Can anyone recomend a good home school cirriculum?

Question

I have been doing research and I am almost at wits end with my choices.

Answer 1

I personally love the HOMESAT thru Bob Jones University. The teachers work great along with the extra that I also provide.

Answer 2

Formal curriculum at three years old is a total waste of time and money. The best thing you can do with any child at that age is to read aloud, actively involve her what you are doing, explaining what you are doing, asking her questions, and getting outside and exploring the great big world. If you are washing a load of laundry, have her help you, talk about it, explain it, show her how its done, encourage her (even when it's not perfect). That's just an example, but if you do that with everything in life, you will be setting the stage for cooperation later on when real academics come in to play. Read all kinds of books, not just story books. Read about anything and everything at a level your child will understand, she can't know what interests her until she comes into contact with it, either in life or through a book. Read until your throat hurts, drink some hot tea, suck on a lozenge, and read some more. Turn off the t.v. and the computer, go on nature walks, learn to identify clouds, bugs,animals, trees and flowers (use your library extensively and learn right along with her). Play simple math games with m&m's (counting, sorting, grouping, etc...) then eat them! There are countless resources on the internet for free lesson ideas for that age group. Just remember to keep the play factor high, don't try to make anything seem like a formal type of lesson at her age, if she seems bored or disinterested, switch gears quickly. You are very fortunate to live in Texas, many states are very highly regulated. Seek out a homeschool group in your area, the local school district or perhaps your library might have info for a contact person. Homeschool groups have families with all ages of kids, parents who have kids doing formal schoolwork and younger kids who haven't started school yet. They can be an invaluable resource to you, not only for information on curriculum, but for friendship. You don't need an expensive formal phonics program either. They are mostly glorified games. Get a book with big print and as you read, point out the individual letters and say its sound (NOT it's name). Have her imitate that sound. Show her how to write that sound (letter) with a crayon or pour some cornmeal on a cookie sheet and draw the letters in the cornmeal, encourage those little scribbles. Many a child has learned to read with a method that simple, or at least when a formal program is introduced will pick it up much easier. At this point her world should be filled with a language rich environment; meaningful conversations, children's songs, lots of books, and lots of fresh air. This takes a committment on your part to be actively engaged. When you are ready for a formal curriculum, my personal suggestion is Accelerated Achievement. You will get everything you need for K-12 for $99 on one cd. You could spend hundreds every year for 12 years, or invest in a good black and white laser printer for less than $200 and print your own books, the same books that students used before our educational system was dumbed down. Ambleside Online is also good, same concept, and totally free. If you like to spend money than any major curriculum provider will be happy to take your money and will provide your child with an excellent education. If you would rather keep your money, either of those two will give you the same, or better, results. Blessings on your efforts! Angela - homeschooling mom for 12 years

Answer 3

First, accept that you don't actually need a curriculum. A math text of some sort would be good, but for language arts, books and paper can be enough; for science, lots of books and videos at the library; for history, lots of stuff at the library and online; same thing for geography.

Then consider what it is you really want. Do you want something all laid out for you? Telling you what to do each week? Something designed specifically for homeschoolers? A mainly workbook approach? A more literary, hands-on approach? Figure out what you really want, then you can have a better chance at picking what you need.

If I were to purchase a curriculum, I'd probably buy from Sonlight. http://www.sonlight.com . I love looking at their catalogue, even if I don't purchase!

Answer 4

I use materials from Rod and Staff.

They are a Mennonite publishing company who publishes school books that the Mennonites use in their own schools. (K-8) I am not Mennonite, but I really appreciate the Bible based instruction. I also really appreciate the cost!!! They are very inexpensive compared to most others. There is at least one website one can order from it is some thing like anabaptistbooks.com or something like that.

Then of course we also do a lot of independent reading for science and history and such as well.

Answer 5

I use Calvert with my Kindergartener. She is a little advanced for it but I think for most children it would be right on. Also, I have heard that grade 8 Calvert is harder than most high school curriculum's. It is important to me that she gets a good education. If you are starting young - I used the book "100 easy lessons" for reading with my 5 year old. She now reads at a 2nd grade level.

Answer 6

Calvert for little kids, and U of Nebraska for MS/HS. These are quite good and recognized.

Answer 7

the same as the public school cirriculum.ask one of the teachers for a copy.

Answer 8

A beka is awesome, but quite expensive.