Online School for Children

We use Abeka, which is a Christian school, so it's not for everyone. We have found it to be rigorous and challenging, so depending on what kind of student you have, that can be good or bad. My daughter needed the academic challenge, which she wasn't getting in public school. In 3 years of using Abeka, she jumped ahead a full grade. She will be able to take college courses by her junior year, saving us some money and giving her a head start. So yes, you can personalize it by going at the pace your child needs, whether that is fast or slow.

My daughter was getting A's and B's with Abeka. We sent her back to public school at the beginning of this year, and even though she was taking sophomore level classes as a freshman, she was getting an A+ in her classes and was bored out of her mind. So she is back home again!

If your child is a good reader, he/she will do well with Abeka. It is a LOT of reading, every day, in all subjects.

I will add this caveat - everything is taught through a conservative, evangelical view. I don't always agree with some of the things presented (not unlike public school lol), but it gives me the chance to talk to my daughter about those things and get her thinking critically.

The website is www.abekaacademy.org. They offer traditional home schooling as well. The program we are using is on DVD's, but you can also get it as streaming online. You also have the option of using the accredited program (where they do the record keeping and give you actual transcripts) or independent study.

I forgot to mention - it isn't cheap. We've spent about $1000/year, but that is still cheaper than a private school. There are online charter schools that run through the public school system, and they are free. I have some friends who have gone that route and been happy with the results as well.

This is our second year of homeschooling using the online K12 school. My son attended a waldorf school prior to homeschooling, so it's a very big difference in learning styles. He will be starting high school in august. We're going to try a traditional brick and mortar, but if he has the same issues with bullying that he did at waldorf we will be using an independant study program thru our county. it's an online school with a few days of b&m classes with teachers and other students. check what your county office of education has to offer regarding online school. or just google online schooling in minnesota and see what pops up. my son is doing better because the stress of being harrassed by his classmates is gone, he can do the work when he wants and as much as he wants. I still have to nag him! good luck!

My six year old is started K12 (online school) last year, for K, and is now in first grade...although, to quickly answer one of your questions, she is in second grade math and literature. Yes, you can work at your own pace. You are still expected to complete a year's worth of work in a year's time, but it's very flexible.

I can't sing enough praises for K12...I absolutely love the way it's set up, and I think their curriculum is one of the best available. You are in MN, I see, as am I...so you'd be using MNVA, which is based out of the Houston public school district.

They have a ton of events for socializing, so you don't miss out on that...and most of them are in the metro area. With your concerns about who they're hanging out with, etc...I think this might be a wonderful alternative for you.

I can certainly answer any questions you have if you want to PM me, since your children would technically be attending the "same school" as mine...I can let you know just about anything you want to know. I can also share with you more about why I love it so much.