k12+/Virtual Schools Fall 2010 - Page 7

[MyTwoAs]

Me again with another question. My son completed the Scantron assessments on Friday and I was curious how long it typically takes to hear back from the teachers regarding placement? I see that some of you have students in one grade but working on a higher grade's language arts or math. Starting part-way into the school year is proving rather challenging because I feel like I'm just flitting about trying to get things in gear while I wait on answers from teachers, my supplies to arrive, etc.

[LilMamiBella]

Originally Posted by MyTwoAs

Me again with another question. My son completed the Scantron assessments on Friday and I was curious how long it typically takes to hear back from the teachers regarding placement? I see that some of you have students in one grade but working on a higher grade's language arts or math. Starting part-way into the school year is proving rather challenging because I feel like I'm just flitting about trying to get things in gear while I wait on answers from teachers, my supplies to arrive, etc.

I called a few hours after my kids took their placement and they were able to tell me what grade they'd be in.

[seren]

Originally Posted by MyTwoAs

Me again with another question. My son completed the Scantron assessments on Friday and I was curious how long it typically takes to hear back from the teachers regarding placement? I see that some of you have students in one grade but working on a higher grade's language arts or math. Starting part-way into the school year is proving rather challenging because I feel like I'm just flitting about trying to get things in gear while I wait on answers from teachers, my supplies to arrive, etc.

I got a call a week and half ago saying dd1 hadn't finished her scantron. THe reading portion didn't register. So she retook it last week. I got an email saying the teacher had received it. I asked how she did and she said she was within the normal range for her grade and she would send the results out when she got everyone's. I got hers this morning.

[kittie313]

We're pulling out of k12 for now. With the changes in the math program, it went real bad for dd1. Last year I had to rewrite a lot of lessons in math and phonics/lang arts to fit her learning needs, and this year with the math I have to completely redo the whole thing to fit her and its just moving way too fast for her to even begin to keep up. So, we're leaving the school for now. Really makes me sad, I love k12 and it is a good program, but the way my h sees it is that if I'm rewriting every lesson to fit dd1's learning challenges for OHVA then we may as well just go independent and create our own program. So, I printed off the CHEO form to file my notification and I'm working on my outline and materials lists now then it will be mailed off tomorrow after he looks it over, and then I'm calling OHVA to withdraw them. I'm scared.

I do not see it as a failure on k12 or OHVA, this just isn't the season for us to be doing it with our girls. I love the curriculum and the structure and support it gave us, and we still need it to an extent but I need a MUCH different program for my oldest's learning needs and I don't think there is going to be a boxed curriculum out there that will fit her without a lot of modification so we are writing our own stuff for her.

[elanorh]

Cat! I'm not a huge fan of the new math program either (For whatever reason I don't feel like it's as easy to assess out of things that Ina *knows* - I saw a lesson farther down the road that she already knows, went to do the assessment and it said that it is an assessment based on her earlier work?!) ....

I hope your new curriculum, whatever you settle upon and however you put it together, works well for you. I assume you're going to have both girls in your new curriculum and withdrawn from k12 (no reason to keep doing k12 with one and not the other!).

If you are comfortable continuing checking into this thread to provide advice to parents who need it, I think that would be great. But I know you have a TON on you plate this year!

[magnolia_mama]

Cat, I have enjoyed reading about your experiences with K12 and wish you the very best! I am sure you'll find something perfect for your family.

We are in the beginning of our 3rd week with virtual school. The first two weeks were quite challenging. Every day seems to be a little better than the last. Yesterday was an awesome day! My kids loved learning and I loved teaching. I think we are finally getting the hang of it!

K12 is such a rich curriculum. I really love how all of the subjects tie into one another. We did a lot of unit studies while homeschooling and it's great to have that "unit study feel" without all the planning.

I'm getting a lot better at picking and choosing what parts of the lesson are beneficial and tossing out those that are repetitive/unnecessary. This makes a huge impact in the flow of our day! Our teachers had elluminates with the kids last week and both seem very sweet and relaxed.

I am feeling much, much better than the last time I posted! My kids are learning A LOT and having fun too. What else could I ask for?

[seren]

Oh my gosh, the ols is driving me crazy today! It won't load.

[kittie313]

Well I had a conference with dd1's teacher a couple hours ago. We think we have a solution on the math issue. I am completely ignoring the program beyond the lesson objectives and the assessments. I'm using the workbook to give her work to do on the dry erase board, I'm writing her work in the workbook as she does it on the board, and I'm teaching it HER way at HER pace. Meaning, right now we're working on numbers to 1000 because she can count them, read them, and write them easily while her daddy works with her on adding and subtracting them (with carrying and borrowing). Thing with that is, unit 1 is numbers to 500 and unit 8 or 9 is numbers to 1,000 so I'm doing two totally different units at one time. I also was told today that the teacher is 99.9% sure that she's going to be on the list for title 1 services when it comes out next week, and if she's not then she's putting in a formal request. We're also seeing if we can get the LD testing fast-tracked a little bit so she can get services (which will include dropping the phonics program hopefully, she's not a phonics reader). The only negative right now so far is that since she's in lang arts and phonics 1, we can't move up to 2nd grade until she can master the PHONICS material. Part of her issues is that she can't pick apart individual sounds, she has trouble hearing the individual sounds in words (and its even worse when she sounds out a word because of her lisp lol). I printed off the lesson objectives for the first 3 units of lang arts, and thanks to our time with Sonlight the only thing I need to do is the GUM material with her. We're going to fly through the language arts and then sit twiddling our thumbs while she's being tortured with phonics.

So, all that to say that I'm going to keep with OHVA for now to see if the changes we're making will work with her.

[Purple Sage]

Hi everyone. DD1 is in the 8th grade and expressed that she is very unhappy at public school for a variety of reasons and wants to be home schooled, so I just filled out the application for the TXVA. Skimming through this thread I noticed a lot of talk on the lower grades, but I was wondering if anyone has any older kids doing this program? Any tips or advice for someone completely new to this? I'm very nervous but quite excited, too.

[seren]

Ok, I kinda feel like we are just bobbing along. I guess I'm unsure of how to prepare. Tomorrow my son starts, so I have three kids in k12 and he has lots to catch up on. How do you prepare? How much do you use the teachers guides?

[kittie313]

Serenity I totally rely on teacher's guides normally to teach a lesson. However, right now I'm being forced not to use it at all in math for dd1 and we're choosing not to use it much with either girl in phonics (or language arts) because the girls already have 3/4 of the skills down for lang arts and I find that actually building words with the tiles to review the digraphs we're learning is MUCH more effective. As far as how I prepare, well all I do really is look over the lesson objectives for the basics and then figure out what we need to get out for all subjects (I consider math and lang arts/phonics to be basics here so I spend more time on them daily by default) based on the materials list, and then we jump in.

(pardon if I don't make a lot of sense right now, its 3am and I have no clue why I'm awake but I'm going to roll with it and take the opportunity to do some advance prep for the girls and do some of my college work)

[Hopefulmama]

Boredom with PA Cyber Little Lincoln

Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great curiculum and we are very happy with PA Cyber. My DD is in K-5. She likes watching the videos, etc., but she knows almost everything already. So she is bored. I've been trying to focus on the concept they are trying to get across and expand upon it. She is reading already and they are teaching beginning phonics. Even when we do the "Extend your thinking" sections, she grasps it quickly and moves on. From what I understand, you cannot skip a grade with them, but you can progress through the program at a faster pace as long as you are covering the information and the student is "getting it". By the time we cover the information though, DD is done with it and doesn't want to do more. So I am not quite sure how to balance it. I guess I should contact her IS and ask for advice or what options we have. Has anyone had a similar experience? Have you moved through the curriculum at a faster pace? I don't want to rush her, but I want her to be challenged and not bored. She said to me the other day, "I can't wait til I am in fifth grade because then I think school will be harder. I like to figure things out more than I have to do in Kindergarden."

[kittie313]

OK I have a slight issue. Portfolio for dd1 and dd2 are both due tomorrow. DD2 did hers over the weekend so I just have to scan it and k-mail it to the teacher, but dd1 won't touch the paper to do hers because of the feel of the paper. *sigh* I sent a k-mail to her teacher asking if she can do it on the dry erase board instead, and I just send pictures to show it is her doing it and close-up shots of her writing (if its readable, if not then she'll have to copy it on paper) of the rough, editing, and final drafts. I have a 4'x8' dry-erase board being hung tonight on the school area wall, so she has *more* than enough room to do the entire process on the board.

[MyTwoAs]

I apologize for all of the questions and very little support in a support thread. My head is spinning from this big transition to virtual schooling from public schooling for so long.

I finally got the scantron results. My son is in 4th grade but tested above the advanced range for 5th grade in both math and reading (the scale didn't go above 5th grade). His recommended learning objectives in math are 6th and 7th grade items and his only recommended learning objective in reading is to "identify the meaning of a 10th grade vocabulary word presented in isolation." The teacher just sent the assessment over and that's it. I'm hoping that they can provide some enrichment type activities for him. We don't mind doing the 4th grade work because that is what is needed for the state's mandated testing but I'd like to pop in some more challenging items as well. Perhaps the teacher will respond with more information soon.

kittie313 - Good luck with your daughter and the dry erase board assignments. Both of my children have some sensory sensitivities so I can understand the challenges you are facing.

[kittie313]

OK do a happy dance with me.................

DD1's teacher approved my having her do the portfolio writing on the board and my taking pictures of the rough, dd2 taking pictures of us editing it, and then my taking pics of her final. She is perfectly fine with the modification since we have the sensory issues, she knows that we're still waiting for all the testing to be done and that anything to get this child working is a good thing.

[Love_My_Babies]

Originally Posted by Hopefulmama

Have you moved through the curriculum at a faster pace? I don't want to rush her, but I want her to be challenged and not bored.

We thought about Little Lincoln, but chose to go with K12 because each of the subjects are separate. We have K level for most stuff and 1st grade for other stuff. You should talk to her teacher and let her know the situation. She may be able to reccomend some enrichment stuff or have other ideas available through your virtual school. Good luck!!!

Originally Posted by kittie313

OK do a happy dance with me.................

DD1's teacher approved my having her do the portfolio writing on the board and my taking pictures of the rough,

Love it when the schools are flexible and understanding of individual student's needs.

[seren]

Originally Posted by Hopefulmama

Have you moved through the curriculum at a faster pace? I don't want to rush her, but I want her to be challenged and not bored. She said to me the other day, "I can't wait til I am in fifth grade because then I think school will be harder. I like to figure things out more than I have to do in Kindergarden."

WHen we started Math for K it was colors and shapes. Dd2 looked at me like she couldn't believe I asked her such a dumb question and roller her eyes. She's quite a firecracker, lol. So we are moving through it quickly. Most of it she doens't do, I do it, then she does the assessments. Today we hit graphs and stuff, so I didn't do it and we will do it together. Her teacher said as soon as dd2 is done K she will order 1st. We will do the same for phonics.

[EXOLAX]

Originally Posted by Hopefulmama

Don't get me wrong, I think this is a great curiculum and we are very happy with PA Cyber. I guess I should contact her IS and ask for advice or what options we have. Has anyone had a similar experience? Have you moved through the curriculum at a faster pace?

I'm not familiar with Little Lincoln. Sorry I can't be of help. We use k12.

Originally Posted by MyTwoAs

I finally got the scantron results. My son is in 4th grade but tested above the advanced range for 5th grade in both math and reading (the scale didn't go above 5th grade). His recommended learning objectives in math are 6th and 7th grade items and his only recommended learning objective in reading is to "identify the meaning of a 10th grade vocabulary word presented in isolation." The teacher just sent the assessment over and that's it.

Welcome! We started the first day of school and we just got our results back as well. Our teacher kmailed our 4th graders results along with a document containing the "indicators" which listed the score ranges through 12th grade. I imagine your charter should have that information available beyond 5th grade since the test is supposed to have no ceiling. You may just want to ask your teacher for that info. I was informed by our teacher that we would be discussing the test results at our next phone conference which isn't for another few weeks so we are in a similar situation. In the meantime we are doing checkpoints (CP's) to assess out and doing lessons as needed. Our teacher did say to just do the unit assessments if DD knows the material and skip the lesson CP's.

Also, check out the ALP (Advanced Learners Program). We are in a different state but where we are they offered lots of enrichment opportunities through our charter (k12 offers them nationally too). For us it was all optional but last year DD had critical thinking classes, special research projects, online theater productions put on by the kids. This year they are offering even more so I'm excited about that.

Originally Posted by kittie313

DD1's teacher approved my having her do the portfolio writing on the board and my taking pictures of the rough, dd2 taking pictures of us editing it, and then my taking pics of her final. She is perfectly fine with the modification since we have the sensory issues, she knows that we're still waiting for all the testing to be done and that anything to get this child working is a good thing.

Awesome! Glad to hear they are being accommodating.

FWIW I've used a similar approach with some subjects (math and LA primarily) as you have. I look over the lesson/unit objectives and teach the material on my own. I've done this a lot for our younger daughter as it has allowed us much more flexibility regarding where we do schoolwork. It's a little more challenging with older DD as I'm having a difficult time finding ways of incorporating things like Distributive Law into our daily activities.

[MyTwoAs]

Thanks EXOLAX. I asked about the ALP prior to enrolling and so I know a little about it. Tomorrow we will actually have the opportunity to meet with one of the certified gifted teachers at the LEGO Robotics Club for the school. My son is so excited that he's old enough to participate with the "big kids" (ages 9-14).

I will have to ask the teacher for the score ranges through 12th grade as it is hard to estimate where he'd fall based on the 3-5 ranges only. I get the feeling that my teacher is a little overwhelmed right now but I will definitely follow up with her. I like what you are doing with regards to the checkpoints and I think we'll start that tomorrow. Right now he is working on greater than and less than up to 10 million and while enthusiastic about learning he keeps giving me the "c'mon mom" look. hehe

Again, thanks for the info!

[elanorh]

Welcome, PurpleSage -- I think you might have one of the older (if not oldest?) kids on our thread - last spring I met a family whose eldest was in 8th grade in the k12 program for our state and per their description, it was *great.* They were really happy with it. They said that the math was much more challenging than the math he'd been doing the year before in school (IIRC, they actually ended up having to teach some stuff from the 7th grade course to him, because k12's curriculum was substantially ahead of where he'd been at the end of 7th grade in the public school -- I think k12 sent the 7th grade work for him to work through the end stuff on his own before he started the 8th grade stuff?? I'm not sure).

They were loving the curriculum for him, though. As kids get older, there is more and more interaction with the k12 teachers, and he felt he was really learning a lot from his k12 instructors.

Hopefulmama, if Little Lincoln works at all like k12, you'll probably be told that you can "assess out" by doing unit assessments - and then move into first grade level work after that (in k12 you can do it for individual units - so for instance, my dd moved into first grade math in March last year but was still doing K science last year)....

for MyTwoA's - this thread is for questions and support! So your questions are exactly what the thread is for. A bunch of us were flying blind 'til this thread last year (EXOLAX's knowledge as a returning k12 parent was really helpful last year!).

We got behind while Great-Grandma was here -- and with just adjusting to school, I think. I'm caught up/ahead in Science/Phonics/Music, but we're 3-5 lessons behind in LA, Math, Science, Art. I think we'll do some school Saturday and that should get us a lot closer to caught up.

I'm not a fan of the MathPlus stuff - how do the returning parents feel about it? I liked being able to click through the old version and pick which activities to do (instead of having to click through the whole lesson to do it) - I dislike needing to print the assessments to do those (I don't). And even though Ina knows a lot of this stuff, it seems like so much more is predicated on scores on earlier work that there's no way I can cancel out the lessons we'd already done in the old first grade curriculum that I can see. Am I missing something??