It explains things in a way that kids can understand, without making it boring

I began to look for alternative programs online that would help me track the boys work and progress. I was looking for something affordable. After hours of researching and coming up with little more than a bunch of over priced private school options, I stumbled across a program called Time4Learning.

At first, I wasn’t really sure how to use it. I just needed to sit down and take some time to understand how to get the most out of the program. It really is easy to use. It’s also easy to let the program do it all for you. That said, I think it is important to make sure that students know that you are near, & that you will be checking on them. Set clear expectations for them as to how you expect the program to be used.

I plan their lessons so that they have about an hour dedicated to each subject. I try to break it up, so that not too much time is spent in front of the computer all at once. I print out a few worksheets from Math, for example, and have them work on the worksheets before they log into Time4learning.

They may spend 10 minutes on the worksheets and 50 minutes on the computer or they could spend 45 minutes on the worksheet and 15 min. on the computer. It just depends on how many worksheets I give them and how easily they can complete them.

Here are a few of the things I like about the program:

• It times every lesson.
• There are printables specifically tailored to the lessons they are already working online.
• The other thing I really like about it is the ability to adjust the grade level of the lessons they are working on. For example, our son Joshua is in 1st grade, but T4L provides access to curriculum that is a grade level above and a grade level below the actual grade they are in. So if it is too hard, you can work on something easier.

If you find your child isn’t being challenged, you can step it up to the next grade level. Joshua can’t work any 1st grade level work in Social Studies, Science, or Language Arts. It’s all too easy and he completed most of it in a matter of weeks.

So he is working 2nd grade Math, Lang Arts, and Social Studies and Science he is working on 3rd grade level. Mind you, he is in 1st grade. 🙂

It’s a fun program, entertaining and I really like the way it explains things in a way that the kids can understand, without making it boring.

It allows us to show progress is being made with the reports. So although I run reports to check their progress almost daily, I do a monthly review with the boys so that they can see how well they are progressing too. You can also have them repeat lessons so that they have mastered it. When you run the report, you can see the original score and then the new score appears as well. This is a great way to show the child’s progress and attendance when you’re reporting to your school district as well.

I am a big researcher, a bargain shopper and like many women, I hunt till I find the best deal before I make a purchase.

Time4Learning is by far the most affordable, quality program I have found. With the internet so full of free resources, if ever I feel I need a little something more, it is easy enough to find lots of other great quality learning material on the web.