So I live in the South and I homeschool. Most people assume just based on the fact that I homeschool that it must be for religious reasons, but when you pair the fact that I live in the South (capital "S" for emphasis) with that fact then it's a foregone conclusion.
The reality is, if you have come across my blog in the hopes that this is a religious homeschool blog, then I apologize, because it is not. It's not an anti-religious blog, so you needn't run away, but the fact is that religion has nothing to do with our decision to homeschool or our daily curriculum. I choose the curriculum for my son based strictly on its educational value, how it is presented, and whether or not I feel like it is good for his learning style. At times that includes religious curriculum, but for the most part, the curriculum we use is secular.
This seems to freak out other homeschool parents. Perhaps this is because some parents have made the decision to homeschool strictly based on their religious beliefs and don't feel like publishing companies outside of the religious homeschool companies can understand their wants/needs. Many seem to feel there is a shady liberal indoctrination thing going on in the public schools and therefore anything labeled "secular" is tainted. Still others feel like science and religion are totally incompatible, the universe is only a few thousand years old, and people and dinosaurs co-existed. I'm not going to dignify that last bit with a comment. In any case, if you mention the word "secular" in some homeschool circles, you might as well have just confessed to being the devil wanting a good deal on souls.
Us secular homeschoolers are a small but growing bunch. Some of us became homeschool parents because the school system couldn't meet the needs of our children, as in my case when my son first developed intractable epilepsy. Others have found homeschooling to be more flexible for their families and their careers, or as an alternative to broken school systems where they live. In any case, I think it's important to teach our children well and make sure they have the life skills they need. No matter what our reasons for homeschooling, children need to learn how to process information, how to sort facts from opinions, how to think critically, how to research, and how to apply the scientific method. Learning doesn't end when we stop teaching our children; we need to teach them to learn. I want my children to question things and have a healthy dose of skepticism. I don't want them to think that anything they learn outside of our home is bad or wrong.
I won't be his teacher forever. I wasn't his schoolteacher for the first five years of his elementary education, and it is my goal that he one day attends college. He won't be boxed into one type of curriculum there and so I do my best to expose him to a variety of things now. That's the beauty and the curse of homeschooling. We have all the power when it comes to the choices. I, like all the other homeschool parents who pore over curriculum for more hours than can ever be counted, can only hope that I have chosen well.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Friday, November 1, 2013
New goal....
So yeah, it's been over a year since I blogged. Apparently blogging is not my thing, which is too bad. I'm going to give it one more try before I totally give up on it.
All of those books and things that I suggested? Ignore those. I don't even use those. Yeah, that makes me sad too. But that's part of the homeschool mom process. You live and you learn. I will try to take some pictures of some of the work we actually do and post those, as well as list some of the resources and links to places I use.
Baby steps. ;)
All of those books and things that I suggested? Ignore those. I don't even use those. Yeah, that makes me sad too. But that's part of the homeschool mom process. You live and you learn. I will try to take some pictures of some of the work we actually do and post those, as well as list some of the resources and links to places I use.
Baby steps. ;)
Friday, September 21, 2012
Month Two....WOW!
So I meant to get on here at least weekly and update what I've been doing, but clearly THAT hasn't happened. Between homeschooling and putting our son on the Modified Atkins Diet (MAD) for his epilepsy, life has been quite busy.
I'm glad I read so much about homeschooling before we started because it has helped keep me calm. Homeschooling is as much a process as anything. Like most people, I started out gung-ho and have had to test the waters. The process is still evolving. Also, like most people, I bought WAY too much curriculum. That's okay, because some of it may get used in the future or it may get swapped with other homeschoolers....who knows? The most expensive thing I purchased was the Saxon Math program and that is used almost daily.
Speaking of the things I get the most use out of, it's surprisingly not what I expected. I thought we would be textbook heavy and do some worksheets. With a few exceptions, it's actually the opposite. The Spectrum workbooks (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE) are essentially a textbook unto themselves. I don't tear the sheets out because they provide so much reference material. That Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills workbook I got? It's INCREDIBLE! I use pages of it from each section every day. I align the subject matter from it whenever possible with the subject matter from the Spectrum workbooks to really bring home the lesson. There is always the internet if we need even more practice.
I mentioned the Saxon Math....I almost didn't do this one, but if you are going to splurge, math is the place to do it. I talked to a friend who had used Saxon before and highly recommended it. Math takes us about an hour each day, but I really feel like we are getting some crucial concepts and each lesson reviews the previous ones. Get the homeschool bundle if you do this one....it comes with the textbook, the worksheet & tests book, and the answer key. Shop around online for a good deal. We got ours for $60.
We are textbook reliant in science and social studies. I found a social studies book that goes with the textbook, and finding additional material for enhancement is easy. I'm still looking for ways to flesh out our science work. I want science to be inspiring and come alive....this is a struggle to do "on the fly." We started out reading from just the reading textbook and working in the matching workbook, but now I like to mix it up. He has short story magazines (Highlights, Cricket) as well as chapter books and I want him to read a variety of things. We do reading comprehension sheets and are working on writing skills as well. I found some really cool stuff at the Dollar Tree in the educational section that provides writing prompts as well. To me, the goal is to read a variety of things, enhancing both your knowledge and vocabulary. We can use the reading book sometimes, and we will because it offers a variety of age appropriate selections, but we aren't dependent on it.
I'm constantly revising the schedule, and here's what I've been doing. At first, I had no real schedule, I just wrote down in the planner what we did every day. Then I tried making a plan for every day and got frustrated when we fell behind. Now, I have given Mon-Thurs a schedule, and I keep a folder with all the worksheets in it that I want to do that week. As the week goes on, I cross out what we do daily. Anything that doesn't get done is made-up on Friday. Should we every find ourselves actually getting everything done, it will be easy to add something else, I just don't like the feeling of not accomplishing what we set out to do. I don't like meeting our math goal but not our science goal. I don't like not being able to move on to lesson 13 because we never made it to lesson 12.
Anyway, that's where we are it. Not a bad place to be, and I'm sure we'll be somewhere else a month from now, but I think we are doing okay. I just keep reminding myself that quality counts much more than quantity. I could sit him down at the table with a stack of easy work and tell him to get it done, but there is a satisfaction in working with him and knowing that he understands and is learning. That takes time.
I'm glad I read so much about homeschooling before we started because it has helped keep me calm. Homeschooling is as much a process as anything. Like most people, I started out gung-ho and have had to test the waters. The process is still evolving. Also, like most people, I bought WAY too much curriculum. That's okay, because some of it may get used in the future or it may get swapped with other homeschoolers....who knows? The most expensive thing I purchased was the Saxon Math program and that is used almost daily.
Speaking of the things I get the most use out of, it's surprisingly not what I expected. I thought we would be textbook heavy and do some worksheets. With a few exceptions, it's actually the opposite. The Spectrum workbooks (which I LOVE LOVE LOVE) are essentially a textbook unto themselves. I don't tear the sheets out because they provide so much reference material. That Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills workbook I got? It's INCREDIBLE! I use pages of it from each section every day. I align the subject matter from it whenever possible with the subject matter from the Spectrum workbooks to really bring home the lesson. There is always the internet if we need even more practice.
I mentioned the Saxon Math....I almost didn't do this one, but if you are going to splurge, math is the place to do it. I talked to a friend who had used Saxon before and highly recommended it. Math takes us about an hour each day, but I really feel like we are getting some crucial concepts and each lesson reviews the previous ones. Get the homeschool bundle if you do this one....it comes with the textbook, the worksheet & tests book, and the answer key. Shop around online for a good deal. We got ours for $60.
We are textbook reliant in science and social studies. I found a social studies book that goes with the textbook, and finding additional material for enhancement is easy. I'm still looking for ways to flesh out our science work. I want science to be inspiring and come alive....this is a struggle to do "on the fly." We started out reading from just the reading textbook and working in the matching workbook, but now I like to mix it up. He has short story magazines (Highlights, Cricket) as well as chapter books and I want him to read a variety of things. We do reading comprehension sheets and are working on writing skills as well. I found some really cool stuff at the Dollar Tree in the educational section that provides writing prompts as well. To me, the goal is to read a variety of things, enhancing both your knowledge and vocabulary. We can use the reading book sometimes, and we will because it offers a variety of age appropriate selections, but we aren't dependent on it.
I'm constantly revising the schedule, and here's what I've been doing. At first, I had no real schedule, I just wrote down in the planner what we did every day. Then I tried making a plan for every day and got frustrated when we fell behind. Now, I have given Mon-Thurs a schedule, and I keep a folder with all the worksheets in it that I want to do that week. As the week goes on, I cross out what we do daily. Anything that doesn't get done is made-up on Friday. Should we every find ourselves actually getting everything done, it will be easy to add something else, I just don't like the feeling of not accomplishing what we set out to do. I don't like meeting our math goal but not our science goal. I don't like not being able to move on to lesson 13 because we never made it to lesson 12.
Anyway, that's where we are it. Not a bad place to be, and I'm sure we'll be somewhere else a month from now, but I think we are doing okay. I just keep reminding myself that quality counts much more than quantity. I could sit him down at the table with a stack of easy work and tell him to get it done, but there is a satisfaction in working with him and knowing that he understands and is learning. That takes time.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Just a few new discoveries....
I like to share things that other people have shared with me that I find interesting, so here are some things that I have picked up online and at a recent homeschool meeting that I attended.
#1 The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child by Linda Dobson ISBN#0-7615-2788-5
This is a great book for anyone that is new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling. I'm just reading a chapter or two a day and really letting it sink in. It's very popular, so there is a good chance your library or used book store has it. If not, try looking on....
#2 PaperbackSwap.com
I have been a member of this site for 5 or 6 years. I will not admit to how many books I have mailed out and received, but if you are a homeschooler or just someone that loves to read, you should check it out. Basically, you list books that you are willing to permanently trade. You pay the media mail shipping when someone requests one of your books, and then you get a credit to order any book from the website. If a book you want is not available, you can put it on your WishList. The site holds your place in line and lets you know when it's your turn.
#3 EdHelper.com
I learned about this at the homeschool meeting. They have all sorts of printables on this site. You can stick to the free stuff, pay $20 a year for the basics, or pay $40 a year for access to all of it. Some parents told me that they don't buy workbooks...they just pay the $40, buy ink, and paper, and use this site.
#4 Pizza Hut's BookIt! Program for Homeschoolers
Thank you, Pizza Hut! Free personal pans for kids who meet their reading goals, and it's easy to sign up too. http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp
#5 Scholastic Books
If you want to order books through Scholastic, you can register as a teacher of a home school here: http://clubs.scholastic.com/clubs/requestcatalog.shtml. Click on Get Started under New to Clubs. Fill everything out, and you will be told that your school will need to be verified. Within a few business days, you should receive an e-mail requesting more information about your home school. It's a couple of hoops to jump through to get started, but if you like to order books through the school fliers, it's worth it.
#1 The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child by Linda Dobson ISBN#0-7615-2788-5
This is a great book for anyone that is new to homeschooling or considering homeschooling. I'm just reading a chapter or two a day and really letting it sink in. It's very popular, so there is a good chance your library or used book store has it. If not, try looking on....
#2 PaperbackSwap.com
I have been a member of this site for 5 or 6 years. I will not admit to how many books I have mailed out and received, but if you are a homeschooler or just someone that loves to read, you should check it out. Basically, you list books that you are willing to permanently trade. You pay the media mail shipping when someone requests one of your books, and then you get a credit to order any book from the website. If a book you want is not available, you can put it on your WishList. The site holds your place in line and lets you know when it's your turn.
#3 EdHelper.com
I learned about this at the homeschool meeting. They have all sorts of printables on this site. You can stick to the free stuff, pay $20 a year for the basics, or pay $40 a year for access to all of it. Some parents told me that they don't buy workbooks...they just pay the $40, buy ink, and paper, and use this site.
#4 Pizza Hut's BookIt! Program for Homeschoolers
Thank you, Pizza Hut! Free personal pans for kids who meet their reading goals, and it's easy to sign up too. http://www.bookitprogram.com/enrollment/homeschool.asp
#5 Scholastic Books
If you want to order books through Scholastic, you can register as a teacher of a home school here: http://clubs.scholastic.com/clubs/requestcatalog.shtml. Click on Get Started under New to Clubs. Fill everything out, and you will be told that your school will need to be verified. Within a few business days, you should receive an e-mail requesting more information about your home school. It's a couple of hoops to jump through to get started, but if you like to order books through the school fliers, it's worth it.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A little something to inspire me...
I read this editorial today and found it inspiring. While I will only be homeschooling one of my children, I found this to be both comforting and positive. http://schoolsofthought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/10/my-view-why-i-chose-home-schooling/?hpt=hp_bn1
By Bethany Gardiner, Special to CNNEditor’s Note: Bethany M. Gardiner, M.D., is a pediatrician and author of “Highlighting Homeschooling,” which guides parents through the educational options available to them and their children.
As a pediatrician, I was a dedicated career woman and never thought much
about the schooling options of either my children or my patients. I was a product of public schools and assumed the traditional schooling model was fine.
However, as I listened to my patients and their parents, I realized there was a theme being repeated many times over in family after family. They were stressed about their fast-paced lives and the futility of being forced into a box of expectations for a life that they did not fit into. Whether it was fighting against a system that penalized sick children for too many missed days, trying to challenge children that are bored in class, arguments about an ADHD diagnosis, to the hours of homework and busywork that intruded upon family time, parents were feeling overwhelmed and out of control, and these feelings were being transmitted to their children.
The more I considered these facts, I realized that I myself was losing a family-centric lifestyle, struggling against the demands of an outside system while trying to balance a career and my family. I knew that to impact my family and children in the most positive way possible, I needed to take control of my children’s education and tailor it to meet their needs and those of my family. By participating in their education, I could teach a love of learning and a passion for education that I saw missing in most of my patients that went to traditional brick and mortar schools. And while meeting the needs of my children, I could also improve my family life by adding to the time that we spent together rather than taking away from it.
If you are like I was in the beginning, you might be attracted to the idea of
home schooling for the benefits, but still worried about whether it is for you. You might be worried that you are not a trained teacher, or patient and creative. Rest assured, I quickly learned that I was not very patient or creative either, but all I needed was the already present love for my children and the desire to see them reach their fullest potential. You might be worried that it would take too much time and that you could not continue working on your other pursuits. Well, it does take some time, but when you think that you don’t have to wash uniforms, drive back and forth to school, or participate in school fundraisers, it isn’t all that much more time and add in that you will be able to meet the needs of your children better than any institution ever can. I was also able to continue working with minor adjustments to my schedule.
Home schooling becomes a lifestyle that will draw your family together, while
traditional schools are a separating force, from the physical separation during the school day to the hours of homework at night. With home schooling, you can tailor the work time to fit in with the family instead of making the family conform around the needs of others. There is still work to be done and lessons to be learned, but they can be fit in whenever it is best for you and your children. Learning can be extended effortlessly into all aspects of life from errands to vacations. Also, extending learning outside of traditional classroom resources leads to practical applications and real world experiences that are hard to achieve in brick and mortar schools.
Aside from the family and lifestyle improvements that home schooling fosters, the
removal of the one-size-fits-all classroom mentality leads to a highly tailored educational experience for your child. There is time for side trips according to their interests. These side trips help spark intellectual curiosity as well as promote the development of critical thinking and self-directed learning. Colleges complain that many children come to them ill-prepared for collegiate level studies and have begun to actively recruit home-schoolers, realizing that home schooled children have the skills necessary for independent learning because they are built into the home schooling lifestyle and educational model by its very nature.
After over a decade home schooling, with one child now in college and another in
high school, I can truly say it has been the best experience of my life and the best choice for my children and family. As a home-schooling parent, I became a cheerleader, facilitator, mentor, and role-model. I also have the knowledge that we are a tighter knit family unit because of the experiences we shared and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Home schooling might not be a journey for everyone, but I feel fortunate to have taken the trip.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bethany Gardiner.
My View: Why I chose home schooling
By Bethany Gardiner, Special to CNNAs a pediatrician, I was a dedicated career woman and never thought much
about the schooling options of either my children or my patients. I was a product of public schools and assumed the traditional schooling model was fine.
However, as I listened to my patients and their parents, I realized there was a theme being repeated many times over in family after family. They were stressed about their fast-paced lives and the futility of being forced into a box of expectations for a life that they did not fit into. Whether it was fighting against a system that penalized sick children for too many missed days, trying to challenge children that are bored in class, arguments about an ADHD diagnosis, to the hours of homework and busywork that intruded upon family time, parents were feeling overwhelmed and out of control, and these feelings were being transmitted to their children.
The more I considered these facts, I realized that I myself was losing a family-centric lifestyle, struggling against the demands of an outside system while trying to balance a career and my family. I knew that to impact my family and children in the most positive way possible, I needed to take control of my children’s education and tailor it to meet their needs and those of my family. By participating in their education, I could teach a love of learning and a passion for education that I saw missing in most of my patients that went to traditional brick and mortar schools. And while meeting the needs of my children, I could also improve my family life by adding to the time that we spent together rather than taking away from it.
If you are like I was in the beginning, you might be attracted to the idea of
home schooling for the benefits, but still worried about whether it is for you. You might be worried that you are not a trained teacher, or patient and creative. Rest assured, I quickly learned that I was not very patient or creative either, but all I needed was the already present love for my children and the desire to see them reach their fullest potential. You might be worried that it would take too much time and that you could not continue working on your other pursuits. Well, it does take some time, but when you think that you don’t have to wash uniforms, drive back and forth to school, or participate in school fundraisers, it isn’t all that much more time and add in that you will be able to meet the needs of your children better than any institution ever can. I was also able to continue working with minor adjustments to my schedule.
Home schooling becomes a lifestyle that will draw your family together, while
traditional schools are a separating force, from the physical separation during the school day to the hours of homework at night. With home schooling, you can tailor the work time to fit in with the family instead of making the family conform around the needs of others. There is still work to be done and lessons to be learned, but they can be fit in whenever it is best for you and your children. Learning can be extended effortlessly into all aspects of life from errands to vacations. Also, extending learning outside of traditional classroom resources leads to practical applications and real world experiences that are hard to achieve in brick and mortar schools.
Aside from the family and lifestyle improvements that home schooling fosters, the
removal of the one-size-fits-all classroom mentality leads to a highly tailored educational experience for your child. There is time for side trips according to their interests. These side trips help spark intellectual curiosity as well as promote the development of critical thinking and self-directed learning. Colleges complain that many children come to them ill-prepared for collegiate level studies and have begun to actively recruit home-schoolers, realizing that home schooled children have the skills necessary for independent learning because they are built into the home schooling lifestyle and educational model by its very nature.
After over a decade home schooling, with one child now in college and another in
high school, I can truly say it has been the best experience of my life and the best choice for my children and family. As a home-schooling parent, I became a cheerleader, facilitator, mentor, and role-model. I also have the knowledge that we are a tighter knit family unit because of the experiences we shared and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Home schooling might not be a journey for everyone, but I feel fortunate to have taken the trip.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bethany Gardiner.
Friday, April 6, 2012
More Curriculum!
So I have received the rest of the curriculum that I have ordered. That's not to say I won't be buying more because I am sure I will, but I feel like I have a lot of good material here to get us started next year.
*Our Nation (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill) $7.95 Used ISBN 0-02-149267-0
This is as much a history book as it is a social studies book. I love it! It's quite possibly my favorite book so far, but I enjoy history, so I am biased. The book begins in 30,000 B.C. and goes all the way through modern day. It focuses on geography, civilizations, culture, citizenship, economics, government, and the roles of science and technology in society. A reference section at the back of the book includes several atlases, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, a presidential timeline, facts about the 50 states, and more. Literature is used throughout the book as well to reinforce the subject matter. Very comprehensive and engaging.
*Our Nation Practice and Activity Workbook (Social Studies Grade 5) $9.68 ISBN 0-02-150390-7
To be used with the Our Nation textbook. Definitely worth having if you are using the textbook. The activities look interesting and thought-provoking.
*Houghton Mifflin Math (5th Grade) $12.95 Used ISBN 0-618-27722-6
I chose this book because this is the same publisher the school my son currently attends has been using for years. The pages are full of colorful illustrations, examples, graphs, etc. to help you. There are plenty of assignments and practice tests. I only wish I could find a teacher's copy so that I would have an answer key.
*Houghton Mifflin Math Homework Book (Grade 5) $9.48 New ISBN 978-0-618-43803-7 and Houghton Mifflin Math Practice Workbook (Grade 5) $8.86 New ISBN 978-0-618-389612
While not exactly the same, there isn't much difference between the two. The Homework Book has an average of 13 problems per page while the Practice Workbook has around 30.
*McGraw-Hill Science (Grade 5) $12.50 Used ISBN 0-02-280038-7
Again, this is the publisher/series that my son had been using for years and it has worked well. Lots of colorful pictures, highlighted vocabulary, lesson review questions and easy science experiments. I wish I could find an accompanying workbook but so far I haven't been able to. The chapter reviews are good but there are several smaller lessons included in each one. We may end up keeping a science journal to replace the workbook. Major themes include Structures of Plants and Animals, Interactions of Living Things, Earth and Its Resources, Weather and Climate, Properties of Matter and Energy, and Motion and Energy.
*Spectrum Writing, Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-5285-6
Excellent colorful workbook that walks you through the writing process. It explains the purpose of writing, the structure, active and passive voice, descriptive writing, main ideas, settings, sequencing, letter writing, finding the main idea, persuasive writing, explanatory writing, and informative writing. There are more more elements but obviously my list is already quite lengthy. There is an answer key in this book for some of the exercises.
*Our Nation (Macmillan/McGraw-Hill) $7.95 Used ISBN 0-02-149267-0
This is as much a history book as it is a social studies book. I love it! It's quite possibly my favorite book so far, but I enjoy history, so I am biased. The book begins in 30,000 B.C. and goes all the way through modern day. It focuses on geography, civilizations, culture, citizenship, economics, government, and the roles of science and technology in society. A reference section at the back of the book includes several atlases, The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, a presidential timeline, facts about the 50 states, and more. Literature is used throughout the book as well to reinforce the subject matter. Very comprehensive and engaging.
*Our Nation Practice and Activity Workbook (Social Studies Grade 5) $9.68 ISBN 0-02-150390-7
To be used with the Our Nation textbook. Definitely worth having if you are using the textbook. The activities look interesting and thought-provoking.
*Houghton Mifflin Math (5th Grade) $12.95 Used ISBN 0-618-27722-6
I chose this book because this is the same publisher the school my son currently attends has been using for years. The pages are full of colorful illustrations, examples, graphs, etc. to help you. There are plenty of assignments and practice tests. I only wish I could find a teacher's copy so that I would have an answer key.
*Houghton Mifflin Math Homework Book (Grade 5) $9.48 New ISBN 978-0-618-43803-7 and Houghton Mifflin Math Practice Workbook (Grade 5) $8.86 New ISBN 978-0-618-389612
While not exactly the same, there isn't much difference between the two. The Homework Book has an average of 13 problems per page while the Practice Workbook has around 30.
*McGraw-Hill Science (Grade 5) $12.50 Used ISBN 0-02-280038-7
Again, this is the publisher/series that my son had been using for years and it has worked well. Lots of colorful pictures, highlighted vocabulary, lesson review questions and easy science experiments. I wish I could find an accompanying workbook but so far I haven't been able to. The chapter reviews are good but there are several smaller lessons included in each one. We may end up keeping a science journal to replace the workbook. Major themes include Structures of Plants and Animals, Interactions of Living Things, Earth and Its Resources, Weather and Climate, Properties of Matter and Energy, and Motion and Energy.
*Spectrum Writing, Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-5285-6
Excellent colorful workbook that walks you through the writing process. It explains the purpose of writing, the structure, active and passive voice, descriptive writing, main ideas, settings, sequencing, letter writing, finding the main idea, persuasive writing, explanatory writing, and informative writing. There are more more elements but obviously my list is already quite lengthy. There is an answer key in this book for some of the exercises.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Choosing the Curriculum
One of the best (or worst, depending on how you look at it) parts of homeschooling is choosing your own curriculum. I have spent the last several weeks researching homeschooling curriculum online. What I have discovered is this: no two homeschoolers agree on the same curriculum. What they do seem to agree on is that what works for one does not work for everyone. I have looked at packages online, and while I thought the one at Core Curriculum of America looked good, it was quite pricey at $500 + shipping and tax. Also, a lot of the curriculum companies specialize in religious/Christian based curriculum. This makes sense, since this is the reason that so many parents choose homeschooling, but I am interested in a more secular approach, which narrows down my choices considerably.
Upon further thought, I decided that if possible, trying to stay in line with the same content that the school uses would be beneficial. Not only would it offer continuity and familiarity, but I know what to expect from the publishers of the textbooks that we have used over the years. It should come as no surprise that to buy new textbooks directly from the companies themselves would cost several hundreds of dollars each, so I turned my search to Amazon.com. I struck gold! Here is what I have have ordered and received so far and my initial impressions:
*Harcourt Trophies Distant Voyages (reading) Price $7 used ISBN 0-15-339788-8
The same textbook my older child used in 5th grade. Excellent selections, as well as vocabulary and exercises. Contains an excerpt from Frindle and Dear Mr. Henshaw, which we may skip in lieu of reading the books in their entirety.
*Harcourt Trophies Distant Voyages Practice Book $13.25 New ISBN 978-0-15-323526-9
Excellent companion. Has spelling word lists for each story and related language arts exercises. End of Selection tests are also included.
*Spectrum Language Arts Workbook Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 0-7696-5305-7
Colorful workbook pages with explanations on parts of speech, sentences, capitalization, punctuation, usage, and some basic writing skills. Answer key is in back. Looks really useful.
*Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills Grade 5 $13.50 New ISBN 978-1-60996-334-7
Over 500 pages of colorful worksheets that include math, reading, reading comprehension, English, and writing. Will be a great additional resource and may help fill in some missing gaps. Answer key included.
*Spectrum Geography: United States of America Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-8725-4
There are 15 'lessons' in this book, but most of them have multiple parts. There is a lot of reading, history, questions, and maps. There is a glossary and an answer key at the back. I sense we will be doing a lot of additional research on many of these topics, as each lesson is very brief, but it is a jumping off point.
*Spectrum Spelling Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-5265-8
In retrospect, this purchase was kind of redundant, since the reading workbook I bought comes with spelling lists as well, but I'm sure we will find a way to incorporate these words as well. Colorful pages and activities in this book, and the word lists are broken up vowel sounds, common patterns, prefixes, etc. Activities like "find the misspelled words" or word searches keep it from being dry. Includes a glossary and answer key.
*Daily Word Ladders Grades 4-6 $10.87 New ISBN 978-0-439-77345-4
This one just looked fun. You start with a theme, such as Eat Your Vegetables. You have to work your way up the ladder, and at the bottom is says 'vegetable'. Your first clue is "a piece of furniture at which you eat meals. TAKE AWAY FOUR LETTERS." The next rung on the ladder has 5 spaces in which you write the word 'table'. Then there is another clue with instructions. You make your way all the way up the ladder and your word is 'radish'.
*What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch Jr. $11.95 New
This one is for me, to help guide me and give me ideas. This is a great series and very popular, so you can probably find it at your local library if you want to check it out. It has a little big of everything in it, but I think it will be particularly helpful in giving me some ideas for art and music education.
I have also ordered some social studies, science, and math curriculum, and when that arrives I will evaluate it as well. Of course, the real test will be actually using it, but I am pleased with what I have seen so far.
Upon further thought, I decided that if possible, trying to stay in line with the same content that the school uses would be beneficial. Not only would it offer continuity and familiarity, but I know what to expect from the publishers of the textbooks that we have used over the years. It should come as no surprise that to buy new textbooks directly from the companies themselves would cost several hundreds of dollars each, so I turned my search to Amazon.com. I struck gold! Here is what I have have ordered and received so far and my initial impressions:
*Harcourt Trophies Distant Voyages (reading) Price $7 used ISBN 0-15-339788-8
The same textbook my older child used in 5th grade. Excellent selections, as well as vocabulary and exercises. Contains an excerpt from Frindle and Dear Mr. Henshaw, which we may skip in lieu of reading the books in their entirety.
*Harcourt Trophies Distant Voyages Practice Book $13.25 New ISBN 978-0-15-323526-9
Excellent companion. Has spelling word lists for each story and related language arts exercises. End of Selection tests are also included.
*Spectrum Language Arts Workbook Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 0-7696-5305-7
Colorful workbook pages with explanations on parts of speech, sentences, capitalization, punctuation, usage, and some basic writing skills. Answer key is in back. Looks really useful.
*Comprehensive Curriculum of Basic Skills Grade 5 $13.50 New ISBN 978-1-60996-334-7
Over 500 pages of colorful worksheets that include math, reading, reading comprehension, English, and writing. Will be a great additional resource and may help fill in some missing gaps. Answer key included.
*Spectrum Geography: United States of America Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-8725-4
There are 15 'lessons' in this book, but most of them have multiple parts. There is a lot of reading, history, questions, and maps. There is a glossary and an answer key at the back. I sense we will be doing a lot of additional research on many of these topics, as each lesson is very brief, but it is a jumping off point.
*Spectrum Spelling Grade 5 $9.95 New ISBN 978-0-7696-5265-8
In retrospect, this purchase was kind of redundant, since the reading workbook I bought comes with spelling lists as well, but I'm sure we will find a way to incorporate these words as well. Colorful pages and activities in this book, and the word lists are broken up vowel sounds, common patterns, prefixes, etc. Activities like "find the misspelled words" or word searches keep it from being dry. Includes a glossary and answer key.
*Daily Word Ladders Grades 4-6 $10.87 New ISBN 978-0-439-77345-4
This one just looked fun. You start with a theme, such as Eat Your Vegetables. You have to work your way up the ladder, and at the bottom is says 'vegetable'. Your first clue is "a piece of furniture at which you eat meals. TAKE AWAY FOUR LETTERS." The next rung on the ladder has 5 spaces in which you write the word 'table'. Then there is another clue with instructions. You make your way all the way up the ladder and your word is 'radish'.
*What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know by E.D. Hirsch Jr. $11.95 New
This one is for me, to help guide me and give me ideas. This is a great series and very popular, so you can probably find it at your local library if you want to check it out. It has a little big of everything in it, but I think it will be particularly helpful in giving me some ideas for art and music education.
I have also ordered some social studies, science, and math curriculum, and when that arrives I will evaluate it as well. Of course, the real test will be actually using it, but I am pleased with what I have seen so far.
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