Hi- This is our first year homeschooling. Our two oldest we attending a private Christian school, and we had already paid for the books for the year. They were kind enough to give them to us, but now I need all the teacher/parent guides. My first grader will be doing Abeka language arts, science and history/geo.She will be doing bju math. My second grader will be doing bju english, reading, math, science and history. She wil be using Abeka for writing and spelling. I am overwhelmed to say the least, but am hopeful that the teachers guides will help me a lot. I was under the impression that the whole curriculum would be Abeka (that's what they have used in the past), and I was able to look through a homeschool lesson plan for it and I felt like I could do it...now I am freaking out and feeling overwhelmed! Can anyone tell me what I need to be successful with these curriculums? I have priced all the teachers editions and test keys-is that all I need?? Thanks so much Tanis t
Think of the teacher's edition (TE) as salt. Use them to add flavor to your school. Just like salt, if you add too much it will ruin it. Abeka's TE can be too much if you try to do all that is suggested especially in the early grades. IMHO. Abeka and BJU are very good curriculums. They will give your children a good foundation.
If you haven't already, you should join Curriculum Share. People give away free TE over there all the time, because they're usually reusable where the SE sometimes aren't (like workbooks). The teacher's editions help when you can't figure out what a visual or game is for, and they help a first time homeschooler figure out how to make a schedule, but for the most part, you don't need them in the earliest grades. Everything is self-explanatory (again, except somethings the things like visual aids or games), and you SHOULD know the answers to all the questions, so answer keys aren't really necessary either.
You actually don't need all of that. You don't have to test your kids at all. A lot of homeschoolers don't especially in the earlier grades. You will know how they are doing, because you only have a couple versus 20-30 kids. This can save money and time and frustration. You may not need the teacher's editions for the early years for all of the subjects. Some subjects don't need to be as formally taught in the early years if ever. For history and geography and science, I would read and discuss and do some easy experiments and fun salt-dough map making and ease into these things. Don't worry they will be exposed again to the same information. One of the biggest advantages of homeschooling is to change the way we do things. You don't have to do worksheets to show learning all the time. You don't have grade everything or anything at all. I would suggest that you research different ways to homeschool. Charlotte Mason, Ruth Beechick, Barbara Shelton, and the Moore's are all names you can google to find some VERY interesting insights into learning and helping your kids actually enjoy learning.
I have all the 2nd grade teacher editions...pm me if you're interested in them. I LOVE bju...we will definatly be getting it again in the future when i'm not so poor
I used abeka in those grades and I didn't use the teacher guide and it was just fine. I don't think we had all the test & quizzes either.
