Counting Down our Favorite Curriculum

We have homeschooled for quite a few years and have tried tons of different curriculum.  Today I want to feature a few of the things that have worked really well for us.  Maybe some of these things will be a hit with your family, too!

Reading:

1.  Read Naturally – this is an online reading program which, for us, has been the most effective program we have ever used.  It is a little pricey, but it is well worth the cost.  I saw my daughter’s reading level increase by 3 grade levels in one year using this program.

2.  Reading Eggs – another online program, more game oriented.  Younger kids love it!

Math:

1.  Math Mammoth – my very favorite math curriculum up through Algebra. Very cost effective and simple to implement.

2.  Math Essentials – runs a close second to Math Mammoth, goes beyond Algebra and has instructional videos available for Algebra.

Language Arts:

1.  Growing with Grammar, Soaring with Spelling, and Winning with Writing are our favorites up through 8th grade. 

2.  IEW, Analytical Grammar, and Sequential Spelling are my picks for high school.

Science: 

1.  Apologia – thorough, Christian, very easy to use

2.  Answers in Genesis – thorough, Christian, can be very independent if needed

These are just a few of our favorite products.  I will update with links to them later today, so check back!

Homeschool Methods

When we began homeschooling many years ago, I really didn’t understand the entire concept of homeschooling.  For the first couple of years, I tried to do school at home – scheduling assignments rigidly, only taking scheduled breaks, only doing school work in a certain spot, etc…  I could tell that our kids were not content with the way homeschooling was going, so I began to do some research.  (And, once I start researching something it always has a way of snowballing!)

     I have a lot of homeschooling friends.  They use every method imaginable.  Some are Charlotte Mason, some are Thomas Jefferson, some are school at home, some are eclectic, and some are completely unschooling.  Let me tell you, as I was researching these terms I felt like I had fallen into some type of homeschooling vortex from which I would never return.  There were aspects of each method (many more than are even listed above) that I liked and aspects that I didn’t like.  We tried and tried different things.  Most failed.

    After all of this searching, I have come to the conclusion that we are a very eclectic homeschooling family.  What does that mean?  Well, I don’t know what the ‘official’ definition of eclectic homeschooling is, but for us it means we find what works and use it – even if it means our curriculum is a mixture of many different methods.  Having six kids has taught me that people do not all learn the same way.  I cannot place my kids into an educational mold and expect them to fit.  I have acquired many different curricula in any subject area we study and we try things out until we find what works.  This means that sometimes we begin a school year with one math curriculum, for example, and we switch to another mid-year.  I know, hard and fast experienced educators cringe at the thought of doing that.  I used to be one of those, too.  But, when it comes to my children, I work with them everyday and I try to make sure they are actually grasping concepts.  If they are not understanding something, a change in curriculum for a lesson or two – or even a semester – can give them a new insight and help them ‘get it.’

     What method do you use in your homeschooling adventure?  Check out other posts on our ‘Back to Homeschool’ blog hop to read about other homeschooling families and their methods.

A Love/Hate Relationship with Algebra and Geometry

O.K. – I admit it.  I was the total math geek in high school and college.  One might say I was a “geek in disguise” for a lot of that time because I outwardly acted like I hated it, yet I took every math class possible and did well.  I even survived five semesters of Calculus in college (before the existence of graphing calculators), and I did it just for fun. 

     Now, my kids idea of fun is definitely not stalking Calculus classes.  Right now, we are in the middle school and high school years of math classes which means the dreaded Algebra and Geometry.  Two of the boys have already worked through these classes, but they are trying to prepare for the ACT and need a lot of review.  When we were given the Math Essentials No-Nonsense Algebra and Mastering Essential Skills Series – Geometry, I knew this was just what we needed. Both workbooks are intended for high school level students.  I am using them with a rising 10th grader and a rising 12th grader.

     First of all, when we received No-Nonsense Algebra, we used a special code that is unique to purchasers of the workbook to register for access to online instructional videos.  Being the math geek that I am, I love the logical presentation of each concept in the videos; however, being the math haters that my sons are, they did not care for the videos.  They are used to more of a live teacher who they can interact with and didn’t like the smartboard presentations.  The boys thought they were boring and opted to complete the lessons without the videos.  I am fine with that as long as they are understanding the lessons and correctly completing their assignments.  So far, they have done a great job.  I know the videos are a great fit for others, they just are not for us right now.  My daughter is starting Pre-algebra and I really think she will like to use the videos when she gets to Algebra.  She is a much more independent worker. 

     Beyond the videos, the No-Nonsense Algebra workbook is excellent.  I am using one workbook with two students right now, so they are working out the problems on their own paper.  I have mixed feelings about the answers to the problems being in the back of the workbook.  I think that sometimes, especially once a student reaches higher math, when a student is stuck on a problem it is helpful to see what the answer is so that he can figure out where that answer came from.  I, like Rick Fisher – the developer of Math Essentials, require my kids to show their work, so the possibility of just writing down the answer and cheating is eliminated.  On the other hand, I would prefer the answers be in a separate teacher guide so I could choose when my kids could view the answers. 

     As for the content of No-Nonsense Algebra, it begins with integer operations and moves quickly into algebraic concepts such as solving equations, factoring equations, and algebraic word problems.  Each lesson contains review, highlights of the concept being examined in the lesson, and practice problems. The lessons are short and to the point.  This is a very solid and complete Algebra curriculum.

    Math Essentials Geometry is a much shorter workbook.  It is designed in the same way as No-Nonsense Algebra and covers 29 basic Geometry skills.  Again, answers are included in the back of the workbook.  This workbook could be used as a stand alone curriculum, but I feel it is too short for an entire high school Geometry credit.  We are using it as review and reinforcement to the full length Geometry curriculum that we typically use.  It is terrific for that purpose.  The lessons are pointed at specific topics and all of the problems on a lesson are geared toward that topic.  It is very helpful to my boys to have a focused math lesson.  They are not fans of the type of curriculum that mixes many different types of problems into one lesson.  They have actually enjoyed the lessons in both the No-Nonsense Algebra and the Math Essentials Geometry because of the fact that they are short lessons and they are very focused.  It takes them about 20 minutes to complete an entire lesson.

     Now for what you have all been waiting for – how to get these workbooks and how much they cost. No-Nonsense Algebra is available for $27.95, a price which includes free access to the complete set of instructional videos.  Math Essentials Geometry is $11.95 (sorry, no videos for this title).  There are many other titles available through Math Essentials.  To purchase any of the titles, simply visit the Math Essentials website.

     Other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using and reviewing many titles from Math Essentials.  To read their reviews, simply visit the main Crew Blog by clicking here or by clicking on the banner below. 

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of the workbooks mentioned in this review.  No compensation was received.  All opinions expressed are my own honest opinions or are the honest opinions of my children.**

Jeepers Peepers

      Jeepers Peepers – the Ask and Answer Question Game, by Super Duper Publications,  is a fun version of a game all kids play on their own every now and then (What am I?).  Designed for kids in kindergarten and up, Jeepers Peepers allows kids to work on their question and answer skills as well as deductive reasoning, all while having a great time!
     We have been playing for some time, and our younger kids enjoy it.  It is really too young for our older kids, but it fun when we are babysitting younger kids.  The premise is simple:  each player wears a pair of play glasses that are equipped with a slot for the Jeepers Peepers picture cards.  The player has a picture card placed in his/her slot without seeing the picture on the card. That player then asks yes or no questions of the other players to find out information about the picture on the card.  When the player guesses correctly, he/she gets to push a button on an electronic spinner to determine how many tokens to collect.  The player with the most tokens at the end of the game is the winner.
     What is included with the Jeepers Peepers game? 
Jeepers Peepers includes:

• 6 pairs of Jeepers Peepers glasses
• "My Cue Cards"
• 101 photo cards (4" x 5")
• Spinner and bingo chips
• Instruction booklet

Note: Only Jeepers Peepers laminated cards fit the Peepers slot. Normal playing cards do not. Jeepers Peepers Add-On Cards are available for even more fun!
     We love the concept of this game.  My kids are hoping that some more difficult cards can be added so that the game can appeal to even older children.  We think it would be a lot of fun to buy some extra glasses (sold in sets of 6 for $11.95) and pass all of the glasses – with cards on them – out as guests arrive at a party.  The guests could ask each other questions to guess their cards.  Wouldn’t that be a fun ice breaker activity? 
     Jeepers Peepers is a high quality game with durable game pieces.  It is available through Super Duper Publications for $29.95.  And, here is a great coupon code: Jeepers Peepers http://www.superduperinc.com/products/view.aspx?pid=JP350&stid=
Coupon Code: BLGJP30
Save 30% Expires 8/31/12
     A .pdf of the instructions is available for free on the website.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Super Duper Publications for thinking of that!  How many times do we lose instructions to a game?!! Jeepers Peepers would be a great addition to any classroom – whether at home or in a public or private school.  I think it would be fun to have in a day care or after school care program, too.  Kids get to practice actual conversation and critical thinking skills instead of being entertained by something electronic.  We love it!
     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using Jeepers Peepers as well as other products from Super Duper Publications.  To read their reviews, visit the main crew blog page.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the above mentioned products in exchange for an honest review.  No compensation was received. All opinions expressed are my own.**

Heads Up!! Five Days of Homeschooling Posts Coming Soon!!!!!

 

Beginning next Monday, join me for a fabulous Back to Homeschool Blog Hop.  Some of the best homeschool bloggers around will be sharing their thoughts, tips, and techniques during the week.  You don’t want to miss this!  With my children all being older (middle school, high school, and up), my posts will be written from the perspective of homeschooling older children.  Hopefully you will find some interesting, entertaining, and informative information that will be useful as you begin your new homeschool year!

Make sure to join up on Monday!!! You don’t want to miss it!  It will be great!!!

Combining History and Geography with Knowledge Quest

I have been a fan of products from Knowledge Quest for several years.  Terri Johnson always produces quality products with great value.  Needless to say, when I received the Map-Trek: Complete Collection 6-Ebook Set, I was not disappointed.

     I am working on combining history and geography this year in our studies, and this huge set of maps is just what we needed to complete our curriculum.  With the 6-Ebook Set, we received close to 600 pages of blackline maps and keys.  Terri has already included lesson plans that can be used with the maps, so, all I have to do is coordinate a map activity with our history / geography lesson.  I have discovered that my kids really enjoy labeling and coloring the maps.  They are currently in the Ancient World book. It includes maps that coordinate perfectly with Biblical history.

     I love the lesson plans that are provided at the beginning of each book.  There are suggested activities for students of all ages as well as some optional activities.  I have been using just one map at a time; however, the maps are proving to be so helpful that I am working on printing and binding the entire set of blank maps for each child and the set of completed map keys and lesson plans for myself.  I have always had a total geography block; but, with the way Terri lays out the lesson plans and the maps and coordinates them with history, I am finally (at my OLD age) getting a grasp on geography.

     What are the advantages of the Map-Trek 6-Ebook Set?  Well, check this out straight from the Knowledge Quest website:

With Map Trek Historical Atlas and Outline Maps, you, as the teacher, can...

1. Have over 350 World History Maps at your fingertips.
2. Print them all or just the ones you need today.
3. Print multiple copies for your family's use. (Schools, classrooms and co-ops can take advantage of our volume discounts or site license agreement.)
4. Never worry about lesson plans for your historical outline maps. We've included them for you!
5. Have different aged students working at their own ability. No more trying to stretch the lesson up or down.

With Map Trek Historical Atlas and Outline Maps, your students can...

1. See the landscape (i.e. the political boundaries, major cities, etc.) from the historical time period - instead of what the region is like today.
2. Label places of historical significance on their outline maps.
3. Color in empires, trace travel routes, draw scales and directional symbols, etc.
4. Maps don't have to be boring... Students should feel free to experiment with colored markers, pencils, paint and even glitter (this is optional, of course!)
5. Finished maps can be posted to the bulletin board or refrigerator or placed in a history notebook.

     We are completely and thoroughly enjoying our use of the Map-Trek 6-Ebook Set.  It is fabulous to have a product that can fit with virtually any history or geography curriculum and can be used with multiple age groups (grades 1-12).  For all of this, the entire Map-Trek 6-Ebook Set is available for only $47 for an instant download.  Best of all, if you visit the Knowledge Quest website, you can download a sample pack of the maps for free so you can try before you buy!

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been using this product, as well as another of Knowledge Quest’s products, and reviewing these.  To read their reviews, simply visit the main crew blog for Knowledge Quest by clicking here or clicking on the graphic below.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a complimentary copy of the Map-Trek 6-Ebook Set for purposes of review.  The honest opinions expressed are my own.  No compensation was received.**

Teaching our Children a Biblical Worldview

What is a worldview?  We hear that term thrown around so frequently, but do we really know what it is and why it is crucial to have a Biblical worldview?  A worldview is a theory of the world, used for living in the world. A world view is a mental model of reality — a framework of ideas & attitudes about the world. I wonder how many adults have really thought about the perspective from which they view the world and how they live.  Our society has so deviated from its Judeo-Christian roots that the worldview from which most people operate is a secular worldview. 

     I believe strongly that my children need to be taught to view the world and live in the world from the viewpoint of the Bible.  Apologia Educational Ministries, teaming up with Summit Ministries, has published a series of books grouped together as the “What We Believe” series.  This series of books, geared toward children ages 6-14, is a fabulous walk through the tenets of Christianity and apologetics.  They have graciously provided a detailed explanation of the foundations of this series on the Apologia website.

     We have been using the “Who is My Neighbor?” book, notebooking journal, and coloring book.  This is the third book in the “What We Believe” series.  Conveniently, the books in this series are all stand alone books.  This book is a beautiful study teaching children a Biblical worldview of servanthood.  The book is hard cover and is divided into 8 lessons.  Each lesson is designed to take approximately three weeks, if you work for 3 days each week.  Being summertime, we have been working on two sessions a week; however, when our new school year begins in August, we will be going to four sessions a week.  Each lesson consists of a great mixture of Biblical truths, accounts of Biblical characters experiencing the truths being focused on, thought provoking questions, memory work, and application activities.  The notebooking journal gives students professional looking, spiral-bound pages (including foldables, etc…) on which to do their work. Once completed, the notebooking journal will definitely be a keepsake to refer to for years to come. The coloring book is professionally done and could be enjoyed by children of all ages.  The pages in the coloring book depict some of the Biblical characters studied as well as some of the story characters (historical and fictional) that are used in application stories.

     My daughter loves the “What We Believe” series.  She became a Christian last summer and we worked through the first book in the series.  Now, as she is working through this third book, she is growing and developing in her relationship with God.  She is a ‘journaler’ at heart, so she adores the notebooking journal! She is 12 and is very able to complete the lessons on her own, but, the lessons always generate some sort of discussion between us.  It is so encouraging to me when one of my children desires to have discussions about Biblical truths!      To find out more about the “What We Believe” series, or “Who is My Neighbor?,” visit the Apologia Ministries website.  The “Who is My Neighbor?” book is available for purchase for $39, the notebooking journal is $24, and the coloring book is $8.  I am so thankful that each item is available separately so folks can purchase exactly what they need!

      My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been using the “Who is My Neighbor” book.  If you would like to read their reviews, you can visit the main crew blog by clicking here or clicking on the banner below. 

 

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the products mentioned in this review free of charge in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  No compensation was received from TOS or Apologia Educational Ministries.**

Math Can “B” Simple

As a part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, our family has been able to use Professor B Math for several weeks.  Professor B Math is an online math tutoring program which touts itself as a program to help a parent / teacher become an ‘instant master teacher.’ It is not a typical online learning experience.  We have become accustomed to online learning with a lot of bells and whistles.  Professor B is very different.

With Professor B, there is a teaching character (the Bee) who represents the parent/teacher.  There is no sound to this program (and this is clearly mentioned in the FAQ part of the website along with the rationale behind the decision to have no sound).  Conversational bubbles appear on the screen from the Bee and the parent/teacher is supposed to read each bubble to the student.  Basically, the parent is the sound.  In each lesson, students are taken through the steps to solve a different type of math program and are given sample problems to work through.  Once a lesson is completed, the student can complete printed workbook pages to reinforce the learning. There are three levels to Professor B.  We mainly used level 3, but did use a bit from level 2 as review.  Here are a few of the concepts covered in each level:

LEVEL I
Pre-k though 2nd graders and remediation of older learners. Introduction to Addition/Subtraction Facts - Counting to One Hundred - Lower Addition and Subtraction - Higher Addition and Subtraction - Place Value Fractional Parts & Order - Time - Money

LEVEL II
3rd grade through 5th grade and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division Facts and Problem Solving - Introduction to Fractions - Fractional Equivalence - Addition and Subtraction Fractions

LEVEL III
6th through 8th grades and remediation of older learners. Multiplication/Division of Fractions - Decimals - Percents

We received all three levels of Professor B.  These levels effectively cover Pre-k through grade 8 (or older if remediation is needed).  From a financial standpoint, this program does give a good value for the money.  The price is changing (although the website is not changed yet) to $100 for 3 years access to each level.  To take advantage of this price, customers need to call 678-765-6655 and place their order over the phone.

Overall, we have had mixed feelings about Professor B.  My rising 6th grader absolutely refused to do lessons with the computer after we tried it a few times.  She reads well enough that it moved much too slowly for her with me reading to her.  She also thought it was too ‘baby’ for me to read it to her.  However, I downloaded and printed the workbooks, and she was able to enjoy working through those with very little instruction.  I could explain a concept to her on paper and then she would run with it.  We will be continuing to use the workbooks to reinforce and review concepts, but will not be utilizing the website.  It isn’t a good fit for us. For me, as a teacher with more than 25 years experience, the way the website works for lessons is not a good fit at all.  I have never been the type of teacher to use a scripted lesson, and that is exactly what Professor B is.  I can definitely see benefits to the scripted lessons.  This would be a great fit for someone who is not confident in math or in teaching.  It is very simple to use and is a foolproof teaching method.

If you are curious about Professor B, you can visit the Professor B website and examine the philosophy behind the program and even let your child take a placement test for free to see where he/she could work in Professor B. 

Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew also used Professor B and have written reviews which can be accessed by going to the main crew blog. 

**As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received all 3 levels of Professor B at no charge to me in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions expressed are from me and/or my children.**

 

Hewitt Homeschooling–Lightning Literature

When I think of literature studies, the first word to come to mind is definitely not lightning.  After using Hewitt Homeschooling Resources Lightning Literature program for the past several weeks, my opinion has changed greatly.  We have had the great privilege to try out World Lit 1:  Africa &Asia.  This is a high school level course.  Hewitt offers a huge age range of courses besides just high school.  You can explore the Hewitt Homeschooling Resources website to see all of the curriculum as well as to download sample lessons.  The course that we are using is located here.  So, what exactly is included in Lightning Literature World Lit 1?

This course focuses on seeing the world through non-western eyes. Students will read novels by internationally recognized authors from Nigeria, Egypt, and Japan; poetry from many countries; and an autobiography of someone from a “Third-World” country.

Students read in the following order:

• Chinua Achebe (novel: Things Fall Apart)
• African poetry (poems selected from This Same Sky)
• Kazuo Ishiguro (novel: An Artist of the Floating World)
• Poetry of the Far East (poems selected from This Same Sky)
• Naguib Mahfouz (novel: Fountain and Tomb)
• Middle Eastern poetry (poems selected from This Same Sky)
• An autobiography of a Third-World national, to be chosen and obtained by the student, from a list of recommendations in the Guide
• Poetry as Life Stories (poems selected from This Same Sky)

Lessons include cultural values and worldviews; historical fiction; symbolism; autobiography; themes; point of view; and imagery, repetition, rhythm, themes, and memories and emotions in poetry. Each unit includes comprehension notes and questions; historical, cultural, and literary background notes; writing exercises; and discussion questions. The Student's Guide also includes project suggestions; additional reading lists; semester, full-year, geography-coordinated schedules; and a bibliography.

     This course definitely had us ‘thinking outside the box.’  I have my degree in English, and really thought I was well read, but I had never read any of these selections.  I am really enjoying being able to explore new authors.  My high schoolers (both boys and both not lovers of reading) have balked at the reading, but they know they have to do it for school.  We are taking things slowly this summer and will be digging in much more when we begin our school year in a few weeks. 

     The student guide we received is a non-consumable soft cover book.  It is so nice to have it non-consumable since I have 2 children who are using it.  It is 8 1/2 x 11, so it is typical workbook size.  I am considering taking it to our local office supply center and having holes drilled so it can be placed in a notebook.  I think that would be really convenient for study.  The guide contains a thorough introductory section which, although not a ‘required’ assignment, is a great way to give students an idea of what is in the book and how to use it.  The first unit contains 2 lessons.  The first lesson covers Things Fall Apart, a novel; and, the second lesson covers the poetry of Africa.  This entire unit should take the student around nine weeks to complete if following the year plan (which we are doing).  My students are in 10th grade and 12th grade this year, and this is their first experience with detailed literary analysis, so we are taking it slow.  They are not necessarily enjoying the reading, but the writing assignments are a different story.  In the first lesson alone, there are 8 different suggested writing assignments ranging from the more formal essay to creative writing.  It is great to be able to give the kids some choice in the type of writing they want to do.

     The teacher’s guide is loose-leaf and binder ready. It is short, and basically just gives the teacher an outline of how to plan the course, the answers to the comprehension questions, and grading rubrics for writing assignments. This is such a self-guided course that the teacher guide can be concise and still be helpful.  I love the fact that I don’t have to be completely caught up on reading to be able to grade an assignment.

     The student guide and teacher’s guide are available separately through the Hewitt Homeschooling Resources website.  Conveniently, Hewitt offers a Lightning Literature World Lit 1 pack which contains the student guide, teacher’s guide, and all of the books needed to complete the study.  The student guide alone retails for $29.95; the teacher’s guide alone retails for $2.95; and the pack retails for $76.37.  We only received the student and teacher’s guides, so we had to secure the books.  Living in a small town with a terribly deficient library made this a bit of a challenge; however, I was able to secure used copies through an online retailer with no problem.

     I would recommend this course to any homeschoolers in high school.  It is a fairly deep course, so it may be better understood by older high school students, say 11th and 12th grades.  It is a fabulous preparation for literary analysis and writing students will do in college. 

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been using and reviewing this product as well as many other products from Hewitt Homeschooling Resources.  If you would like to check out their reviews, just click on the graphic below or follow this link. 

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a copy of the student guide and teacher’s guide for Lightning Literature World Lit 1 at no cost to me in exchange for this honest review.  All opinions expressed are the honest opinions of me or my children."**

Homeschool Spanish Academy

Finding an effective foreign language curriculum without spending your life savings is incredibly challenging.  We are in the middle school – high school years at our house, which means needing to get in foreign language credits.  Our tenth grader has taken Spanish at a local co-op before with mixed results.  He typically has enjoyed the content of the classes, but hasn’t retained a lot.  I think this is because of the lack of one-on-one work that is necessary for mastery of a language.  Homeschool Spanish Academy (HAS) has changed this for the better.

     Homeschool Spanish Academy is an online Spanish curriculum program.  It is very different from the popular curricula available for Spanish study.  With this program, students actually work personally with an instructor via Skype.  We were given a package of seven lessons (which is half of a semester) to try.  It has been so simple!  How does it work?

     First, we visited the website and the prompts to sign up for our free trial lesson.  Once registered through HAS, we used the scheduling website ‘Schedulicity’ to schedule our lesson at a time that was convenient for us.  Using the scheduling service was simple and we received a confirmation e-mail for our class time.  The e-mail included a link to use in case we needed to reschedule the lesson.  We had to use that link a few times because, well, life happens.  I did have to make myself a special note about the time for the lesson. Lessons are scheduled on Mountain Time, and we are in the Central Time Zone – so, for my non-technical brain, I had to constantly remind myself that our class was an hour later than the time shown on our confirmation e-mail.

      A few hours before the first class, I received a phone call from the owner of HAS, Ron Fortin.  Ron took me through several operations on my computer to test the speed and to make sure Skype was set up correctly.  It was really easy.  We found out that our internet had a slow upload speed, but, it did not interfere with our Skype reception.  Ron was very personable and answered any and every question I had.  When the time came for the first lesson, our instructor, Rosa, called us via Skype.  She is a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala.  The first lesson was spent evaluating James to see exactly how much Spanish he knew.  Rosa was very encouraging and positive. She is thorough when going through the lessons.   With James, she began with the Middle School lessons, just to see how advanced he was.  He whizzed through 7 lessons in an hour, so, she moved him to the High School lessons.  He has completed 4 lessons, has his 5th scheduled for this week, and doesn’t want them to end.  Each lesson takes an hour.  The instructor begins each lesson with an oral quiz/review of previous lessons.  Then she goes through the content for the new lesson.  James receives homework via e-mail after the lesson.  He types in his answers and sends it back to his instructor to be graded before the next lesson.  His instructor also sends the new lesson to him before class so he can become familiar with it. James is really enjoying the lessons.  He wants to keep going with HAS as long as possible.

      From a mom perspective, I love this program!!!  I sat beside James for the first lesson and was able to speak to Rosa.  She always makes a point to say hello to me when James starts a lesson.  She is patient with him and thorough with her instruction.  I can tell that the English is sometimes difficult for her, but we have had no problems understanding her.  Now that James knows what to do, he waits for the Skype call and goes through his lesson when it is scheduled.  We are using the internal microphone and speakers on our computer, so I can hear both sides of the lesson while he is taking it.  I can tell a definite improvement in his accent and in the amount of information he is retaining.  HAS is a keeper for us.  Currently there are different numbers of classes a student can take, varying from 1/2 semester up to a full year course.  I think we are going to continue with it to get his first Spanish credit.  If possible, we will be using it to continue with Spanish 2 next year. 

     Now, for all of the nitty gritty information about HAS.  There are 4 different levels of lessons available:  early, middle school, high school, and adult. Pricing for the high school level, which we used, is as follows for one student:

     There is an option for a 2-on-1 class – 2 students in the same family taking lessons at the same time.  This is great for siblings who are close in age. It would not work for students in dramatically different levels.  The kids need to be able to be at the same level to take the same lessons.  Here is the  pricing information for the 2-on-1 class for high school:

     You can visit the Homeschool Spanish Academy website and sign up for a free trial lesson to decide if it is the right program for you.  If you want to continue with lessons, you will register and pay through the same website. You can also visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog and read other reviews about other levels to get some more information. 

     All in all, I think Homeschool Spanish Academy is a great fit for us and could be for many homeschooling families.  Take it from someone with a total mental block when it comes to Spanish, it is totally user friendly and doesn’t require parental help at all with the high school level.  I am learning some Spanish along with James just from listening to him do his lessons.  Maybe that will come in handy for me some day!

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received 7 lessons from Homeschool Spanish Academy at no cost.  I have received no compensation from TOS or Homeschool Spanish Academy in exchange for this honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own.**