Homeschool- Teaching Textbooks

[OnTheHorizon]

We used Teaching Textbooks last year for Math 7 and my child did very well.
My concern is that they may not meet the Standards for my state. I haven't gotten the results back from his STAR tests yet, so I'm not sure what to expect.

I would hate to get a math curriculum that he loves, but leaves him behind in skills. Part of me feels like you can't beat a class room situation for math, but part of me doesn't want to drive across town twice a week to take the class if we can do it at home.

Does anyone have any input or experience with meeting your states standards or STAR testing with Teaching Textbooks? We will be going into Pre-Algebra.

[funmudder]

Well thats the thing with homeschooling, your kids doesn't get behind in skills because he's not expected to do things at the same rate as 32 other kids in a room. Generally speaking, home schooled kids are usually ahead in their skills when it comes to math :idunno

Honestly? I've found that if the kid enjoys the curriculum, they will absorb it, use it and retain it. If he is really liking what you have, then he is probably learning it faster and more thoroughly than if he had to compete with a classroom setting.

Why would you think he is behind?

[funmudder]

What state are you in?

We use Saxon math. It's the same textbooks used in many public schools. My 13 year old likes it, the 12 year old is bored with it and 9 year old wants to try Math-U-see. ;) every child learns differently.

[OnTheHorizon]

Well thats the thing with homeschooling, your kids doesn't get behind in skills because he's not expected to do things at the same rate as 32 other kids in a room. Generally speaking, home schooled kids are usually ahead in their skills when it comes to math :idunno

Honestly? I've found that if the kid enjoys the curriculum, they will absorb it, use it and retain it. If he is really liking what you have, then he is probably learning it faster and more thoroughly than if he had to compete with a classroom setting.

Why would you think he is behind?
We are with a Charter school. They are really putting pressure on all of the families to have our kids meet the state standards. They can get in trouble or shut down if this doesn't happen.
I agree with the philosophy of the kids learning with a program they enjoy but I also need him to meet those standards. I don't like it but I don't feel comfortable homeschooling on my own without the 'safety net' of the Charter.

[OnTheHorizon]

We used Math u see for the first couple of years, then switched to Saxon and used it for several more years.
My son loves the computer so we went with a program that is done either on the computer, in a workbook or both. He likes the program (Teaching Textbooks) but again, those dreaded State Standards. :panic

[Leialoha]

I agree with fudmudder. I love that homeschooling allows me to teach my kids beyond what the state says all kids should learn that year. My kids learned math completely different than state standards. They learned some concepts earlier then the standards, and some later. You know, the standards change as "educational philosophies" change. Those philosophies are dictated to teachers by large private funded universities first and then trickle down to state and smaller private schools.

All curriculums will have holes in them: either the holes are there because less time is spent focusing or teaching a certain topic that a child needs more attention for (thus creating the hole), or the curriculum may teach a concept in a way that ignores more complex ways of understanding the problem.

If you find that your child is lacking in proficiency in a math topic, try using the "Keys to...." booklets. They are straitforward, cheap and easy to use. My current curriculum didn't teach multiplying fractions strait forward and so my daughter is somewhat baffled by them. So I purchased the "keys to fractions" book to fill in that gap.

Use what works for your child's learning style (and your teaching/or administrating style).

Do you live in a state where it is rigid in demanding high scores on the standardized tests? Do you need to submit them? If your child is excelling at Teaching textbooks (which I am using next year for the first time) then I doubt he/she will score below average on the standardized tests.

[Leialoha]

We are with a Charter school. They are really putting pressure on all of the families to have our kids meet the state standards. They can get in trouble or shut down if this doesn't happen.
I agree with the philosophy of the kids learning with a program they enjoy but I also need him to meet those standards. I don't like it but I don't feel comfortable homeschooling on my own without the 'safety net' of the Charter.

Can you select your own curriculum outside of their list and still be under their umbrella?

[funmudder]

What state are you in? That would help with the variables. The state of Michigan has no say or jurisdiction to test my kids, or expect them to be tested. It's one of the very few things I like about it.
Alabama isn't too invasive either, which I'm greatful for as we are moving soon.

I've joked about it before, but it's true: If the public schools were made to keep up to the same standards the home school community is expected to keep, I wouldn't have to keep them home to make sure they get an education!

I'm not real clear on the charter school dynamics to be honest. We use ACE (http://www.pennywiselearning.com/ACE-School-of-Tomorrow.html) and it is an accredited curriculum in all 50 states. We use the Saxon for extra work, to dig deeper.

[OnTheHorizon]

If you find that your child is lacking in proficiency in a math topic, try using the "Keys to...." booklets. They are straitforward, cheap and easy to use. My current curriculum didn't teach multiplying fractions strait forward and so my daughter is somewhat baffled by them. So I purchased the "keys to fractions" book to fill in that gap.

Use what works for your child's learning style (and your teaching/or administrating style).

Do you live in a state where it is rigid in demanding high scores on the standardized tests? Do you need to submit them? If your child is excelling at Teaching textbooks (which I am using next year for the first time) then I doubt he/she will score below average on the standardized tests.

That's a good idea. Even though he is not lacking proficency, supplementing with the 'Keys to...' booklets would satisfy State requirements for covering any standards that weren't being met.
We live in CA where they are pushing Standardized testing in a big way. :rolleyes

[wife]

I'm not real clear on the charter school dynamics to be honest. We use ACE (http://www.pennywiselearning.com/ACE-School-of-Tomorrow.html) and it is an accredited curriculum in all 50 states. We use the Saxon for extra work, to dig deeper.

Do you use ACE for everything?? I will be using some of it for each of the kids and also using Christian Light....