Time 4 Learning Review
Last month I posted that we were starting to use the Time4Learning online program. '
I had a lot of people ask me what I have thought about the program so I am writing a review to let you know what we are thinking of the program!
First of all I would like to say that I have nothing bad to say about the program. Both of our kiddos used it and enjoyed it.
As you know, Calvin has high functioning autism. For some reason it seems that every year after Christmas we are on a slippery slope of decline in his functioning in our classroom. I am not sure if it is the season with no sun, or being off schedule for Christmas, or what. So when I was banging my head against a wall trying to find a solution, Time4Learning was a godsend!
I was looking for something that I could give to Calvin to do on those days when all else has failed and I cannot get him to cooperate with schoolwork. Or the days when you wake up and you know you just aren't feeling it enough to make a day successful in the homeschool realm...you know those days: when you grab the Pamprin and let Miss Frizzle sub for your class. Those days.
When I found Time4Learning it seemed amazing. And I'm going to tell you it is! Calvin LOVES Time4Learning. The games on the level he is at (3rd grade) are really engaging and fun. The only problem I have is that he likes to get every possible score on a test to see what the computer says, so I have to watch him to make sure he doesn't do that. On the other hand if he does it I figure it is just reinforcing what he is learning so that's not bad, right?
Calvin and Emma can do Time4Learning on our laptop, my ipad, phone, or on their tablets. Each of our kids have their own tablets that we have them use for school. So when we are going grocery shopping or somewhere they are bored out of their mind we can hop on wifi and they can get some learning done! Content kiddos who are learning makes for one happy Momma for sure! Win-win!
Another thing I have enjoyed (especially because Calvin is sneaky) is the ability to get on the teacher dashboard and see what he did and how he did at it. That way when he tells me he did math I can know that he did his math.
Time4Learning can be a whole curriculum, back up learning, homeschooling, after school learning, whatever you need. It's not just for homeschooling. And while we don't use it as a full curriculum there is Social Studies, Language Art, Reading, a place to just write for fun, art, science, and math! There's so much that it is hard for the kids to get bored. I love on days that the kids do school on there I don't hear "I'm bored!"
Emma has been using Time4Learning too but has not been enjoying it as much. Emma is very much our pencil and paper kind of gal. She also has noticed that the older grades (she's using 6th grade) don't have as many fun games as her brother gets to do in the younger grade when he's playing next to her. A lot of her work seems to be an explanation of what she is learning and then questions in a quiz, flash card kind of format on the computer. She doesn't like this, I still like it because it is still a break from the same ol' same ol' of our every day so it can get her out of a rut when learning. I would like to add though that a lot of what seems *boring* to her, I don't really know how you would make it gamey and fun. It required a more lengthy explanation and I think they do a good job at explaining and engaging the student.
All in all, I would say that we love TIme4Learning and are excited to continue on with the program. This summer we are traveling extensively and I am planning on taking their Nooks and having the program be the majority of school that we will do! So super excited and so blessed to have found Time4Learning!
*This review was entirely written by me, not the good folks at Time4Learning. I was compensated for my review, thoughts, and opinions*