I'm actually doing research for a friend, I hope that is ok. My friend wants to homeschool their second grade son this year. I teach basic skills k-2 in a public school so she asked me an opinion on curriculum. I told her you would usually contact the district at which he is attending as far as I knew. The problem is she is not happy with that district or the city schools (Las Vegas) The family is currently doing a tour of the country in the RV and is looking for an area where they would like to move so looking up a certain state's standards is not an option either. Anyway can you give me any suggestions I can give to her. Thanks, Meggan Krawiec
DS is technically in grade 2. This year we are using Horizon's Math Grade 3 - ok, a little too much review for DS, which is making it a bit rough. Story of the World Vol 2 - I love the way it tells history as a story and the activity book is good also. First Language Lessons Level 1 and 2 - we are skipping a lot of level 1 because DS knows it already and he hates a lot of review. REAL Science Odyssey: Earth and Space - love it... Spelling - we are doing the 2nd grade list from Super Teacher Worksheets Reading - we are reading books that correspond with science and history. We are also reading the Harry Potter series together. Art - we are doing an artist study each week with an art project based on that artist's work. I still haven't figured out music as of yet... still looking
No, you wouldn't contact the school district. They have no input into curriculum at all. There's a whole lot of curriculum out there. It all depends on what she wants. And as such, it's very difficult for you to make decisions for her. How does her child best learn? Does she want something that tells her step by step what to do, or is she comfortable to go off on her own? Does she want secular or religious materials? More hands-on, or more workbook/lecture? We need more to go on to make suggestions!
Whether she'll be travelling by RV or not, she needs to follow the laws in place for her own state of residence; it looks like in this case that would be Nevada? HSLDA is the place to go for those standards, and Jackie is right - the local district is NOT the place to go for this info. There are so many curriculum options out there that a quick recommendation just isn't practical. One of the benefits of homeschooling - the main one, really - is that we can teach our children according to the way they learn. I always suggest to a homeschooling newbie that they research learning styles and figure out which one(s) best fit their child(ren). From there, the homeschooling community - here on this board, other boards, and most importantly the local groups where she is - will have recommendations. Cathy Duffy has a book about the top 100 choices for homeschooling (someone will see this and post the exact title, I'm drawing a blank) that will be fantatsic once she understands learning styles. Also, if they're looking for a place to settle that has easy going laws, TX is the way to go, hands down.
I'll "second" what the previous posters have said...Most homeschoolers have very little contact with the school district (depending on state law of course) and most like it that way...myself included. Like others mentioned, curriculum selection really can depend on everything from the amount of $$ available to what/how a child/parent want to learn during that particular school year. For some, $$ isn't the big obstacle...for others, a library card and a notebook is all they can afford that year. My son is in 2nd grade this year. Here's what he's doing. Sonlight Core 1+2 (Intro to World History) for Reading, readalouds and history/geography...with his 9 yr old sister Horizons Math 2 Rod & Staff English 2 Apologia Zoo 1 (bugs sections) and Apologia Anatomy (when it's released) Explode the Code 6,7,8 (phonics workbooks) to hone skills...he reads at about a 4-5th grade level. Prima Latina (with his sisters) Institute for Excellence in Writing (just starting this a bit this year...mostly making outlines) A Reason of Handwriting B (manuscript) All About Spelling Wordly Wise 3000 2nd ed. Book 2 for vocabulary There are a zillion curric options. Rainbow Resource has an extensive online and print catalog and about the best prices.
These are all super suggestions. Your friend really would need to look at online catalogues to really pick what she wants, but looking up any of the afore mentioned items in her levels ( 3rd grade?) would work for her son. The easier ones tell you step by step what to do, the more difficult ones for someone who has a nack with teaching as your self, are less step by step teacher books and great outlines to follow. She should decide if she wants to do traditional or Unit studies as well? How much space she has to work in will make a difference. Cbd.com is a sales company for books that will help, they have a homeschool section and many of the afore mentioned items are not only listed there but you can look at them to see what is inside , so what it will look like as a work book or text, or teacher master. Hope we have helped!keep us updated!
I agree with much of what's been posted already. HSLDA is great for finding out the stae laws for Homeschooling. Rainbow Resource has thousands of products & great prices. She definitely needs to figure out her son's learning style. I would also add, though, that she should also look into homeschool methods before choosing curriculum. There are many methods & some materials are better suited to different methods. As others have said, we need more than just a grade level to go on to give good recommendations. There are so many options out there & there is no one best curriculum. What works best for a child or family will depend on so many things - actual level of ability (not same thing as what grade they're in), strengths & weaknesses, learning styles, homeschool method, any special educational needs, etc.
