IQacademy

I guess its official. I sent off the paperwork today for IQacademy for the kids. I dont know why I am nervous about it all. I just am. Orientation and computer hand out is in August and school starts Sept2. This will be the first year since....I cant remember....that we have had an official start and end date for school. we generally work when we work and stop when we stop. Maia and Ethan I am planning to go to preschool two days(afternoons) a week. That should free me up a bit for a little bit of MY interests. I wont have to report for anyone this year. thats nice. no deadline there. Little E is not old enough to report. I am sure he will learn stuff but it wont be because I sent in a form saying so. I keep waiting for the right moment to get out some of the stuff I got for them for school. (the little ones I mean) Ethan probably needs a new backpack this year. his is wearing out. Maia's is still in great shape though because she didnt take it to school. Not sure what the heck happens to backpacks at school that wears them out so bad. You wouldnt think that popping in a couple of papers would make such an impact on the integrity of the pack. I got some new crayons and glue sticks at target this week. glue sticks were 20 cents for a 2 pack or a ten pack for 2.99. does that make any sense at all? Perhaps in convenience....I mean opening FOUR packages is just SO much work maybe someone pays extra to only open one? I dont know, sounds kind of dumb to me.

I went to IQacadamy open house. I liked it for the most part. But it has its drawbacks. I suppose everything would. But right now I am thinking if I had two in school full time I would have more time and more patience. Cody doesnt want to go to school. he could do IQ and the other two could go to PS and Maia could go to preschool. I am torn. as I am every year. If the two littles were as laid back as Cody was at this age it wouldnt be so hard but they are little monsters and into EVERYTHING ALL DAY LONG. perhaps my time for homeschool is over. I dont know.
and all the way to the open house meeting I kept thinking the name Molly Jo. the woman doing the presentation was named Molly Johnson. I didnt know that until I got there. wierd.

note to self

questions to ask when looking at schools,
is content mastery the goal or content completion?
is attendance mandatory?
you teach or I teach?
computer loan?
what grade does the school start and end with?

school dilemma

we watched connections academy dvd and there are things I like and things I dont like. And I dont appreciate the tracking a student for college or for "life". you should be able to take the classes you want (outside of requirements for graduation) and not be mommytracked or deadended. I think that a kid who wants to take chemistry or some other college prep course but doesnt intend to go to college should have that choice. just as college bound kids should have the choice to take classes more often frequented by the not college bound. so anyways the tracking bugs me. The lady on the video bugs me too but I wouldnt have to deal with her! also if I have to do the teaching then why should I bother? Like its a public school, online, but YOU the parent teach the courses with their curriculum essentially. That bugs me. I dont think they do the laptop deal. I have but one computer and 2 kids, that isn't gonna cut it if they have to work several hours a day.

Other options I have found
blueskycharter.org
vhomeschool.net
mcool.org
iqacademymn.org
minnesotavirtualhighschool.com
insightminnesota.com
mnvirtualacademy only goes through grade 11 I read somewhere.
or just go to PS but we REALLY enjoy our freedom and our local school isnt all that great.

If I have to teach it anyways then maybe I should go to curriculumexpress.com and order my own curriculum

any other ideas ?

as for the wee ones I think we will keep on keepin on. Ethan is learning to read, Maia is writing her name and doing prereading stuff, and they love lapbooking. so I am not too worried about what to do with them. Chrysta can pick up another year doing whatever I come up with and then start at whatever secondary/high school I decide upon.

fret fret fret

what to do about next year. Mishmash was ok up until now but C will be in 8th grade this year and I feel like he needs something more. the other C will be in 6 and could do mishamash again just fine but I am trying to find somethng we can stick with until they graduate. (I should edit to add that we dont want to pay 300 a credit per year!) there has to be SOMETHING. We looked at some online schools. Public online schools. I just dont know which way to go. My kid is unique, he is my kid, and so far I just havent found the thing that would suit him. He absolutely abhorrs the idea of going TO school. he is ok with ps online but doesnt want to go to the building. which is fine, we have come to enjoy our freedom in hs. we can vacation when we want, day trips when we want(often!) hit the beach while everyone else is in school. If anyone reads this and has some links for me to curriculum I would gladly look at them. I am just so unsure which way to go. I need a big lightning bolt to come out of the sky with the answer attached to it.

still not sure which way to go for next year

Looked at an online school but in talking with husband I dont think that will be the best route. Husband is all "get a standardized test!" "You have to see where they compare to PS" I am more of the mind "who cares where they compare to PS. ask a PS kid about art. ask a PS kid about shakespeare." They may not be exactly on level with the ps in everything. But why does it matter as long as they are moving forward and learning? and if they dont learn X by grade X will the sky fall? what if they dont learn it until X+1? why is that a problem? THAT is why I homeschool. so we can do things at our own pace. I don't see where a Standardized test will show anything more than if they are good test takers. My one son I KNOW is not a good test taker. for one thing he has ADD. and he is NOT prone to worrying about details. If you get ONE answer in the wrong line then the rest of the entire test is off! how is THAT a measure of knowledge? We generally have used the "PASS" test. but maybe the peabody would be better. the only problem there is that you have to have someone to administer it. PASS you can do yourself. although if the only requirement is a college degree I have that covered.

what to do for next year

I am looking at Oak meadow again but not sure I want to fork out the cash to find they still dont like it. its a lot of money!! I also already bought several things from barnes and noble. I could of course return them and that would pay for the kindergarten curriculum from oak meadow. almost. I am not sure where to go with Cody and feel I need more guidance in finding appropriate things for him to do. He didnt like oak meadow before because it was a lot of writing and a lot of reading. he is reading more now though. He also is much more willing to write than he was before. Chrysta I think could thrive on it. she is a kid who oddly enough loves to do work. especially if its work of her choosing. that doesnt always work out so well though. you cant learn to run before you can walk! If I remember though the oak meadow math was a bit on the slow side but they could keep on with the saxon math. I just dont know. It would cost almost 800 for all three. Wonder how much it is if I piece it together without the math. less maybe.