I decided to shell out the the money to do a few of the Monarch classes (specifically Bible for 4th and 7th, Health for both, and Indiana history for the 4th grader) for my kids during the April 20%. We played with it a little in the beginning, but it was slated for use this school year. After using it heavily for the last few weeks, I have finally admitted to myself it was a huge waste of money. It kills me to stop using them because it was about $260 (after the discount!), but they aren't learning anything, the system is clunky and frustrating, work gets lost, and I could go on and on. Both kids have been in tears over it, which has never happened with any of the other good or bad curriculum we have tried. The concept is great, but the actual product is junk. I just wanted to let you all know buyer beware before sinking hard earned money into it. It's obviously your choice, but don't say I didn't warn you...
Thanks for the heads up! I wont be thinking of using it in the near future, maybe a few years down if they fix the quirps first eh?
I'm glad I went with SOS instead of Monarch! The French is working for Rachael, but the science is not for Faythe. I don't find it "user friendly" at all. There's a million tutorials to "teach" you how to do everything, and I don't have the time to sit down and do each one, plus I can't remember. Every time I want to look at their grades, I can't remember how to pull them up and I keep clicking on what I THINK is right until I accidently hit on it.
Thank you for the input! I had considered using it for some electives next year. I'm glad I didn't this year. BTW, have you written a review to the company? They seem like they'd actually care to hear your feedback. And it won't improve unless they know what the problems are.
I plan on sending an email. I have already sent feedback after my son's essay was lost (there is no save function!) and also about my frustration at the lack of ability to customize the calendar outside of marking a day as a no school day. They will be definitely be getting a long email explaining every issues I have personally come across. I'm sure there are some I haven't.
Jackie just go to the list of thier lessons, view it as instead of the one they usualy get the list from to the other one, I forget what it is called and at the moment my sos needs to be reinstalled, THIS WEEK THIS WEEK I HAVE TO GEt it going! been so back logged trying to get the schedules down but if you need more help ask me in a day or two and I will show you where it is , how to print it etc to make it easy for you. I really like SOS just don't always get as much done as we want with it because of small quirps like this. I think the books are better sometimes but I know the kids pay attention to computers sometimes better too so we just go again and again with new things.
