I'm really clueless as to which route I should choose... I've been spending a lot of time looking at various sites online that are subscription based: k12 independent classes, IXL, time4learning, etc. and I'm not sure I want to or can pay for those. At this point I just want to start small and add as we progress into some sort of a routine. I've tried workbooks but my kids become so bored with them that I'm pretty sure they're lost in the house somewhere but I need to get them working on something. A little background on what I'm working with: 5 kids, all public school until last March, at which time I pulled my 2 elementary kids out. My 8th grader is now homeschooling too. My 18 yo is finishing up at a charter school and my 15 yo is thriving in his sophomore year of high school. So what I have at home is my 8yo daughter who hates math but is a good reader who loves to draw, 11yo lazy GATE son, and my 13yo son that really struggles in basic math but loves to read and is an excellent artist, as well. I have no clue where I should start! Also, my husband is an over the road truck driver in the tour division, and while he's very supportive, he can't really help out. He hasn't been home since August and won't be back until sometime in May...so it's all on me to not fail my kids. I'd love any input and advice you might have to offer!
Welcome to the spot! I'm a little confused as to whether you are looking for all subject, or just math. For math, I completely suggest looking at Teaching Textbooks, make sure to do the placement tests. It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it. You don't need the workbook, but I highly recommend it... or you have to be strict about your kids writing out the problems in a notebook if you forgo it. There are really so many options out there that it's overwhelming. Those subscription sites you mentioned are ok, but other than k12, I would consider them a supplement not the curriculum. There are free things out there that you can use for supplement, even fun game like things. Can you tell us more about what it is you are looking for? Have you read any books on homeschooling? There are some good ones out there that can help you find some direction, once you have that direction it's a little easier to pick curricula based on what your educational goals are. My favorite book is The Homeschool Handbook by Mary Griffin. Are you looking for secular or Christian based material, do you want to read a lot of books to and with your kids? Do you want something that is more textbook or workbook? Do you want to learn traditional subjects taught in the public schools or do you want to go your own way.... you know history in chronological order instead of a year of this and a year of that? I know I'm throwing a lot at you, but you have had them home almost a year now, it's time to get some plans in place, set some long term goals for your homeschooling journey. Even if that plan you put in place is to be a radical unschooler, you still should have a goal in mind.
We love teaching textbooks. The kids can do it independently with only a little help from you. We use Total Language Plus for language arts and love it. They can do that almost independently too. It's just one reading book and an all in one workbook. For science, we use Apologia and love it too.
A lot of our curriculum isn't actual "curriculum". Could you take the children to the library and have them pic books that are of interest and take it from there? The library is free. As for math, we use LOF and love it. It is cheaper than most curriculum, and entertaining. Still, all children are different and have different needs.
I suppose I'm looking for curriculum for all subject areas, although I know I can combine some like reading a science book would count for both subjects. Math is a big one-If I can get them going in some sort of a math routine, I don't think I'd feel like as much of a failure. Christian based is great or secular is fine, as well. I'm not too particular at the moment, other than inexpensive. Or free is even better!! I bought the book "Homeschool your child for free" and though I haven't finished it yet, I've been disappointed in it. Most of the links I've tried don't even work... My mom taught for 35 years so I figured she'd be an asset but, nope, I was wrong. No help there, unfortunately. I have the book 'The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling' which I bought when I first thought I wanted to homeschool about 7 or 8 years ago but I ended up putting them back in public school because my oldest wouldn't cooperate which basically poisoned the well for the other kids. What is LOF for math? Thanks for the help!
for sure check on easy peasy, it's completely free, and they always are updating it making sure things are working.
Trail Guide to Learning: Paths of Exploration. It's not cheap but you can do it with all three of your kids. I started the year using this with my 8 yr old and I loved it. She is a workbook type of kid and very quickly decided that although she liked the content, she didn't like the approach. The TG POE has three levels which give your older child age appropriate work. It covers all subjects except for math. I absolutely LOVED POE.
I love CLE (Christian Light Education). It's a workbook curriculum and fairly inexpensive. I use it for LA, Reading, and Math at this point. I love how kids can be quite independent. My oldest is only 6, in grade 1, and she can do a lot of it without any help or instruction from me. With several kids, especially older ones, it will free up time for you. There are placement tests you can give your kids so you can start them at the right place.
Have you looked at Sonlight? It is pricey if you buy it new and if you buy everything. But - you can get it used cheaply (homeschoolclassifieds.com is a good place to look) and you really just need the Instructors Guides if you have a decent local library. It is not boring and you can do it with more than one grade level (ie you do one core with all the kids at home) And for math - I must say we like LOF too - TT is very easy so it is a good fit for kids who struggle with math but won't prepare them well for SAT / ACT (my son was acing TT tests and did not do well in the math portions of the tests - changed him to LOF and all improved but he had to re-do ALgebra 2 as TT doesn't go far enough)
I use different materials for different subjects. For math I enjoyed Horizons for the early years. Then we switched to BJU for math in the upper elementary grades. Had I found it sooner I might have used BJU for earlier years also. I like that BJU math has a page that you work with the child, then they do the backside by them selves. It spirals to a degree so It is not learn it and leave it. My children need to revisit concepts to keep them fresh and help cement them into their brains. For the middle school math we are still using BJU, but I have bought a Teachers guide with these for the first time. This serves a couple of purposes: It gives me a way to easily grade the work. It gives my student an opportunity to self grade. Having my older student do self grading every few problems lets her work by herself for a while so I can direct my younger student. If the finds she missed a couple and does not get it, she calls me in, or looks over the worked problems in the TM, and discovers her misunderstanding. This is very much like working with a solutions quide in college math and chemistry classes. Had I only had these resources in middle and high school. For me as the teacher the TM also allows me to glance over the worked problems to see what they mean by a given term, because I have not retained the vocabulary of math.
