This was our first week homeschooling using the K12 curriculum. As I mentioned before I went into this hoping for a relatively relaxed curriculum that we could navigate on our own schedule and still incorporate unschooling to some degree. I am VERY happy with our first week.
First we got a brand new HP computer from the school and that was followed by many boxes of new materials. I am so impressed by the quality and the diversity. It is obvious that these learning items were not designed by K12 but rather they took the best of the best from other sources to make one awesome curriculum.
In the Language Arts box for example we got a few workbooks but mostly it was reading books….TONS of them. We have already done 5 of the lessons and most involved reading stories and talking about them. If my son was able to answer the questions about the story with an 80% or better (and he did) he passes and moves on to the next lesson. Fun and easy!
The Science box had safety glasses, sand, beakers, mirrors, a magnifying glass, seeds, a compass, etc. It appears that most of the science lessons revolve around experiments. Our first science lesson had an online video that we watched about viewing the earth from space then we had to identify continents and tape paper animals to the area where they live on an inflatable globe. It was very enjoyable for my son.
The art box had prints of different paintings and sculpture, tempera paints, pastels, brushes, clay, and more. We did our first art lesson Thursday.
The Phonics box had workbooks, video DVDs, flashcards, letter slides, whiteboards, and other cool stuff. This section does appear to be very structured but this is the area where my son needs some extra work so we’ll see how it goes.
The history box has CDs, maps, and reading books.
The math box we have gotten yet. Many of the materials arrived late.
You have to get 920 hours for the year and finish all the lessons. Of course if your child can do the end of lesson assessment you can skip right to it and avoid the work…love that feature because it enables me to teach the lesson any way I want as long as he gets the main points that they want him to learn. We went over directions NWES, as we drove around running errands and he did the assessment without having to do the printable worksheets from K12.
On average you need 5 hours a day to meet the hourly requirements but if you finish (5) 60 minutes lessons in only 20 minutes each then cool beans….you can be done for the day or get ahead. 12 hours of supplemental time can be added each week too! That means over 2 days worth of time can be spent on field trips, watching educational movies, playing games, ect. That feature really rocks. Can’t get that at a brick and mortar school!
We had to add a new set of shelves to our homeschool area to house all the new goodies but so far it is going REALLY good and my kiddo is having fun….which is the most important thing. I also spoke with his assigned K12 teacher and she was awesome. She invited us to an ice cream party next week and told us to check the K12 calendar where there are probably 6 dozen other events planned with other K12 students and parents. So far so good!
I’ll be closely following your journey. We had always planned on going with a Distance Learning program from Texas Tech University. But, lately, I’ve been looking a little at the K12 stuff.
That sounds like an awesome curriculum. I start next Wednesday with my two and we have choosen the alpha omega lifepacs. I had my reasoning and so far looking through everything to set up and get started it seems good so far. If I continue homeschooling I will most likely switch to something else for next year. I may have to look more into the K12 curriculum. Thank You for letting us know more about it.
That sounds AWESOME! The curriculum we are using is somewhat like that. I just LOVE to have everything (most things) laid out for me. :-)
How do I find out more about finding a curriculum? My twins are 16 mo but I’d like to start researching now. I live in Colorado. I know nothing about Homeschooling but love the concept.
Tiffany,
It seems like this is working very well for you guys. I’m following closely too. The K12 stuff does look great. I’m impressed how your children work so well at home and following your directions. My son doesn’t want to do anything the I direct him or guide him to do. Unless it is strictly play. I’m thinking I’d have difficulties with this.
Looks like a great start, and I love your red and green bins!
Wow that sounds, and looks, really awesome! I love the wide variety of items you received, which is perfect of course.
It sounds like you are off to a great start. My mom also uses K12 with my 13 year old brother, and they have really enjoyed being able to work at their own speed.
Awesome. I cannot wait to see how the year progresses. I’m interested in homeschooling my daughter when she gets older. Right now however we would only be able to devote 4 days a week to homeschooling if I could get off weekdays and my partner could get off week days with our current jobs (although that could easily change in the future) so anything that is homeschooling in some alternative way that is not 5 days a week, 8 hours a day I am very interested in.
We just started too! About 3 weeks ago and I’m with you all the way. We are totally impressed and enjoying our lessons. Our favorite subject so far is History, which is funny if you think about it. A kindergartener, second grader and a 30 something mom all looking forward to a good history lesson! lol
Tiffany, Yes, please keep us up-to-date on your homeschooling journey! I just started reading “Homeschooling Methods” by Paul & Gena Suarez. It gives a snapshot of many different homeschooling approaches and several essays from leaders in each method, all from a Christian perspective. It is so helpful! It has me very interested in Unit Studies. Did you look that way? I’m thinking Unit Studies in the morning and lots of child-led free-time/unschooling in the afternoons. I guess that’s eclectic!
I just love the homeschooling concept. I know this sounds weird coming from a school teacher. lol
The plus of using K12 is that you have lots of materials to hand. And that is state paid for in some states.
I see so many children in school who would much better off being home educated. They are not naughty but just don’t sit still and listen to a teacher talking about stuff they are not interested in. We don’t expect adults to do this. We get to choose who and what we sit and listen to.
My kids are grown so I can’t homeschool them but I would love to homeschool someone else’s kids. I even have a boarding facility in that I have a large house! So now all I want is for a parent who for one reason or another cannot homeschool their child but want them to be educated in a very small setting with their needs paramount. Ooh lovely.
how much does the curriculum cost sfor a year?
If you have a virtual public school in your state that offers it, then it is free. If you pay for it then it starts at $1500 a year.
My 15 y.o. son has been attending a virtual school (not K12) for three years. He has LDs and the public school he was attending was absolutely NOT meeting his needs. (He failed a learning support class!!) So I pulled him out. With a smile on my face. It was the best decision I have ever made as a parent. He, too, received a computer (HP laptop), printer, textbooks, course guides, workbooks, etc. They furnished everything he would need to get the work done. I think it is fabulous!!
I also like the fact that our local public school district is not benefitting from him financially (like they would if he was traditionally homeschooled) — the virtual charter school gets the state funding!
Thank you soooo very much for blogging about this with so many great details! I am bookmarking it and saving for when I’m ready to homeschool :)
Cheers,
Kristen
“I also like the fact that our local public school district is not benefitting from him financially (like they would if he was traditionally homeschooled) — the virtual charter school gets the state funding!”
I’m not sure what you mean by this. My daughter is traditionally homeschooled (not part of a virtual charter school or other public schooling at home program), but no one gets the state funding for her.
I am very interested in the K12 program… I will have to look for some information on virtual schools in our state, and see if we can get this curriculum free! I would love to try it out while she’s on her intercession break this fall!
Wow you’re doing it! This is the kind of attention and stimulation all kids need. What a great program if it had been available when my daughter was younger we would have likely home schooled much longer. The little bit of homeschooling she got still helped a lot and she’s at college now :) I’m really happy for you and your family!
That curriculum sounds great. I’m just curious, does the state you live in required homeschooled kids to take state exams? We have homeschooled kids coming in all the time to take ours, I was curious if that was true across states.
Elisabeth,
You do have to take state exams starting in grade 3.