Monday, March 21, 2011

Curriculum woes...

Their is just too many options. I just can't seem to nail it all down. I think first grade was easy to plan and no state requirements for her. Just personal education goals. It pays to not have a compulsory attendance age until 8. This means we can do 1st & 2nd grade with out having to report. It pays to have an Aug 8th birthday here too. I am pretty set on what I am doing with her. Now on to my 4th & 8th graders. Oi! I can't decide, I really can't. I have a few ideas. I am researching hours upon hours a day. I need to make some choices, I need affordable but GOOD curriculum. So please comment and share with me what you are doing. or just tell me what I need to do.. I have always wanted to say "Let America decide" so here you go folks my children's educational future is in your hands!

15 comments:

  1. Hi Michelle! I found you on WTM. You should look into Christian Light Education. They are very affordable and but you get a lot of education for your buck! My kids have learned a lot this year! We don't use them for Science and History though because I didn't like what I saw. Right now we are using Abeka and I'm not unhappy with it. It just isn't all too exciting. So next year we'll do Apologia Science and probably keep Abeka for history with library supplements. Abeka is easy to pick up really cheap used. I haven't had much luck finding used Apologia but I'm combining my boys next year so that will save some money.

    I wish you all the best on your journey! I was so overwhelmed when I started looking.

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  2. I'm overwhelmed, and we'll only be doing kindergarten next year! There are just so many options out there. I hope you get it figured out without too much stress. :)

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  3. I have 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. We use MFW, Sequential Spelling, Math U See, Primary/Intermediate Language Lessons, and some reading workbooks for the 3rd and 4th grader. I have Home Run Reading for Noah. I've worked hard over the past 4 years to find stuff that works for our family and this does.

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  4. I'm overwhelmed for you, Michelle! There really are so many options. We're waiting to see if A will get into the public charter school--the lottery is April 1st--otherwise we have some other decisions to make. Our zoned public school is supposed to be a good school, and I had thought I'd be homeschooling him, but I don't feel I'm in a place right now where I'll have the grace for it.

    Praying for clarity and discernment for your decision making!

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  5. If I were to start all over and was homeschooling more than one child, I would get My Father's World. It covers a wide variety of topics, is very Biblically-based, and uses real books. It is pricey new but you can find it used and it resells very well. The only drawback is that it does not work well if you do not have auditory learners as there is lots of reading alound (by mom) and listening (by kids).

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  6. Michelle, I just posted on this at my blog:
    http://goldengrasses.blogspot.com/2011/03/planning-and-pedagogy.html

    I'd love to hear what you think.

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  7. I hope you find something that works for you and the kids! It's a juggling act and I'm so glad I am not at the older grades yet. Took me long enough to decide on first grade curriculum for Kayd.

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  8. I have a 4th and 7th grader this year. I've put them together for history/geography/Bible/science by using Heart of Dakota's Creation to Christ curriculum. It has worked very well for us this year! The oldest does math and English separately, and the middle does math/English/Reading/Spelling separately. I do modify the Heart of Dakota stuff a little for the younger one so that it's not quite as much work for her. We are going to keep them together next year and use the Resurrection to Reformation curriculum from HOD.

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  9. We're going to be using Mystery oh History (it integrates Biblical and World history and can be easily taught to all the kids at the same time). Then Math U See and a mix of Apologia Science with other topical science that relates to the history lessons. Lots of reading living literature, nature journals and field trips. Rod and Staff for grammar. We're doing a mix of Classical and Charlotte Mason I guess. :)

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  10. There really are so many options! I hope you find something you love!

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  11. I wish I could help. I truly could not afford curriculum and that is why we did cyber schooling. We could still add in our own Bible and other concepts but everything else was taken care of. Hope you find something soon!

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  12. I look for used curriculum sales. Most of them are in April or May. You can get a lot of good deals on used stuff.

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  13. I'm not a homeschooling mama, so I have no advice, but I can offer prayers that you'll find exactly what works for your kiddos.

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  14. Hi! We are using Tapestry of Grace this year. Everyone will be on the same page. I found a cheaper version on homeschoolclassfieds. :-) I also hear MFW is wonderful to have everyone doing the same thing.
    Blessings to you!
    Kelly K
    k-tribe.blogspot.com

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  15. Wishing you all well, Michelle! When we had decided I would homeschool our daughter while we were here, I was quite overwhelmed as well. On one hand, I am so thankful we decided to go ahead & put her in school. The stress of looking for a curriculum on top of everything else was rather daunting!

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