Which curriculum(s) do you prefer?

Question

I will be homeschooling three of my children next year. They will be in 3rd, 1st, and Kindergarten. We just pulled our 2nd grader out of public schools, and are currently using A BEKA. I'm noticing minor problems, nothing serious, with Math and Language. Math is fast paced, with not much review or supplemental/practice work. My son understands and completes assignments, but soon forgets skills he seemed to have mastered. Language is very slow and not as advanced, and I'm doubling his load in this book just to give him 15 minutes of work on the subject. I need something with the lesson plan mapped out for me, and which doesn't cost a small fortune, as I will be buying for three next year. I'd also like something engaging, and not just based on memorizing, as my children are easily bored. The more I research various publishers, the more difficult the decision becomes. I can't afford to make the wrong choice here. Any recommendations and/or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Why not take advantage of the fact that they are young enough to reprogram them out of the typical "one size fits all cookie cutter" approach to learning? Have you looked into other methods along the home-schooling spectrum? I would pick up a few good books about home schooling elementary aged children and start getting creative instead of relying solely (if at all) on a packaged curriculum.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Go to http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com and read about the self-teaching method.

It is an approach to education that we have used for 8+ years. We utilize Saxon math beginning with level 54 after facts are memorized *and* the functions are understood. Saxon is incremental and full of review.

Writing is practiced everyday with a view toward correct spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Reading focuses on the great writers of our past. Historical fiction, documents of our founding fathers, fictional classics and much more.

The Robinson Curriculum is inexpensive. The 22 CD set costs $195 --- it is a one time purchase. The only other expense is the math text and answer key, a good computer and printer --- paper, pencils, a chair and desk and lamp. All of your children can be home-schooled using the material found on the CD's for every grade K through 12.

I highly recommend it because I know for a fact that it is a good method. It has been the foundation of our educational plan for 4 children. Three are now adults at 23, 20 and 18. The youngest is 16 and he and the 18 yr old study at home. The 20 yr old is in college and doing very well. The 23 yr old is married and working.

Answer 4

For math, I'd recommend any of these: developmental math, Math-U-See, or Miquon Math. They're very different, and MUS is pricey, but mostly reusable; the other two are very inexpensive. I've had very good results with both, depending on learning styles. I also HIGHLY recommend Flashmaster, a handheld math drill unit. It's about $50, but well worth it, especially since you will eventually use it for all three children. It drills all four functions methodically and thoroughly.
As for language arts, I've never used a "complete curriculum", but just what each child needs plus lots of reading and writing. For learning to read I like Phonics Pathways plus Explode the Code workbooks (very inexpensive). For reading up through gr. 3, I like the Bob Books (kids love them) and Pathway Readers. After they finish 3rd grade level reading, content (history, science, etc) books from the library are just fine.
Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Check into Sonlight www.sonlight.com . It can be pricy if you buy all the books, but if you are just looking for language arts and math and you get the reading books on your own from the library or wherever, it's not that bad in price. I think the language arts guides are about $50 each are just guides, so they are reusable for the next child who comes along in that grade level. For math, they just have you pick from their recommendations. If he seems to need to return to things he's done before, Saxon might be the program to look at as it constantly reviews some previously done topic.

Answer 6

There are a ton of choices out there. Not all kids learn the same way, so not all of them will respond the same to a certain curriculum. You need to just sit down and look at your options. This is our 5th year of homeschooling, and we are always changing things. I have found that Saxon math is great if you're having trouble, it's repetative, it has extra help problems, it's pretty good. You just have to llok through all of the choices and pick what you think will work for you.

Answer 7

Use the 'curriculum framework' guides for Manitoba, Canada. They are current, well-developed, and used all over the world, including leading private schools in Britain, China, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, and more.

You need each subject's 'framework document', which is well laid out and easy to read. They are about $10 Canadian each and available at the University of Manitoba bookstore.

For your K and 1 children, I would HIGHLY suggest the program 'Kid Writing'. I have seen INCREDIBLE results over the past few years and I am using it in both of my Kindergarten classes.

Answer 8

I used Sing Spell Read write (up to 3rd grade)for all language and spelling and phonics, and Math U see for math, Then switched to Abeka. Both SSRW and Math U see were great for mastering skills and using multi sensory learning, so the skills are not forgotten. also you can get these cheaply enough off of ebay.

Answer 9

i'd doubtless propose saxon. it particularly is often in all hazard the main praised of all math techniques in the homeschooling community. It has consistent around comments of found out aspects instead than merely protecting a clean potential in each and every challenge. maximum stages have a hundred and fifty courses of 25 issues each and every. a clean potential is introduced and practiced for variety of 15 of those issues. the a number of issues in each and every lesson assessment previous fabric in a around form. Saxon isn't a "whistle and bells" variety application, merely basic math with large assessment on a every day beginning place. I had 4kids who homeschooled Pre okay to college. We used limitless Math techniques for the period of all of those years. Saxon is the large for fairly teaching math. it particularly is now no longer quite colored, musically sing-songy, or playful. even though it teaches regularly occurring applications and extra effective math bigger than yet another application. and analyze me, we tried between those obtainable on the marketplace throughout the time of the dazzling 18yrs. Saxon is the large, boring although very wonderful.

Answer 10

Ive found sonlight curriculum is great for the language/reading, and signpost maths has a lot of revision so they don't forget so easily.