Time4Learning.com & Lucas

Lucas and I completed our second week of Kindergarten at home. Our second week was just as successful as the first. This means that we have been using the online curriculum at Time4Learning.com for two weeks. Before we started, I was concerned about signing up for an online course. Seriously, who chooses to teach their child at home only to send him off to the computer for lessons? Thankfully, they have a 'cancel at no cost within fourteen days' policy. Even if we were not certain within the two weeks, a twenty dollar hit per month is better than over a hundred dollars for a program you would rather not use.

In the end though, it was not the cost that convinced me to try the program. Lucas was and is my reason. As I sit here and type this review, Lucas is sitting with his daddy, learning to write programs. He calls me over every couple of minutes to show me what he has programmed the turtle to do. When picking a curriculum, it helps to know your child and we know that Lucas LOVES computers, video games and technology, in general. So, we never doubted that Lucas would enjoy educational games on the computer. My concern was about the lessons. Do the educators working with the programmers know what my child needs to learn? The only way to answer these questions was to do it.

When we first began, I had a lot of technical issues with Time4Learning.com. Lucas runs the program on Chrome, using his netbook. Some of the issues were on our end; the netbook is small, Chrome is not the desired brower, and we even forgot to unblock the pop ups. There were some problems that occurred no matter which computer or browser we ran. After a few frustrating nights, we were able to fix/change enough to be able to run the lessons without major problems. Yes, we are still using the netbook and Chrome.

The funny thing is, even while frustrated with the technical aspects of Time4Learning, I was so happy with the actual curriculum that I had already, a week into it, decided to continue with the program! Yes, it is that good. At least, the Lucas levels are that good! Lucas is currently doing a first grade level for Math, Science, Language Arts (LA), and LA Extensions. Since there is no Social Studies for the lower levels, the Time4Learning people were awesome enough to include the second grade level for Lucas.

Lucas's favorite lessons, by far, is the Language Arts. As soon as we complete our morning "rug time," Lucas begs for the next lesson to be Time4Learning, specifically LA. It really is hard to say no to a child who is begging to learn how to read properly. They teach Lucas how to read properly in a fun and addictive way. Having been a teacher, I understand what Lucas has learned and what comes next. I even have ideas on how I would teach it in a classroom setting. What Time4Learning does is teach it in a way Lucas loves.

Each subject is separated into chapters or topics, which are broken into sections, which are sometimes broken down again. Lucas gets so thrilled about finishing these sections that he will ask to do two when they are the final two. The Language Arts, for the first grade level, teaches phonics and basic reading with the silliest of games like Space Man and Bug Band. They are fabulous because Lucas loves them. My only complaint is that Lucas loves the catchy songs/phrases so much, he (read: we) sing them all day long!

Example of catchy song/phrase: "When you have a word like cat, take an h and make it hat!"

Lucas and I always sit together while he does his lessons. I watch to make sure he is absorbing the information. If needed, I pause him to explain further or ask him questions to make sure he does understand. I do ask him to do the quizzes without my assistance. However, if it is clear that he missed the actual teaching, I will reteach the lesson without the computer. I also assign previously completed lessons as homework. While Time4Learning is not the teacher, it is a wonderful teacher's aide!

With twelve days of school completed, we are very happy with Time4Learning as our school's curriculum for Lucas. He is learning and learning fast. He looks forward to his lessons. Thanks, in part, to Time4Learning, he is truly enjoying his Kindergarten year. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking into it for a full curriculum or a supplement. Like anything else, Time4Learning is not for everyone. However, if you feel like it might work for your child, I believe there is a good chance that it will. Try it!

Curriculum

I don't like making decisions. Not even a little bit. Which means, the hardest challenge I've had to deal with in this homeschooling process is deciding on a curriculum to use. I had not realized there were so many choices! When I first started looking, I was excited! I had a good sense of the teaching style I preferred and even the learning style that Lucas seemed to be developing.

I think that a teacher is there to guide the student in his/her learning. Every human being has interests in something. Our curiosity is very strong, unless quashed. A child can learn anything and everything, if guided along the path. This is definitely true about Lucas. He isn't curious about everything but he is very curious about the things that make him think. He has an incredible memory that could take him to Mars, if he still wants, in twenty years. However, that same memory can also causes him to be lazy about topics that don't instantly latch on to his brain. See, I know myself and my child! My dislike of making decisions led me to put off making this important choice but at least I wasn't lost! Right?

Well, I was wrong. There were so many options that when I, sincerely, began the search, I was lost. Do I jump in and buy a huge curriculum? Do I pick out pieces of different ones? Do I pick nothing and just base it on what interests us at the time and find it online? On top of that, it felt as if every curriculum I encountered involved reading passages from the bible. I understand and accept that most homeschooling families are religious. The religion being included in the curriculum brought back memories of searching for private schools. I like the academics, I like the teachings, I like the people but the curriculum just isn't right for our family.

Of course, I couldn't just hide in the corner. That's the horrible side effect of being a mom. Then one night, while I braved the search again, I ran across time4learning.com. It is an online course for pre-K through 8th grade. They create lesson plans for the parent. The child follows the lesson plans on the computer. It keeps track of the student's progress. It sounded good and awful all at the same time.

So there is something else I need to note about Lucas, he LOVES doing things on the computer. He loves video games. He loves technology. Then, there is something that I probably shouldn't note about me, I'm lazy and unorganized.

That said, the best reviews I found about time4learning mentioned how their children stayed interested because it was interactive and different. Parents commented on how simple time4learning makes it for parents to keep organized. Was it really this simple? I just pick a program because it does the work for me and Lucas gets to play games??

Then I remembered, I'm the parent and the teacher. I get to choose. I get to try out anything I want. Which means, I also get to change anything I want. So, why not!? We would try it out. They have no contracts and no obligations, just a monthly charge, which is cheaper than any private school. I could take this program and supplement it based on Lucas' interests and my experience as a teacher. We would need manipulatives for math, projects or art & science, paper for handwriting, books for literature and social studies. Now, my mind is racing! Decision has been made and I'm starting to become terrified, yet excited!

Excited is a great way for a teacher to feel at the beginning of the year. Lucas has even gotten more excited as his playroom becomes a classroom.  We were also lucky enough to have a friend lend us her K12 program to help supplement! (Thank you!!) We have one last weekend before Lucas starts Kindergarten. Honestly, we don't have everything ready, but we're getting there. We do have have a mommy and a son who are ready to put on our teacher and student costumes. He is eager to learn and I am ready to guide.