Name: Great Homeschool Conventions (Columbus)
Start: 2025-04-24T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-26T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Columbus, OH

This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by Renee.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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October 31, 2016 at 10:02 am
Renee
Participant
I have recently started having some vision issues paired with headaches and dizziness (finally went to the doc last week so just starting to try and figure it out). Some days are better than others. There are time when I can’t read very well – the words move, jumble, jump out, etc. We get through spelling (Spelling You See) and math (CLE), but so much of the other subjects are literature based so I am struggling. At this point I don’t have any books on tape – I do have a DVD with hours of Early Am. History items on it, but no way to play it 🙁 I know I need to push through to a certain extent, but can only do so much. I would love some thoughts on how to continue on, getting done what we need to get done.

Oh, and my little ones are 3, 5, 7, 9 – I feel like that gives me some extra flexibility since they are younger, but then again, they aren’t to the point of being able to do a lot of it on their own (my oldest reads well, seems to retain a lot of what he reads, but has very poor writing/spelling skills so most things are done orally at this point as we work on the other basics).
I hope I posted this in the correct section, if not, my apologies.
October 31, 2016 at 10:57 am
sheraz
Participant
Can you use Librivox or Audible on your computer (or tablet or phone) to read some of those books to your kids? You might change a book or two that are audio in order to do so like science, history or literature, but your kids would still learn and progress. You could continue with narration and other things orally.
October 31, 2016 at 1:01 pm
Renee
Participant
Do you need to download anything for those sites? My current computer is totally maxed out on memory (and I have no idea why! I have yet to find what has eaten it all up). I am hoping to get an inexpensive, bare bones laptop next month, but until then I can’t download or upload much of anything.
October 31, 2016 at 2:11 pm
Tristan
Participant
Do you have a cell phone (smart phone, doesn’t have to be great, but needs to be able to have apps)? There is an Audible App, so you would bypass downloading to your computer and download to your phone. Then delete when you are done listening and you can redownload at any time. Most tablets also have an app available for Audible if you have a tablet.

October 31, 2016 at 3:53 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
Are you able to use audio books from a library? Borrow from friends? Check eBay, etc.
But really at those ages, you could have only your oldest reading literature subjects. Just keep up with skilled subjects with your younger children, during this season. Once they learn to read, they can read to learn on their own. Of course, meet your state requirements though.
November 1, 2016 at 9:55 am
Renee
Participant
Our small, local library didn’t have many quality books on CD – mainly John Grisham, Patricia Cornwell type stuff. They do have Pride and Prejudice though, but I can’t remember the general age recommendation for it (I checked it out for myself). The bigger, main branch in town would likely have more options. I’ll have to swing by one day and see (with a book list in hand since I am still sorting through it all).
No smart phone for me. DH and my parents all want me to get one but I don’t want the added cost, or the temptation to be on it while out of the house (although DH would appreciate me having GPS capabilities after a few SOS calls for directions when the ones I printed out weren’t accurate). I wonder if I could get a pay as you go type one for simple things like audio books and GPS? Or even an iPod touch for the audio books maybe? Not sure how that works though. I’m out of the tech loop for someone my age…
What would you deem necessary for what is hopefully a temporary stage in life? We do a group Bible study 1 day per week with lessons to work on throughout the week, then math and spelling… can do Signing Time videos to keep up with ASL learning. Books on CD for some literature exposure. Independent reading at appropriate levels for the older two. Our state doesn’t have specific requirements for subjects taught, just that we have to “conduct instruction” for 180 days and have an annual standardized test on file for one year. They list the basic subjects traditionally taught by grade, then the minimum requirements for HS, but that’s about it.
I remember a couple of years ago finding a variety of schedule options on SCM and one of them was a “light load” if I remember correctly. That might be what I need… hopefully I can find them again!
November 1, 2016 at 12:10 pm
Aimee
Participant
As far as an inexpensive smart phone goes. I am really happy with Tracfone. I bought a refurbished phone for 60$ and they gave me 20$ off because I still had an old flip phone that they were phasing out. It’s very inexpensive because I get triple the minutes I buy for the life of my phone and if you buy 1000 minutes, you get 1000 talk + 1000 text + 1000 MB of data. I hardly use data because I’m home most of the time and just use our Wi-Fi. I like having it for those few times I need it when away. What I really love is that texts are only 5$ to add 1000 more to my phone and that is what I use the most. This is actually cheaper than not having a smartphone for me!
Another good option is Republic Wireless if you want an inexpensive monthly plan. My son has this and really likes it but I think there are only two phones to choose from.
Sorry I don’t have more ideas to add, other than just keep you’re kids reading, even if using audio books, until you’re better. They are still very young.
Blessings! Praying for your healing!
November 1, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Karen Smith
Moderator
The Light Schedule for Busy Seasons is found under the Plan CM tab at the top of this page.
November 1, 2016 at 9:39 pm
Renee
Participant
Thank you all! I just talked to DH about a Tracfone, need to research some prices and phones – quite a few options! As long as it says it can do the Google Play apps I should be good to go, right? Not an option I thought about.

Thank you Karen, that is the one I was thinking of! Didn’t get a chance to look at it earlier today and my vision is starting to go for tonight so computer time will be done here shortly.

Thank you again! I know it’s (hopefully) temporary, but I really don’t want them to lose out on account of my physical craziness – hopefully we can trudge through with slight alterations until things ease up or they figure out what’s going on and can fix it.