I dont really want to drop a ton of money on trying a whole bunch of new curricula.

I will be starting to homeschool a 4th grader this fall and am totally friggin excited!!

we have bought most of our curricula used. going to homeschool faires can be a great way to gt a look at a curriculum before you plop down a bunch of money on something that might not work. of course then you can buy something, believe it will work well, and then figure out it doesnt work for you or your child. not much of a help am i?

I am blessed to have a 3000 sq ft homeschool store where I live. I research on the web, then go and look at the particular books I want to review. I then purchase what looks like it would suit us best. That, still, is trial and error.

You'll buy some fantastic curriculum and some worthless curriculum (that previously looked fantastic).

If I see something I was interested in for a great price at a used curriculum sale, I just buy it. Also, if you join a group, people will probably be willing to bring what they use for you to look through. My group just had a "show and tell" night where people brought what they had so everyone could look through different curricula. I didn't go, but it sounded like a great idea. ;)

I don't know how common HSing is in your area, but we have a few bookstores - at least one of which sells both new and used materials. And there are expos (where we can see and buy the materials) and used curriculum sales all spring. Even the thrift stores have tons of great stuff.

Knowing you (in a good way ;) ), I'd suggest you read The Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

Research in books.

Research online -- discussion groups on Yahoo, discussions here, discussion at The Well Trained Mind website, discussions at MDC.

Looking over stuff friends and acquaintances already have. Show and tell nights are great; so are visits to someone's house.

Honest analysis of my strengths and shortcomings -- there are some curriculums I know won't work for me because they'd simply drive me nuts.

Honest analysis of my kids' strengths and weaknesses.

Thanks all--going to see if there is a hs'ing store around here, b/c HS'ing is very popular out here in the sticks!

L, there's a HS conference in Riverside the beginning of June. I want to go, but have been so busy with Faire & b-days, haven't put it on the calendar yet. Check it out-- CHN (http;//www.californiahomeschool.net) I think there's supposed to be a used curric hall or something...

I did a lot of research by checking this board and also joining lists. One thing I should have done is stuck to my gut instincts. We wasted 3 months following The Well Trained Mind even though I knew I wanted to do a relaxed Waldorf program. TWTM just pulled me into the idea that I could have these super educated children. We ditched it all and started Oak Meadow in January, and now I am feeling confident to branch out to a more traditional Waldorf style.

We do a lot of unschooling as well; for instance, we unschool about 95% of our science and a lot of our math.

I still haven't decided if I am going to go to the conference in Riverside. I feel content with what I have chosen and feel like I have enough support, so going might just take away family time.

Peace,

Kimberly

L, there's a HS conference in Riverside the beginning of June. I want to go, but have been so busy with Faire & b-days, haven't put it on the calendar yet. Check it out-- CHN (http;//www.californiahomeschool.net) I think there's supposed to be a used curric hall or something...
I saw that yesterday when I was at their site--will you be going? I think we are.

I saw that yesterday when I was at their site--will you be going? I think we are.
Depends... That's Faire teardown, and we have houses to build out there. If I can sell some of dh's forge stuff during this run, we'll have the extra cash, if he can't go, I may take my bestest friend to help with Miss B, and send E to teardown with dh... I'm really a hands on person when it comes to curric, which is probably why I've done more unschooling than anything. I don't wanna buy until I've flipped through it!

to homeschool as well as books on homeschooling like the ones Mary Pride has written. I also buy a lot of stuff but I make sure there is a good return policy!

I was going to suggest the CHN conference as well. It's worth it just to go for the vendor hall...nothing like getting your hands on the books and seeing them for yourself. I'll probably be there on Saturday.