- Homeschool curriculum: Time4Learning Review: Part 2: 6.5 yo interview & review
- Homeschool curriculum: Time4Learning Review: Part 1: 4.5 yo interview & review
ur most thorough interviewee: our eldest daughter.
This interview is So detailed that I had to edit it, because I couldn’t write fast enough to keep up with her excitement, and well…she even knew that I couldn’t possibly write everything that she had to share 
What do you like most about Time4Learning? When we’re learning it feels like we’re just playing on the computer — not doing homework.
Did I ever give yo homework before? No, hee hee 
I mean it doesn’t feel like we’re doing “work”.
What do you like most about Time4Learning? I like the playground because its something to look forward too…just like what you (mama) do. We work, then we play.
What do you like most about the lessons?
In Language Arts, we get to read the stories, and it tells us about parts of the story or its main characters, it teaches us something about what we just read.
What do you mean?
Well, whenever I read a story online, and I really liked the story…it just stops at the end of the story. If I wanted to learn more about the story, the subject…whatever, I had to do it. But in Language Arts, they add all the fun inside the story.
Can you give me an example?
Yes. For example, after you learn something about animals, they (T4L) ask you something about the animals. Such as, pick the right animal that…So, it quizzes you without you know. It keeps me interested. For example, they give you a hint about a certain animal and you have to figure out which one is right.
I’m sorry, I don’t get it. Remember, you have to describe something as if the other person has never seen, read, or tried Time4Learning before.
Okay. here:
- This animal jumps on a. top of water, b….
- You pick the right answer it says “Good job”.
- You pick the wrong one, it says “Try again”.
If I learned about crocodiles, birds, lagoon. And, then there are 2 boxes (she’s drawing as I’m writing notes), one of a frog and one of an insect running on top of water. If you click on “frog” it’ll say “try again”. If you click the “insect” it’ll say “Good job”.
So, what you’re saying is “in the lessons, they’re asking you questions within the “stories”, as you go along?
Yes! It’s not like a quiz or test because it’s fun-learning! You don’t think it’s a quiz or test, you’re just thinking and learning. What’s so cool is that if you like animals or insects you get to learn more about them.
But, if you’re like me, who didn’t like insects at all–this fun activity could help you and me like it! They showed me more about insects, by making it cartooning and fun. For example…
Now, she’s drawing birds, a lagoon, nest…pacing back and forth from the desk to the different colored markers to make her point. Talk about retention!
Okay, okay…I think I got it now. Anything else?
Social Studies was great! She finished all of 2nd grades lessons in less than 10-days. But, we knew she was very advanced in that subject. Her complaint:
The only thing is…it was great! Grade 2 was fun, and easy (at her level), then, I was done. Then, once I started Gr. 3 Social Studies is was much harder in the very 1st lesson!
So, the transition wasn’t smooth, huh?
No, so I’m going slower in that subject now.
But, Math! She’s drawing again, very excited that I really can’t keep up with all the facts she’s rattling off right now. Here’s just some of things I could note down:
- She’s screaming out number placements, adding more and more zeros,
- Problem solving tips…blah, blah, obviously the lessons are interactive because she has retained and more importantly, is exciting about the subject.
so, I change the subject…
Obviously, you’ve shared a lot about the lessons, let’s talk about your favorite characters.
I have 3: Cow Girl, Space Man & Suba Driver Man. They’re all the same but different people.
What!?
Cow girl gets cows by using her rope. Space Man flies out to get the meteorites, and Scuba Man swims out to get the blowfish.
What don’t you like?
Oh wait. I have another favorite thing: Story-Creator!
You pick your own colors, designs, using their story characters, settings and everything. But yo get to make up the title, change the sizes of people big or small, make them invisbilt, blend colors, red and blue make pink–not purple.
My least favorite thing…ummm….hmmm…she’s pacing and thinking.
That they cut you off in the playground, but not in your schoolwork. So, if you’re in the playground, you can be in the middle of a game (I’m always in the middle of a good game), and it just shuts off, which is not really fair. It’s not like parents will give us too much playground time…yet, the lessons, you can go on and on…we always finish, but it never cuts off.
Here’s an example. Remember Mama you gave me some time before we had to go somewhere. Well, I did many more lessons than I needed too…but, I really wanted to play in the playground. Since, we can’t get on the playground without a lesson, I just kept doing the lessons. I didn’t pay attention to the time, and when we had to leave…I never got to play in the playground.
Yes, I do remember this time…actually it happened a few times. The lessons are so much fun that they lose track of time, but like you said, you had you’re determined to play in the playground, and yet “our own time” ran out. I guess I have to try playing around with the timer then, huh?
This brings up a very important point. Have you EVER been cut off in your lessons?
No Never! I know…none of us have. (All 3 chime in).
Interesting…I read it all the time that people complain that Time4Learning shuts down, cuts people off…but it has never happened to us 1-month later.
What’s your favorite subject?
Language Arts. The birds and small birds say “good bye” and sing, “The more you read the more you know, the more you learn and grow”. The is always at the end.
And, at the beginning, the birds “1, 2, 3, 4 book — the cover song”.
Now, I/we (Baba & I) have high cut-offs (only because she is more than capable of obtaining these scores). In your Lessons you can’t get anything lower than 80%, and quizzes and tests, ideally no lower than 85-88%. Do you have a problem with repeating any lesson?
No. I like this, its fine because I like what I’m learning and I want to make sure I know most of it right. I’ve only repeated things 5-6 times in this first month. So, its not annoying at all.
Wants and needs, animals….they were things I didn’t understand completely. It’s better that I re-do it to make sure I pass and actually do my very best for the next lesson, grade…whatever.
Mama, there’s really one thing that I don’t like…I started talking about it before. In Social Studies and Science in Grade 2 there’s only ~ 16 lessons. There’s not enough work at that level.
Well, remember we talked about this before. Both subjects are hands-on subjects, and we do tons of experiments and projects on the side which makes more than a year’s work.
Yay, I know. But, I love their lessons so much…and now, Grade 3’s lessons are harder.
hmm…we both sigh.
I think you shared more than enough. Any last thoughts?
Yay. It’s the best online program we’ve ever used!
Really!? Can you compare it to others we’ve used?
- Internet4Classrooms – since its a combo of many sites, and not updated. sites our outdated, no longer in use, there’s no set “curriculum”…order in which to do anything. The “Themes” are good…but many of the sites you can’t open them!
- Starfall - not a “learning” site. Just for reading and playing. Very young…I don’t use it anymore, just watch my sisters.
- PBSKids – learning games, but no order how to progress…some fun stuff I still use
- CBCKids – younger kid stuff, just like PBSKids
- BBC – lots of stuff, we (my sisters and I) Love the typing program. It’s kindof like Time4Learning…but, not. it’s very good…actually really good stuff, but it’s based on UK. Time4Learning is a lot more fun!
- SpellingCity – Love it! Time4Learning’s owner owns this too! Which we didn’t know til just last week.
- LearningGamesForKids.com – Sweet–we had no idea, T4L owned this too!
Jazaka Allahu Khayrun habiti (sweetheart), this was an awesome first interview.
Allah yi ticki afia (May Allah give you rest, prosperity, for all your hard work).
