Any K12 Independent users out there? A question...

[Sue G in PA]

We used K12 with a cyber for 2 years. I loved the curriculum for the elementary years. I didn't like being part of the cyber. Too inflexible. I can't afford to do a full K12 load for all my kids, but I'm pondering using Science for next year for my 3rd and 5th graders. My question: Is it worth it? $22/mos plus materials (we're looking at over $250 for one subject). I just can't find a Christian curriculum that I *love* that covers a variety of topics. We did CKE Biology/God's Design for Life and while I loved that, my boys wanted to cover more than just life science. I've looked at Considering God's Creation, BJU Science, etc. Nothing looks good. K12 is secular but nothing in Science 4 would be too against our Creation beliefs (except the Fossil Record unit which we could skip or "tweak" using AiG materials). So what are your thoughts? Worth it? Not? Any Christian curriculum that comes close to this? TIA

[Linda in NE]

Overall, I've found it very worth it to pick from K12's offerings for courses I want and take a pass on others. There's no requirement that you use it all. Although I haven't done K12's science clear through, we've used it in the lower elementary grades and found it very doable and worthwhile. Generally, all the K12 courses are very well done and you've got to love the teacher's guides. Everything is all there, all laid out for you and ready to go. I really appreciate that.

Let me know if you have specific questions.

Linda

[LisaK in VA]

We are happy K12 Independent users... in fact we were so happy with what we tried at first, we upped it to the full program and a 2 year commitment.

The science and history are awesome. Art is a lot of fun, and it coordinates well with history (although we wind up also using a 2nd art program, because my dd is just a huge artist).

I love, love, love the literature program. It is perfect for my not-lover-of-reading boy. Shorter stories with more focus on the comprehension and application. Plus the activities and additional reading time give plenty of room for a child to follow their interests (read about Louis Pasteur in lit... then it's on to star wars for free reading <ugh>).

Grammar -- jury is still out on that one. I really like Abeka grammar, and feel that a separate vocabulary program is overkill (but it's easy for him). The writing program is challenging, but well organized (challenging mostly because he's 1+ years accelerated, and writing is lumped with everything else in Language Arts.

We're also doing the music program -- that's for fun, more than anything. We're doing that for all three of my children.

I really like that I can pay for one child and lump another one into a course (we'll be doing that a lot for my younger two who are only a grade apart -- at least until one or the other needs/wants to move more quickly through the material.

[Scarlett]

I use K12 through the ARVA. This is our second year---started ds as a 1st grader with the program. Before that I just did informal teaching at home using the WTM approach...he learned to read at 4 and was doing well in math. Anyway, maybe my state just handles it in a different manner than PA, because I have no complaints AR.

What do you find restrictive through the charter? I'm just curious...

I love K12 too.

[Sue G in PA]

No flexibility in scheduling, teacher's breathing down my neck all the time, extra portfolio work outside the normal requirements, etc. The second charter we were a part of was much better, but then it changed, too. I wanted to be left alone except if I needed help. I wanted more calendar flexibility and curriculum flex. Although I do love K12, there was a lot in the upper grades that I didn't agree w/ re: evolution and the beginning of the world. I couldn't stand sending in work samples every month, testing EVERY year when PA only requires hsers to test in 3rd, 5th and 8th. They even had early literacy testing for the K, 1st and 2nd grades! AND b/c we live so far from most, we were traveling over an hour to get to a testing site and then I had to spend all day there w/ little ones while the olders tested. Not fun. So...we withdrew and started hsing on our own this year.

[Scarlett]

I have really been fortunate with the two teachers he's had, or maybe it is just the AR system. I have a phone or on line 15 minute conference once a month. I have to send in work samples every 60 days. (6 math/4 LA/2 each of history/science). And I have to log school time every day. That is it. No one bugs me, no one makes me document how I am spending that time. Oh we have to test once a year, but AR requires that from grades 3-8 anymore.