Homeschool curriculum – Time4Learning Review Part 4: Mama’s review
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- Homeschool curriculum: Time4Learning Review: Part 2: 6.5 yo interview & review
- Homeschool curriculum: Time4Learning Review: Part 1: 4.5 yo interview & review
Time4Learning is a great interactive, online, homeschool curriculum for all core subjects of Language Arts (Reading, Phonics, Spelling), Math, Science and Social Studies, with additional Language Arts Extensions — “extra LAs” the girls call it.
Some quick Pros:
- The lessons are self-explanatory, self-directing for even our youngest soon-to-be 5 year-old this month.
- The activities are “assessed” or “graded” and the children don’t even notice.
- The tests and quizzes are interspersed enough that doesn’t bombard my girls too often–especially since we’ve never been a “testing” homeschool family-type prior to Time4Learning.
- The playground is a perfect timed incentive that motivates my girls to work towards a ‘reward’ after a fun-workload, which is usually 20-minutes of laughter, many Ah-Hah’s, and “mama, mama, come see!”
And, this is how it all began: 5 weeks ago, our life was totally different…
One of the homeschool groups or possibly a blog introduced: “Welcome to Homeschooling – A guide for families” free downloadable PDF.
Now, I’m usually skeptical of ‘lil homeschool guides, because we’ve been homeschooling now for 8 years; but I quickly perused this one that brought me directly to the homepage.
The girls and I watched the demos, I got lost in the Site Map of all the different scope & sequence, lesson plans, etc.
While everyone recommended the Parent Forums…but, that didn’t interest me because I was just interested in the facts. But, I was happy to know that their was a community to turn to if I ran into any problems ; but with my schedule I don’t have time to socialize.
I particularly found the 2-week risk-free trail every appealing especially because it was highly-affordable compared to the K12 program of $100s to $1000s if there’s no Virtual Academy available in your state; and CT doesn’t have one…nor will they after detailed conversations with the CT Dept. of Ed, Charter School Division.
Now, as a net-savvy internet marketer that I am…I found the Write a Review and Refer a Friend even more appealing; because we know I always give an unbiased, detailed, critique of anything that comes my way.
So, with a quick phone-call, an agreement for one-month free in exchange for our honest review…here we are a couple days away from enrolling all 3 daughters into this incredibly awesome life-saving nationally-approved, state-approved curriculum.
- Now, I couldn’t give all full review without interviewing the very children who are gaining the most from it, so please read each of the 3 interviews here:
- I love that we have access to 3 different grades per subject per child. Therefore, each child is working at her own level in each subject.
- Pre-Schooler: Our 4.5 year old (Pre-K) is doing LA-K, Math-K, Sci- Gr. 1 and SS- Gr. 2. The others have varied grade levels too. I didn’t want her to play with anything except the PlayBox (Pre-K) work…as I believe heavily in having fun…but, she’s having TOO much fun, and breezing through the lessons with over 90+ average…that I just can’t stop her. I actually sit down with her now with all her Science and SS because she doesn’t like when things are too hard that she doesn’t do well, so I usually just guide her, and stop her when I think things are too difficult so she doesn’t get disappointed. I always want her to LOVE learning…so, grades and time spent is not an issue for me; although it is for her.
- My girls follow arrow by arrow (meaning Lesson-By-Lesson)! It took some getting used to for this eclectic homeschooling mama because I just want them to have fun with the themes they choice, or the “lessons” they’re in the mood for. But, each and every single one of them wanted the process, wanted to see the progression, and wanted the ORDER that Time4Learning allow
See, I’m learning a lot too - We tried each daughter at-traditional-grade level and moved up and down individually per-subject for the first 3-days. By the forth, we figured out where they all belonged, then I made an “official” request of grade-levels per-subject, per-child…and I really appreciate this kind of control and adjust ability!
- We love the Reports it generates.
- We love the ability for our girls to retain exciting new facts in all their core subjects. They compete for our attention at the dinner table. “Baba, I learned ABC…Well, Mama, I learned XYZ…No, 123 was better and More Fun Mama!”
- I LOVE that I actually have more time having fun with their learning…rather than making up 3 different curriculum for 3 different learners of 3 different ages, styles and personalities!
- I LOVE having more time for the things I do better: planning the next field trip, organizing our next art project, cleaning up the house when there’s a sense of calm with everyone at a desk, on the floor, or on computer doing their work. We spend much less time arguing and debating now! Alhumdulilah.
- I love that they all compete for the computers. We have 4 in our house, but because 1.5 (because I need it too) are slotted for them during the days. So, their patience it tested each day. But, we worked it out, that the one who finishes their “other school work” i.e., workbooks, worksheets, projects, experiments, etc. then she goes on the PC first. But, Phew! We just got the girls their 1st laptop today, so insha’Allah, that’ll work out nicely. Which, I know we’ll have to reward time for the laptop as the biggest reward now, insha’Allah.
- I’ve read reviews that a TOTALLY different than anything my family and I experienced, for example:
- We’ve Never been kicked off of any lessons,
- We Never had problems trying to figure out how or when to fit Time4Learning into our schedules.
- We Never had technological problems.
- We Never (not one-month later) had any anything preventing us from loving this program!
- We feel blessed to have such a great experience and because its such a normal thing in our home now…we can only Thank God, Alhumdulilah, that this worked out for our family so perfectly. Subhannallah.
CONS:
- We need to have one laptop/computer for each child so they can learn and play at-will.
- We are moving WAY too fast through the grades…Is this really how far back traditional core curriculum is, or are all my girls gifted?! I’d like to believe both, but really think its the first. Sad, as it may be (traditional schooling, that is)…but for my girls, the excitement in learning & progression in their ability to retain new material is ALL education should be based on
- Science and Social Studies do not have as many lessons in the beginning grades, up to Grade 3. I defended myself in my 7 year old’s interview, but she just brought it up again saying “Mama, we would, and will do all the science experiment and projects you (and we) want to do…BUT, it would be nice if we had more lessons in those subjects to learn even more”. Hmm…I agree. I would make sure that the lessons are age-appropriate, meaning reading-level appropriate too. I understand that Pre-schoolers don’t need to learn those subjects, but if they want to learn it…why stop them. I tried with all 3 of mine…but, their sponges right now, and I have NO right to stop their researching, inquisitive, eager minds!
- I tried adjusting the playground timer, but when I did, it adjusted the lessons timer. So, I haven’t figured out this 1 complaint from them all.
- Oh, they all complained on numerous occasions, the inability to “fast-forward” within a lesson. For example, they give the instructions and my child knows how to do it…but, the character walks, talks, shows each and every step. Because my girls always sigh, huff, or puff, I sat down with them to “see” how bad it was, and it was only a few seconds (literally at most a minute-long); so I defended how short and fun it was “acted” out. Each time, each daughter insisted that it’s not worth the time. I assume they feel its too elementary to them, or that even possibly its like an “arrogant” teacher talking down to them, not paying attention to their particular needs and just goes along with his/her own agenda. I really hope my assumption is wrong. But, it Time4Learning can do anything about adding a “fast-forward” option through the lessons, please try. [There ARE options to fast-forward elsewhere, but I'm talking specifically about the dry-instructional-showing-parts].
Yay, our negatives are really not bad at all!
And, most Time4Learning can’t help out (like giving away laptops ) so, overall we are entirely pleased and will heavily promote this curriculum to any homeschool family and or any family looking for online educational fun alternative.
Now, I can NOT attest that this is the “perfect” homeschool curriculum for your family, but what’s there to lose!?
Not a homeschooler?
One of my devoted readers who wants your child to advance in one or more of their core subjects, or want some “interact fun educational” program for after school of this summer…its highly-affordable and well-worth your time to give it a try! 2-weeks trial for free.
And, if you try it; kindly tell them I referred you. Jazaka Allahu Khayrun.
I’m eager for families to share their experiences good, bad or indifferent below!
Similar Posts:
- Homeschool curriculum – Time4Learning Review Part 1
- Homeschool curriculum: Time4Learning Review: Part 2: 6.5 yo interview; review
- Homeschool curriculum – Time4Learning Review Part 3: 7.5 yo interview; review
- OHVA – Ohio Virtual Academy Pros & Cons
- Girly Girls Rock! Defined
Category: Family
I thought your families that homeschool would enjoy an educational indoor gardening adventure, growing the TickleMe Plant (Mimosa pudica). This activity was featured recently by the National Gardening Associations Kids Store, http://www.kidsgardeningstore.com/14-1030.html
If you want to give your homeschoolers an experience they will never forget, consider having them grow a TickleMe Plant. This is the plant that will close its leaves and lower its branches when you tickle it. They sprout in days and can be grown indoors any time of year. Just Google TickleMe Plants or go to http://www.TickleMePlant.com for seeds and growing kits. The TickleMe Plant will encourage your child’s interest in plants and respect for nature.
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I’ve wondered about time4learning before, and if parents who used it still used textbooks… not that you’d have to, but it was something I wondered about.
I’ve thought about registered with time4learning over the summer as a sort of bridge to fall. Haven’t decided yet, but it sounds like a great program for the cost.
Too bad you don’t have a school in your area who participates in k12.com. Our state offers it through a couple public schools and it’s less than $100 per child for an entire year and includes a laptop. Can you believe that? Now, the school gets something like 7K for each student enrolled, regardless of whether they’re in the charter program or the bricks and mortar building, so that might be one of the reasons they’re so quick to encourage homeschoolers to register! lol
~Wendy (not the same Wendy as above though!)
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I decided to homeschool my 7.5 year old son, near the end of January
2010. He was going to a private school, which did not have a 2nd grade,
so the two second graders in the school had to sit with the third
graders and take the third grade lessons. My son was doing well
with the third grade lessons and assignements. After sometime we became hopefull that he could
take the thrid grade test at the end of the school year, since he was
grasping the concepts alright. We requested the school to allow him to take
the third grade test at the end of the school year, since he was
working so hard with third grade work, doing third grade homework, and
doing fine with it, we hoped for him to take the third grade test as
well, just to give it a try, we didnt want to hold him back and wanted
to allow him to give it a try.But the school was adamant about having
him take the second grade test at the end of the school year. And even
though he was not doing any second grade workbooks or school work,
they still insisted that he would take the second grade test.
Slowly they started judging the child, and started setting him up for
failure, just to prove that he is not fit to take the third grade
test. We knew better because we helped him with HW at home, and knew
very well what he could do and what he could not.
We did not want inexperienced individuals to judge our child. And we
wanted our child to give a try to a higher level if he is capable. We
withdrew our child from the school, hoping that we can tailor a
Homeschooling curriculum for him, that would be a good mix of second
and third grade, he may take 2nd or 3rd grade test at the end of the
year, but we knew we were giving him a chance in life, a chance that
he wouldn’t get in the rigid school systems.So in january we were left
on our own for the first time, completely responsible for our child’s
education, and to add to that, was a daunting challenge to tailor a
custom made curriculum, to suit his educational and intellectual
needs. It was very overwhelming !!! For 2 weeks, i was using old books
at home, from previous years of my 7 yr old’s older sibling, i was
making copies, I was tailoring my own comprehension question from
library books, I was copying story maps, i was planning my own
activities, i was nervous that the school year was half done, and I
didnt have time and leisure to explore in detail anything that may be
available in the markets. I just didnt want my child to waste time right in the middle of the school year. I was doing alot and
couldn’t leep at nights trying to make sure I have everything
available for the nest day. I was making new schedule after every
couple of days, coming up with the best thing for my child. This
continued until Ponn Sabra, from Hamden, CT, suggested that I join
Time4learning. That was the best thing that was suggested to me. I
joined time4learning on February 15th, and my work has become much
easier, and I don’t even have to work much hard to keep my child
motivated. He was missing his friends from school and it was important
for us to make him realise that studying at home is just as serious,
if not more, like studying at school. This was his first time, ever
staying at home toi study, and I wanted him to get the homeschooling
concept right, and to make sure that he takes it as seriously, as he
had been taking his school work. Time4learning helped me doing most of
that.
He loves his lessons. And the best part is, he can jump from 2nd to
third grade levels whenever he want and whenever he feels he wants to
learn more. And even by the end of the year , if he doesn’t choose
enough third activities, my heart is at peace knowing he has the third
grade option open at the upper right hand corner of his computer
screen. And he can take a third grade quiz whenever he wants.
And even though at the end of the school year he may end up taking the
second grade test anyways, during his school year he can take as many
third grade quizes as he wants and prove to himself that if he has
learnt something, no one can stop him from taking that quiz.
ThankYou Ponn and ThankYou Time4learning
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@Wendy – Thanks for sharing your cool websites, we had our first home garden last summer and looking forward to getting started very soon this Spring!
@Wendy – Thanks for your note, but we prefer the flexibility of using T4L over K12. No, CT doesn’t have K12 but Ohio does, where we lived for 5 yrs, so we know a bunch of families who use it. It’s a bit too boxed and rigid for my family’s lifestyle. Also, my girls complete multiple years of education in one typical school year, which is not as possible with K12. Please share your present experiences though.
@Saadiyah – Wow! What an experience! First, wayayakum. It’s in our nature to share something we love. We’re just happy it’s working out for your family so nicely. Keep us posted on your progress!
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