This is my second year homeschooling and we have been using LifePac but I just really don't like it for all subjects. I do like the math though. I am thinking about using Unit Studies from now on. They just look like alot of fun! I am thinking that we will still use LifePac for math and then get a workbook for grammer but everything else we will just use different Unit Studies each month. Like the Amanda Bennet or Old Schoolhouse Unit Studies. I have gotten some of the Old Schoolhouse ones because they had a huge after Christmas sale. I am excited about it. BUT, I am always so scared about not following a strict Curriculum because I worry about not teaching everything she needs to learn. Do any homeschool parents reading this now use Unit Studies or do something else that doesn't follow a strict curriculum? Do you think it would be okay to follow a Curiculum for math, work on grammer in a workbook (but not really a curriculum), and then Unit Studies for all else? I am just really tired of trying to do a bunch of stuff that my daughter hates. Unit studies are more fun so I am thinking she would be learning more that? Any advice or ideas? BTW - she is 10 years old (fifth grade) Be Blessed, Dawn
I'd like to suggest that you might like to look at Christian Light for your math, and perhaps your LA as well. They used to reprint Lifepacs with their own tweaks, but now they mostly write their own. Both math (through 8th grade with Alg I coming soon) and LA (all the way through high school) are now rewritten into the newer Sunrise Editions. You can see samples at www.clp.org by clicking on the grade level in the left column, then when you scroll through the subjects and you see "view details" then click on the little Adobe symbol under each Lightunit number. The CLE Sunrise Editions are so much easier to do than Lifepacs, because they are already divided up for you into daily lessons so you don't have to guesstimate how many pages to do per day, and each daily LA lesson includes the grammar, composition, handwriting, and spelling lesson -- instead of all the spelling and handwriting for the whole section being bunched up together for you to sort out. The reading is a separate course in CLE, so you do get a whole year's worth of LA and not a half-course of LA and a half-course of reading. In the math, it's clearly laid out in daily lessons with two quizzes and a unit test, and all the mental math exercises and daily speed drills (no more of those after 601) are built right into the daily lesson too. There are two quizzes and a unit test. It's an incremental spiral, with a little new lesson followed by mixed practice items, something like Saxon but with better explanations and examples. Any time you switch curricula, it's a good idea to use the diagnostic test if there's one available, and CLE does have tests for LA and for Math. BTW, they're less expensive per unit than Lifepacs, too. I don't see why you couldn't have a very successful homeschooling journey with a couple of subjects and the rest in Unit Studies.
Thanks so much for the info. I am going to check it that out. It sounds like something that may be really good for us. Have a blessed 2011!!!!
We unschool. I hear the "holes in their education" question so much, I feared it myself at first. But, the more I thought about, I realized PS left a TON of HUGE holes is my education, but I have since filled many of those holes myself as an adult. I wrote a whole (pun intended! LOL) big, long post on my blog about holes in their education that explains what I feel about, if you are interested http://childledhomeschool.com/2010/11/30/holes-in-their-education/ I like unit studies, we have done a few. I'm very into child led learning so it's nice to cover many subjects all based on something my son is into. It def makes the sub he isn't fond of more fun if it's all built around a topic of interest to him.
I think a solid math program with some language arts (with the goal of really learning to WRITE and SPEAK in jr. high/high school) is plenty. I consider everything else to be gravy. We have used lots of unit studies in the past based on my plans, but I'm letting my son lead the way more now. We still use units based on his interests, but we don't use them all the time. I will say that my son doesn't complain about school. Units have been fun and have fostered a love of learning. In my honest opinion, that is worth more than "covering" everything and checking off all the state standard boxes. Here are my thoughts about GAPS. (Yes, another blog post to read!).
If this helps you feel better about using unit studies, my mom taught 3rd grade for over 20 years and the best learning that was done during that time was when they could use unit studies rather than strict curriculum. The kids always came away with more knowledge than any other teaching means she used and had a blast learning things to boot I plan on using a lot of unit studies with my kiddos.
I have never in my 10+ years of homeschooling used one set of curriculum. Math and LA are everyday, but I use different resources (some out of books , some free printables on the web) . I use Unit Studies, lap books or make my own stuff up from free printables and library books. Its really easy and I rarely spend over 2 hours a week to make my own plans. Also I do http://clickschooling.com/ . You get links to great websites, some have lesson plans , others are online games/activities for kids , all FREE!! Here are some links to free printables that I use every week: http://www.easyfunschool.com/IndexUnitStudies.html http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/ http://www.worksheetworks.com/ http://themathworksheetsite.com/ http://www.mrdonn.org/index.html http://www.kidsknowit.com/
Me too. If you can read and comprehend, communicate effectively (writing and speaking) and LOVE learning, if you ever find a gap you can fill it...no problem. Oh yeah, I guess you need some math so you can balance the checkbook too. Best wishes!
