Hi there! I'm a homeschooling mother of 3 from the US. I review everything ed-tech related that you can use in your home, from online homeschooling programs to digital learning resources to helpful apps to keep you organized and more! I hope you enjoy watching!
Hi! I was planning to use Homeschool plus this year for my 4- and 5-year old kiddos, but we were traveling and got a late start, and now Homeschool plus says it is not accepting any new subscriptions. Are there any other programs my young pre-reading kids can work on pretty independently?
Maybe smile zemi? I haven't seen that program yet but I'm going to be reviewing it soon on my channel. Also Hooked on Phonics (which includes spelling and math) Reading Eggs (which also includes math) or ABC Mouse is good too.
I agree with you on Abeka. We purchased the video program-which is the same as the online but you receive the video lessons to watch on your own. We found it to very too intense and the teacher went entirely too fast. (1st grade) We found ourselves stopping the videos and repeating sections often. After months of frustration we quit watching the videos and completed the year by parent led lessons.
Acellus Academy is a school, not a homeschooling program. It is the exact same curriculum as Power Homeschool (which recently got an update to the same software as Acellus). If you're homeschooling, you don't need to pay the extra money for Acellus unless you want them to issue a diploma.
@@AmandaMelrose thank you, I’m so new to this and it can be really confusing. In my state I’m being told it would be the curriculum for homeschool. I do want my kid to get a diploma as well. But I’m more concerned if this is a good alternative.
You don't have to follow the state's recommendation - in all 50 states you can choose your own curriculum and homeschool however you want as long as you follow the requirements which vary by state. Check your state's laws on HSLDA.org/legal.
I have been doing Acellus since 2020, I’m now on my last year of high school. I’m ahead because of Acellus. I used to need a lot of extra help in school and now I do everything all on my own, at my own speed. I recommend this school for anybody who wants to homeschool, this is coming from the perspective of an older student of Acellus.
I believe they can just go back and redo the assignment like they never had before, and it will record either the best or most recent score. I can't remember which.
I signed up for miacadamy. Maybe its just me and having to learn to navigate it. I dont like how it doesnt read the story text in reading comprehension but reads the Q&A. If i want the audio i need to find it in the parent part, i think. Plus, in the math it said they needed to watxh the equalities part 1 Before part 2 without providing a link. I didnt think it was intuitive
I haven't had a problem with the lessons. Is the student just following along the learning path and doing the lessons as they are presented? If so it should be very simple. Usually there's a PDF to print and then the video lelessons, followed by some questions and a quiz. But they give a break in between so you might end up back on the learning path and then go back to finish answering the questions.
Would this be a good program to catch up a student that is a few grade levels behind the standards? He is turning 12 in a couple months but just finished MathUSee's Gamma (mastery based) Single & Multiple Digit Multiplication. The videos and books are super boring for him. He absolutely loves this type of interface, comics, colors, incentive to get points, awards, games, etc. I wouldn't say he's good at math though, but I was hoping this program could teach him to become good at math? I'm also worried that if I keep him in a mastery program it would be hard to switch to another program that is spiral later if I have to? I was considering doing this with elephant math to help catch him up. Would Beast Academy advance him quicker based on his progress? Or does it continue the selected course even if he's doing really well?
Beast Academy is very good but it's not adaptive. So it's going to take you through the whole program, although you can make changes as the parent and have them work on whatever chapter or lesson you want. I recommend you try IXL, specifically the diagnostics arena. This is a great way to find and help close gaps in learning.
Does this curriculum have woke content? Does it teach gender affirming content, does it attach pronouns to the wrong genders, etc? (Hoping it is not woke). Is the math common core? Would you say this curriculum is easy to figure out as i do have a hard time learning new tech, lol
I have heard from others that there are some lessons with content like you describe, but I personally have not seen anything like that myself so I don't know for sure. It is not specifically aligned with common core standards. I think it is relatively simple to figure out. Nothing more complicated than what I've shown in this video. Hope this helps!
Hooked on Phonics is a more well-rounded learn-to-read curriculum. I would look at this more as a tool to improve reading skills, not necessarily as a tool to build them from scratch.
I've been on the hunt for a Christian online private school so thanks so much for this review! My 7th & 9th grader currently go to an in person private Christian school but my daughter has had the worst experience so far and is begging me to take her out and put her in an online school. Since school has already begun, do you know if they enroll at all times of the year?
I don't know for sure but I imagine this must happen often throughout the year. They were very nice when I worked with them, might as well contact them and see if they can fit you in!
I hate being homeschooled but I just know that I’d hate Public school too, and yall I’ve always wanted to go to Yale but that’s gonna be so hard if I’m homeschooled 😭😭 does anyone have any homeschool study suggestions?? and I also have like no social life because I can’t meet new people because I’m pretty much always in the house unless me and my sister hang out or I go somewhere with my parents😔
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? Do you meet up with other homeschoolers in your area? This is important. My kids are out of the house almost every day of the week. It's exhausting but worth it. And a homeschooler can absolutely go to Yale or any other college. Make sure to check their requirements long before you plan to apply, and do all the things now to get you there.
@@AmandaMelrose I’m unfortunately not involved in any extracurricular activities, I’m very socially awkward and I’m shy to people that I’m not very close with, I was going to my church youth group for a bit but once I got into a new grade I had to switch rooms and just about everyone there was older than me and it was awkward, I had two friends from that youth group but I don’t think they still go, I would go back but I’m just afraid too, the only “activity” I really do is going skating every week on Friday or Saturdays. And no, I don’t meet up with any homeschoolers in my area, the main reason for that is because I live in a neighborhood with basically only older neighbors that are at least in their 70s-80s and none of them have any children, there are some kids in the neighborhood but they aren’t homeschool, and their also a lot younger than me😔 I’ve done gymnastics in the past but I was at least 4-5 when I used to go.
Get on Facebook, search "homeschool" and either your town, or county, or state depending on how big your state is. Then join all the local groups and start finding out about the local meetups, classes, events, etc. My kids would never be involved in everything they're involved in without Facebook. I know it's an "old person's app" but it is so valuable for finding homeschool things.
I just started time for learning two days ago with my children little frustrating, because it sometimes doesn’t update and it’ll say that they’re missing work. That causes them not to be able to go on playground to play the grains on there. Something else that’s annoying is they have us on East Coast time when we’re on Pacific time. A lot of the scores are still showing N/A as well. A lot of the printable’s everybody’s talking about I tried finding them and I haven’t found a lot at all. I even googled it and it said go to lesson planning pick the grade and then you’ll see resources. I’ll press on that and nothing comes up. This is really frustrating. Waiting for them to respond back to me.
The lessons are all videos, yes. There is a lesson transcript but I don't think you can print it, at least not with the new update. Then there are questions to answer after the videos.
Hey, quick question. I personally am enrolled in the private version, and my girlfriend is in the public version. She has multiple required meetings each day, while I do not. With all these meetings, when should she do her classes? Does she do them with her teachers?
HI Amanda. My kids have been using the abeka curriculum but I'm thinking to switch to Synthesis and Esingapore for Math and EIW and Nightzookeeper for Language arts. How do you think these programs stack up against Abeka? I want to ensure that they're learning all the important stuff and I've been told that Abeka is one of the best - it's all I've ever used (my kids are 6 and 7)
Abeka is rigorous. If that works for your kids and they don't mind it that's great! I know a lot of kids struggle with it. Singapore math is a very good math curriculum whether you do it in print form or online, but it may present things in a different way and different order than your kids are used to. Synthesis is a great supplement no matter what curriculum you are using. We use Essentials in Writing for our writing curriculum. I think it covers everything kids would need to know for grammar and writing (parts of speech, essay writing, etc). Night Zookeeper is good and a lot of fun. It doesn't always feel like they are learning anything but you can see the program is kind of sneaky how it gets them thinking and writing and gently encourages them to write correctly.
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Yes, but the record keeping on Time4Learning is much better. Study.com will show you course progress and scores on quizzes but there isn't any type of report to print.
I pulled my daughter out of a private school here in Ecuador and now she has started online schooling. Your videos are very informative and useful. Thank you so much❤
Im a sophomore this year. I have a dance class, and I do bowling. I’m signed up for a co ops but I don’t think it’s gonna be as often as I’d hoped. Seems like I still don’t have any close friends or ever go out. Do you have any tips on how to make friends and get out more?
Are you on your local homeschool Facebook page? We have a good one in my area that really helps us know when the activities are for homeschoolers. I also suggest having your parent try to organize something for teens. I've been thinking of doing something similar for my older daughter - a sort of tween meet up once a week. Maybe a parent could organize something like that. Facebook is the best place to post about it. And look for classes specifically for homeschoolers. I know there aren't as many for teens but there should be some!
This is a great questions and I have added it to my list because I think it would be great to review. I have not looked into any of them, but a quick Google search shows lots of options that you can check out. Speech Blubs, Articulation Station, Splingo. Seems like there are quite a few to try.
Hello there Amanda, I just saw this video today after having watched the part 1. I have a 9th and 10th grader , having always been in private Christian school, I’ve been looking at options. I think my kids would benefit from what you said at the end of this video that a mixture of both flexible, yet some live classes. Can you post which ones this might be and your favorites or opinion. I’ve looked so much that it gets so confusing 🫨 thank you so much for doing these videos, they have been very helpful. 🩷 If no good options for a little of both flexible and virtual do you think LUOA or Enlightium? Different curriculums. Hopefully you can weigh in, this so hard. Blessings
Enlightium has the option for live classes which I like. I don't think LUOA does. Enlightium uses Ignitia which is the curriculum created by AOP that is also used for Ignite Christian Academy (and many others). I am not sure what curriculum is used for LUOA. I know it's tough to choose!
Have you looked into brilliant microschool? I've also heard time 4 learning is good for this. Anything truly self paced is going to be good. I'd stay away from power homeschool though because the lesson videos are a little long.
It's definitely not a college prep academy or one of the best online schools out there. It does the job I guess. I don't think colleges care all that much about where someone got their diploma from unless it's somewhere really special. There are other aspects to a college application. But you'll have an accredited diploma and this is definitely one of the more affordable ways to get one from home.
It's very different. I think readability is great for reading practice and fluency since they read out loud, but this teaches a skill that you won't find anywhere else. It's just very different than anything else out there.
I think I could benefit from this program!😅 I’ve always had a hard time picturing things. My son is autistic and struggles with this as well. He can sound out and spell fine, but his reading comprehension is years behind. He’s done a Lot of therapy but none has really helped his reading comprehension.
I bet this would help. And funny enough, I made myself do it along with my daughter so I could get some practice. I thought, why not? I'm sure everyone could benefit even though the stories are geared towards kids.
Been using PH for a year and absolutely love it. Very organized, easy to navigate and my daughter enjoy the challenging, engaging material. We tried MA but didn't like the layout and navigation. The material seemed ok though.
My 8 & 9 yr old girls (3rd & 4th graders) have been at a charter school. I’m looking into starting homeschool before Christmas. My 3rd grader is more advanced and my 4th grader has a harder time learning. I was wanting to find a curriculum that I could use for the both of them (I feel they are at the same level) and as a new homeschool mom starting after the school year has already started I’m a bit overwhelmed. There are so many options. I’d like an online option but also some printouts for writing. It can be religious or secular.
For writing I highly recommend Essentials in Writing. This is our 2nd year with that program and we love it. You get the videos online to teach the lessons but the work is done on paper. If you want an all in one online homeschooling program, Time4Learning, Miacademy, Power Homeschool or Monarch are the most popular options. You could also do Easy Peasy All in One (which is free). There are so many options. I have a lot of videos on my channel about all of these programs and more. Hopefully they will help!
@@AmandaMelrosethank you for your reply. Which online version has workbooks as well? I’m trying to find the best of both worlds where subjects like math are able to be explained online.
Yes, good day. My name is Hassan, I live in Germany since 2015 and I wanted to please high school started online because I can't learn Germany high school, when I go school in Germany they always ask me we need YOUR certificate in your home country and I can't find it because I lost it.Yes, good day. My name is Hassan, I live in Germany since 2015 and I wanted to please high school started online because I can't learn Germany high school, when I go school in Germany they always ask me we need YOUR certificate in your home country and I can't find it because I lost it. I was my home, I already learned 8th grade primary school and two glass high school, but I do not have my certificete?
I know nothing about how it works in Germany, but there are many good online high schools where you can get a US diploma. I have several videos on my channel. K12 Private Academy, Legacy Online School, ASU Prep Global Academy, and so many more. Good luck!
