Hi! I'm Stephany in MI. I have 4 children, currently in 4th grade, 2nd, and twins in K. I haven't had any problems with our public schools but I'm feeling drawn to homeschool and am hoping to start with the new school year this fall. Since we're starting hsing a bit late in the game, I'm less confidant that I probably would've been if we started out when my ODD was starting school. Add that to the overwhelming curriculum choices and I don't know which way is up. I have at least narrowed it down to traditional schooling and I'd like to start out with a complete curriculum rather than picking and choosing from several since I'm not familiar with any of them yet. So that's me in a nutshell!
Welcome! Many want to start out with a boxed curriculum, and then later decide to a more pick-and-choose method! Others start with it and stick with it! (Heck, it it's working for you, why change?)
Welcome! I felt the same way starting out. Life doesn't come with a rewind button, but it does come with reset.
Welcome! That's really the easiest way to start out. This is our 5th year, and I still search every year for new materials and tweak everything I use! Just enjoy your kids and no matter what you use, they'll get so much out of the experience.
Hi, Stephany, and Welcome! I wouldn't say you're late in the game at all - I'd say you're right on time! I agree that boxed is often easiest when you're just starting out, especially for the two older ones. Kindy should be "no sweat", and almost anything will do that includes tons of read-alouds, even one of those huge workbooks from WalMart for teaching letter sounds, beginning writing, and beginning numbers. You didn't say whether you'd prefer Christian or secular ... I'm most familiar with the Christian ones, and if you lean in that direction for homeschool materials, I'd like to recommend Christian Light Education, especially for reading, LA, and math (DO use the diagnostic/placement tests before ordering. I'd recommend using the placement test for any curriculum that has one, not just CLE.). For your first year, just to simplify, science and social studies can be almost anything, including read-alouds and/or videos for the whole group at once!
That's how we did it. It's better to start with SOMETHING and make changes than try to have the "perfect plan" because it's practically impossible to have a "perfect plan" until you've tried something...and then even when you have a "perfect plan" it won't go perfectly. Welcome and best wishes!
Thank you for all the kind responses. We are Christian but I'm fine with either Christian or secular curriculum. I talked to a friend at length yesterday and she's willing to let me use all her Abeka materials so I'm pretty sure that's what I'll start out with. I only hope they haven't updated the editions within the last few years. :| Cost is an issue for us.
Updates aren't that big of a deal. Usually it means it's more colorful, and they change the cover. AND it means the price goes up for no good reason! I've several materials that have been "updated", and the inside is EXACTLY the same!
I've used quite a bit of Abeka through the years, and I got a LOT of it from used curriculum sites and ebay for MUCH less than new! The only "problem" is that most of their stuff is made to write in, and many sellers have done just that. Some sellers' opinion of "very good condition" may vary from mine! Most of what I have had been used pretty often, and they don't hold together like hardback texts do, so invest in some wide cellophane tape! But since you're borrowing from a friend, you probably won't have that problem. Updates are not much of a problem, except that the reviews/quizzes/tests for one edition probably won't match a previous edition completely -- but they might, you never know. They update each grade/subject about every ten years, so if the science book was updated in 2009 it won't be due for another update until 2019 (for example). Do NOT bother to invest in what Abeka calls "the curriculum" because it's for classroom teachers, not homeschool. They DO have homeschool teacher-materials, too. Get those if possible.
Another possibility with books that are not holding together as far as the "binding" is to cut the spine, have it punched, and put it in a notebook. I've done this with several books. It also makes it easier if you need to make copies.
The Christian Light Curriculum someone mentioned is very affordable. I tried ABEKA but honestly found it to redundant for my son. CLE does review concepts continually but doesn't seem to beat a dead horse. Good luck with your choices. It can be overwhelming at first.
Welcome! I too, am going to begin home schooling in the fall. I have three daughters who will be 12, 10 and 4 at that time. So we'll be in the same boat together!
