What We Use

Homeschooling. Dictionary. com defines it as:
 –noun the practice of teaching one's own children at home, instead of sending them to school.
Sounds simple, right? The definition needs to add that if you choose this option for your children, you will doubt your sanity. You will question all of your choices: sports activities, co-op programs, church activities, organized youth groups, homeschool groups? The biggest thing I have questioned is our curriculum choices. And apparently so do a lot of other homeschoolers. I have been asked about what curriculum we use three times in the last month.

When we began homeschooling, Sam and I had the benefit of having attended homeschool conferences for six years prior, as vendors of wooden toys. I had been able to speak with representatives of curriculum publishers in a more focused and personal way than most conference attendees are able. I spent hours pouring over curriculum materials in our downtime at the conferences. The one I kept coming back to was Rod and Staff. It had answer keys, covered all the basics, was christian based, was mostly non-consumable (hard covered texts and few workbooks), and was affordable. It had teacher's manuals that just about dictated what needed to be said to teach the lessons. Something this nervous new homeschooler appreciated. We purchased the complete grade five curriculum for our first year.

After our first year, I gained confidence. I realized I didn't need to have all the information given to me. We began to look at other curriculum for the various subjects. Through trial and error we have settled on what we now use. Oh, I still look at other things, especially as Abby advances in levels. I evaluate how each kid is doing with each subject. We tweak things here and there, but we now have a basic set of curriculum we use.

So for those who want to know, this is what we use:

For my overall organization, I use Homeschool Tracker Plus. The basic version can be downloaded for free, the Plus version (with lots of additional features) is a one-time cost of $55. Yes, it took hours to create the lesson plans for each of the texts we use, but once it was created, with just a few clicks of the mouse, I can assign it to next kid in line! I love that it keeps track of grades, time spent, extra-curricular, etc. and can spit out a report on those things in just a few clicks. Rescheduling assignments because of "life", used to take so much time with pencil and paper, now I simply click a few buttons and all five of the girls are rescheduled at once!

Math: After trying several different math programs, we've settled on Teaching Textbooks. This program uses cd-roms which have the lessons, taught by math professionals, practice problems, and lesson exercises. For all grades below Algebra 1, the program has automatic grading of the lessons. (the automatic grading for the higher grades is currently in production)The kids know right away if they got a problem wrong. If a problem is answered incorrectly they get another chance to get it right. Then they can ask for the answer. Before giving the answer the "teachers" explain how to do that particular problem, so the kids can see where they made their mistake! (This "explaining of the correct answer" is in the higher grades without the auto-grading) This feature is a life saver for me, as I am not well versed in math!

History/Social Studies/Geography: I still use Rod and Staff for our history for the elementary grades. I really like their format, Biblical perspective, and the emphasis on maps and vocabulary skills. After completing sixth grade, we use an interest-based curriculum that I create with literature, lapbooks, and map workbooks. For example, Hannah (grade 7), has an interest in Africa, so her curriculum this year was based on Africa lapbook activities from Hands of  A Child, book recommendations from our town librarians (who are awesome and deserve a pay raise!!), and maps from Uncle Josh's Maps. Beginning in ninth grade we use Exploring America by Notgrass publishers. This curriculum combines, History, English composition, Literature, and Biblical Studies into one tidy package to be used over a two year period. For eleventh grade we use Teaching Geography through Literature. For twelfth grade we will be using Exploring Government, also by Notgrass Publishers.

Science: We used to use Rod and Staff's science curriculum up until the eighth grade. Once I discovered Apologia's science program, we switched all of the kids over. This program is wonderful! The writing of the texts is done in a style that is not intimidating to the kids. The activities and experiments mostly use regular around-the-house items. It is very hands-on and the "Creation Confirmation" sections are well written. The high school levels include the option for dissections and microscope work. The experiments on the higher levels do sometimes require special items, but nothing that is hard to locate or extremely expensive. I do recommend that the CD-Rom be purchased for at least the Chemistry. On it, the formulas and experiments are explained in a visual format that has been beneficial to my girls. For the younger girls, I also purchased the notebook journals. They enjoy making the projects and it gives them the opportunity to view the material a second time. For the high school kids I use the lapbooks from Knowledge Box.

English/Composition/Literature: This subject gets complicated since some of the other subjects cover it within their programs. Up through fifth grade we use Rod and Staff's English. They still teach sentence diagramming, and though my kids HATE it, they all know how to write a proper sentence because of it. Starting in sixth grade we move to Learning Language Arts through Literature. For ninth and tenth grades we use their American Literature course and British Literature Course. At that point their English credits are also coming from the History programs we use.  The girls seem to really like this curriculum as it covers all the literary genres and there is a little bit of something for each of them.

That is basically what we use. Every once in a while I'll find a workbook or lapbook that is interesting and we add that in too. I am sure we will always be tweaking as the kids get older. Not everything works for every kid. That's one of the benefits of homeschooling: each kid can use what works for their style of learning.

Disclaimer: I have not been paid by any of these companies...

New Curriculum

For me, one of the more fun parts of homeschooling is trying out new curriculum. I love checking out new publishers, new authors, and new editions. Sometimes we hit on a great curriculum, such as Teaching Textbooks for our math. Other times we try it and it just doesn't fit well with our schedules or learning styles, such as BJU math. And sometimes, what didn't work for one kid, will work for another: Hannah hated (and I mean HATED!) Rod and Staff English, but Rachel and Samantha are enjoying it.

Yesterday the mailman delivered a heavy box from CBD (www.christianbook.com). This could mean only one thing since it isn't November: NEW CURRICULUM! The girls opened it to see what new stuff we would be trying this year. In the box was a copy of "The Red Badge of Courage" for Abby and Nathalie's American literature course. (It was cheaper to buy the book than pay the late fees at the library!)

I had also relented and purchased the second edition version of Apologia Biology. I am so glad I did! This newer version is so improved over the older. Pictures of the dissections, better diagrams, better study guides and vocabulary guides, quarterly tests in addition to chapter tests. Abby is envious that Nathalie gets to use the newer book!

The last book in the box was our new Bible curriculum. This year we will be studying as a family so it took me while to find something that would be a fit for everyone from (nearly) nine year old Samantha up to sixteen year old Abigail. At a homeschool conference back in June I had heard a speaker who talked about Apologia's new Biblical Worldview/Apologetics curriculum. I like Apologia's science curriculum and the way they present information. So I ordered "Who Is God, And Can I Really know Him?" Yesterday as I worked through planning the first lesson, I became really excited. This curriculum is basic enough that Rachel and Samantha will get it, but it also gets into "real world" applications that will challenge even myself!

That's really it for "new" curriculum this year. Now in our seventh year of homeschooling, our school books are pretty well fine-tuned, so the anticipation of new "stuff" doesn't happen as often as it once did. The upside of that is I am spending less money this year for curriculum!

Homeschool Curriculum Decisions

The end of July is when I start researching and searching for curriculum for the next school year. Pretty much the only kid I have to look for is Abby, being that she is the oldest. In the past few years I have spent between $200 and $300 per year, on all curriculum, for all the girls, combined. After some researching into curriculum for Abby, I am still in sticker shock!

Abby is starting ninth grade in September. (Yes, I really do have a high schooler!) It's a huge deal and I have to admit I am a bit anxious about making sure I don't "screw it up". I even looked up Lebanon's requirements (something I have never done before):
Graduation Requirements
Graduation from Lyman Memorial High School implies that students have satisfactorily completed the prescribed courses of study in accordance with their respective abilities to achieve.

Subject Credits Specific Requirements

The Arts or
Vocational Education 2

English 4

Health 0.5

Mathematics 3 Algebra 1 or Algebra 1A course.

Physical Education 1.5 3 years

Science 3 1 lab course

Social Studies 3 U.S. History 1 credit; Civics,
.5 credit or equivalent.

Computer Literacy 0.5

Senior Project 0.5

Electives 5 Minimum
TOTAL 23


So we need to cover the basics: Math, Science, History, and some kind of literature/writing course, as well as some art, health ed., phys.ed., and 5 electives. I believe in learning a foreign language, so we'll put that under the elctives column.

Health and Phys. Ed. we can cross off the list. Living on a farm, she gets plenty of exercise and she certainly has a good grasp of the "birds and the bees". Art she gets every time we visit my mom who has her own art studio in her house. I may look for an art history curriculum at some point.

Math: she needs an Algebra I course since she has already completed a Pre-Algebra course. We found one that has enough repetition and review without being boring: http://www.learningthings.com/items/BJU_184424.htm $104

Science: We have found a publishing company that we really like for science and their freshman biology course includes lab exercises: https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4 $345 (I was able to buy the text book used so my total was only $295) Thankfully, a lot of the equipment for the Biology course can be used for the 10th grade Chemistry course.

History: is a bit difficult to find since we have really already covered so much history in past years. I like this particular series: http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/basic-history-us.htm but I really like this one too: http://www.notgrass.com/american-history-high-school-curriculum.php This one would count as the literature/English requirements too. Both are right around $90.

Foreign Language: We've decided on Latin, since it is the basis of nearly every other language out there and beneficial for studying the sciences. This curriculum looks to be the most comprehensive: http://www.memoriapress.com/descriptions/Latina1.html It will cost $90.

Language Arts/Literature: We have usd this publisher for a few years now and the girls really seem to enjoy it so we will continue with the high school version: http://www.commonsensepress.com/gold.htm It is the cheapest of all at $27.

That comes to a grand total of $606!! Not counting the shipping! The good thing is the majority of it is not consumable so I can re-use it for the rest of the girls.

For all those who are wondering how we "do School", I'll explain. Disclaimer: I am not responsible for those of you who get sucked into the vortex!

I would say, for me, the hardest years to school are the 1st through 4th grade years. The kids need nearly all your time and you are dictating or working orally 90% of the time. Starting in the 4th grade we work towards more independent learning. By this time they can read on their own and so can do a lot of the learning on their own.

In 4th through 7th grades we still do math and English lessons orally and then they do practice problems on their own. For reading, we are at the library about 2 times per week, sometimes more, where we choose books to read. I do give tests for all subjects and we correct and grade them. If they do horribly on a test (less than 80%), we redo that section and take the test again. That's the beauty of homeschool; we don't move on until they completely understand it.

For the other subjects (social studies, history, science, etc) it depends on the kid and where their interests lie. Abby (grade 8) likes the physical sciences so we bought a textbook curriculum. It is actually a 9th grade level textbook because they really don't make lower level textbooks on that subject. We chose a curriculum which has a lot of experiments since she is a "hands-on" kid. She and Nathalie do the experiments together and have fun with it.

For Abby's social studies we are doing a book about critical thinking. She reads an historical article and then learns how to determine its accuracy by analyzing generalizations, primary versus secondary sources, and cause and effect assumptions, among other things. She just finished studying world history from the 1300's to present times. She didn't like all the dates but she did like finding historical fiction about the time periods as we studied them.

Abby's Language Arts is a little different from the other girls. She is using a curriculum that combines writing, spelling, grammar, and literature into one unit. I like it because it exposes Abby to literature genres that she would otherwise avoid.

Hannah (grade 4/5) is working on an anatomy course for her science. Unfortunately the only textbooks I could find were on a college level. She really likes it though and is learning more than I ever thought she could at her age. We have supplemented with some lower grade level books from the library and we found a 3rd grade level activity book that is full of paper models you cut out and put together.

For social studies we are studying American history and are currently on the Constitution. We found a curriculum that uses several of Jean Fritz's books as the base on which to build. It includes vocab words, making bulletin boards, places to visit (even if just on the web), writing projects, and other books to read. Hannah has now memorized the Preamble to the Constitution and what each of the 27 amendments are about! We found a movie which re-enacts the discussions and debates that went into writing the Constitution. It really shows how hard it was for all the states to come to a compromise and create a government that has been able withstand over 200 years of history!

Nathalie (grade 6) is studying Astronomy for her science. She is very interested in the stars and the planets, but we are widening her horizons, so to speak, by adding in the technological, chemical, and biological aspects of space.

She has recently finished North American history from pre-explorers up to present time. She has a knack for dates and places that is uncanny. So we went with a similar curriculum that deals with the history of South America. When she finishes that there is also European, Russian, and Middle Eastern histories in the same series. This series is a textbook style with vocab words, map exercises and critical thinking type questions. There are tests with each chapter and a cumulative test every three chapters. Nathalie really likes coloring in the maps and I bought some large laminated versions that we use dry erase markers on. She gets to "teach" the other girls what she has learned.

We are always doing art or music in our house. My mom is a professional artist with a studio and gallery http://data.fineartstudioonline.com/dataviewer.asp?keyvalue=4379&page=Works&startrec=1&displayperpage=9999 and she is always encouraging and teaching the girls. Abby and Hannah take piano lessons and Nathalie took saxophone for a while.

For "gym", Hannah runs as she is trying to enter into some races this spring/summer. When the weather gets better we walk the town green whenever we go to the library. Hannah volunteers weekly at gymnastics classes for special needs kids. Abby babysits for a 1 year old every Wednesday. Nathalie goes with my friend Nancy to the local nursing home to sing and spend time with the residents every Thursday.

See, school is easy once you find what works for each kid. Come on in, the vortex awaits!