I'm having a hard time with choosing curriculum this year. I thought I had come to a decision and started making my list. I had decided to go with all workbooks this year for most things, mainly because of cost. I can purchase a unit at a time as we need it rather than everything at once. Then, I was going to add in MOH and maybe Apologia science. This year, I tried pulling subjects from different sources and supplementing with the library and worksheets from the computer, but it just didn't work out very well. I don't have the time to spend looking for worksheets and library books and we don't have a very good library anyway. Most of the time, I couldn't find what I wanted. This year has been very stressful and not very productive (at least that's how I feel). I thought going with workbooks would make it easier because it would save me some time printing things off and searching for things online. But, it seems so boring! I'd so much rather do living books and projects. I'd so love to have a boxed curriculum with a schedule for follow and the books included so I don't have to go find them at the library or order them from amazon. I really feel like this would be the best fit for our family. Our first year, I used a boxed curriculum and struggled. But, I was using three different levels and could only combine my oldest two for most subjects. I had a K and 1st grader, so they had their own stuff for learning to read. Now that they are older, I can combine my three youngest for most subjects (not LA or math of course, but others) and dd14 will be pretty independent with her work. I think it will be much easier. Anyway, the biggest factor right now is money. I sat down and figured up the cost if I go with a boxed curriculum plus the subjects that aren't covered (LA and Math) and it's way more than I can afford to spend all at once. But, I will be able to reuse most of the things unlike workbooks that will have to be replaced every year. I've been looking on ebay, amazon, homeschool classifieds, etc trying to find things cheaper, but I still can't get it into my price range. Would you please pray that God would make it clear to me which one I should choose. If I go with the boxed set, there is a specific amount of money that I'm praying for. I know that God will make a way if that's the right choice for us, but I'm having a hard time being patient to wait for His answer. Thanks!
Yes, I will be in prayer for you. And I know what you are going through. Last year we did workbooks for alot of different subjects individually, and it took ALOT of my time putting it all together. And alot of time to actually do the work, so my dd was getting frusterated every day for school and I was stressed out too. This year I went with 4 main subjects: Math (Saxon $50), History (SOTW $40), Language Arts( LLATL $20) & Science (Lifepac $30) They are fairly resonably priced (used) curriculum and I spent a little more on some extra reading books to go with the history, science and LA. I have a for sale post somewhere on here, if you see anything on there you could use let me know. I am at the point of just giving it away for the cost of the shipping.
Have you already looked into curriculumshare.com or Book Samaritan? Are there other homeschoolers at church who can split the cost of curriculum and share with you. That's what a friend and I are doing. I bought all the Apologia books, and she bought all the elementary Life of Fred books. We'll pass them back and forth between our four kids when each is ready for a particular book/level. She has also borrowed a writing curriculum from me that I'm not using right now. I hope you're able to find what you're looking for and stay at or under budget. It can be very frustrating, I know.
Thank you! A follow-up-we had a missionary visit our church this morning and they took up an offering for an upcoming mission trip. I felt led to give the money that I had set aside for books to the mission. It was a difficult decision for me (and worse because Dh wasn't there to ask) but I did it. So now I have no money set aside for books and only about 4 weeks before we need to start the new school year. So, would you also pray that I did the right thing. I know if I follow God's leading that He will bless my family, but sometimes I still worry, especially where money is concerned. Thanks again!
WOW!!! you have more faith than I do. And I will pray that God will bless you for it. What are you needing anyway?
Trust me, it was not an easy thing to do. I always question myself whether it was God leading me to do it or if I was just caught up in the moment...I know God blesses us when we are obedient...but I worry that I misunderstood what I was supposed to do. I don't want to give expecting in my heart that God is just going to give me more, almost like some kind of demand. "Okay, God, I gave you all I had, now you have to bless me for it." KWIM? That's not my heart, but...it's kind of hard to explain. Anyway, my first choice is MFW, Creation to the Greeks. I used MFW ECC with my oldest 2 our first year but it was difficult because I had the two littles who were doing MFW K and MFW 1st at the same time. I'd really like to go back to it now that I can combine my 2nd, 3rd, and 6th graders with one curriculum. My other option (and the one that actually fits into our budget) is CLE. I can buy just a unit at a time as we come to them rather than making a huge purchase at the beginning. We used some stuff from CLE this year, and it was okay. Just not my favorite. Mostly, I just want to know for sure that I'm making the right choice. I started off last year with what I thought was the right choice for us (Weaver) and ended up having to buy something different half-way through the year (which also turned out not to be the best choice for us). I don't like to waste money and it really bothered me to have to buy something else. Thanks for all the prayers and offers of help!
I have My Fathers World Exploring Countries and Cultures copyright in 2002. Plus Christian Light Language Arts 6. Around the World in 180 days. Saxon 7/6 and 8/7 text and answer key. Exploring Creation with Zoology and Botany. Winston Grammar, Reading 5 BJU textbook and maybe the answer key, Science 6 BJU textbook and answer key, Heritage Studies 6 BJU and answer key, Exploring Creation with General Science, BJU Fundamentals of math text and answer key. I think that is all I can find. If you can use any of it inbox me and I will send it to you media mail if you pay the shipping because I am broke until I get back to work.
I don't think I have any MFW That is super nice cherryridgeline !!! Check out this site too: http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/mfwcurriculumswap/
Thank you cherryridgeline! I so appreciate everyone's offers to help! This is why I keep coming back to the Spot!
Tiff, not to be a naysayer, but do you really mean ONE unit at a time? Won't the shipping costs eat you alive that way? If you belong to the christianlightfamilies yahoo group, there are people there selling unused partial sets all the time that you might be able to get cheaper than straight from the company.
Lindina, I know it's much more expensive to buy it a little at a time, but that's what my budget allows right now. I actually buy 2-3 units at a time between the four kids which helps a little, but it's still expensive for shipping. Overall, it would be more cost effective if I could buy the MFW package because it will be reused by at least two of my children when they are older and the High School curriculum will be used 4 times. I just don't have the money for that right now. I will definitely check out that yahoo group to see if they have the units I need, too.
Problem with MFW is they don't allow reselling (I know people do it...but the TG and student sheets are not supposed to be resold )....so that makes them hard to find used. GIVING them away is another story! Praying for you. That God leads you to what you need. Take a look at History Scribe, www.worksheetworks.com and for other free stuff on the internet. If you end up doing MFW Creation to Greeks - there's so many thing you can download instead of using the worksheets they provide...create your own, etc. My kids did a daily response form for each of the books we read - that could be your Language arts b/c it had handwriting, copy work, narration & dictionary work (If I'm not mistaken, i sent you my form, right?). Free. (well, ink & paper costs!). PRAYING for you!!!!!
