SchoolhouseTeachers.com Review

Every parent I know, wants what is best for their kids.  Although life throws wrenches at our plans, we try our best.  Case in point, our schedule lately.  My son had ACL surgery in November and we have been running to town more than usual for physical therapy.  Therefore, we have been doing some of our lessons in the car and at various times of the day; outside the norm.

When given the opportunity to use and review the Yearly Membership of SchoolhouseTeachers.com, I was given a full year access to the complete online program, including access to streaming from RightNow Media.  I knew it would help us while our days might be discombobulated. Jacob had started learning guitar with his father who is an accomplished musician.  Recently, he has been busy with work and he has not worked with Jacob on his music lessons as much as he and Jacob have wanted. When I observed the music course listed on the site I was skeptical. Needless to say, the guitar lessons covered all the bases, and Jacob learned new cords and songs with Jerry Jennings’ techniques. My husband was delighted to hear Jacob playing guitar without his direct instruction.

Jacob picked up his guitar and went right to work.  He was able to look at the instructions with chords listed on each lesson.  The lessons include videos that instruct the student at their pace and allow them to pause as needed.  Jacob said he really liked that it was challenging yet he found that his instructions were thorough enough he learned enough to play songs.  I liked the idea of having the time to do this while working with Hannah on other school subjects.

Although there are so many available courses, we chose a few items that I could not teach as well, as other subjects. Art is a course that I feel as if I cannot teach directly. I relish the idea of online Art instruction due to the fact we reside in such a rural area, art instruction is hard to find locally.  Hannah has a natural talent of drawing.  Hannah picked out which lesson she wanted to explore. She chose colored pencil drawing to give a try.  She dove into lesson one. Brenda, the instructor gave step-by-step details on how to draw a robin.  Hannah loves animals and this was a perfect fit.  She read the instructions and it gave her detailed tips on how to end up with a nicely drawn bird and without the “cartoon-like” look.

She and I both were happy with the results.  I asked her what she learned specifically and she said that she learned how to create color without making it look flat by drawing colored lines close together.  

As a family, we explored the chemistry science course.  We viewed the PowerPoint presentation and Youtube videos that corresponded with the physical vs. chemical changes in matter.

In addition to courses, we took advantage of Right Now Media’s library full of streaming videos. We were delighted to find the “Drive Thru History” series.  

The children and I were thrilled with the options and choices found on SchoolhouseTeachers.com.  We only scratched the surface of courses, media and planners.  If a parent needs a complete online program, I would recommend it highly. In addition, I would suggest it as a supplement for families that just need to add a little pep to their current curriculum.