continue reading →

Teaching Foreign Languages: What the Research Really Says

This series is a take off from one of Andrea’s blogs. In my intro I mentioned some reasons why homeschoolers tend to shy away from teaching their child a foreign language It is a difficult subject to tackle if you don’t have the background. However, I also mentioned that one problem is many of the myths that surround teaching your child a foreign language. I went to a home schooling conference where I saw several curriculums for sale all touting similar benefits. They were all supposedly backed by research. Truth be told, I’ve yet to find something that is actually … Continue reading →