A couple of years ago, I decided to go high tech, on the homeschool thing for the teenagers. The amount of time I was spending correcting the teenagers’ schoolwork was cutting into the time I needed to teach the younger children to read, write, and tutor Lyn, our special needs daughter. Concurrently, our curriculum supplier began offering the same material we have been using for 10 years on CD-ROM.

Of course there’s a catch, it makes life so much more frustrating. To use the curriculum on CD-ROM you have to install their database first. It always sounds simple, but inevitably there are frustrating little quirks that you can’t figure out how to circumvent. So, you end up having to delete the system and start over.

The teens were not optimistic the first year we decided to use the new curriculum. Each requested that I only purchase one subject on CD-ROM. They liked it so well, that last year they wanted all of their subjects on computer. (Pssst. They can’t skip problems either, like they try to do in their workbooks.)

There are significant advantages to having the database. It lets you set up your own first and last school days, holidays, and vacations or you can use the default school year. Then you put in your students names, your grading scale, and install each subject. You assign specific subjects to each student, then the database figures out the daily assignments required for each student.

Each day when the student logs into the system, their assignments for the day pop up. It’s almost like the computer is telling them what schoolwork to do, instead of you, which is helpful if you have a child with attachment issues. As long as they do their daily assignments, they can finish all of their subjects by your specified last day of school.

The database allows you to print report cards, with or without details for each student and… here’s the big one…it automatically corrects the assignments. If there are any essay questions or reports, the database sends you (the teacher) a notice to correct only those specific items. The students have to write all reports in Microsoft word, making their reports actually legible.

While the CD’s do have mini tutors who talk, written directions, and sample problems you still need to help your students understand math and Spanish. Occasionally, they need help with something in science, language, or history.

This year, we are going to try having four students working on computers at the same time. Therefore, I had to install the database, set up the school year, and install curriculum on four computers. I was so frustrated by four o’clock that I stormed outside and pulled weeds in the horse pasture. Not a single one lived!

Now I just have to print off new attendance sheets for each student, as well as yearly goal and area of study sheets.

Related Blogs
Unit Studies
Homeschooling LD Kids Over Summer Break
Socialization Better Taught at Home or School?
Deciding to Homeschool
How to Get Started Homeschooling Your Special Needs Child
Christian Adoption Blogs on Homeschooling
Watch Your Special Needs Child’s Computer Usage
Photo Credit