Pre-packaged curriculum (Calvert) vs making your own.

2761 Views 31 Replies 19 Participants Last post by Openskyheart, Jun 10, 2005

KatherineNaomi

Discussion Starter · Jun 2, 2005

Hi,
I've been looking into the Calvert curriculum. I have 3 sons, ages 4, 2 1/2 and 3 months. As you can imagine I'm kept pretty busy with my 3 little guys and I really liked the idea of having everything laid out for me. Well, I recently purchased the Pre-K curriculum thnking that it would be a good way to try out Calvert before we have to "officially" start HS'ing through the school district. Well, I was less than impressed with the program. The materials are dated and dry. The art projects and games are much less interesting to my son than what we already do at home. And I feel like the lesson manual is a little TOO say this, now say that, point to this, now ask that for me. Does Calvert get better in the later grades?
I've read several places that reccomend using a pre-packaged curriculum the first year as it's the easiest way to start HS'ing but I'm toying with the idea of creating my own curriculum (which is a slightly scary prospect). I like the fact that it would be so flexible and if something wasn't working for us we could try something new pretty easily. And we wouldn't feel so locked into doing something that wasn't working just because we had shelled out alot of money for it. I think I could do a pretty good job in the early years with only one child "officially" schooling but what about when it's all 3 of them? They're all pretty close in age so could I combine some things and just tweak things a little bit to make them age appropriate? Should I try Calvert again once we hit 1st grade (our first official year per NY's compulsory school age). Are the higher grades better? Is it worth the money? I'm full of questions and insecurities as I'm sure most new HS'ers are. Any advice or guidance I can glean from you would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Kate

Mom to...
Max 1/29/01
Noah 10/12/02
James 3/11/05

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1 - 20 of 32 Posts

ShannonCC

· #2 · Jun 3, 2005

4

Hi

I have no experience with Calvert whatsoever :LOL (just wanted to get that out there!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatherineNaomi
I've read several places that reccomend using a pre-packaged curriculum the first year as it's the easiest way to start HS'ing

This totally depends on the family involved. On the parent (your personality) and on the kids (their personalities, their learning styles, their interests). The very idea of a pre-packaged curriculum doesn't sound easy to me and would not work for us at all. I even briefly looked at Before Five in a Row when my dd was younger and it helped me realize that a curriculum is not for us

(we're unschooling) On the other hand, I know homeschooling families who use curriculums and enjoy them.

So using a pre-packaged curriculum might be easier for you. Or it might not.

Lots of help here aren't I?

I hope you get some Calvert answers!

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AngelBee

· #3 · Jun 3, 2005

Do you have a link for Calvert?

KatherineNaomi

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 3, 2005

Mamax3

· #5 · Jun 3, 2005

I've thought of using Calvert, so many times. My children are in public school right now, but if I bring them out, I will probably use Calvert as a base and implement other things as well.

I LOVE the Charlotte Mason Method, which is so different from Calvert, but I think if I were to have Calvert as my base and add what I want and leave out what I don't want than I would have a happy medium. I NEED struture and something that is planned out for me.

I've heard of people using Calvert, who don't do the verbatum lessons (ie, you say this now, point to this now, etc).

Jen123

· #6 · Jun 3, 2005

I used Calvert the first year and again the third year. The first year it was awesome. you say this now , point to this now....it really was a step by step for me. It really set in the children's minds that they were HOME for school now.

The second year we used Hougton-Mifflin.

: it was so-so.

The third year we went back to Calvert and the experience was completely different. I felt like I was always behind. It felt like we had so much work to do. My thoughts on schooling at home were changing. It was so stressful trying to keep up with a curriculum. Yes we could work at our own pace , but looking at that stack of books (and they send a TON) every day really drags a person down.

We make our own curriculum as we go now. I wouldn't call it unschooling....but it's certainly not school at home any more either. Kind of eclectic. We'll use a lesson plan , but on it will be things like "make baking soda bomb for back yard" or "cover houseplants to see what happens" or "go to park and count number of children versus number of swings"

I wish you luck either way you decide.

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Mamax3

· #7 · Jun 3, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen123
The third year we went back to Calvert and the experience was completely different. I felt like I was always behind. It felt like we had so much work to do. My thoughts on schooling at home were changing. It was so stressful trying to keep up with a curriculum. Yes we could work at our own pace , but looking at that stack of books (and they send a TON) every day really drags a person down.

We make our own curriculum as we go now. I wouldn't call it unschooling....but it's certainly not school at home any more either. Kind of eclectic. We'll use a lesson plan , but on it will be things like "make baking soda bomb for back yard" or "cover houseplants to see what happens" or "go to park and count number of children versus number of swings"

I would probably use it the first year, just to get a feel for how I want to homeschool without having to worry that I am leaving something out....sort of as a confidence builder, I imagine that I would be like you in the end and want to plan my own curriculum once I had the idea about how to teach each individual child (i have 4).

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dharmamama

· #8 · Jun 3, 2005

I don't have any personal experience with Calvert, but I know several Calvert drop-outs from my kids' homeschool group (including a family who dropped out of an online umbrella school that used Calvert because they couldn't stand it). All of them say the same thing: too much boring stuff to do.

I have been looking at homeschool curricula since before my daughter was born. I plan to go mostly with a make-my-own curriculum. I have a word document on which I have subjects listed and possible resources that I have uncovered. It's been a lot of fun for me to compile this, and it has really taken a lot off the fear of "can I DO this?" away.

My favorite homeschool website/catalog is lovetolearn.net. It's a Christian-focused catalog that's run by a conservative Christian family. We are liberal Buddhists. I have found so many GREAT THINGS in Love To Learn and I have had fabulous email discussions with the woman who runs the business, who knows I am Buddhist. I just skip over the Christian stuff and there's still a HUGE amount of stuff to choose from.

Namaste!

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KatherineNaomi

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 4, 2005

Thanks so much for all your input. After doing lots of research and reading lots of reviews I think I'm just going to piece together my own curriculum. We don't have to HS officially for a while yet so I might as well take this time to test things out and see what's out there. I like what I've seen of Singapore Math and Handwriting Without Tears and I've found lots of great things on the Sonlight web page. I'm so excited to get started!!
Kate

Lisa Lubner

· #10 · Jun 5, 2005

i really like singapore math and HWT. my son loves to do them too. we also used the leap frog letter factory dvds for learning letter sounds, and then started going through the BOB books. i started doing FIAR, but i found it a little too unstructured for us. i have three kids myself, and i don't really enjoy putting our own curriculum together (or gathering all the materials, or recordkeeping etc.), so we will be trying the sonlight curriculum in another month or so.

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Earthy~Mama

· #11 · Jun 6, 2005

I am using Calvert right now but I want to switch next year. Any recommendations?

Mamax3

· #12 · Jun 6, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthy~Mama
I am using Calvert right now but I want to switch next year. Any recommendations?

Why do you want to switch, if you don't mind my asking?

Callimom

· #13 · Jun 6, 2005

You might see if you can borrow Rebecca Rupps Home Learning Year by Year from your library. She breaks down what kids "should" know in each subject area and gives resource suggestions for books, games, cds, (and curriculum where appropriate). I like to use it just as a benchmark for where we are but it might give you a good starting point for the K/Gr 1 years.

HTH
Karen

Earthy~Mama

· #14 · Jun 6, 2005

I like Calvert but I don't LOVE Calvert. She is bored with it. I guess I am looking for something more ...well... I don't know. Ignore me.... rough morning

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USAmma

· #15 · Jun 6, 2005

We are just finishing up Calvert K and will probably move to 1st grade next year. I'm not overly enthusiastic about Calvert but my dd is enjoying it and learning. Calvert math is supposed to be one of the best, and you can buy just the math if you want to.

I haven't yet found anything better but my two options right now are to (a) order the whole thing for like, $600!! or (b) order just the math, which dh and I really like, and find some other program for reading/history/science, etc.

One of my friends uses The Well-Trained Mind. I am not that familiar with it, but from what she says they tell you what books to buy for what subjects/grades. That is not exactly packaged cirriculum but it's close.

ETA: I decided, after this thread, to explore the Well Trained Mind more and have checked the book out from the library. I'm off to read.

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lilyka

· #16 · Jun 7, 2005

We are a choose your own adventure family.

My first and second learn very differently for starters. and I am sure my 3rd will manage to be comeletely different from them.

Also My 8 year old has just started 2nd grade math, is in 3rd gr. language arts, 4th grade reading, we do a more natrual unschooling science and social studies approach, and well, you get the picture. also there are things I am more comfortable than others teaching. o ur math program is completely scripted and we love it. she is finally understading and enjoying math.

I had to do a lot of research but it was fun to sift through catalouges and talk with people about what they were using. I also enjoy finding something that I think they will take off with. I figure as far as hitting everything goes we look over our scope and sequence and go through "what your ** grader needs to know" and make sure there aren't any gaps, if sohit them and move on. I figure if we hit certain subjects 2-3 times a week we will do OK. and if we aren't we can always step it up a notch.

I don't see any reason to go with a packaged cirriculum.

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mommyschiff

· #17 · Jun 7, 2005

Just thought I would add this - I do not use Calvert by the way - I have a friend who had designed her own curriculum and tried several others. She ended up with Calvert and LOVES it - she says it saved their homeschooling. She has 6 children and is definately the personality that wants/needs everything laid out for her. Her kids love the materials. She likes the fact that there is a quite a bit of work that she can give her older ones to do independantly while she tutors with the younger ones.

Like so many of you have said it really depends on the family and the personalities involved. I designed my own for K last year but will be switching to a pre-package deal for 1st. I am very excited about it - we'll see how we end up liking it.

Kelly

COMamalac

· #18 · Jun 7, 2005

We have used Calvert in the past, and we're going with K12 this coming year. My kids will be in grades 2, 5, and 8, and we'll use Keystone HS (accredited homeschool program) for 10th grade for my oldest son. I also have kids 1.5 and 4 years old, who won't be using anything formal yet.

We've tried various things, from private and public school, to making our own curric, to using a packaged curric. Finally decided to go w/structure, simply because my kids thrive on routine and structure, and this way we'll cover "all bases." I know everyone has to find what works for his/her family, and this is what works for us.

Something to consider: many states are paying for people to use Calvert or K12 (virtual charter schools). I know a lot of homeschoolers are worried about school regulation, but this does allow many people to use a good curriculum, and their tax money is paying for it. If you don't mind structure, and/or want them to keep the records for you, it's a viable option.

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Lillian J

· #19 · Jun 8, 2005

My two cents is that it's not only a lot more fun - and a lot more economical - to create your own curriculum, but that it can lead to a better education than what might come from working through a packaged one. For one thing, you can look to specialists - companies or individuals that specialize in math, for instance, rather than one company who's trying to cover it all. And look at all the free and wonderful resources you can find free online, for just a starter:
Go Figure! The Fascinating World of Mathematics
For kids as young as yours, it will be eons before you need much of anything. There are lots of good ideas for fun and age appropriate, memory building activities in this article:
A Homeschooling Curriculum for Pre-School and Kindergarten

And when you do need more, there are lots of inexpensive, fun, and productive ways of providing what they need - including your library. A lot of people are happy with the structure of a packaged curriculum, but a lot of people find that both they and their kids hate the dryness of it - and of course, as you've seen, the joy of learning is the most vital thing in all this. So having a packaged curriculum can actually make the first year or so of homeschooling more difficult rather than less difficult. Why? Because it can pit anxious parents against reluctant kids - and make the parents feel that their kids are not as "cooperative" as others or that homeschooling isn't for them. I've heard this from people who quit homeschooling after a brief try.

Take a look through these links for some ideas about some of the lower cost and more flexible ways you can begin:
Learning, Teaching, & Online Tools

And here's a catalog I love - it used to be the John Holt catalog, but it's now run by a family. You can browse through and get a feel for what great stuff is out there!
FUN-Books

Enjoy! You're going to have so much fun!

Lillian

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marilynmama

· #20 · Jun 8, 2005

We have been homeschooling for going on 3 years now. It really just depends on the family like everyone has said. We started out as unschoolers which worked well for the time being.

Once I started back to college full time 2 years ago I HAD to have something more structured to keep my sanity, just because *my* schoolwork was insane and I just didn't have a lot of time to unschool (which does take time and planning as any unschoolers knows...lol) or to make my own anything. We don't use Calvert, I actually can't think of the name we use...lol We don't school every subject, only math and language arts and that is all I buy, the rest we unschool. My parents love to help with homeschooling and I think they have a science and geography books over there when my oldest spend time with them. My dds have always liked workbooks so this is working well for them.

I think once they hit middle school/high school things will change again, especially if they want to go to college (which I hope they will). It seems it changes all the time, what works for one age doesn't work for the next I have found. I know the first year we homeschooled was more a learning experience than anything else.

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