Comparing Curricula

[mimaja]

How do you compare curricula and choose the best ones for your kids? Is there some way of previewing them before buying?

Anyone know anything about how various hs'ing curricula stack up against gov't issued, esp in Ontario?

I tried to post a longer version of this message with my reasons for asking, but it wouldn't take. Still having trouble with my computer.

TIA
Kristine

Edited to add, I'm not sure how that icon got stuck to the front of my title, and not sure how to get it off! LOL

[zjande]

Oh man, I WISH there was somewhere I could go to see allllll the curricula in the world laid out in one place!! Oh how I would love that.

Instead, I tend to read up as much as I can about a curriculum that sounds interesting online. I love sites that have previews or examples of a curriculum. And beyond that, I also stalk the used curricula forum at Well Trained Mind & just buy stuff that I want to look at when I find it for a super low price. And sometimes I love it, sometimes I realize I just wasted $10.

I love reading whole threads of folks talking about a certain curriculum, I like hearing as many different things about it as I can. I love the WTM forums for that as well. Then, I analyze whether it sounds like something that would work for my kid, or not.

[kgianforti]

I second the WTM forum - look for people with kiddos near your dc's ages and check out their blogs. Often people take lots of pictures so you can see the curriculum in "action".

Places, like Rod & Staff, send samples and most places offer online samples.

[elizawill]

i like www.homeschoolreviews.com

i check out reviews & then go to a curriculum website where i can preview the materials firsthand. then i try to find the best price, usually used from somewhere. sometimes this method is reversed, where i'll hear about a curriculum or see a curriculum...then i check it out at homeschool reviews for feedback. it's a little time-consuming, but usually worth it (fwiw - i also like amazon reviews and i'll ask here for advice often as well). hth.

[Lisa1970]

I don't know what textbooks are like in Canada, but in the US, the texts used by the government are awful. It is a rare homeschooler that will use US government texts. For example, the math programs have lots of pictures in it, political agenda, and often asks for stuff like daily journalling on topics like how you feel today or how did you contribute to your community today. Most public school American textbooks are so awful, the school system is just totally failing.

But, I do purchase books that are used in the public schools in Singapore, or once were anyway. I also purchase books that are made for private schools. I have seen samples online of books of some books in the UK too and they look good.