Curriculum Suggestions (please)

[confustication]

My daughter was homeschooled last year, and it was amazing for her, as well as for us. We are doing the same this year, but I am struggling with what we want for a curriculum.

We are planning to use grade 4 as the baseline, we can enrich from there (asynchronous development, she tests higher than that, but she really NEEDS the nuts and bolts of elementary levels.)

*I prefer secular, or at least with the religious component separate from, for example, science.
*I would like a whole 'package' program if possible.
*Her physical writing skills are weak- for this reason, I am contemplating workbooks etc. She prefers (VASTLY prefers) the computer, but I feel like the act of writing some of this out will help with retention.


We were fairly relaxed last year, and that made for a good transition, but for her overall comfort, I feel like she needs more academic structure. Additionally, her dad- who has not seen her since she was 3, it arguing that he should have legal custody. While he doesn't have a leg to stand on, I don't want to give him one by not having a neat and tidy homeschooling approach.

She blew through SOS Grade 3 in 3 months.

I'm currently out of work (who isn't?) so cost is very much an issue, but we'll figure out a way to make it work, it's just that I can't necessarily afford a ton right now, so I want to find a good value.

[SundayCrepes]

We are unschoolers who use the www.sonlight.com booklist. I get the books I want (minus those that religious or don't otherwise work for us) from the library or used online. See www.allbookstores.com--they compare the prices at numerous used online bookstores. I belong to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sonlig...guid=156716553 a group for secular users of sonlight. You could be more regimented about it than we are and actually buy the instructor's guide.

[confustication]

My local library is pretty limited, but I can certainly order books online. (They are reluctant to participate in interlibrary loan programs- and the children's section consists of about 15 shelves.)

I think this would be my preferred way, in many respects, but I don't know if I can make it structured enough. Hm, I'll have to look at it a bit more. Thanks!

[LuxPerpetua]

What if, instead of workbooks, you could try something like Waldorf form drawing or even a program like Draw Write Now? That might be more satisfying than workbook work, or at least it would be for me.

A Little Garden Flower is a Waldorf approach that is highly affordable. You could combine something like that with Ambleside Online and a math source like Singapore, which is also affordable.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by LuxPerpetua

What if, instead of workbooks, you could try something like Waldorf form drawing or even a program like Draw Write Now? That might be more satisfying than workbook work, or at least it would be for me.

Yes, I would keep the handwriting issue separate rather than risk making other things feel more burdensome than they need to be - and keeping it separate can put the focus on it in a more effective way. There are lots of lovely projects that can incorporate handwriting - such as writing letters, etc. At her age, retention of the things she'll cover isn't really of any great longterm importance - she'll be learning a lot more, in more depth, about everything later. Lillian

[confustication]

Hm, I think the idea of form drawing is a really good one to work on the handwriting issue!

A is highly gifted, and has Aspergers, so sometimes we have to pick our battles, so to speak.

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by confustication

Hm, I think the idea of form drawing is a really good one to work on the handwriting issue!

A is highly gifted, and has Aspergers, so sometimes we have to pick our battles, so to speak.

And it can be relaxing and satisfying. I'd strongly recommend using beautiful colored pencils for as much as possible - they really, really change the nature of things! Even math. Everything she might enjoy using them for. The best i've seen are the waxy Lyra ones. Color adds a whole world of satisfaction and creativity to everything, and makes for some pretty impressive finished products. And I used to hear an educational consultant trained in sensory integration say that it also helps with retention. Lillian

[confustication]

Those are her favorite tools for drawing in general (we got them because the shape is amazing for kids with sensory integration problems- SO much easier!) I think we'll work on incorporating more purposeful form drawing into her life- though she does tend to resist any direction/realism in her drawing yet...

[kgianforti]

MEP Math is free, just have to print it out. The lessons are planned out for you too.

[Dakota's Mom]

We have used Time4Learning for the last 3 years now. My son is just starting third grade. He loves it so much. The biggest problem he has is paying attention which is what makes homeschooling so important to us. He can get up and run around the building if he needs to and then sit down and focus again. Since all of his work is on the computer, we are adding Handwriting Without Tears this year. We are also adding All About Spelling. Overall it is very inexpensive, can be paid monthly, and has no long term contract. I think it's a good overall curriculum. At least it has worked for us for three years now.

[bethanyclaire]

This year I am pulling curriculum from a few different places. The first, which I really like so far, is Lesson Pathways (http://www.lessonpathways.com). It is all free and the weeks are laid out for you with lesson plans and projects to go with each one. The books for the language arts section are pretty straightforward and probably would be found at most libraries (even bare-bones ones). I like the projects and there is are a few writing assignments each week, which she could easily type as opposed to write if she prefers. There are lots of links for each lesson that have worksheets, discussion questions, crafts and much more. They cover almost all core subjects and have lots of neat crafts, videos and extras. I've been printing the lessons out and preparing folders (I like paper copies... I hate working on the computer if I can avoid it) for each week for each subject. It is a lot of work (and printer ink... the "fast draft" setting has been my best friend! LOL!) but I really like the program so far. It helps give me direction without limiting my options to expand on things as I see fit.

We'll be using Saxon for math and outside sources for art (classes at an art museum), music(lessons by a friend who plays the piano) and PE (gymnastics and swim classes). I found a Science book I really like with lesson plans for K-2 and I think I'll use that with some supplements from Lesson Pathways.

I know this is no help if you are looking for a boxed curriculum. I started out looking for that at first, too. I couldn't find much that was secular. I seriously considered Moving Beyond the Page because I loved the literature based approach but I haven't heard very good things and, for the price, I think I can do better on my own.

Good luck!

[pampered_mom]

...as for workbooks...don't discount Target or the dollar store. About this time of year they bring them out. I was fairly impressed with them and my ds has really eaten them up.