Which Curriculum to use (Full Version)

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PatricksPeaches -> Which Curriculum to use (6/19/2008 6:32:45 PM)

This was the first year I home schooled my oldest dd. We used Rod and Staff for all subjects. I also have a 2yo dd. I am finding that my attention is on my 2yo more than school with my oldest. My oldest is also very distractible. I want to know if anyone can suggest a curriculum that is both enriching and less parentaly guided. I wanted to set up a special place just for schooling but space being limited didn't allow that to happen. We usually do it at the kitchen table. What other suggestions do you have to make it easier for us all? I have been debating sending her back to public school but I would really hate to do that.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (6/19/2008 7:35:35 PM)

How old is your school-age daughter?

We don't use school-in-a-box curricula so I probably can't help much. We simply pull together what we need from various sources for each individual area of study.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (6/20/2008 12:10:20 PM)

I'm also curious how old your school-aged child is, and what grade level she is working at, if you know.

With a 2 year old to deal with too, things can get "interesting" quickly. Have you looked into Bob Jones' DVD at all? It's a hefty cost ($1,000 for elementary levels...but it includes everything you need) compared to some curricula, but well worth it if it will work for your daughter and also take some of the teaching load off of you. It's what we plan to use for my oldest (8) if we bring him back home at some point. We sent him to the Christian school this year because it just got to be too much for me to deal with with 3 and 1 year olds at home.



PatricksPeaches -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (6/20/2008 1:59:23 PM)

I guess I should have said that she is almost 8 and is doing 2nd grade work. I did order a catalog from Bob Jones but $1000 is more than I can pay right now. I read about Teaching Textbooks too for math but they don't have it available at her grade level. I thought about Alpha Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse but hubby was worried about it being all computer based. I wish they just had a Homeschool Book for Dummies! lol It is so hard to choose with so much out there.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (6/20/2008 3:40:49 PM)

Sounds like you need something more hands on for her (since workbooks alone weren't cutting it), and less hands on for you (since you have a 2 year old). Hmmm...maybe someone else will have a good idea.

My only idea is to do any school work she would need help with when the 2 year old is napping, and save the independent stuff for in the morning. We did that for a while.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (6/21/2008 2:15:54 PM)

Konos is very hands on, but the parent has to be very involved.

ACE is very student directed, but it is all workbooks, not very hands on, and could get boring for the child.

However, I believe there are curriculums that hit the middle such as Calvert and Sonlight.

I will also say this:


quote:

ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels

There may not be a lot of people who agree with me, but I really believe that from about preschool through about 3rd/4th grade, a reasonably intelligent person can put together their own curriculum from books, workbooks, and hands on activities found at Wal-Mart, the dollar store, etc. Although I'm not sure I've seen grammar in the stores, so that may be the one thing to buy from a curriculum, but at 4, your child won't be doing grammar for a little while yet. But I have seen plenty of adequate curriculum type materials in the stores (math, shapes, letters, etc. as well as puzzles, educational games, etc)



skypainter07 -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/1/2008 12:14:18 AM)

We are just completing our first year of homeschooling for dd age 9. She is easily distracted too, and she is the youngest child at home with no other children to contend with. I think it is just normal for children this age, and also children that were used to the stimulation of being at school with a lot going on. It is a big change to come home, and it may take a year or two to adjust. I want to encourage you to stay with it and be patient with her as she goes through this.

We've learned a lot this past year, but I have to say that I have been highly influenced by the book, The Well Trained Mind by Jesse Wise and her daughter, Susan Wise Bauer. Through that resource and the local private Classical Christian school where I teach part time, I have found a variety of wonderful curriculum resources.

I do not buy all curriculum from one source. The book I've listed has a number of suggested curriculum and many reviews. It is very thorough and complete. Many people use it as a guide, but don't follow it to the letter. The book also has many suggestions for families with two and more children. You may want to check out a copy from your local library to see if it appeals to you before buying it.

This year we used curriculum from several resources including BJU, Shurley English, and Saxon Math. For fourth grade we are using the following:

Shurley English 4
Spelling Workout 4
Latin for Children (with cd of songs and chants plus a dvd for supplementing lessons)
Sonlight History & Literature Core 4
Explorer's Bible Study
Math-U-See (Delta)
Considering God's Creation

I'd be happy to encourage you in any way that I can. Just let me know.

Blessings,
Lucinda



amybreit -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/1/2008 8:06:57 AM)

PatricksPeaches - I was looking for this thread & couldn't remember the name of it, but remembered you mentioning you had a 2yo & having trouble balancing the little ones needs & time for school with your older child. There is an article here on crosswalk called: Keeping Little Ones Busy that I though you might be interested in!



Homegrownkids -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/1/2008 9:56:27 AM)

Having a first year with these ages is tough. You sound perfectly normal. I just came on here to encourage you. At that age, and not being homeschooled before, she does need you involved. Over time, she will get more independant with her school work and will get use to the "routine" of homeschool.

Having a special "school" box of toys for your 2 yr old would help keep her busy, or putting her in the high chair with a snack or something.

If you want something that is more geared to the child, Christian Light Education is fairly independant. You would just need to correct, help with things not understood, and keep up with spelling tests. But it is work book style, kind of like Alpha Omega lifepacs but I personally like CLE better. If you want more hands on.... Christian Kids Explore.. "chemistry, biology...etc.." series is pretty good. I just bought the Chemistry one. It is for 4th-8th gr., but I know some of them are made for younger grades and this one looks REALLY easy... It looks like a 4th grader could do this independantly, so maybe the ones geared for younger kids could be done without a parent.

You could mix and match your curriculums instead of going with one thing. Maybe have the work books for Math and English, something more hands on for History and Science...etc.



PatricksPeaches -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/7/2008 12:18:27 AM)

Thank you all for the advice. I am still looking into a lot of resources. I have found one store here in Michigan that has a lot of great resources. It is not that far from me, so I might have to take a trip soon. I am going to leave the link for you all to check out too. Maybe you can find something valuable too. http://www.homeschoolingbooks.com



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/7/2008 1:33:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels

Konos is very hands on, but the parent has to be very involved.

ACE is very student directed, but it is all workbooks, not very hands on, and could get boring for the child.

However, I believe there are curriculums that hit the middle such as Calvert and Sonlight.

I will also say this:


quote:

ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels

There may not be a lot of people who agree with me, but I really believe that from about preschool through about 3rd/4th grade, a reasonably intelligent person can put together their own curriculum from books, workbooks, and hands on activities found at Wal-Mart, the dollar store, etc. Although I'm not sure I've seen grammar in the stores, so that may be the one thing to buy from a curriculum, but at 4, your child won't be doing grammar for a little while yet. But I have seen plenty of adequate curriculum type materials in the stores (math, shapes, letters, etc. as well as puzzles, educational games, etc)



I edited in the other thread, but after the first paranthesis I meant to say workbooks for



elliemaejune -> RE: Which Curriculum to use (7/9/2008 11:41:32 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PatricksPeaches
I want to know if anyone can suggest a curriculum that is both enriching and less parentaly guided.


Well, for a child so young, I cannot imagine something that is *truly* enriching yet less parent guided.

quote:

I wanted to set up a special place just for schooling but space being limited didn't allow that to happen. We usually do it at the kitchen table.


It really isn't necessary to have a separate location for homeschooling. The kitchen table is fine. It makes the learning seem more a part of life than separate from everything. Most of us find that our kitchen tables *are* the special places ;-)

quote:

What other suggestions do you have to make it easier for us all? I have been debating sending her back to public school but I would really hate to do that.


For a child so young, you really don't need to use *everything* from R&S. You could do the math and call it a day :-) You could do the oral class time when your little one is taking a nap; if there is no nap, then could the little one sit on your lap while you teach, which should only take about 10 minutes, and then you could play with her while the older one does her seatwork.

You might consider Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). It is parent directed, but it's *everything* you need, and you can do it in little bits all day.

Have you checked into some of the different methods, such as Charlotte Mason? CM is very gentle and child friendly; it might be something that would work for you while you have littles :-)

I wouldn't even consider school as an option under the circumstances you've mentioned. Really.



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