Homeschool Curriculum Blog Online Learning for PreK-8th

A first grade reading program should be taught using a system of first grade reading lesson plans including interactive activities, learning games, printable worksheets, assessments, and positive reinforcement. Guided reading is a vital part of a first grade reading program.

First grade language arts lessons should cover all English language arts strands. The major language arts strands for a first grade reading program are vocabulary development, reading comprehension, literature, writing strategies, writing applications, English language conventions, listening and speaking. While these language arts strands might surprise you, they are all critical lessons for a first grade reading program.

A first grade reading program helps children learn the basic features of reading skill. First grade children learn to translate letter patterns into spoken language using phonics, syllabication, and word parts. They apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent reading skill.

At this reading level children identify letters, words, and sentences. They match oral words to printed words and during guided reading, the reading teacher asks children to identify the author and title of each reading selection. Children classify reading level appropriate categories of words (for example, colors, foods, animals).

Phonics are important in a first grade reading program. Reading skill develops as children learn to decode elements of words using phonics. Language arts lesson plans emphasize initial, medial, and final sounds in single-syllable words; create and state series of rhyming words, include consonant blends; add, delete, or change target sounds to change words (for example, change met to get or cat to sat); blend two to four phonemes into recognizable words (for example, /b/ i/ g/ = big; /k/ i/ t/ e/ = kite); and segment single-syllable words into their components (for example, /d/ o/ g/ = dog; /r/ i/ ch/ = rich).

At this reading level children learn to use consonant blends and long-and short-vowel patterns. They develop the reading skill of using vowel digraphs and r- controlled letter-sound associations. Language arts lesson plans help children read common, irregular sight words. The reading program explains compound words and contractions, root words, inflectional forms, and common word families.

A first grade reading program also offers children guided reading experience with children’s literature appropriate to the first grade reading level.  First grade language arts lesson plans help children develop reading skill by describing elements of plot and setting, identifying characters, and discussing each story’s beginning, middle, and end.

Time4Learning teaches a comprehensive first grade reading curriculum using fun, first grade reading activities to build a solid reading foundation. To find out more about the First Grade language arts program at Time4Learning, try out one of the demo lessons, ask a question in our parents forum, or even view the entire First Grade Language Arts scope and sequence. Sign up today to let your First Grader experience the fun and learning encompassed in the Time4Learning First Grade Language Arts Program.

Posted under Homeschool, elementary homeschool curriculum, first grade curriculum, grade levels, homeschool curriculum, language arts, learning to read, reading curriculum

If you have been homeschooling long, you have probably had an experience where a subject you thought your children would be excited about was the very subject they were bored stiff by.  This is often the case with American History.

If presented as simply a series of chronological events, or as an unconnected grouping of historical literature, American History can be underwhelming, to say the least.  But if you are a homeschooler with Time4Learning, you have an opportunity to learn American History in a whole new way.

Time4Learning offers multimedia American History lessons for grades seven or eight that combine animation, text, and audio to enhance the learning process.  If your child enjoys learning on the computer, and would benefit from an interactive approach to studying history, then American History with Time4Learning may be the program for him or her.  (To try out one of the American History lessons, choose one of the demo lessons from the 6th to 8th grade category on the demo lessons page.)

The course is quite comprehensive, covering twenty-three units, from the Age of Exploration through the modern era.  Each unit includes multimedia lessons, resource pages, lesson quizzes, and unit tests.   The American History Lessons include such titles as: British Taxes, Issues Facing the Nation, Quest for the West, The Effects of Reconstruction, Post War Challenges, and Civil Rights Era.  And students enjoy the variety of both online and offline activities designed to help them master the material.

In addition, each unit includes a teaching guide that parents can use to help extend the lessons through intercurricular activities, discussion questions, and literature suggestions.  All in all, you probably won’t find a more in-depth - - and fun - - American History program for homeschool available anywhere.  Why wait?  Sign up for Time4Learning’s multimedia American History course today!

Posted under Homeschool, history, homeschool curriculum, middle school curriculum, social studies

I’m a work-at-home homeschooling mom, which used to make me stand out in a crowd, but nowadays, I fit right in.  More and more homeschooling moms are having to figure out creative ways to bring in a little extra income while family finances are so tight.  On one of the homeschooling forums I frequent, this has  been a popular topic of discussion, with some moms and dads working different shifts in outside jobs, other moms making and selling things on Etsy or Ebay, or taking in preschoolers to watch in their homes.

Making the choice to homeschool almost always means making the choice to sacrifice financially.  But there are things all homeschoolers can do to make their pennies go further, and their purse strings not quite so loose.

One strategy to save money is to watch local classifieds.  Because shipping has gone up and up, even Ebay purchases can be a strain these days, but finding local options for homeschool-related purchases can make a great deal of difference.  Sign up for your local Freecycle email loop, keep a lookout on the Craigslist listings for your area, and make sure to attend any local homeschool book sales or curriculum fairs. 

Another way to watch your wallet is to make use of all the wonderful free homeschooling resources online.  Blogs like FreelyEducate.com and Free Technology for Teachers are terrific sources for locating quality programs and websites that can help you in your day to day studies.  Even subscription-based educational search engines like Nettrekker, can pay for themselves quickly with the amount of free educational information they can point you toward.

You can also team up with other homeschoolers to save on materials by using bulk-buying strategies.  Programs such as Homeschool Buyers Coop allow homeschool families to compete with the discount prices of large educational buying groups and receive incredible savings on educational subscriptions and supplies.

Homeschool curriculum can be especially tough on the budget, so choose carefully.  Make sure that you match the curriculum to your child’s primary learning style so that you don’t waste time and money on curriculum that just isn’t going to work for your son or daughter.  Take advantage of curriculum demos and samples to “try before you buy.” 

One of the most affordable choices for homeschoolers on the market today is the Time4Learning online homeschool curriculum.  For less than $20 per month (even less for additional subscriptions) homeschoolers receive full access to an interactive K-8 multimedia core program including math, language arts, science, and social studies.  In addition, the program offers state of the art lessons (no lesson planning involved), online quizzes and tests, and full record-keeping.  No other homeschool program available offers so much for such reasonable fees.

Feel free to try out the demo lessons.  For more information, sign up for our T4L newsletter.  Why not get on board with the quality, affordable curriculum offered by the folks at Time4Learning?

Posted under Homeschool, homeschool curriculum, working and homeschooling, working moms

When we as parents look back on our earliest classroom experiences with math, we often remember things like reciting the times tables together as a group, solving problems on the chalkboard, or gathering beans or other small items into groups of 5’s, 10’s or 100’s.  What is interesting is that even with all our current technologies, math instruction still has the same goals today: appealing to a variety of senses and learning styles. 

Online math curriculum and software programs basically use those same principles when teaching via

Time4Learning Math Curriculum

computer.  They often use sound to appeal to auditory learners, bright colors to interest visual learners, and virtual manipulatives for kinesthetic learners.

Today’s generation of students usually enjoy and even expect to get at least some of their education from the web.  Learning in a multimedia format means less rote memorization and more interaction with the subject at hand.  For students with learning disabilities or strong visual learning styles, this can be even more important. 

Time4Learning includes an online math curriculum aimed at the next generation of learners.  Time4Learning’s online system allows children, PreK to 8th Grade, to progress through the math curriculum with a self-paced, comprehensive, fun approach. By shifting from computer-based lessons to discussion, or from paper and pencil exercises to art projects, children stay engaged and benefit from different teaching methods. Variety keeps children motivated and attentive throughout the day.

Time4Learning provides online math curriculum with multimedia instruction, animated interactive lessons and printable worksheets for reinforcement.  It also has a low monthly price, does not require a contract, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your kids, risk free!

To find out more about using Time4Learning math for your homeschooled child or to supplement your child’s math classes in school, check out what this online math curriculum has to offer.  Or try out some of the demo lessons.  Learning math with a quality online curriculum can help build a strong math foundation in a fun-to-use format.

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, homeschool curriculum, online math curriculum

So I thought it might be a fun experiment to search throughout blogland and find blogs that were talking about Time4Learning homeschool curriculum.  What kind of experiences were folks having with T4L?  What is the current buzz?

And here are some fun excerpts:

Found at MomLaughs:

Megan and MacKenzie find the self-directed learning on Time4learning Homeschool Software easy to navigate around on.

Found at Melina Thinks:

We’ve logged our 24 hours of Language Arts modules at the Time4Learning site. For the past few months, I’ve been noticing slight increases in how many of the words in his math workbook directions he can read. These increases matched up with his hours logged at Time4Learning. He’s now able to read about 60% of the directions himself. He started Time4Learning not being able to read any of the directions in his math workbooks.

Found at Classless and Lovin’ It

I’m not a big fan of kids being on the computer very much. #1, I’d rather see them reading books and #2, I don’t like to share my computer. My children, however, looooooove to play on the computer. Their time is very limited and I’m picky about what they play. This is why I was hesitant when invited to review a website for kids. The kids, however, were thrilled…Time4Learning was Honor’s first computer experience at our house and she loved it. I was surprised how quickly she picked it up and amazed at how independently she was able to work.

Found at Chatter, Clatter, and Things that Matter

I’d like to discuss what my children like most about Time4Learning…the Playground! The Playground is an area where your student can kick back and play games after doing some of the more academic activities. Of course, this is the favorite part of the program for my kids!
As I mentioned earlier, we used Time4Learning for a few months last year. At that time, my youngest had not discovered the Playground. This time around, being older and wiser, he found that area shortly after the first log in.

Found at MartinZoo

After a bit of sketching, we headed over to his 5th grade Time4Learning math program. I must say, I really, really like this program. GB loves the cartoons and games that reinforce what he is working on. Today he was working on estimation in the billions. All of this was extremely easy for him.

It is so much fun to see what subscribers are saying about their experiences with Time4Learning.  I’ll definitely try to check back and do another post like this one in the near future!

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, homeschool curriculum

Did you know that Time4Learning has members in all fifty states?  The cool thing about that is that if you are looking for help or advice about homeschooling in your state, there is probably someone on the Time4Learning Parents Forum that can share their experiences.  And to make that easier, Time4Learning is setting up a whole new forum section called State by State Homeschooling Info.

This will be your place to connect with other homeschoolers in your state.  And not only will people be able to do state-specific networking, but each state will have its own Time4Learning representative who can help answer your questions and connect you to local resources. 

If you are a seasoned homeschooler who is familiar with the ins and outs of homeschooling in your state, and would be interested in becoming a representative, then head over to the State Homeschooling Information page, check to see if your state is still available, and then fill out the application form.  This would be a wonderful opportunity for you to share your experiences and your hard-fought wisdom about homeschooling in your state.

As always, Time4Learning is eager to help take the guesswork out of homeschooling.  By bringing together brand new homeschoolers with veteran homeschoolers in each state, T4L can open up lines of communication that will benefit everyone.

Posted under Homeschool, new homeschoolers, state homeschool guidelines

In my “journeys” across the web, I spend a lot of time on homeschooling forums.  And one of the questions that crops up over and over again is “Can I work and homeschool?”  The easy answer to that question is ‘yes.’  But individual circumstances are always so unique, that easy answers don’t always suffice. 

However, the fact is that many homeschooling parents, including myself, are finding creative ways to work and homeschool their children.  One option that has proven successful for some parents is working from home.  If your career offers the opportunity for you to do some or all of your work from your house, then by making some adjustments to your routine, you may find homeschooling to be a very workable possibility.

Aandwsmom (her forum name), is a work-at-home mom who believes that homeschooling is important enough to make some rather large adjustments and sacrifices in her family’s household and schedule. Here, in her words, she shares the particulars of how this plays out for them:

“I am a WAHM who does an In-Home Daycare. I have 3 children that I care for, all toddlers plus my own 2 boys. Taking on the Homeschool label has been a challenge, not because of my lack of ability but because our house is 796 square feet. It’s 2 bedroom, 1 bath and when you stick 1 adult(2 on Fridays when my husband is home), 2 large tween boys, 3 toddlers, 2 dogs and 2 cats it becomes a tight fit! We use every available space for different things and I am a super organizer. Homeschooling is done during the daycare naptime. The house is quiet and I have undivided attention to provide my boys with any help they need. With 1 homeschooler, we just sat at the couch and did it together. With 2  boys home now, we have invested in a storage unit for the daycare area that comes with a desk attachment that will seat both boys at their computers at the same time. It will also provide storage for the daycare toys and homeschool supplies.

…Homeschooling was a choice I wanted since my children were little. I grew up with a Public School teacher as a Mom and had wonderful school experiences but have watched the School systems slowly fail. Unfortunately, my husband was against it. So my children attended Public School. When my older son started having issues, we made the decision together to homeschool but my husband still had doubts. Not in my ability, but in the fact that was our son going to learn, retain and still emerge a normal child at the other end of this ride. Well, in the 3+ months since we started homeschooling, my husband has done a complete 360* turnaround. He loves homeschooling, thinks it is the best thing we have done for our children, and was the first to want to pull our 2nd son because of his school issues! We get to enjoy our children, teach them and watch them grow, and have family memories that will last forever!”

This working mom’s children use Time4Learning as their core curriculum.  Online homeschool curricula, such as T4L, have the advantage of allowing students to work somewhat independently.  They also require very little in the way of time-consuming lesson planning and record keeping.  With Time4Learning, the detail work is taken care of, so that work-at-home parents can focus on the important task of supporting their child’s learning. 

If you are thinking about working at home and homeschooling, be sure to stop by the Time4Learning Parents Forum and check out the WAHMs, WOHMs and other Working Parents thread for support and advice. 

And stay tuned for the next blog post where I will share even more about the ins and outs of working and homeschooling!

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, homeschool curriculum, working and homeschooling, working moms

I’ve met homeschoolers throughout my life who had this quiet certainty about them.  They have told me that they knew they wanted to homeschool their children even before they were born.  I am in awe of these folks.  They were reading homeschooling theory books right alongside their “What to Expect Whey You’re Expecting.”

I’m afraid I simply can’t put my hat into that ring.  Homeschooling was probably the furthest thing from my mind as I nurtured my kids through infancy, toddlerhood, and even preschool.  It wasn’t until a serious health scare the summer before my son was scheduled to begin kindergarten that I began to entertain the idea.  And even then, it wasn’t like I was choosing to homeschool.  My son’s weakened immune system and continued neurological issues sort of made homeschool choose us.

So for what seemed like years, I played catch-up.  Delving into homeschool theory, methodology, and curriculum choices.  And it created a serious case of culture shock for someone who was not only a consummate product of the public school system, but the daughter of a public school teacher!

But over time, I have come to realize I was not alone in my sudden and unexpected foray into the world of homeschooling.  Time4Learning even coined a phrase for those of us non-native homeschool-speakers.  They call us “Accidental Homeschoolers.”  We may not have come to home education in any traditional sort of way, but nevertheless, here we are.

If you are one of those families who sort of woke up and found themselves homeschooling, I hope you will at least find comfort in the fact that you are not alone.  To find out more about “Accidental Homeschooling”, and how other families are dealing with their newfound status, visit Time4Learning’s Accidental Homeschooling page for more information.

Posted under Homeschool, new homeschoolers

Gifted learners need individualized learning.  This is often challenging, or nearly impossible in a traditional classroom setting, so many parents of gifted children have chosen to homeschool.  Homeschooling allows parents to create a curriculum individually tailored to their child’s academic needs and interests.

Gifted learners can become easily bored if they are not stimulated academically.  So how does a parent make sure their gifted learners stay engaged ?

• Provide high quality reading material.  Check with your childrens’ librarian for lists of great literature for advanced readers.
• Let them follow their interests.  Be flexible enough with your child to let them learn longer, farther, and more intensely on subjects that capture their fancy.  Gifted learners need to go below the surface of most subjects to really stay interested.
• Allow them to work at their own pace.  Don’t feel bound by grade levels.  Gifted students may need to work one, two, or even three grade levels ahead of the norm in certain subjects in order to remain challenged.
• Integrate technology into their learning.  Computers spark  excitement in many gifted children because information is always available to them and can come in many forms - - in writing, pictures, or sounds.

The Time4Learning homeschool curriculum has many features which can benefit a gifted learner.  It is educationally challenging, allows students to work at varying grade levels for each subject, can be completed as quickly or slowly as a student desires, and works with almost any learning style. The program can also be used as a standalone curriculum, or as a supplement to other materials.

To find out more about how Time4Learning can benefit your gifted child, click here for more information.

Posted under Gifted Learners, Homeschool, Online Learning, homeschool curriculum

One of the most common questions I see on homeschool forums is this one:  “I would love to homeschool my son/daughter, but I have to work to help support the family.  Is is possible to work and homeschool?”

Years ago, the answer to that question would have probably been a resounding “NO.”  Homeschool curriculums used to be preparation intensive, teaching intensive, and follow-up intensive.  Parents often felt that they were spending as much time lesson planning and teaching as a classroom teacher with 30 students! 

Today, that doesn’t have to be the case at all.  Many homeschool programs are designed to be parent-friendly, and require very little preparation time or actual hands-on instruction.  In fact, some programs let you pick and choose just how much you want to be involved in the learning process.

When your children are in the early elementary years, active participation in their studies is most important.  Even if they are using a homeschool program that allows for a lot of independent work, it is important to be nearby while they are working, so that you are available for guidance or any questions they may have.  But an independent homeschool program also allows you options.  You might be able to have your child work on some subjects while a spouse or family member is present, giving you time to work. 

An online homeschool curriculum is an excellent option if you are working.  If you have your own business, and need to take your children with you to work, they could take care of their studies on a portable laptop.  Or if they will be spending part of their days with a babysitter, or family member while you work, their schoolwork is always as close as the nearest computer. 

Another option for working parents is finding another working/homeschooling family to coop with.  If you and they can coordinate your schedules, it might be that each of you could trade off time watching each others children while the other one gets some work done.  And I have read about homeschooling families who have turned their entire nights and days around so that they could make homeschooling and working fit for them.

The ability to make working and homeschooling balance out for you will totally depend on your commitment to making it work.  There are options, support, and programs that can make it very possible, but there will still have to be sacrifices and changes that might be difficult - - especially at first.  But if you are passionate about teaching your child at home, there is no obstacle too difficult to overcome.

Posted under Homeschool, Online Learning, homeschool curriculum, working moms