pearls4him

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - In need of curriculum HELP!

I am prayfully considering home schooling the majority of of children come Fall. I have no clue what to use. The last year I did it I only taught 3 and we totally went with Alpha Omegas life packs.There were things I really liked about it and other things I didn't care for at all. So PLEASE share your wisdom. Curriculum choices, ages and why would be great! I will have an 11 yr, 10, 9(needs help) 7, and 6 yr old I will need to teach to read. SCARY! Hope to hear from anyone!

Thanks,

Alaina

Comments

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by gokings13

First, I would join Home School Legal Defense Association.
www.hslda.com
Find out exactly what your state requires of you. Each state is different. That is of the most importance, that you follow state guidelines

Second I would do a goggle search of local home school groups. Start emailing and calling women in your immediate area for guidance.

Third I would go to that groups meetings. Find out where the used books sales are. Once you have talked with seasoned women, take the kids to a used book sale. Let them pick up the books, read thru them, really check them out......that will help decide what to do the following year.

Have a plan.
After you determine what you state requires of you, decide what you will have the children learn.
Write it down.
Pray with the kids every single day this summer about this choice. Get them excited, and ready.
Over this summer instill deeply in them that you are the one in charge, and they WILL obey, or there will be consequences. Practice working together as a family team, everyone help each other.....

Christian Liberty Press has a great planner.
http://ebiz.netopia.com/clpress/
On the left hand side, scroll down to "teaching tools and support". Click on that.
Scroll down and look for CLASS LESSON PLANNER
This is what we use and it is a life saver.

I hope this helps!!
Laura

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• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by morningsunshine

we really like MathUSee for our math.
my kids are so young, that is the only curriculum we have used. but I like MUS!

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• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Stuff

Posted by wstoller

We just finished our 2nd yr of homeschooling. I highly recommend ABeka for beginning reading, they have a strong phonics program and it works!
We use Alpha Omega Horizons for Math - so far the kids like it - we use Sonlight the rest! it makes life easier for you - it's expensive - don't faint when you see the web site - but you can get it used and you can use 1 year for mulitple ages!!!! I am doing both my oldest in the same year of Sonlight and they LOVE the Sonlight time - they are GREAT books! Even if you don't use them for your curriculum - get their catalog. There are no tests, etc - it'sn ot traditional learning -but your children will learn with Sonlight!!! They use "real" books - it will lighten your load - because you do math and phonics and then - guess what - we all sit down and READ and that's science, and history, and extra LA! And you don't stress about how or what to do - or about tests freaking you out that your child isn't learning a particular fact - but they will learn and learn concepts and understand what they are learning!!

To begin I would get some books from the library - figure out your style - are you a traditional person - what slant do you want to go - do you want to use a Charlotte Mason style approach--- it is ALL very overwhelming at first - but just start picking up some books and talking to some local homeschoolers. There is NO magic curriculum - even each child will learn differently and you may use different curriculum for each one! Also Apologia Science - is wonderful - you can use 1 book for the whole family and delve into an amazing year of science! :0)
But find what you are interested in - what sparks the children's interest and love to learn. Don't get too overwhelmed in the early years - focus on Reading and Math - if you don't finish all of the history lesson - don't worry about it - it will get picked up later - but if they can't read --- they won't pick it up later no matter how much science or history they had when they were young!
Do your research - and also www.homeschoolclassifieds.com will help you get your curriculum cheaper and used. I've had good success there!!!! Hope it helps some!!!

Edited by wstoller on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 07:59

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• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Citygal

I pretty much use the same as wstoller - the Abeka is wonderful and it's bright and colourful for the little ones. I started off with 100 Easy Lessons book first - I just taught my 6 year old to read using this and it is fantastic. The lessons only take about 20 minutes max. I'm now following it up with the Abeka reading program and she is also using the Abeka maths.
We also use Sonlight for everyone. It is expensive, but it comes with everything - you won't need to buy any extras unless you want to the entire time you use it, and it generally lasts for 18 months because there is so much in it. If you do look at it, though - don't get bogged down with all the subjects to be covered in a day - a veteran homeschooler told me just to pick out what I felt I could cope with. It's a great program though - very comprehensive.
I use Saxon math for my older son who is 8. It's challenging for him and a great method.
All the best on your hunting!
Rachel from NZ

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• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Citygal

Sorry - thought I should just clarify that the reading book is called, Teach your child to read in 100 Easy Lessons. You can see it here:
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Your-Child-Read-Lessons/dp/0671631985
at amazon, though you could probably get it second-hand from somewhere. I can't speak highly enough about this book - just about every experienced homeschool mum I talked to recommended this book and my 6 year old is just leaping ahead on her reading now that she is done with it. It's really great and inexpensive and not time consuming and you don't need any other materials, except paper and pencils.
I am into my 4th year of homeschooling and I wish I'd had this book for my oldest son.
Rachel from NZ

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• Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - homeschooling

Posted by G-ma Darlene

Staleys like A Beka. Lynn says there is a lot of good programs to choose from. Loving prayers

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• Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - One month later: JULY 9th

Posted by Dad and Mom

HAPPY 25th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO ROY and ALAINA.

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• Saturday, August 9, 2008 - TATRAS Reading

Posted by pljammie

An easy and affordable way to teach basic reading is to use TATRAS. www.verticalphonics.com If you have any questions once you use it, the author is only a phone call away. Frank Rogers created it and even older children see visible improvement during the daily timings. When I first bought it, I had a 1st grader with dyslexia. He talked to me on the phone for an hour on how to implement it with her.

Mrs. P

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• Sunday, September 7, 2008 - Also a newbie to Homeschooling!

Posted by Anonymous

I just started my homeschooling adventure with my Kinder Kid. We are using the Noah Plan (www.face.net). For readng they recommend The Writing Road to Reading (www.spalding.org) and RightStart Mathematics (www.alabacus.com). This might be what your looking for because the Noah plan can be easily adjusted to your childrens level. In other words you may just need the Kinder and 3rd grade level and just adjust for child.

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I'm a wife to one good man and the momma to 13 vivacious kids ranging in age from 24ys.-3yrs. I am a 1st time Grandma. I love anything old fashioned or homemade. I enjoy making our house a home for all who come in.

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pearls4him

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - In need of curriculum HELP!

Comments

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Stuff

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

• Monday, June 9, 2008 - Untitled Comment

• Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - homeschooling

• Tuesday, July 8, 2008 - One month later: JULY 9th

• Saturday, August 9, 2008 - TATRAS Reading

• Sunday, September 7, 2008 - Also a newbie to Homeschooling!

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