I am interested in possibly homeschooling the girls and would like info. I have only heard of Abecca but was wondering if there are any others out there that you all just love.
Thanks in advance.
Katie

Do you have a local homeschool group?
I would ask if they have curriculum fairs or swaps where you could see the materials.

A good catalog for homeschooling supplies is:
http://www.rainbowresource.com
They have a little bit of everything and they offer it on discount! :)

www.sonlight.com is a literature based Christian curriculum

www.calvertschool.org - secular

www.veritaspress.com
Classical christian materials

www.fun-books.com
"unschooling" materials

www.oakmeadow.com
waldorfy curriculum, I have only seen the preK of this, I was not impressed with it personally

www.fiveinarow.com
Literature based


There are many, many more!!!

I use with my family:
For math: Saxon and Singapore
Language Arts: Hooked On Phonics, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, Evan-Moor phonics workbooks, Spelling words, for the younger children we are doing a letter of the week
using resources from online
Science: Right now, we check out different science books from the library
Social Studies: We are studying ancient egypt
We also check out books on different cultures, countries, from library
Foreign Language: Learnables, audio and videos, computer games, sign language book
Arts: How to teach art to children from Evan-Moor
and various crafts

Hope

We are homeschooling our oldest, who just started kindergarten, through a public charter system. They pay for our curriculum, and activities and supplies (we live in CA).

We are currently using Oak Meadow very loosely. We are Waldorf flunkies and so for various reasons do not adhere to any Waldorfian practices or philosophies. But we do like some of it, very much. And I find that the kindergarden curriculum is very arts and crafts, nursery rhyme, and imagination based and is very fun to implement as an aside to other things that we are doing.
That said, we are not really "doing" anything else, aside from living life and recording what we do in such in a way that our charter school can see that we are learning. Because learning happens all the time, in so many natural, spontaneous ways.
This is what I love about homeschooling-the opportunity to appreciate that quality and let your child grow into himself that way; naturally and gracefully. That said, I don't know if we are committed homeschoolers or not...but however long it works, we will enjoy it!

Oh, some of the things that I plan on purchasing (through the charter) or by myself for first grade are: Saxon Math (a very respected and recommended-to us, at least-math curriculum), a book/program titled "How to Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons", more cheap workbooks from Walmart (my son loves workbooks), and we already have Oak Meadow's First Grade curriculum.

Best of luck to you, enjoy whatever your decision leads you to!:)

Paige
mom to Hunter 1/23/98; Skyler 4/27/01; and Jasper due 3/04/04

We are using K12 - through a cyber charter. I have a K and a 2nd grader. But we combine all the secondary subjects (art, history, music and science). They work at their own level/pace on math and reading. Austin is right on grade level (mid 2nd grade) and Nate is at K LA/Phonics, but doing 2nd grade math with Austin.

www.k12.com

I plan on waiting til Adam is 2nd grade to enroll him, though. (Lauren would be in K then, and we could combine a lot of their subjects) We are looking at using Sonlight preK next year. And then possibly for K and 1st, too. Still undecided....

For younger children I highly recommend KONOS (particularly KONOS In A Box) or Five In A Row .. along with Saxon Math.

I use FIAR with Jack and we *LOVE* it! I am teaching him to read using a book titled Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We use Saxon math. Jack also does a few worksheets for "fun" and he spends about 15-20 minutes maybe 4 days a week playing educational computer games geared to his skill level. Nature walks, field trips, outdoor science projects, and lots of reading whole, living books are a part of our school year as well.

My oldest son, age 15, uses TRISMS .. It is geared for highschoolers. A wonderful program.

We follow a very relaxed unit study approach.... inspired by my research into the Charlotte Mason phylosophy of educating children. FIAR is such a wonderful program. Simple and very effective. I plan to use it with all of my younger boys until maybe the 2nd grade and then will, more than likely, switch to KONOS.

I used Abeka with my older 2 sons for 2 years. Abeka was created for a classroom setting and therefore is very structured and time consuming. My boys disliked it. It made for a very boring day for all of us. Abeka, however, is an academically excellerated program and may work well for your family. I do know several families that enjoy it.

There are so many choices. Many *very good* programs to use. You just have to decide which one will work for your family and lifestyle. No need to stress out the first year though (like I did lol) .. If the program you go with isn't working out.. just do something different. No harm done. Best wishes!

we're Waldorf-esque here, and just got Enki- I think I'm in love!

www.enkieducation.com

it's not for everyone, but I think it's a beautiful pedagogy.

We follow a book called "The Well-Trained Mind". An updated vrsion of the book is coming out in April, but you should be able to get a copy of the old version from your local library.

I hope this helps! : D

We do Well-Trained Mind here, too (it's actually just a practical description of the classical or trivium approach to education and it gives a variety of choices for curriculum so you can pick and choose what works for you and your kids). The specifics of our curriculum choices for Max (2nd grade) are on the sidebar of my blog (see link below) and if you scroll down, on the left sidebar are our choices for next year (3rd grade).

I especially recommend our math curriculum -- Right Start math through http://www.alabacus.com

We are currently unschooling our preschooler, but in the future I imagine I'll just make my own curriculum, depending on what he wants to learn, nad what I think he needs to learn.

I have heard good stuff about Five in a Row...and it seems like the "theory" behind it is consistent with how I think kids (or my kid anyway_) learns, so maybe I'll check that out.

Michelle

We're following an unschooling, child-led approach so we don't have a single curriculum. I would say that our biggest resource is the library.
:)
Tara

Originally posted by tara
We're following an unschooling, child-led approach so we don't have a single curriculum. I would say that our biggest resource is the library.
:)
Tara

nak


This is basically us too. I wouldn't recommend any curriculum for a child the age of your girls except maybe 5 in a row or before 5 in a row. It is a neat approach. we had it and never used it because it just didn't quite fit for our family. ds is a non-fiction boy and fiar and bfiar are based on fiction.

ds is 6 and has to be *encouraged* a bit more than he did at age 3 or 4. We basically unschool, but I do present a lot of information to him. By that, I mean I pick out books that I think he would like (ancient egypt, mythology, fossils, rocks, etc..) and we go with what he shows an interest in. Lately it is ancient Egypt. We read Ms Frizzle's adventure. I love that crazy woman. :D

He loves math so I just make up stuff based on the state standards. We play a lot of games.

He didn't learn to read by any one method. He just was ready and took a leap. We had done some phonics stuff though.

I try to keep him moving and playing games for learning. He is still just a baby at age 6. He needs to move first, be taught second.

If I had it to start over, I would have encouraged *thinking* more and book work less. When he was ages 3-5, he was a whiz at book work. He couldn't get enough of it. He has incredible memorization skills. Now that he has sort of leveled off on his learning, I'm discovering that he doesn't like to *think*, he likes to memorize. He would probably do very poorly on a standardized test right now--not that I care! He has to be tested next year in 2nd grade. He is exceptionally bright, but doesn't always use thought process to solve problems or questions.

We're working on it.

Gee, I wrote a book! :)

Originally posted by Stacinator
I wouldn't recommend any curriculum for a child the age of your girls except maybe 5 in a row or before 5 in a row.

I agree. It is an excellent starting spot.

Yes, I agree we are not quite ready for a curriculum yet, but I want to get ideas from what is working for others. My biggest fear is that I will not like it or be able to do it (homeschool) and then I will have wasted valuable years when Kaylene should have or could have been learning.
I don't know what unschooling is so if you would like to enlighten me on that I would appreciate it too.
:D
I have been jotting down notes from you all so thanks for all the input. I really am not wanting the girls to go to a public school (particularly Kaylene, I don't really think about it for Kass yet) and the school at our church is not really what we are interested in either.
I was thinking about doing some sort of preK program with Kaylene next year but I have been back and forth about that also. I don't want her to be rushed into all of it. If she isn't ready yet then I want her to be able to enjoy her time at home with her family. Does that all make sense? Hope so. Anyways, I really really really appreciate all the input from you all!
Katie
Oh yes I wanted to add that I have heard that there is a homeschool group in this small town we live in but I haven't been able to get ahold of anyone who has a phone number so that I can get ahold of them yet. In our subdivision there is one family that homeschools and on Wed. we go to Story Time at our library and there is a mom that homeschools also. So I have talked to them, but they haven't gone to the group yet so I will check again with them this week. I would enjoy talking to others around here that homeschool.

Ah! my favorite subject! (i'm a curriculum addict, LOL) this year, my 2nd grader is using SL 1 adding in story of the world and we are loosely using SL Prek for my 5 yo.. next year i'm using My father's world K for my 5yo and My father's world ECC for my then to be 3rd grader.
http://www.mfwbooks.com i LOVE LOVE LOVE sonlight, except i don't especially like the science, the language is ok, but i like to delay it a bit, my father's world is not as literature based so we will use some of sonlights read alouds and readers to go with it. but its more hands on.. which i like, and my 8yo needs.

OH!!! you have to go checkout http://www.alldirect.com cheep cheep cheep books!! aka heaven LOL.

for math we are using making math meaningful, which we like.. what else?? definately try to get to a curriculum fair, though you can probably sell whatever you buy adn don't like for close to what you paid. rebecca

I suppose I should list the books we're using. My daughter is about two months younger than your eldest daughter. We're pretty relaxed. I just streamlined everything because I had too much going on in our home schooling and I was just plain not doing it.


Reading - we read books all the time. I follow the suggestions in two books
1) The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. We've just about read all of the books suggested for Preschoolers and younger from this book. Some have been *great* and some have been really bad IMO. It's worth waiting a year to buy it since a new version will be out then.
2)Book That Build Character is another book list, but it's all dealing with morality. I have this list intermingled with the books from "The Read-Aloud Handbook" and it all just comes across as reading books to my DD.


Writing - I try and make sure that Annabelle does something crafty every day like color or paint. Right now she's on a Valentines Day card kick, so our place is covered with paper hearts.

Math - I mostly just do daily math with her. If she's in the mood we play board games.

General Preschool learning - "Slow and Steady Get Me Ready" - It's like Preschool in one book. The book has suggestions based on the age of your child. For example, my daughter is three years old and twenty-eight weeks so we will be doing a number game that is described in this book. It has an activity a week from birth to the age of five years and fifty-one weeks.

Beyond that I just started with Head Start home visits and they have a socialization group that we will start going to soon. Once a week we go to the library. I have books already on hold (I do it through the library website) so that we can concentrate on having quiet fun at the library.

For Kindergarten for my ds we're using.....
Alpha Omega Horizon's Phonics
Saxon Math
my own version of Five In A Row(some of their books seem to be hard to find and I wanted some more Christian and holiday related selections)

I love what we're doing and will use the same things for 1st grade as well.

Also, I grew up on Abeka, and don't really like it. Too many workbooks and busy work and consumable stuff. Not original at all. WE like more hands-on, original, practical stuff along withthe workbook for some balance. DS has a workbook in Phonics, hands-on work for Math, and a combination of Mommy-led and Child-led activities for the rest of his subjects.

For preschool, by the way, we don't follow anything. We just follow their leads and interests. We read, read, read to them, and do tons of different art projects, and talk, talk, talk about whatever their interested in.

With kindergarten, all you're trying to do is introduce basic concepts (what a triangle is, counting with 1 to 1 conrrospondence, etc), and instill a love for learning in them. You know....ignite that fire in them! :) I was a teacher pre-children, so I have to have that curriculum in front of us, even if we don't use it or branch off from it quite a bit. But I'm very dedicated to making sure it meets each child's needs, and keeps them "children"---ya know? There's time later on from academic stuff. Letting them learn by playing and exploring their world is the whole focus of our hs.


****Also---Mr. Rogers' is watched here EVERY DAY and is a huge part of our day as well. It's ds's favorite show, and we talk about it, do the activities ds thinks up after watching the show, etc. He addresses so many aspects of children that you can't even begin to describe all they many ways we use his show.

HTH~
Lisa :)

For Lauren (8th grade) we're using:
Math - Saxon Algebra and D.I.V.E. CD (a teacher teaching the lesson for me)
Science - Apologia Physical Science
History and Reading - Sonlight
Language Arts - Analogies and Wordly Wise
Spelling - Spelling Power (she's a weak speller so we're still doing it in 8th grade)
Language - Rosetta Stone Spanish

For Nicole (6th grade) we're using:
Math - Saxon 87
Science, History, Language, Health - A Beka
Spelling - Spelling Power

For Robert when he's ready:
Before 5 In a Row - plus he already loves to do simple workbooks from the bookstore so he can do "school" like the girls. :0)

Ann

Thanks you all . My notebook paper has quickly been filled with titles of books to look for on Wed., at the library, and websites to check out when time permits. I wish I could tell you what a help this will continue to be. You all rock!
I told Cody tonight that I absolutely do not want Kaylene going to PreK, b/c all she needs is here at home. And that I am even more interested in home schooling after today. Thanks a million everyone!
Katie

I just wanted to mention how much I love homeschooling and I hope you will too.

Last year was our first year and I really felt like it wasn't working out too well. I felt like I wasn't doing enough or challenging ds enough.

It was only this year that I really feel I understand the process. I'm sure it will change over the years.

Don't feel too much pressure to *teach* or formalize anything. You will settle into the right approach for your family. You'll do great.

I have heard that the most money wasted it on K curriculum. We get all gung ho and buy a load of stuff. Despite my best intentions, I did it too. I've barely used any of it. So far the best money I've spent has been on 25 cent unlined index cards and a deck of playing cards. My library card has also been invaluable.

Originally posted by sagemama
we're Waldorf-esque here, and just got Enki- I think I'm in love!

www.enkieducation.com

it's not for everyone, but I think it's a beautiful pedagogy.

Yay, another enki user! We just ordered the kindergarten. I have a friend that uses it and I just love the multicultural aspect of it.

Originally posted by tara
We're following an unschooling, child-led approach so we don't have a single curriculum. I would say that our biggest resource is the library.
:)
Tara

Tara said it best.
We just started unschooling (been HSing for 3 years now though).

arasmama wrote:
Yay, another enki user! We just ordered the kindergarten. I have a friend that uses it and I just love the multicultural aspect of it.


Yes, and the thing that struck a chord deep inside me was when I read WHY it is multicultural.... with the entire goal of Enki ed being to integrate the body mind and soul so the child feels a deep connection within himself~ the stories being multicultural is so that the cultures of world are exposed to them as all different expressions of the same striving human nature. The cirriculumn puts it much more beautifully of course!

I'll look forward to seeing you in the Enki yahoo group Alison (Lauren and Kimberley just bought it too I think- we'll have an amity contingent!)

Well, we are not Christian so Abeka, Bob Jones etc....are not what I'd recommend.

We have homeschooled our children for Kindergarten and sometimes First grade and have homeschooled one of our medically fragile children off and on.

We always use Oak Meadow. Love it and fits my teaching philosophy and our children love it.

http://www.oakmeadow.com

I think that is the link.

The only exception is upper grades. I use Oak Meadow but go with Saxon Math and also add more grammar and vocab work.

Warmly,
Michelle

Originally posted by sagemama
Yes, and the thing that struck a chord deep inside me was when I read WHY it is multicultural.... with the entire goal of Enki ed being to integrate the body mind and soul so the child feels a deep connection within himself~ the stories being multicultural is so that the cultures of world are exposed to them as all different expressions of the same striving human nature. The cirriculumn puts it much more beautifully of course!


We are gong to order this too. I've heard only wonderful reviews about enki.

Originally posted by sagemama
we're Waldorf-esque here, and just got Enki- I think I'm in love!

www.enkieducation.com

it's not for everyone, but I think it's a beautiful pedagogy.

Is there another link? Or maybe it is my computer....I can't get the link to work.

I'm curious now. :)

Michelle

http://www.enkieducation.org/

I am getting tempted to look at it again. Soooo tempted!

another possible future enki user here. :)

Isabelle will be starting 5th grade in the fall so I'd have to pull things together myself using the Teacher's Guide as a reference but I'm considering getting the K as a reference for our circle time for both children (Isabelle still loves morning circle and Mason is just beginning to really get into it). Then I'd have the K on hand for Mason to grow into.

Right now I'm using Oak Meadow but as more of a reference/guide.

For math I highly reccomend Horizons (by Alpha Omega...no religious content in their math though)
http://www.aop.com/article.asp?chan_id=182
it's just as challenging, imo, as Saxon but not boring. I looked at it IRL at Lifeway Christian bookstore before buying it.

This year we're using OM's math and I'm not loving it like I did Horizons.

We are miquon math flunkies. It failed miserably here.

We've also used Sonlight in the past (although I tweaked it quite a bit to waldorf it up) Hated their Lang Arts. Loved their history and science. Their reading choices were great (tied into history) but my dd balks at being told what to read.

I hope that when this thread slows down that it can be moved to that alt learning forum for easy access.

I was going to "report to mod" to suggest that be done but alas
This is ONLY to be used to report spam, advertising messages, and problematic (harassment, fighting, or rude) posts.
it does not fall under the guidelines.

It would be a shame for this post to get lost in the depths of the market board forever.

I second that emotion. Can we have a mod move this?

Tara

Originally posted by Dannielle


We are miquon math flunkies. It failed miserably here.



*lol* We are also miquon flunkies!! Did not work here either.

I put together my daughters 4th/5th curriculum too. I did use OM science but then chose other programs that I thought were best for grammar, vocab, and math. We used Calverts hardcover book "A Child's History of the World" for history and also read the books recommended on OM's website for middle grades. (picked and chose what we wanted to read)

It worked well and now that she is healthy and back in public school I can see how the vocab program that we used really helped her. She is really strong there and it crosses over into most subject areas.

I like this Enki so far... I have not gotten to the prices yet. I wonder if I could combine it with my OM Kindergarten. I'll homeschool our son for K and 1st grade and then he'll go to public school after that.

Hugs,
Michelle

OOH...I had big time issues with A Child's History of the World. I was really thrown for a loop when the story of Robin Hood was presented as a historic event. At first I thought to myself, "hmmm...I always thought that was a story...learn something new every day". Then I did some research online and felt really dumb for believing that it might actually be true.

And don't get me started on the racial stuff in that book. :mad:

I am glad to hear we're not the only ones who didn't like miquon. All I hear are rave reviews. It had my dd so frustrated and confused (with first grade math).

Originally posted by Dannielle
OOH...I had big time issues with A Child's History of the World. I was really thrown for a loop when the story of Robin Hood was presented as a historic event. At first I thought to myself, "hmmm...I always thought that was a story...learn something new every day". Then I did some research online and felt really dumb for believing that it might actually be true.

And don't get me started on the racial stuff in that book. :mad:

I am glad to hear we're not the only ones who didn't like miquon. All I hear are rave reviews. It had my dd so frustrated and confused (with first grade math).

*lol* about the Calvert book. It did not bother me but I see folklore and history as being not too different. But that is my radical viewpoint about the nature of what is history. :) I realize it bothers a lot of folks.

I was totally confused with miquon right along with my poor dd and ds. We still have those rods around here somewhere though.

Hugs,
michelle

Just a note...CHOW has been revised, and the new version isn't supposed to have any racial issues in it. I don't know if they changed the fables as history or not (we're only to the Vikings), but King Arthur was only presented as a legend, if that matters.

Wendy,

Where do you purchase a revised edition?

Hope

It's the 1997 edition. I'm assuming you have the paperback 1924 one from Sonlight right?

I think Sonlight sells the new one now. I got it from Veritas Press. You can also order it directly from Calvert....they also have a supposedly very cool CD-ROM to accompany it too.

I was homeschooled and love to see all the different curriculums being mentioned! My mom mainly used Abeka and then let my sis and I just have at it. Using mainly Abeka, I can tell you their science books are excellent. My friends who used Saxon math had a much easier time and I have decided to use Saxon K and up with Christine. Did a little Bob Jones but got bored quick. For spelling, my mom used Modern Curriculum until 8th grade (than Abeka) which I am thinking of using with Christine too. I've been thinking of using five in a row for K. Glad to hear the good reviews. Unsure on history yet. I am looking for something kind of in between Christian and secular, more balanced basicly. Of course I did Abeka history and geography. Although I loved them when younger, I don't agree with their political stuff as much now. Their Government and Economics combined book and their Economic book (like a fun college text) were very enjoyable and challenging. They cover all the basics and some. I am thinking of using Alpha and Omega's life Pacs for language/english.

Another note for those using Abeka. Sometimes when they change their books (like they did when I was 11), you may find it necessary to use the old text if it is more in line with the grade before or even skip a grade.

Fun, fun subject! Jennifer