I am planning to use Calvert next year and although I have searched many forums would like some personal feedback. If you have used Calvert either now or in the past, how did you like it? What grades did you use it for? How long did you use it? Are you still using it? Parts of it? If you left, why did you leave? Thanks in advance.
I have! I used it for K (much better suited for Pre-k), 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and hopefully back to it next year. We just could not afford this year. I am a mom of 4 (soon to be 5), and I loved it because it was open the manual and go for me. No prep work ahead of time. It was time consuming if you are doing it with more than 3 students though, but luckily I have a couple of pretty independent learners. There customer service is wonderful. I left it this year because money was too tight, and tried a "literature approach" to learning. I must say that I miss the structure of Calvert, and can't wait to order them again. My oldest will be in 8th grade next year, and that is as high as they go right now. Let me know if you have any other questions. I would love to help anyway that I can. Hope that helps!
Thanks for the reply. I was wanting to get more of a feel from those that have used it. I am really wanting something solid and secular. I also really, really want some guidance and hand-holding. I want to know that I can call and talk to someone if I need help. I applied for the financial aid. I know you said you left last year b/c money was tight. Did you apply for the aid? I am still waiting to hear back. It is awfully expensive so I am hoping we are eligible for help.
I found it to be very dry, which is why we no longer use it. It is definitely a solid, secular curriculum though and it will hold your hand the whole way through.
Yes. We did apply for financial aid, and did receive some. However, before we used it, Hurricane Gustav hit and we had sustantial damage to our home. You know how insurance goes - we got barely enough to fix all the damages, and there just wasn't anything left from insurance or our savings by then for school. I know that someone posted it is dry - it is like school at home. Everything you need for the year comes in your box. Pencils, glue, scissors, paper, pencil sharpener, pencil box, everything. It was so nice to open the box and know everything I needed to give my children a good quality education was right there at my fingertips. We used Sonlight and Winterpromise this year, and I don't know if it is because I am so used to Calvert's way of educating, but I am having a really hard time wrapping my brain around the living books type of education. We have a house full of book lovers, so that definitely hasn't been the problem. I just like knowing that I am covering everything with Calvert. If you aren't going to use ATS, they also offer Test Series, which are tests with answer keys so you can grade at home. I actually liked to use those to make sure we were retaining what we were learning. My kids like getting those grades too. Anyway, if you kids have gone to public school, this will be what they are used to, but way more fun and relaxing If you have used other methods in the past, it may seem "dry" to them. Also, grades 6 and up, the manual is written directly to the student. It really freed up some of my time. Most days I would still go over everything with him, but he is my easiest to homeschool so far. He can remember EVERYTHING he reads. I got lucky. .. LOL! Anyway, thanks for the reminder on financial aid. I need to send off an application when we get our refunds done, along with our placements tests. Good Luck and keep me posted. Make it a great day!
