Talk me out of curriculum please!

[boysrus]

I have been hard at work developing our own curriculum, using mostly internet sites, the library, m ids interests, my brain
But, I was just visiting the SIngapore site and it seems like a great program. I really dont want to buy any curriculum though(except Handwriting without tears) and I know I am just being seduced by the marketing.
Please talk some sense into me!

[meowee]

hi--

The main reason you shouldn't get a curriculum (IMO) is because you will be out so much money if you or your DC(ren) don't like it, or they surpass it academically, or if it turns out to be too hard. For instance with Calvert, if you find yourself with the wrong grade, too bad-- you can't exchange it. I don't know how old your children are, but IMO you don't need a packaged curriculum until middle school or higher. Even then you can improvise.

We are traditional/ structured homeschoolers, but we've never used a curriculum. Basically we start out the day with Singapore Math, do some writing, and the rest of the school day is reading. The "reading" part ends up covering history, science, literature, geography etc. The "writing" part teaches grammar, spelling, creative writing, etc.

My self-challenge for this year is to spend less than $25 per child in our homeschool. This will force us to be creative. And we use the library heavily. If we really love a book and find ourselves borrowing it again and again, then we might buy it.

good luck!

[boysrus]

Your not helping me
The only thing I am actually looking at Singapore Math. I just dont want to do it though. I have alreay put in a ton of time making up our math curriculum

[Marsupialmom]

You know you can use plastic report covers and recycle your purchase.

I know I am not helping.

There is an advantage to having a more structured math, covering it all. LOL Do you have a resource that covers math to a point that takes you to high school and college levels?

[blueholly]

Just my two cents -

A friend paid $150 for curriculum we both flipped through and thought was comprehensive and oh-so-very-cool. She got it and found everything was either too easy for her ds. $150 down the drain.

I've put together my own, like you. I have a big notebook of stuff I've printed to use now and later.

[boysrus]

Marsupialmom, BACK OFF!! My ds is only in second grade!! I am not saying we will never do curriculum, I am just talking about not running out and buying it this year.
Thanks Shannon

[Marsupialmom]

LOL

At first and was parriniod about covering it all, esspecially in math.

I had taken a college "refresher" algerbra course (had not had a math course in 7 years) and I was the only non-18-19 year old. They were learning this stuff for the first time. Plus some of them didn't have the "basic" stuff that they should not have gotten out of elementary school without.

I didn't think of the cheap alternitive on what to cover. A cheap work book (like grade 2/3). A peak at one of those you could make a list of topics to cover. Actually there is also spectrum test books you could get to make sure you cover the "basics".

My son did/does not do good with out some structure in his day. He likes things in little compartments so he knows why he is doing anything.

[Blissful Bee]

I dont like curriculum either, not for any big reason other than that I want to really do what works for my kids individually. That was until my oldest son asked me why I spend so much time on the computer and not in the yard. Then I realized, what works for my kids is for us to get to do what we want when we want. If we want to do some "school work" and then head downtown for the day, or spend it at the park, or in a museum we can. I am saving myself so much time by supplimenting things like math. I cant reinvent math, and I really am not the math wiz in our family, so this really saves me so much. On the expense thing, I would advise going used or borrowing someones until you decide if you like it. Once you decide on one, than you can hunt around for the best deal. Sorry if Im not helping. I just am so excited about all the time I now have and how much less I need to prepare. :-)

[magpie]

I don't buy packaged curricula because I think we all learn what we need to know, when we need it, not when some text-book author decides we do.

[guest^]

Is it an option for you to have the objectives for your own school district...not that what *they* think is important to you, but it could give you an outline for your own curriculum.

I happen to love Singapore, and just also added Miquon Math Labs to dd's agenda!!! (Both pretty inexpensive.)

A major thing I 've picked up from these boards(ha!pun intended!!) for the early years, is to provide games,games,games!!!

ITA-go with used if you purchase anything!!!!

Good-luck!!!

mp

[Charles Baudelaire]

Originally Posted by meowee

hi--

The main reason you shouldn't get a curriculum (IMO) is because you will be out so much money if you or your DC(ren) don't like it, or they surpass it academically, or if it turns out to be too hard. For instance with Calvert, if you find yourself with the wrong grade, too bad-- you can't exchange it. I don't know how old your children are, but IMO you don't need a packaged curriculum until middle school or higher. Even then you can improvise.

good luck!

***But let me add that if that DOES happen, you can recoup some of your losses by selling the unused or lightly used curriculum on Ebay! www.ebay.com

[lilyka]

First of all math is the one thing I use a cirriculum program for.

BUT

If I really didn't want to pay for it I would just check out a marh text from the school district. This is somehting we are entitled to (although I don't know anyone who does it) and something you might want to check into if youreally think a more structured math program is your thing. Also you can usually find these used at book stores or online too for pennies on the dollar.

And for the record we use miquon math and it was cheap. $45 for the six workbooks and lab notes and shipping and rods. I bought an extra $10 in rods because i lose them. If I wanted to make said dollars stretch further I could use a page protector and recycle the work books but I don't care that much.

Another thing we do that is cheap is we get language arts work books from sams club for $8 (a steal it covers reading, reading comprehension, spelling, English and math. A whole years worth and it flows well.) Ya know if you just want something to fill in the blanks . . . .