One of the greatest advantages of
homeschooling is that the learning environment does not have to emulate the
traditional classroom setting. Yet many parents start their homeschooling
experiences with a traditional textbook and worksheet format because of its
familiarity. The good news is that there are offerings that allow students to
learn while breaking away from the methods that feel stale to today's
students.
Time4Learning’s online
interactive curriculum is a popular alternative to workbooks and textbook-based
study for many reasons:
1. Multimedia Format.
The multimedia curriculum appeals to middle school,
elementary, and preschool students.
Students like the independence of computer-based
learning.
2. Effective Quality Program.
The curriculum is time-tested and provides a solid
base for language arts and math (preschool – 8th grade.)
An online science and social studies program is
included free (2nd – 6th grade.)
Time4Learning makes the effort to inform and support
its users and potential customers with free online, interactive demos;
descriptions of the curriculum on their website; and an open forum where
parents can ask questions of current members.
3. Simplicity.
No lesson planning, grading, or software to
install.
Signing up takes only minutes.
Children follow self-running lessons, interactive
activities, and assessments inside their browser with or without parent
supervision.
Parents can review their students online progress
reports and, when they haven’t mastered a lesson, get them to repeat it and
approach it differently.
4. Low Pricing and Fair Terms
Time4Learning is reasonably priced and offers
discounts for multiple children.
The program offers a two-week money-back
guarantee.
Payments are set up as monthly charges with no long
or short-term contracts.
Families can evaluate Time4Learning and sign-up on
whatever schedule works for them. There is never any pressure from "sign-up now
promotions".
5. Open Communication.
Families can email Time4Learning with questions
anytime; emails are answered seven days a week.
Parents can reach Time4Learning via phone to discuss
matters and with a little patience, can even speak with the president of the
company!
The parents forum allows candid discussions of
curriculum along with comparisons of alternative homeschooling methods.
Picking a curriculum for homeschooling seems to be an
ongoing process. Many parents find that what works for one child, doesn’t work
for the next. What works in what subject might not work in another. Most
homeschool parents rely on a eclectic mix to best meet the needs and wants of
the homeschooling family. So how can a curriculum source like Time4Learning be
used?
This example of a homeschooling method comes from a Time4Learning
parent named Kelly when she was asked if Time4Learning was "the answer" for her
children:
"I would be cautious about a curriculum that promised to
be all that your child will ever need. My children are each very different so I
treat each one appropriately. As an example, here is the starting point that I
take for my second grader.
Starting with the language arts
program, our family uses Time4Learning for our language arts foundation
curriculum. Time4Learning's language arts curriculum is thorough in its
coverage of phonics, grammar, vocabulary, verbal comprehension, reading
comprehension, critical thinking, and literary analysis. If I feel my
child needs additional practice on a certain language concept, I can usually
find it in the Time4Learning language arts library of
extensions.
We supplement
Time4Learning with my own version of a reading, journaling, and handwriting
program (keyboarding for the elder kids).
Reading is very important to us so our schedule includes a
weekly library visit to pick up new books. There is an hour of daily reading. We
alternate between reading aloud or to herself. I still sometimes read to
her.
All my children write in their journals each day. Monday is
creative writing, Tuesday is book report, Wednesday is whatever they want,
Thursday they review a lesson and on Friday, they choose their favorite journal
entry from the week, correct any spelling, punctuation, or grammar errors and
write the edited version in their best penmanship. This provides practical
application of some of the language skills they've learned.
I have a
handwriting program to develop fine motor skills and learn penmanship. At
third grade, the kids follow a typing program.
I have children with a
range of math abilities and Time4Learning has been a good choice for all
of them. I add math drills for the kids who need it.
I supplement
Time4Learning's Science and Social Studies with "read alouds" from the
library. I locate books on a subject that is currently being studied and read
these aloud to my children in the evening. This often generates some interesting
discussion, which helps build conversational and verbal expression
skills."
While Time4Learning has a lot to offer, what and how it is
used is still decided by the homeschooling parents, which allows them to
maintain their independence while creating the optimal learning environment that
will work best for their students.
After all, that is why they started homeschooling in
the first place.
For more information please visit their website at www.time4learning.com
or
phone (954) 771-0914 / Email: info@Time4Learning.com. |
