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Frequently Asked Questions

Top 5 Questions About Homeschooling
 

Top 5 Questions About Homeschooling

Top 5 Questions About Time4Learning
 

Top 5 Questions About Time4Learning

Common Questions About Homeschooling

Common Questions About Time4Learning

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Common Questions About Homeschooling

How do I start homeschooling?

Many families who are new to homeschooling think about it from the literal perspective. What school supplies do I need? Which workbooks should I buy? How do I set up my home? These are all valid and important questions. However, before your family dives into all of homeschooling’s tactical components, we recommend that you focus on the legal requirements first. Depending on your state, you may need to write a letter of intent to homeschool. Some states require you to notify your local school, while others require you to submit the letter to the Department of Education. Local homeschool groups and co-ops are the best sources for specific information on your state’s homeschooling requirements.  Most of these groups are run by experienced homeschoolers who will be happy to help you with your transition. Check out our state homeschool information page to access homeschool resources by state, or our Time4Learning Families Group on Facebook to connect with homeschoolers in your state.

Is homeschooling the same as a virtual school?

No. While virtual school assignments are completed from home, virtual schools are online schools that are usually part of either a public or private school. This means someone other than the parent is responsible for selecting the curriculum and, ultimately, your child’s education. In the case of virtual public schools, which are offered by many states and are usually free, it’s essentially public school at home.While virtual schools are a viable option for some parents and children, you need to remember that they will likely require you to adhere to a defined school schedule/calendar and curriculum. With homeschooling, parents have complete control over schedules and curriculum choices. Time4Learning is a curriculum provider, not a virtual school.

When should I start homeschooling?

Parents who have made the decision to homeschool can start anytime. You don’t have to follow a traditional school calendar, and in fact, many families chose to homeschool so they can fully control their learning schedule. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to withdraw your child from school, it’s important that you take some time to get to know your child from an academic perspective. For many families, it usually takes a few weeks to discover how and when their child learns best, along with skill levels and areas of interest. This will help you determine which homeschool curriculum and overall homeschool experience will work best for your family.

How much does homeschooling cost?

This all depends on an individual family’s budget. There really isn’t a specific amount that it costs to homeschool. We recommend avoiding paying a lot for any homeschool program, especially without first knowing how your child learns best. Sometimes, this results in money lost if you are locked into a contract or can’t return books and software. Time4Learning is a cost-effective option. We offer a low monthly membership, month-to-month billing and the option to start, stop, and even pause at any time.

Should I follow a schedule when homeschooling?

One of the great benefits of homeschooling is its flexibility. Unlike traditional schools where children follow strict daily, weekly, and yearly schedules, homeschooling allows your family to take charge of when learning occurs. Every family is different. Some families homeschool year-round, with breaks throughout the year; others follow a traditional school schedule and take summers off. Since homeschooling offers a completely personalized approach to learning, you may find that your child doesn’t require 6 hours of academics on a daily basis sitting at a desk. Depending on your child’s grade, they will typically spend between 2 to 4 hours a day homeschooling. Many homeschooling families also include field trips, sports, and other extracurricular activities to enrich their child’s learning and may decide to keep a 4-day school week to account for those extras. The choice is yours. Just remember that learning can take place anywhere, not just at home.

How do I know if my child is learning enough?

This is a common concern for new homeschoolers. First, make sure to follow your state’s homeschooling requirements. Next, it will be important as a homeschool parent to set goals. Do you want to complete an entire grade level in your curriculum? Do you want your child to master certain concepts? For many homeschooling families, academic progress is the goal.Families who are seeking a more formal means of measuring achievement use Testing Services for homeschoolers. These nationally normalized standardized tests can be administered at home and are one way to see if your child is on track. Ultimately it’s up to your family to best determine how you measure progress.

Can my homeschooler go to college?

Yes! Check out any homeschool-friendly colleges and universities your child may be interested in attending. Depending on the school, you may need high school transcripts and/or a high school diploma. You can use this high school transcript template from Time4Learning or access others from Homeschool.com, if you need. Some colleges and universities also require scores from tests like the SAT and/or ACT. Make sure to speak to their admissions counselors to understand their admission requirements fully.

I’m worried my child won’t be socializing with other children. What can I do?

Experienced homeschoolers will tell you that socialization is the biggest non-issue in homeschooling. Many homeschooling groups and co-ops are available for families, so socializing your child shouldn’t be a concern. Many groups offer activities such as field trips, play dates, and other fun events for families to participate together. If you are doing the teaching, homeschooling groups can help connect you with other parents who can be a sounding board when you have questions. Depending on where you live, some schools also open their doors to homeschoolers for certain events and activities. Of course, today, with social media and computer technology, homeschoolers can connect, socialize, and learn with other children at an instant, whenever, and wherever!

Do I have to homeschool forever?

No. Each family is unique, and it’s up to you to decide how long you want to homeschool. It’s easy to move in and out of homeschooling, so you can homeschool for a few years, send your child back to school, then homeschool again if you choose. Look for standards-based homeschool programs, which offer flexibility, and don’t require contracts.

How do I pick the homeschool program my child will use, and when do I need to choose it?

Understanding your child’s unique learning style will be a huge help when choosing a homeschool program. While some families use just one curriculum, others find that a blend of different curricula and resources works better. This curriculum checklist will help you make an informed decision when choosing a homeschool program.

Common Questions About Time4Learning

What is Time4Learning?

Time4Learning is an online PreK-12th grade curriculum covering language arts, math, science, and social studies. Interactive activities are student-paced, and parents are provided with planning and reporting tools for easy scheduling and progress tracking. Unlike virtual schools with teachers, we empower you to take control of when, where, and how your child learns.The majority of our customers are homeschoolers. Some homeschool families use Time4Learning as their primary curriculum, while others use it as a homeschool supplement. Other members use Time4Learning as an afterschool or summer school-builder to make up for learning losses or to maintain knowledge. Parents usually use Time4Learning to facilitate learning for younger children, while older students, such as high school students, may require little to no supervision. Parents act as the teacher of record, so it’s important to refer to your particular state’s requirements to determine what is mandatory to be in good standing. If you are new to homeschooling, we recommend reading our free “Welcome to Homeschooling Guide.”

Is Time4Learning a virtual school with teachers?

Time4Learning is not a virtual school, and no, there are no live teachers. Time4Learning is a curriculum. If used for homeschooling, the parent serves as the official teacher of record and uses the curriculum in the way that works best for their family. With the exception of some optional offline activities, all instruction is provided online using pre-recorded instructors, animations, and reading activities. Time4Learning’s automated system will track and maintain scores and progress for parents.

Is Time4Learning Accredited?

This question is one of the most common ones we receive. The short answer is ‘no,’ but the longer answer is worth understanding. Accreditation is a form of credentialing that applies to schools. Accreditation addresses issues such as teacher: student ratios, number of computers in the media center, number of teachers holding advanced degrees, the curriculum used, etc. Because Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us. However, the curriculum offered by Time4Learning is used at many accredited schools across the United States, and it is educationally rigorous. Read our post to understand more about how accreditation works for homeschoolers.

Can my school or classroom enroll in Time4Learning?

Time4Learning does not provide its K-12 curriculum to schools. Time4Learning is intended to be used as a homeschool curriculum, afterschool alternative to tutoring, and/or for summer learning to make up for learning losses. If you are looking for an online curriculum for classroom use, please contact Imagine Learning for information.

Can Time4Learning help me plan my homeschool year?

Yes! Time4Learning parents have access to planning tools that can assist with creating a schedule for their homeschool year. We understand that some parents prefer to see a structured list of what their students should do and when. This option exists in our Detailed Activity Planner. Other parents prefer a more flexible, less structured approach. We accommodate this style as well with our Curriculum Calculator. Time4Learning has tools that support all instructional methods.

How can Time4Learning help my child with special needs?

Time4Learning can help any child, including those with special needs. Every child has their own combination of gifts, skills, needs, and difficulties with learning, so each deserves a learning program suited to their needs. Here are some reasons why parents of both gifted students and children with special needs choose Time4Learning:
  • Lessons build on existing reading, writing, and math skills.
  • Learning levels, or grade levels, for each subject are independently set for each child, helping those who perform or progress at different levels.
  • Time4Learning memberships include extra practice, such as free access to Time4MathFacts, to help students develop strong foundational math skills.
  • Depending on the grade level and course, students have access to one grade above and one grade below their grade placement so they can review or move ahead whenever they need to.
  • The program allows students to go at their own pace and even repeat lessons if need be.
  • The lessons use exercises that stimulate students’ visual, auditory, and motor skills with multisensory activities that are animated and interactive.
In fact, for the reasons above, we have been approved by the IBCCES as a Certified Autism Resource.

Program & Membership Questions

How much does a Time4Learning membership cost?

Pricing depends on the grade level of your students:
Preschool to 5th Grade 6th – 12th Grade
$29.95 / month $39.95 / month
Includes four courses
Access to Time4MathFacts
Includes seven courses
Additional courses can be added for $5 each per month per student
30% off each additional student*
10% off annual memberships with code ANNUAL10**

Your billing cycle begins on the day of registration and members are billed every 30 days. Time4Learning has no hidden fees, offers a 14-day money-back guarantee for new members, and allows members to start, stop, or pause anytime. Parents must cancel through their Parent Dashboard. Once an account is canceled, members will only have access to the program and student reports until the end of their billing cycle.

*Discount applied to the student(s) of equal or lesser value.

What does a membership consist of?

In addition to the subjects specified below, Time4Learning includes the following:
  • Fun, flexible, award-winning PreK-12 online curriculum consisting of math, language arts, science, social studies, and electives for middle school and high school
  • 24/7 access to over 3,500 lessons and activities
  • Comprehensive lesson plans, resources, and teaching tools for parents to visualize and better prepare for every step of the teaching process
  • Convenient answer keys that accompany tests, quizzes, and worksheets are available to parents both online and in print
  • A free Activity Planner and Curriculum Calculator that helps parents and students create either a detailed schedule or a more flexible one depending on their unique needs
  • Automated grading and reporting tools that save you time
  • Access to multiple grades and course levels so you can customize the curriculum to your student’s skill level with unlimited changes
  • A secure, ad-free, online learning environment for your students to work in
  • Free access to Time4MathFacts, a math skill-building program designed for students in grades 2 to 4

What is the Time4Learning 100% satisfaction guarantee?

Time4Learning offers a 14-day money-back guarantee period. If our curriculum does not satisfy your family’s needs within the first 14 days of membership, we will refund your money directly to the credit or debit card used to pay for your membership. This offer is only valid for new members and does not include reactivated accounts. Further cancellation and refund policies are detailed in our billing policy.

What subjects / courses are included with my membership?

Time4Learning’s flexible, comprehensive preschool curriculum gives students a solid foundation in all core areas, helping prepare them for more advanced learning in the years to come. Topics, concepts, and themes covering math, language arts (reading), science and social studies will be introduced with fun stories, characters, and interactive activities. The K-8th grade curriculum consists of standards-based language arts and math.
  • The language arts curriculum is presented in a suggested sequence designed to create a strong literacy foundation. It includes phonics, grammar, reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, writing skills, and more.
  • The math curriculum combines multimedia lessons, interactive activities and reinforcing worksheets to teach basic arithmetic, number sense and operations, measurement, geometry, and more.
  • Time4Learning members also have free access to Time4MathFacts!
The K-8th grade curriculum also offers social studies and science for most grade levels.
  • Social studies lessons are available to students at the second-grade level through middle school. Because state standards differ, social studies at the elementary level may need to be supplemented to satisfy your local requirements.
  • Science is available to students at the kindergarten level through middle school.
    • Elementary science is offered from kindergarten to fifth grade and is organized by grade level.
    • Middle school science is offered at the sixth to eighth grade level. It is organized into three primary courses: Life Science, Earth Science, and Physical Science.
Middle school electives are also available for students in grades 6-8. Membership includes any seven courses. Additional courses can be added for $5 per course per month.

The high school curriculum consists of the primary subjects of Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. There are 15 elective courses that are also available. Membership includes seven courses, with the option to add courses for an extra $5 per course per month. For a closer look at the high school selections, visit the high school curriculum overview page. Please note that it is possible to use Time4Learning for just one subject; however, pricing will not change.

Which grade levels / courses should I select for my child? Can I make changes if necessary?

Parents are asked to select a grade level for their student(s) during the signup process. If you are not sure what grade to enroll your student in, that’s okay. Simply choose the grade level that you think might be a good starting point based on your child’s age or academic background.

As the teacher of record in your homeschool program, you are free to make changes at any time. Since many children can be ahead (or behind) in one subject, while on grade level for others, most students are given access to three curriculum levels (depending on grade level). So a student who is enrolled in second-grade math and language arts will also have access to first and third-grade lessons. This allows them to review and advance whenever necessary. We recommend having your child complete a few activities in various grades to get a better idea of their strengths or challenges in each subject.

High school is organized by courses rather than grade levels. Therefore, students do not have access to grade levels. However, you can change or update your courses, e.g., change Algebra I to Algebra II, at any time if you find a course is too challenging or not challenging enough. If your student is college-bound, we recommend that you review your state’s course requirements for high school graduation so you can make the correct selections from Time4Learning’s offerings.

No matter what grade level or course selections you choose for your students, parents are always able to make changes. You can change the grade level or course selections at any time through the Parent Dashboard.

High School Questions

Does Time4Learning offer a diploma?

Since Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, we do not provide diplomas, but you can as the homeschool teacher of record! All 50 states in the U.S. allow parents to issue a homeschool diploma to a child they feel has met or exceeded the guidelines for graduation. To check comparable public school graduation requirements, check your state Board of Education website.

Does Time4Learning provide a transcript?

Time4Learning is not a school, so we don’t keep or issue transcripts. Time4Learning’s automated system grades your student’s online lessons and maintains reports that can be included in homeschool portfolios or used to create transcripts.We do offer a transcript template that parents can download and fill out. The template notes also provide tips for issuing credit hours and calculating GPA.

Can my high school student access middle school grade levels in addition to their enrolled high school courses?

Yes. Parents have the option to select eighth-grade math and language arts, as well as any of the middle school science, social studies, and elective courses which are not grade-specific.

How many credits is a Time4Learning high school course?

Time4Learning is a curriculum tool to be used by the student, while the homeschool parent remains the official teacher of record. Time4Learning does not assign credits to courses; however Time4Learning’s automated system tracks the amount of time students spend on the online lessons. This feature can help parents estimate the value of the courses based on how much time students spend on their assignments. For information on high school credits, we suggest checking out the Guide to Giving High School Credits at Homeschool.com.

Will completing Time4Learning’s high school courses qualify my child for graduation?

It is up to the parent to compare Time4Learning with state standards to ensure that graduation requirements are satisfied. Because Time4Learning is not a school, students do not graduate from Time4Learning. Time4Learning is an online curriculum, parents are the acting “Teacher of Record,” and the home in which they teach is considered the school students will graduate from.

Technical & Support Questions

Can Time4Learning run on any computer?

A computer (PC or Mac) with fast access (DSL or cable modem) to the internet is ideal. While some subscribers have been able to access Time4Learning with a satellite connection or a Linux operating system, it is not recommended. Our curriculum does not support Linux and requires a strong, steady Internet connection to run the streaming lessons. We do not recommend using cellular data or mobile hotspots.

What browser works best with Time4Learning?

For the best user experience, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers. Edge and Safari are acceptable but not optimal.

Can Time4Learning run on an iPad or other tablets?

A computer, laptop, or Chromebook will provide the best user experience, but here are some recommendations for tablet/mobile device use:
  • iOS Devices (larger than an iPad mini) are supported using Safari or Google Chrome.
  • Android Devices are not supported for K-8. Users may encounter random issues including activities not marking as complete.
  • For High School and Middle School Science and Social Studies courses, please review our System Requirements page.
  • Smartphones, as well as Amazon Fire/Kindle tablets, are not supported.
NOTE: There are many different tablet manufacturers and operating systems. If you experience a compatibility issue with your tablet, please try the same task/activity on a desktop or laptop computer.

How do I get help and ask questions from Time4Learning?

Our support team and the Time4Learning community are here to help you. You can get help in several ways: Call Time4Learning: We can be reached toll-free at 888-771-0914. We answer the phones Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).Contacting Customer Support. We answer emails seven days a week. Join our Time4Learning Families Group on Facebook to help you meet and connect with other homeschooling parents.

PreK - 5th

$29.95
  • Monthly, per student

6th - 12th

$39.95
  • Monthly, per student

30% off each additional student

Discount applied to the student(s) of equal or lesser value.

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