Time for Learning
http://www.time4learning.com/Time4Learning is an online educational program consisting of math and language arts from preschool through eighth grade. Science and social studies are included for higher grades as well. The program is a series of lessons, but these lessons are not your typical book lesso style. The objectives of learning are met through playful, colorful "lessons" that are really more like games.
• You have a parent account where you can manage (add and cancel) up to 4 children, update education levels, and access parent resources such as lesson plans, hints and a starting guide. There is also a "make the account dormant" facility where you can put your kids' accounts on hold for vacation months for $4 per child per month. That way, if you'll be taking at least a month off, you don't have to close your accounts and thus not lose their records. (I had a problem signing up where I had to register all 4 children even though I only wanted to register 1 – but I don't think that is a problem with paid registration.)
• First, you register by identifying your kids proficiencies, which allows time4learning to place them in an appropriate level, and their accounts are activated within 24 hrs. They don't have to be at grade level overall, each item (e.g. Language, math..etc) is appraised on its own.
• When logged on, a child's account has icons to show the subjects, for example language arts and math. If you click on one of those subjects, a further classification of topics is presented depending on the level. Choose a topic for example "letter identification" and it opens up several lesson or activities. A lesson usually starts with a short song for the lower grades and is in the form of a game. A cartoon character guides them on screen showing them how to play (and learn!). The graphics are adorable and enrapture their audience.
• A parent can set the workload of each day, how much time they'd like their children to spend on lessons and so on. At the student's homepage there is also an icon for "playground". This is another area FULL of games of every kind! There are educational ones, action ones, strategic games…etc. The parent sets the required lesson time before the playground can be accessible.
• Parents and teachers are provided with an automated reports section, as well as an opportunity to preview the lessons that their child is due to take (or play!). Teachers have an additional feature where they can give assignments as well.
• The monthly membership fee is $19.95 for the first child and $14.95 for each additional child.
• You can take a look at the parent's forum here:
http://www.time4learning.net/forum/• You can see demos for the activities inside and a tour on this link:
http://www.time4learning.com/demos.htm• Here's what the child's area looks like:
http://www.time4learning.com/hints/hints.htm
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