What is a good homeschool curriculum for a 1st grader?

Question

Looking for a good brand of homeschool curriculum for 1st and 2nd grade. There are so many different brands that I am not sure which to go with? Would love to hear of a few brands and what you thought of them

Answer 1

I would recomment Abeka and Bob Jones University. I used both of these in 2nd grade and when I went back to public school for a year, I was very far ahead. Enjoy this time with your child; no matter what anyone says, a parent educating their child is so much more advantageous and meaningful than a public school!

Answer 2

You are right about there being many options out there. The trick is finding one that fits your family.
We've used Abeka for Language Arts...as well as Alphaphonics, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Rod & Staff, Learning Language Arts through Literature, Five in a Row, Beautiful Feet, etc.
As a hands-on, visual learner, I really like Math-U-See. But Saxon is also a very good program.
Personally I am not a huge fan of the workbook type programs such as paces and lifepacs...though the new Switched-On Schoolhouse is very nice. I have found Abeka is often pretty dry especially for history and science...it's better to do science the hands-on way, and history through literature.
I recommend Cathy Duffy's curriculum review website:
http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/index.html
I have found it very helpful.
I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Well i have been home schooled since i was in 6th grade and now I'm in 9th. And i have tried a few different curriculum... i started with PACES and i was able to go at my own pace while doing my work. Then i switched to Alpha Omega because PACES wasn't challenging me enough. But it all depends on how the kid works, like whether they are easily distracted or not. My best friend did abeka til she started 8th grade. Then she started abeka academy where she had to do her work by a certain date and had it sent in to the academy in Florida to be graded, and if they were late there was a 50 dollar fee. She is now checking into switched on schoolhouse. Of course all of these curriculum are christian based. And it really depends on the kid. For 1st or 2nd grade I would recommend trying either PACES or Alpha Omega.

Answer 4

It really depends on so much. Are you looking for Christian or secular based? Is your child ahead, behind, or right on schedule? Do they bore easily and prefer to learn it and move on or does it take them a little longer to figure stuff out? How much do you want to spend?

We used Abeka for 1st grade and it is a strong program. Taught everything that needed to be covered and prepared my son to go on to 3rd grade Alpha Omega. BUT for my son there were too many worksheets, too much review, the books were boring and too easy (he is a strong reader) and by the end he dreaded school. But that is my son. Many others love it and use every aspect.

For me I think we would have done better pulling some things together ourselves at this point because I sort of felt like I wrote a big check for a lot of things we didn't use. But they are attempting to appeal to a broad market, so I understand why we had to. It was just hard for me to realize we could skip some, even most of the problems, it wasn't cheating. And there is a fine line there because kids do learn through repetition.

I have friends who use Alpha Omega life pacs and love it because it allows you to customize the curriculum to where your child is with each subject.

Sorry I couldn't review more for you, I only know about the one we used. Good luck.

Answer 5

I'm an eclectic homeschooler. I think headsprout reading at www.headsprout.com is the best reading program (and more fun). I like the Houghton Mifflin math book. It's about 600 colorful pages (they also have a nice web site as well).

I tried two different science texts (McGraw Hill & Discovery Works) and they were unfortunately way too easy of a level, even the 2nd grade text. My daughter was way more advanced than them by reading fun science books about her interests (dinosaur books, animal books, human body books, Usborne First Internet Linked Encyclopedia Books, etc.).

I do like www.brainpopjr.com website for socialstudies, science, health, reading, etc. and it is currently free for grades K-3 though I suspect in a few months it will not be. We also use another free site for science/geography/math called www.iknowthat.com and the habitat game and geography games are very nice. You do have to register so that cards and points are maintained, but I have not been bothered or emailed by them.

Answer 6

If I wanted something really structured and could afford it, I'd go with Sonlight. http://www.sonlight.com

But I don't want something that structured and I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay that much, although I have considered just purchasing their science guides. I don't use a pre-packaged curriculum--I pick from stuff here and there, none of it actually designed for homeschoolers. Oh, except for Story of the World.

Have you checked out Cathy Duffy's review page? http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/

Answer 7

Abeka. Especially because it is a video/ DVD program, and children/toddlers can not sit still with just books in front of them :- ) (Unfortunatley, children are very visual today). It still feels like they're watching something; entertaining while they learn a great course. From my experience Abeka is the best. They go way beyond Academics. And yet their teaching is amazing. Classes and books are greatly sprinkled with character building. They changed my daughter's attitude/behavior/knowledge, and her grades and I am continually grateful for finding them.

Answer 8

What do you mean by "brand"? Roy Rogers 2? Giddyup 6?

Homeschooling is not for six and seven year olds unless a parent/guardian is prepared to spend at least six hours a day of extensive one-on-one interaction with that child. Two or three hours a day with a young child does not equate to "home schooling".

As a professional teacher, I cannot recommend homeschooling for anyone under the age of eight; even then, I would be reluctant to suggest that home schooling is advantageous. Home schooling is for children and parents who are committed to at least four or five hours a day to studying History, English, Literature, Writing, Communications, Business, Economics.

Answer 9

I like Lifepacs from Alpha Omega.