Think about next year. This year we have been all over the place, changing curriculums and buying all sorts of things to make this year work for us. I do not have the funds to do it for next year. I would like something simple to teach. We are staying with Saxon Math and RS4K. But, The other subjects I am open to change. We are currently using BJU for just about everything. My kids like colorful things that will grab their attention. But, they are getting older. I think my biggest concern is quickly grab concept. We are using RS4K and it is fantastic with the color and the approach is quick and they get it! Both children have ADHD so, sometime I feel in attack mode. For example, get in make your point and get out. No dilly dallying at all. My childrens weakest area are reading and grammar. So, I feel that something like Sonlight would be too much for them. (That is what all my hs friends use.) I guess I am afraid to try anything else because I don't want to waste any money I just need it to work for us. I have found some things I can make work and others not so much.
Have you looked at Christian Light? The lessons are simple and to the point, but very good. And they are not expensive... about $3.50 a lightunit, 10 LU's a year. You can samples from their website, as well as placement tests. I don't know for sure what grades/subjects have all been converted, but the Sunrise Editions are the best.
Cherry, if you need Saxon Math, I have an older 65 and 76 for sale for $20 each, ppd, with the test booklet and answer booklet!
The CLE is Sunrise through 12th in reading/literature and LA/English. Math is Sunrise through 8th grade, with Algebra I coming soon. Bible is through 4th grade. But science only first and second, and social studies only first through fourth and sixth (I guess 5th is next??) And actually, the cost is only $3.20 per unit...
When my kids were that age, we used the library for reading books. We used Spectrum for language arts/grammar which I got from Staples for around $7. It was to the point and not time consuming. Since they are both close in age, you could use one history curriculum and one science curriculum for both. We really like Considering God's Creation for science. It is not colorful in itself, but the kids do a lot of coloring and crafting things for each lesson to make their own colorful notebooks. We are going to be using Mystery of History again with my dd11. It is not colorful at all, but it has short lessons and hands on activites and timelines that would keep the interest of kids who need to be actively doing something. My ds has always prefered to read, read, read real books for history or watch videos. It has served him well. That is an unconventional method, but it works for my ds since he is motivated to learn history already. Hope this helps.
Have you tried easy grammar yet ? The lessons are short and to the point. Some of the older versions are like Saxon, where as they are combined grades like 2/3,3/4 etc. So you could use one book for both your children. All you would need is the teachers book because it has the reproductable student pages in it. If you buy it used it is fairly inexpensive.
My favorite curriculum for Grammar is Shurley English. It's not colorful, BUT it is catchy! My boys who have previously been very resistant to Grammar and Writing are now actually doing it without a fuss. They don't like the vocabulary sections, but they do it. I really can't say enough good things about this curriculum. It doesn't require a lot of time from me either. I am able to sit down, open the book, teach the lesson (about 15 minutes) and then set them to doing the review exercises. History we are really loving MOH, it's another grab and go book, I only need to look ahead to be sure I have supplies on hand for the projects (usually I do), and then on timeline/mapping days I have to do a little preplanning to be sure that I have the figures ready for them.
Like Brooke, I'm using Spectrum for Math (love it although it isn't colorful. It is get in, get it done, move on though- and so far does a decent job with concepts). I also rely on spectrum to guide my LA for my 3rd grade son. That book IS colorful. The workbooks are really cheap, so if they don't work out you aren't out very much. I had great luck finding Spelling Power on Amazon for under $30. That has lots of different learning activities for different styles, I love that the spelling lists are set up by phonics rules, and there are tons of activities in it. If it works for my kids, it will be the only spelling book I'll need through all of school. I also found sci textbooks (my preference ) on e-bay for a steal. They are 'used'- but barely. Not crazy about depth of info, but the photographs are worth it. We suppliment with hands-on stuff and documentaries. I also rely on lots of internet sources. There are so many sites it is mind boggling. For us it has been sort of a trade off. We can do this all very cheaply but it is time consuming for me. Since I like being able to tweak, this completely works for me (even if I had all 'real' curriculum, I'd still be tweaking and spending time figuring it out). I will confess I haven't switched curric at all yet. I'm not ready to make decisions on whether or not it's working until the year ends. I think we probably incorporate a ton of review without realizing it (for instance, ds is learning parts of speech, so I bought a giant book of adlibs. He gets practice for the basics over and over, even when it isn't for 'school'). I don't have ADD kids though. Mine tend toward laziness arg.
Wow!!! You guys are awesome! You were able to read what I was writing at 4am. My husband and I just sat down at the computer and read what I wrote, we are laughing out loud!!!! Sooo sorry!!!! I guess exhaustion speaks for itself! I have to figure out where to begin with Christian Light Education. I have heard so many wonderful things about them. Jackie, Thank you so much for the offer but I just had someone give me the copies I needed for Saxon. I will definately keep that in mind for my friends who are looking. I will send them your way!
I'm going to go off a little here from suggesting purchased curriculum. Have you considered using alternate methods? I have always loved unit studies and used them almost exclusively in the lower grades, only adding in LA and Math. I loved R & S Reading and I used Saxon math. This year I am trying Math in Focus, and so far I like it, but we are not far into it, and it's only grade K. It helps that it is actually by Saxon publishing. You can buy unit studies that are all laid out and all you need to do is gather materials and library books (like Konos), or you can pick up individual unit study books or even free ones off the internet! There is quite a lot out there, especially for grades K-3. I liked the Teacher Created Resources ones. They're a little expensive, but there is a lot to do in them and we'd supplement with field trips, internet, movies, crafts and one unit study would last us for weeks with lots of fun learning going on!
You may want to look into Learning Adventures, if a unit study appeals to you. Though I think they are more time-consuming on the teacher's part.
I was flabbergasted to know that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (which I knew had bought Saxon) also owns Holt McDougal, Rigby, GreatSource, Edmark, Riverside, and Steck-Vaughn! Now, apparently, they have written their own version of Singapore Math (My Pals Are Here! Math 2006) which is Math in Focus: the Singapore Approach.
I have never tried a unit study. I am so new at all of this I don't even know where to begin with it. Suggestions please
Cherry, what topic would ALL your children be interested in? There's only four years between your oldest and youngest, so it wouldn't be too difficult. There were five between my oldest and youngest. A friend of mine (who had a much larger age span between her four!) was planning a summer trip to the Atlantic coast, so they did a unit study on Oceans. You can either buy a unit study already done (and honestly, if you've never done one, this might be easiest!), or you can sit down and come up with your own. If you'd like to do this, let me know and I can send you a fairly detailed idea of how I use to do it (based a good bit on what I learned in education classes in college, and what I did to develop units while teaching). It's really not that hard, but I also don't want to overwhelm you! It means time at the library!
Jackie, There is only a year between my kids. My son is 10 and my daughter is 9. We just went to the Aquarium in Boston and the to the Museum of Science as well. They loved it. We are planning to get to the Ocean this year. My kids have studied a lot with Ocean life. I just don't know where else to begin
I'm sorry! You said "married 13 years", and I somehow read that you had THREE kids, the oldest one 13! That's what happens when I read things early in the AM!
I would like to jump in and ask for info about unit studies too. I am thinking about going this direction next year but would like to have something all planned out for me at least in the beginning.
