We all want to choose the right curricula for our children. But there are so many out there! How does one choose? Cathy Duffy wrote a book, “100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum,” to help us lost parents choose and make the right decision for our families! Some of the info is also online at her website, Cathy Duffy Reviews. She gives great insight and info about many curricula on the market today. Homeschoolers trust her advice based on her 28 years of homeschooling and reviewing experience. Check out her site today, and make sure the curricula you’re interested in will match your child’s learning style.
From “Top 10 Reasons to Educate Your Child at Home”
Contributed by Trishy
Reason 1
You have the highest stake in your child’s learning. Most parents have the deepest attachment for their child’s well-being. You would not be reading this report if you did not care passionately about your child’s well-being. It is popular to believe that the government cares more about your child’s education than you do. We hear endless speeches about how the government needs to do more and be more to provide education for your child. It is a very hot political topic. Both sides in an election will always use the mantra “more funding for education” in their political rhetoric. They would seem uncaring and pompous to use a political slogan for education that said, “Hey, maybe the federal education system doesn’t need more money. Maybe you parents can do a better job of it at home.”
You simply will not hear those words. Yet, who better to offer your child the chance to love to learn than you, the parent? I taught in private schools for 5 years. Trust me. No amount of sincerity from a person whom your child will spend only 9 months with can compare with the passion a parent has for his or her own child.
Six years inside the classroom gave me insight when I questioned whether home schooling was valid for our family. Did I love some of my students? Of course, but not all! Did I go the extra mile for my students? Sometimes, but not often. You see, I also had my own young family to care for after school hours. It may seem when you read those things that other teachers aren’t like that and care more and invest themselves on a larger level. Perhaps, this is true, but when I look back as a parent with two young children in the school system, I can honestly say, I believe it is the norm.
You will want to know if you are qualified to teach your child at home. This issue of “qualified to teach” doesn’t end once you bring your child home – others will be asking you the same question. Yet, if you can remember back to when you first held your dear child in your arms, you immediately became his or her first teacher. Your child knows you are qualified and here is how they know: Did your child learn to drink from a cup, crawl, walk and talk if he or she was physically capable? Great! You’re qualified.
Congrats to John H. Lerchbacker III of NJ
John H. Lerchbacker III of Clinton Twp., NJ, has been accepted to the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. He has been homeschooled. To be accepted into the Academy, “one must be “triple-qualified” academically, physically and medically. Admission to the academy is highly selective and less than 400 appointments are offered annually.” Read the full article here. Congratulations, John, and may God richly bless your future!
The Traditional Homeschool Method
Our last article gave a brief overview of the various homeschool methods families employ. This week we will look more in-depth at the first method: traditional “school-at-home.”
Many families feel they don’t have the skills to create their own curriculum, or they don’t have the time. Or perhaps they are just starting out and feel the need to copy a traditional school setting to “get in the groove” of homeschooling. Still others like having everything spelled out for them so all they need to do is open the book and go. Some families just couldn’t find another method that worked well for their family. And, for some families, this is just one method they use, perhaps for just one or two of their children, while using another method for another child. Some families even use a box curriculum for one or two subjects and use other methods for the rest. It is completely up to you and your family, based on what works best for you.
So what is this “out-of-a-box” method? Simply put, the traditional method uses pre-assembled curricula components from one or several publishers to create a program of schooling, much like the traditional brick-and-mortar schools in which the vast majority of us grew up. There are hundreds of publishers out there. Some are bigger than others. Some are Christian; some are not. Some have entire curricula put together for each grade level; some have just bits and pieces that parents put together with other bits and pieces. Some are better for certain types of learners than others. Some are easier to obtain than others. Some are very expensive, and others are very inexpensive. Other homeschool parents created many of them; perhaps they never found a pre-written curriculum that suited their particular style, so they came up with one that would work and then published it.
One favorite publisher is Saxon Publishing. They have math and language arts programs. Their math program is especially popular among homeschoolers. They use a spiral approach to their program, which means they introduce a concept and practice it; then introduce another concept, practice it and review the other concepts; and continue this pattern throughout the school year.
Another favorite publisher is Bob Jones University, or BJU. BJU carries all subjects and all grade levels. Their math program is a mastery approach. They practice the same concept, adding in difficulty, in each chapter, with a few review problems mixed in. Their Bible curriculum is extensive, covering all grade levels, plus “Flex-Levels” for in-depth study of certain subjects. BJU also carries electives, such as Health and Music.
Five in a Row is a favorite publisher to help children learn to read and love learning, using it from preschool on up past junior high. Another favorite book to help children learn to read is “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” by Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, and Elaine Bruner. “McGuffey’s Eclectic Readers” are the original series used between 1879 and the 1920s and beyond in schoolrooms throughout the country, and are popular with some homeschoolers.
There are even online & computer-based curricula, such as Switched-On Schoolhouse by Alpha Omega Publications. They offer a complete Bible-based curriculum for grades 3 and up, completely on the computer.
As you can see, there is a wide range of styles of curricula out there, and various publishers to satisfy most homeschoolers’ needs. For reviews of curriculum, Cathy Duffy Reviews is very popular. To look for curriculum to purchase, our favorite sites are Christian Book Distributors, Rainbow Resource Catalog, and HomeschoolClassifieds.com for buying used. Amazon.com is also a major source for us here at Homeschoolers 4 Christ.
Hopefully this describes the boxed curriculum method well enough for you to be on your way choosing what works best for your family. Next time we will look at the trivium, or classical, approach. Happy learning!
It’s the End of the Year!
Most homeschoolers have finished up their school years by now, or at least advanced their children to the next grade level if they school year-round. Some are just getting started, and some have finished their homeschooling journeys. Do you have a graduating teen? If so, how long did you homeschool him or her, and what was your experience like through the years? Curious minds want to know, so please tell us about your homeschool years!
Sweden Makes a Strong Statement
Sweden has made an unprecedented move regarding Domenic Johansson and his parents, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) reports. In Sweden, attorneys are always appointed and paid for by the courts. But when their lawyer, Ruby Harrold-Claesson tried to visit Domenic at his school, social workers cut off all contact, which led the judge to remove her from the case. The court has shown contempt for due process, a basic right of all people. There are many in Sweden who are upset by this, as well as many here in the United States. What do you think?
No Medical Insurance If Child Isn’t in School?
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) reported today that a Missouri homeschooling family was alerted by their health insurance company that coverage for their daughter would be dropped if they didn’t enroll her in an accredited school. Upon receiving a letter from HSLDA, the company restored their benefits, but also stipulated that twice a year they would have to provide a notarized statement that she is being homeschooled. As Wendy Colpetzer McCullough commented on HSLDA’s Facebook page, “Can someone explain to me why it’s any business of an insurance company to know how our children are being educated? And to require a biannual notarized statement? Do they require the same thing from public school children? I’m glad they got their benefits back, but the whole situation bothers me.” What do you think of this?
Link of the Week
Each week we will feature a link that has been helpful to our members. Sometimes they will be homeschooling related, and sometimes not.
This week’s link is AllRecipes.com. We love searching for recipes here. We can search by ingredient, type of dish, create a personal recipe box, comment on others’ recipes, and submit our own recipes to the site. If you’re looking for a great meal for your family, this is definitely the place to go!
Writing Prompts
You want your kids to learn to write creatively. But sometimes it’s hard to come up with a writing prompt. So here are a few I’ve come up with:
- Write a story using your favorite stuffed animals as the characters.
- Write about a dream you’ve had.
- Write a story starring your pet.
- If you could have a super power for just one day, what would it be and why?
- If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
- Write what life would be like if you were blind.
- Two worms meet in a tunnel in the ground. Here is their conversation.
- You’ve just been chosen to go to the Olympics. What sport are you participating in, and what will you do to get ready for the experience?
- If you were a frog, describe your day.
- On a clear and sunny day, I…
- You are an alien on another planet. Describe what you look like, what you eat, and how you live.
- Describe your favorite piece of candy from the candy’s point of view.
- I have four legs and 3 arms. I am a…
- Describe the other side of the rainbow.
- If I were king or queen for a day, I would…
- I got a blank check. I filled in the amount for $…, and I spent it on…
- You are a famous inventor. You just invented a robot. What is its name, and what does it do?
- Make up a new holiday and describe it.
- Today I went down to the river. While I was there…
- Describe the Garden of Eden and the perfect world.
I hope these give you some help and give you your own creative ideas, as well. Happy writing!
Is a 13-Year-Old Ready for College?
In Florida, the parents of a 13-year-old girl are trying to enroll her in a local community college (see article here). According to the article, “The teenager recently finished online college courses in Spanish, macroeconomics and U.S. government, scoring A’s in the final exams in April. She also scored far above average in three necessary college-placement tests in November in reading comprehension, sentence skills and algebra required for dual-enrollment high-school students.” She has finished her high school courses at home. Now what? The college has said no. They have an age limit of 15 years. They cite safety as the main reason for their age limit. What do you think? If your child was gifted and finished his or her high school courses at a young age, would you want him or her in a college setting? What’s your personal minimum age for college for your kids?
