One amazing thing about homeschooling today is the myriad of choices we have in curriculum. It can be overwhelming actually. Each family is so different with unique dynamics that what works for one won’t work for another and what worked before may not work now with a younger sibling. That’s the beauty of homeschooling, being able to change instead of being stuck with what you’ve got.
Throughout these summer months I’ll be posting about what we’ve used with each subject, reviews really, showing our homeschool curriculum journey. Here’s a basic outline of the coming posts:
June 22 – Reading
June 29 – Grammar
July 06 – Math
July 13 – History
July 20 – Science
July 27 – The extras – art, music, etc.
August 03 – High School
I’ll be sharing what worked for us, what didn’t work, and why.
Is there anything specific you want to know to go along with these? Ask away in the comments and I’ll try to answer them in the posts where they will fit the best.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Curriculum is the big stumbling block for me. Maybe because my son is just starting kindergarten age so before all we did was reading and math games. I have no idea what I am doing. They tell me it gets easier when I jump on into homeschooling. I hope it’s true. I look forward to your post.
Give us tips on how to get curriculum for free or cheap! We are on a tight budget so that would definitely determine what curriculum I use. Thanks Montse! You are awesome!
Oh, good idea! I know of quite a few resources I could add to the posts for free curriculum.
I’m looking forward to it! I got my Beautiful Feet books and we already started reading them. Sadly, I think the guide to go along with them is poorly done, but I can ignore it and do whatever I want thankfully! My kids were really excited to read the stories- I couldn’t keep them away from the books!
I would love to know 2 things:
what kind of learners you used a curriculum with and if it was a good or bad fit
and how much mommy prep time is involved in each curriculum
For learners, just a general idea like prefers to read or see or do or hear would work perfect.
I would be interested in knowing what has stood the test of time. What have you used for all of your kids no matter their learning styles. what would make your top ten books/methods that you look forward to sharing with each of your kids as the get older and come of age(weather that be kindergarten or high school or somewhere in between).
Would you or have you ever considered K-12 for your younger kids? The fact that it’s free is very tempting for us, but I feel a little “iffy” about it.
When my two oldest were just starting middle school we tried K12 with them. It was a nightmare! It is just too much computer time for young children. There is no way we’d be able to have all the children in K12. Someone would be one the computer all day long. My two oldest ARE doing K12 for high school and both really enjoy it. I’ll go into more detail about the high school stuff later in a post.
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I would like some insight into Sonlight curriculum ( I believe you have used this -not sure if you still do) I have been looking into getting our first curriculum. I have put it together my self so far and have really enjoyed it- my oldest is 8 then a soon to be 7 year old, 4 year old, 20 mo and baby coming in Sept- hence the need for curriculum possibly:). I have noticed that Sonlight uses a lot of usborne books- we have quite a few and they are fun but I am not excited about them being in actual curriculum, especially for my older girls who are reading Narnia, Little women etc..- the real classics and loving it. I can’t imagine having them go to the abridged ones now- was that ever a problem for you? If so did you just do your own lit curriculum and use the rest? Were there aspects of Sonlight curriculum you did not like? Also a question about their Bible curriculum from an LDS standpoint- do you use it, like it etc? Lastly for your high school kids are you planning on GED, or making your own homeschool diploma & transcript? Any resources you have found helpful with your high school age and Jr high age kids- online BYU etc.. what age they can start those classes? Thanks so much!!! 🙂
You are such a fantastic resource, I relish the opportunity to hear what works for you!
One of my biggest hurdles is developing strong writing skills in my children. What are your favorite resources, what works and doesn’t work in your experience?
I know most people might not consider this a curriculum question, but I long to make gospel study more of a complete subject (similar to seminary for the older kids) with all my children. What are your favorite gospel study resources and ideas? I love the scripture P and J’s idea you shared, for instance.
I am also curious about unit studies and how you incorporate them into your homeschool. What are your favorite resources and websites to use?
If you could list some basic books that you couldn’t imagine doing homeschool without, which ones would they be? I know there is so much information online that we don’t have to buy as many reference books as in times past, but which books do you and your children love to learn from? For instance, we use the Usborne Internet-Linked World History book regularly, as well as some beautiful DK books on animals, the human body, great scientists, etc. I really like the series, “The History of US,” by Joy Hakim, also.
I am also curious about Sonlight (if you are still using it). We tried it and though I loved the literature and history focus (those are two of my favorite subjects), Sonlight wasn’t hands-on enough for my kids. I have a couple kinesthetic learners who groaned at the amount of reading and kept asking when we were going to “do” something. I know you said that you have kinesthetic learners too, how did you address their learning style while using Sonlight?
Thanks so much! You are such an inspiration to so many, keep up the great work!
As for the question about studying the scriptures with young children- have you heard about “Discover the Scriptures” at bookofmormondiscovery.com
I resisted buying their stuff at first not knowing if it would be a good fit for us. Then we used the free resources to memorize the Living Christ and really liked the stuff. Now I have purchased the Book of Mormon study guides and the New Testament guides. The purchase is for PDF files that you print out at yourself. Their are two levels for each book of scripture. The younger guide has them read from the storied scriptures and the older guide has them read from the actual scriptures. My 9 & 7 year old boys have been doing these for the past year. This summer we are doing the Church History guide together as a family. I am so happy with these resources.
What do you use for 7th and 8th grade? I have a middle schooler coming up this year.
How do you transition your children into doing more independent work as they get older? It sounds like you did by using Switched on Schoolhouse for a little while and then changed to K12. Which curriculum do you think has been better? Did they have trouble transitioning from SL to all their subjects being on the computer? Thank you so much for your insight.