ABCmouse.com #Review

I contacted Jill from ABCmouse.com a few weeks ago in the hopes that I would be able to let Fuss have something new to try while we were on either of our trips (California and New York) this month. While we were in Cali, we weren't able to spend much time on the computer, however, she played a little bit. When we returned home I found a great way to entertain Fuss while my sitter is out of town and I still had to work!

ABCmouse.com has this really great section on teaching basic computer mouse movements! Fuss is only 3-1/2, so she still doesn't quite have the hang of using the actual mouse. She does, however, LOVE her Daddy's touch screen computer! This makes it really easy for me to pop on my headphones, listen to dictations, and type all while still keeping an eye on her (sitting just a few feet away). Fuss could literally spend HOURS on this site if I let her! She is on Level 1 of Pre-K and each level is tailored to build upon each lesson.

Step-by-Step Learning path

Below, is a screen shot showing the parent's area where you can monitor your child's progress and add multiple children as well. Fuss hasn't yet managed much actual progress on the lessons, but she adores the colorful and fun games.

As you can see, the site is fully customizable to your child and their interests. Fuss loves learning with the music and fun alphabet songs. She has also started tracing letters with her fingers on the screen. I think her favorite part is when she receives tickets (yes, they actually fall down the screen from a "dispenser" into a basket at the bottom) for completing the requested activities. She will literally yell, "Mommy, I got a ticket!! Yay!" as she is bouncing up and down in the chair. She also counts them as they drop! Even better? She can buy things with her tickets such as dresses for her avatar or fish for the fish tank.


I am so glad I was able to do this review and am pleased to say that I am also giving away a 1-year membership to ABCmouse.com as well thanks to Jill! I definitely plan on keeping up with this site, especially since Fuss now asks, "Can I play ABCmouse.com?" on an almost-daily basis! I think that, alone, speaks for itself!

Please go HERE to enter the giveaway and be sure to check out the site and "Like" ABCmouse on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool

Although I do realize it is several years before Fuss heads off to school, I find myself leaning more toward homeschooling. It's not necessarily for the reasons you would think. I vaccinate, so that's not an issue. I do not care that she isn't being taught "values" in school. That's what parents are for anyway. The things I am most concerned about run more along the lines of the quality of education she will receive knowing just how bad a lot of the schools are now. Our state isn't the lowest-ranked in the nation when it comes to education. Apparently, we're somewhere in the middle, around #34 (source). I'm not 100% certain that's where WV ranks since most of the sites are membership-only and won't show a comprehensive national average. However, I know that thanks to the "No Child Left Behind Act" many children who are already considered "advanced" are turned down for pre-school and Kindergarten based solely on if their birthdays fall a few days short of the deadline while those considered "delayed" or "mentally retarded" are often shoved into a school ill-equipped to handle them. Each teacher is responsible for 30 students and usually has at least 1 "special ed" kid in their classroom. Most are not allowed to have aides. The aides that are available are generally required to be with the worst students. Don't get me wrong, I believe EVERY CHILD should be educated! However, I think each child's education needs to be tailored more individually than our current system allows.

This is why I'm considering homeschooling. I want Fuss to have every opportunity to excel that I can grant to her. How can we expect 30 children to learn exactly the same way and at the same rate? It is improbable, if not impossible, to expect ANY of those children to learn ANYTHING! I still remember sitting at my desk doodling during many of my classes because I was bored with the teaching style. Plus, so much of it was repetitive. I learned the same Geography lessons from fifth grade to eighth! Hubby can read things and has a near-photographic memory for them. He got bored quickly in school. I was the people-pleaser, the "A" student, the one all the teachers wanted. I know my Fuss. She has the potential to be an "A" student. She also has the (very real) potential to be a troublemaker if bored or unfocused. How do I expect her to handle being advanced when she is forced to sit and listen to the same lecture five times due to a few students who can't keep up? Every child is different. Every situation is different. I think if our school systems could understand that, we would do a lot better.

That still leaves me with the question stated initally: To homeschool or not to homeschool? At this point, I don't know. I'm doing my research and looking for insight. Fuss can already count to 7 and says her alphabet up to J by herself. Yes, I am biased. I also know that our 90-year-old pediatrician is impressed with her each time we go in. I know she has wonderful manners and other people find her quite pleasant. I want her to have the opportunity to do dance, cheer, play soccer, anything she wants. I just don't want to be the reason she is stopped from any of those things by my choices now.

Any advice from my loyal followers? Links to great homeschool sites or groups? Please post below!

The Annoyance of Online School

You would think that being a SAHM would make it really easy to do online classes. The sad fact is that unless you are willing to plop your child in front of the TV all day whilst doing school work, it's NOT easy! For some reason, no one seems to understand that fact. I have been able to complete a lot of my course work due solely to the fact of having family to help me by babysitting Fuss for a few hours here and there. The rest of the work I complete after she goes to bed. Why is it that she can be playing with her doll or her stuffed Clifford happily for hours while I sit and stare blankly into space, but as soon as I choose to do homework Fuss DEMANDS my attention and refuses to leave me alone? If only my mind worked like a toddler's I would understand.

Then, add to this the fact that every time I really get on a roll and get a good rhythm going the stupid course refuses to let me go forward! WTF!? I mean, I am literally working my butt off to get this course finished before the deadline but then they stop me!? I don't get it. One day I will be finished with these stupid classes and I will be certified as a medical transcriptionist! It may be another 6 months from now, but as long as I get it done and can still work from home and raise my daughter in the way I see fit, then it will all be worth it.