We aren’t even using t4l, (our accounts are dormant)so what could I possibly have to say?!

I was just thinking today that there may be an impression that “everyone” thinks t4l is so fun to do.

While my kids definitely enjoy t4l, no one but the first grader thinks it is fun. She doesn’t like to quit normally and will do lots of lessons everyday.

It doesn’t make it any less of a wonderful curriculum! There isn’t anything wrong necessarily if a student doesn’t think t4l is fun.

Two of my students have learning issues and they prefer t4l to the reading and writing of a “book type” curriculum, but they certainly don’t love to do their work!  I dont’ think anything would ever be “fun” enough!

I just thought it was an important point~that not all students love t4l. And I don’t consider that a failure! Liking it is good enough for me!!

Well today my T4L went dormant…Three of my students will be returning and I let the other 2 accounts drop.

As I was printing out the records last night and looking at the average scores of their activities, I found myself so grateful that I did t4l, esp. for the neighbor’s grandson. Here was written proof of what he had accomplished.

And for my son with special needs, when I meet w/ professionals about his strengths, weaknesses and school performance, I know what grade level he is doing and what kind of “grades” he makes.

It is such a relief to have these measurements of this school year!

I already miss t4l even though it hasn’t been dormant for 24 hours yet! It is quite a motivation to have everything ready to go for school. No one has to hunt for books or pencils, I don’t have to prepare anything…

Actually, I am glad for the break. I think I will continue to do 3 months of T4L and then breaking for a month to do special things that don’t get done.

Today I had everybody make up some spelling words pertaining to their special projects on spellingcity.com.That is a great little site! Normally I use Sequential Spelling. I started making lists on spelling city w/ those words, too.Now that everyone won’t be on the computer doing t4l, we will have more time for it.

I’d like everyone to brush up on typing. I have a typing program and the kids found a great typing game that looks just like guitar hero!

Also on the agenda is math drill sheets.

I’m probably repeating myself, but t4l really did give me a much needed boost just when I needed it! It’s good to have something to fall back on.

Since we missed some weeks from dh’s broken ankle I am going to continue on for probably one more week. But pretty much, we are finished with the school year!

I am so pleased to end on such a good note. This has been my best year yet!

Sunday after church, I ran into someone I hadn’t seen in a while. One thing she mentioned was that she wished she could homeschool her oldest child because he was having so much trouble at school. She meant to only comment in passing…and went on to list all the reasons she couldn’t and prepared to move on to the next topic.

I kid you not, as corny as this sounds, I got goosebumps as I shared w/ her a wonderful secret. I told her to investigate t4l, that it was the way to go for a new homeschooler(I think she also has a busy schedule). I suggested she should maybe do a month over the summer. She whipped out pen and paper and smiled, saying “What is there to lose, right?” I agreed.

 I love when I have a good suggestion for someone.

I love that T4L is so easy to use! I should have cards w/ the address written down. I have said SO many times ” time, the number four, learning, dot com”!!

Ok, true confession time.

I don’t use the lesson plans. I just don’t get it. I printed a whole bunch out, started highlighting lessons completed and just fizzled out. I don’t see the point. Since my husband’s injury, I am hardly able to even print off records, so maybe it isn’t all my fault, but I still don’t think I would have kept up w/ printing off all those plans for 5 kids!

This next confession probably means I am a bad homeschool mom, a bad t4l homeschool mom! I don’t use the playground! Which is ironic because it is something that drew me to the program. The games are great and the kids loved the idea of it.

But I dropped that thing like a hot potato pretty quickly after we started.

The timer for the lessons was a distraction. Maybe if it let you go to the playground after so many lessons, it would have worked better for us? So I set the timer to zero and they could have playground time after their lessons. However, letting all 5 kids do lessons and playground time was hard. 15 min of playground time wasn’t enough(according to the kids) so we tried 30 min and that was too long.

They do sometimes do the playground after everyone is finished for the day.

I wonder if you can still do the playground when your account is on hold?

It’s something I would like to work on(letting them have their playground time), but sometimes you just have to get it done!

Using an online based curriculum has it’s down sides. Computer problems or internet issues, for example. But it sure beats hunting down books, paper, pencils, etc!!! Besides, T4L’s tech support is SO FAST!

I don’t know how I would have made it this semester w/ out T4L, especially these last few weeks.  I have had a dear friend come in and help me(actually I help her!) do some decluttering and organizing around the house.  I don’t know how school would have gotten done on those days she came(and even on days she didn’t!) were it not for T4L. There were many days when my dh oversaw everyone’s work.

T4L has really saved the day for me, but I have always wanted to go back to using Sonlight. T4L has given me the break and the boost that I have needed. I have done a few of the History readings. And I can actually picture myself cracking open more of the Sonlight books and reading them to the kids. Until then, I am still depending mostly on t4l for everything. And I do believe I will still do t4l for some subjects for at least 3 of my 5 students this upcoming school year.

My plan is to pay the few bucks to have our accounts held, so we don’t lose the records. I will take off at least a month.

I have been meaning to make the comment that I don’t feel a bunch of computers are needed to school more than one child as I like to oversee everyone’s lessons.My thoughts are that I might like to have one more computer, but I am definitely ok having just one computer for the 5 students that I have.