This post doesn't deal with faith, but it does deal with another passion of mine: educating the future (in this case my own future). Earlier this week, I posted about Embark12 by K12 on my FB page. I wanted to correct something I said and to write about it now that we have paid for it.
There was a misprint on the site when I looked Wednesday that said you could pay by month, which you can do for their non-prekindergarten classes. You can't for the kindergarten readiness courses (sad Patty) BUT it is considerably less expensive than that original price too (happy Patty). You have two options:
1) What we chose for our 3 year old: Embark Comprehensive, a combination of online and offline activities, is $99 for 12 months of unlimited access, if you don't purchase the supplemental kits which are $29, $99, $79 respectively and explained below. This program requires parent involvement pretty much for all of it but the plan is provided for you as are suggested supplemental activities. It is very in depth and organized into themes/units (whatever term makes you happy). The $29 kit includes some one the parts of the program offline that are exclusive to Embark. The $99 kit is full of manipulatives (list is on the website but I don't remember it all). The $79 kit is all of the books needed in the program which are readily available at a library or bookstore. I have no doubt that the $79 kit is a good value but we already own some of the books so I would rather buy/borrow as I need them. The $99 kit again probably is a good value but several of the items in it I have something similar enough from my classroom years that it works. ;) So we got the $29 kit but not the other two. You may want/need the other two if you don't have the stuff. :)
2) What we chose for our 5 year old headed to Kindergarten in August: Embark Online, all online (as the name suggests), is $69 for 12 months of unlimited access. Depending on your kid, you can be super involved or more supervisory if your child knows his/her way around the computer. Our son is familiar with a computer and since it talks as he rolls around the screen, we can be in the room but playing with the 3 year old while he learns. The activities here are organized around subjects not themes. So if your child wants to work on math right now, s/he can just click on math. It also allows your child to pick beginner or advanced for most activities. Personally, I only recommend this program if you have a self starter who already knows letter, numbers, shapes and colors. It's good for supplementing and we are using it as a boost for a few months until he starts school.
C, my 5 year old, loves the program! My husband had to make him walk away to eat lunch. He chose mostly to play beginner level learning activities but since he was just learning the system today, that's okay by me. He already has a lot of background knowledge in many area so it was a little easy for him but I feel like advanced will likely stretch him a bit. The online only program is really good for where he already is and who he is as a person.
B, our 3 year old, has not started hers yet because I was working and because I haven't received my kit yet so I'd like to wait until I have. Since the kit isn't a necessity, I could start but I haven't had a chance to look over unit one. Though I may have to start before the kit arrives, B is really excited to get started because she keeps asking, "my turn?" when C gets up. ;)
As a mom and educator, I definitely prefer the more structured. Even though we haven't really started the Comprehensive program, I feel like it does a better job of planning for progression, based on the unit guides that I have flipped through. The Online only is what I would call more loose. Unless the parent is standing there watching every single thing, there is no way to track what your child has completed. Since I was working and my husband was playing with B, I don't know for sure what all C did today, that could be covered if you monitor closely. But I still prefer the mix of online and offline activities offered by Comprehensive. Since C just is using this to prep for 4 months and since I can easily include him in all activities for B. Overall, I think both programs have their places. I also think having both in our house allowed me to know what's prefer and also meet the needs we had for them.
*Disclaimer: I do work for K12 for their managed schools in Texas. I received no compensation for my review and I paid for the courses, though at the employee discount. All opinions here are my own based on one day of use.
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