As a reminder, I'm planning to start homeschooling my son for the first time next year. He will be in second grade. He's an active boy and has been diagnosed with dyslexia. He's also behind in math. He's working through the Barton Reading and Spelling program with a tutor, and we will continue that even while homeschooling because it's going so well. It will probably take him two more years to complete the program. I've been researching curriculum for months and am stuck between two options for my core curriculum. I know I don't HAVE to plan ahead at this point, but I want to be able to have a potential plan through 8th grade (we don't know if we'll even go that far, but we plan to put him back in school for high school). I've thought about pulling my own package together from several companies, and I've thought about putting some of my own material together. But what it comes down to is that I really want something that's mostly open and go, in part because I'm new at this and in part because I also have a toddler who will take up most of my free time. Option #1 is MFW's Adventures. Option #2 is WinterPromise's Animals and Their Worlds. I both like and dislike things about each program and company. Here are the pros and cons of each in my mind. Adventures pros: 1. Written specifically for 2nd and 3rd graders 2. Looks like a fun intro to American History 3. Integrated science 4. MFW's LA suggestion is cheap and can reportedly be done orally. 5. Integrated Bible with a Names of Jesus study that looks really cool 6. MFW seems to have good customer service, a a good return policy, and an active forum with helpful members 7. Included art and music study Adventures cons: 1. Integrated science might be light or feel contrived 2. Intro to American history might be TOO light 3. Bible might be a little TOO integrated and feel corny 4. I could see myself following this study with Encountering Countries and Cultures, but wouldn't want to do MFW's whole history cycle. Animals and their Worlds pros: 1. My son loves science and general and animals and particular 2. The program looks really in depth and would provide some light geography in the study of biomes around the world. 3. WinterPromise has lots of studies I think I'd like and, if I liked the first year, I could foresee staying with the company through 8th grade 4. Though there's no history program from WP that I really want to do next year (their younger elementary American history is pretty in depth, and I'd like to wait until 3rd grade for it), I really like the way WP seems to address history. I particularly like that their elementary American history has a Native American special focus in the first year and an African American special focus in the second year. Animals and their Worlds cons: 1. This is really a company con: the service can reportedly be pretty bad, with slow shipping 2. The company's new ebook options are somewhat confusing, and any ebooks I got would be nonreturnable. Even print options only have a three week return window. 3. I'm not sure I'd want to have such a strong science focus with no real social studies or history for a whole year 4. After the Animals year, I'd have to add science every year, and I'm not impressed with the looks of WP's single subject science programs. 5. WP's LA is fairly expensive and I'm not sure what level I'd want to use for next year or if it would ever be appropriate for a dyslexic. Any advice based on what I've said? Thanks!
If you go with MFW you could always beef up the history by adding some read alouds (Sonlight has a great list), videos or even do some History Pockets to go along with it. As for Science if you find it too light you could always just add an Apologia one on as the year goes on.
Curriculum is less important than you think. The fact you have researched curriculum for months concerns me. There are many wonderful curriculum packages out there. It's what you do with it that really matters. Make sure your child learns something every day, and what he learns matters less than the fact he is learning. Teach your child to love books at an early age, make him certain of the fact he is loved, and you can't go far wrong, whatever the curriculum.
We did MFW Exploring Countries & Cultures. We did not do Adventures BUT I've always heard wonderful things about it. If you did Adventures, then did ECC it would be a good flow, then you could go to whatever history you wanted to. I loved ECC's concentration on Geography....once you learn the world geography, history IS easier! We left MFW not because of content, but because I have trouble with someone else's schedule. I like to do my own scheduling. BUT...I loved the content.
I second this, but I understand someone researching. I have been there done that. You want to do the best for your child. After my first year or so of homeschooling I went on a research mission. I would ask people at co-op. I would ask people on forums. I would ask people on blogs. The best advice I received-- "I can't really say what is best for you." I didn't like it at the time, but in all reality, it is good advice. No one knows your needs as well as you. It may take time and trial and error, but if you are willing to be flexible, you can find a comfortable place. For many people it is a combination of different publishers. For others it is a "curriculum in a box." If you do put them in school in high school, there are different concerns. I think it is feasible to homeschool high school (we are), but I perfectly understand the decision not to homeschool high school. You may just want to keep your options open and may find yourself not wanting to put your child in school at that age. I don't think Tina Razzell was trying to be harsh. I liken it to this. When a person discovers that there is freedom in life or more specifically in homeschooling, we want the world to know. Here is a great website to check out: http://www.homeschooloasis.com/article_chart.htm Also, don't worry about getting it all done every day or getting behind. Your child is not on the conveyor belt of education at home. Have fun and live and laugh. That is easier for me to say than do; I tend to be a serious minded person.
I haven't used either, but I don't think either one is a poor choice. I used a packaged curriculum my first year and it really helped me figure out what worked for us. I would pick what looks best to you for this school year and once you get a feel for it and how it works for you and your child you can make a more informed decision the next year.
Well, to be honest I don't really know much about those two programs, but I noticed that you are in KY, and you have a son going into 2nd. Me too! Good luck, we started last year, and I know just what you mean about needing a curriculum that is open and go! I wasn't really very confident when I first started either. Just know that you have a great group of ladies (and a few men) here behind you!
I've been researching curriculum for 6 years now. Still doing so. TOnight, in fact. :lol: We have used Winter Promise and LOVE it for my boys who aren't all about sitting still. I love literature rich curricula, but we need visual and hands-on stuff constantly to keep their attention. WP has a great mix of that. I've heard negatives about their service as well (mostly the shipping and not actually talking to folks, that goes fine), but it seems some people have great experiences and some don't. Seems to be fine if you just order the exclusives from them and then order from Amazon (or used from someone on a forum, which is my usual preference). With MFW, I think it's a little too "open" for newbies as well as for kids who may need a more strict schedule or at least outline of what to do. I love MFW up to about 2nd grade but beyond that I think there are better programs. Admittedly, I haven't used the upper programs - because I thought others looked better - and while i haven't actually used any of the programs with my youngers either, I was part of a co-op that used K and 1st and have in hand some of those materials that I plan to use with my twins as they come up and are ready for it. As a total distraction... have you looked at Illuminations by Bright Ideas Press? Not sure it would be a good fit for where you are right now, but you mentioned concerns in continuing with WP - this might be a good follow up to that. (And I have an affiliate link somewhere, but never can remember how to use it, and it doesn't really matter. I am affiliated because I LOVE the program!! And the publisher. Herself. Ms. Maggie Hogan is awesome!) I use it, love it, recommend it, am holding onto it to use again in the future.
Thanks for the advice, everyone! I should clarify that, while the time period in which I've been looking at curriculum has stretched over months, it's been in short stretches. We've decided not to order anything until closer to when we want to start, because I know that otherwise I'd be trying to start school in June, and my son really needs a break after a stressful public school experience. So I'll look at something, think that's what I'll probably order, then hear about something else from a friend, forum, etc, check it out, like it better, etc. MFW and WP have ended up at the top so far . I appreciate the reassurance that the curriculum isn't the most important thing, though. What I should do is take a break from looking until a week or so before we want to order, pray about it, then look one more time and my decision will probably be clear. I may not actually do that, since I'm an obsessive window shopper, but that's what I SHOULD do .
Do you have any homeschool conventions coming near you this summer? It is so much easier to decide when you can put the items in your hands and flip through them.
Hi, just wanted to say I'm from Ky too. Next year will be our third year hs'ing and my son will be in third grade. I don't think anyone ever gets it perfect at first. I sure haven't. I've decided that it's ok as long as they're learning something and we switch things as needed. I'm in the process of trying to decide what to do next year too but I'm leaning toward Ambleside online for most since it is a Charlotte Mason curriculum and free. Good luck to you.
