Ok, so I know of a few -- besides Calvert, K12, Oak-Meadow, Live-Education -- what other secular "boxed" curriculums do you know of? Are you using one? What are the pros/cons of it?

My son is 9 1/2, he'd be in 3rd Grade this year, and is doing 90% 4th grade work. I need something to challenge him, to spice up our homeschool, to encourage him -- and I'm just not doing a good job of that myself. I've always taken an eclectic approach, putting it all together myself, and I think I've reached a point where I need more help. Something that will allowing me less prep-time, less planning, and more time to actually teach, and think of extra activities, projects, etc.

All help appreciated!

Thanks.

http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/homeschooling/curricula/Secular.html

hth!

no help, since I'm behind you with my kids but I wouldn't call Live Ed boxed. It requires alot of prep and other resources to be done well, at least from all the people I know who use it. Or perhaps I have the wrong idea about what a boxed cur. is? how would you define it? Or anyone for that matter?

~jo

Did you see the sticky at the top of the forum? There's a pretty good list up there.

I have a son who will be 11 this summer/6th grade next year. We have also always been very relaxed and eclectic. I am considering Oak Meadow for 6th grade, although it seems very expensive! I think for me it is very easy to do the younger years without curriculum but I am starting to think we should try a boxed set so he is challenged and interested and doesn't feel like he is so "behind". He really needs to work on spelling IMO too. I am afraid, though, that we (he) might get bored with it quickly like he does with many things. We tried Math U See for math this year and he bored of it very quickly, and that wasn't cheap.

I explored the SECULAR pinned thread at the top of the HS forum once I saw it.

Right now I'm really sold on Calvert, and K12. I like Oak Meadow, but wish their website was more descriptive of what all the program entails. I like the look of Live-Education as well.

Just not sure which way I'm going yet.