Preparing for Next School Year

It is never to early in the year to prepare for the next in regards to homeschooling, at least for this beginner. I also live in a State that has stricter rules and requires more from parents. I'd like to have all my i's dotted and t's crossed.

I love the Answers in Genesis curriculum I'm using for my 5 year old. I LOVE it. It makes me wish they'd continue with more full on curricula for every grade. It seems as if they lean towards Alpha Omega, though I could be wrong, for continuing home education.

I looked up Alpha Omega and it didn't feel right.

A Beka is probably the most popular curriculum in the local homeschooling community. Having the local support (and access to cheap, used curricula) is a plus, but it doesn't settle with me, either. I have been able to look through the K5 phonics, reading and writing teacher's manual, and it makes my head spin. Not the academics, mind you, just the way it is set up and presented.

Vertias Press is appealing to me ego. Yeah. Supreme Classical Education!! Yet, I have a child who is not a classically minded learner. I think I'd have to redo kindergarten for him. I think their 1st grade would be too much. I may be wrong, though, so it is on the list.

Sonlight has always felt good to me. For some reason, when I look at the Sonlight curriculum, I feel like it is best suited for my son and I. It is also terribly expensive, but I think I can whittle down the expense.

I'll be honest. I'd really hate to bounce from curriculum to curriculum. I'd like to stick with one and go, so for me it is intimidating to just choose. The other option is to custom build a curriculum. I'd rather have it all laid out for me, mostly because I want to make sure I cover all the bases.

I'd be eager to read your opinions, suggestions, and stories about what your homeschool curriculum is.

Comments

Unknown said…
When I homeschooled my kids (many years ago), I used A.C.E.( School of Tomorrow). It was ok, and did the job. However, if I could do it again, I would go with Sonlight.
11:26 AM
MamaHen said…
I've been homeschooling for nine years and it seems as though I have tried a lot of different things. Right now we are doing history using Veritas Press intermingled with Story of the World. I don't buy many books from VP, but I do buy their history cards. It helps me cover the bases and stay on track. I like STOTW bc it covers what is happening all over the world during a certain time period.

My niece used Heart of Dakota starting in 5K. She loves it.

Also, I think the reading list for VP is a couple of grades ahead for most kids. I just pick and choose which books I want them to read themselves and some I read aloud.

I have used Abeka Phonics to teach three to read and I am just starting on my fourth. It really is a good solid program. You might want to look into Rod and Staff. They have great workbooks, with no frills, for great prices.
7:24 PM
Courtney said…
We are leaning toward a Well-Trained Mind/Charlotte Mason Combo. Right now for K we're using Primary Arts of Language Reading/Writing with some Little Stories for Little Folks, Righstart Math A, Elemental History (early American) and Bible/religion plus Sonlight, Mater Amabilis and Simply Charlotte Mason for read alouds.

For 1st next year, I'm debating starting the four year history cycle or doing a one-year world history over view then cycling back for a more intensive US/NY history year to meet the state requirement then starting the four year cycle when DS1 is in third and DS2 is in 1 and DS3 is pre-k and listening in.

You might like visiting the Well-Trained Mind forums for ideas. Wealth of knowledge over there!
7:19 AM
Nurturing Faith and Family said…
our son will be 4 next month, and is just starting the A Beka K4 work. Our 2.5 year old daughter is doing A Beka 3 year old numbers. Both kids just finished A Beka 2 year old numbers and letters. We also use Rod & Staff workbooks, K4 Bible activities, and K4 Craft activities, and the learning games from ABeka for both kids. We also LOVE the preschool prep company DVDs. With the A Beka K4 work, I did just box up and send back the teacher's guides...i found them unnecessary, and geared toward teaching a group. they really really just did not seem to be something i would follow, as I some of the lessons he already knew, or could be taught without all the extra busy work they added in, and geared more towards his learning style.
6:48 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

She's Here!

Image
Our daughter was born at 7:17 pm, May 27th after only 2 1/2 hours of labor and 10 minutes of pushing! She weighed in at 6lbs 5 ounces and measured at 19 inches long....another little peanut! It was all-natural, baby! No induction, no pitocin, no pain relievers, no episiotomy! All prayers have been answered by the Lord except for her nursing ability. She's not a very good nurser, though she was a champ just after she was born. She's getting better, though and I continue in prayer that she improves. I pray that when my milk comes in, she'll be a great nurser. I'm also in prayer about her jaundice. Right now, it's not bad at all, but I learned with Bubby how quickly that can change, especially with her not being a good nurser. The picture above was taken yesterday. That's me and my son and daughter. Poor hubby's not in the picture because he wasn't at the hospital at that time. He was there earlier, but I sent him home to get some rest and some ...
Read more

Blessing, Wisdom, Modesty, Feminine Influences

My wonderful husband bought me a new vacuum! My old one threw sparks out at me, so I refused to run it for fear of my life. So, hubby bought me a new vacuum and it's wonderful! It even has a self-cleaning duster attachment! Hubby appreciates the hepa filter. I enjoy having a vacuum that actually does it's job. Oh, and my other favorite attachment is the special adjustable upholstery and stairs doo-hickey with it's own rotating brush. It's great for dog hair. I recently had my 4 impacted wisdom teeth removed. Hubby teased me that I was going to lose my wisdom, but I actually gained some! While I was in dreadful pain and recovering, I had to eat VERY carefully. During this time I learned that: 1. I eat when I'm not hungry...not a good habit to get into. 2. I eat too fast and don't savor my food. Therefore, I tend to eat a bit more so as to enjoy the flavor. 3. I put food in my mouth when I'm still chewing the first portion I put in. Blech...what a...
Read more

1 Week

Image
Baby Boy is one week old today! He's doing so well and we are all smitten with him. I am amazed at his growth and progress in just 1 week! Baby Boy is a quiet lad who only cries when it is necessary (at least so far). During his wakeful times, he enjoys staring at patterns or his mommy. He's great at turning his head to look around and listens intently when I sing. He's not the strongest feeder, yet and prefers multiple quick snacks rather than spaced out dinners. His umbilical cord stump is almost ready to fall off. He likes to be swaddled and loves being held. So much so that when I do hold him, he falls asleep almost instantly, but if I put him down, he wakes up. Not all the time, though. :)
Read more