Words on the vine -boring Saxon -worked for a while, then got tired of it, there is a thread around here that talks more about why I don't like it. (OF course this is about what didn't work for you
sneaky why? mine abeka - as a student. my parents used it until I hit about 10th grade, and I didn't learn anything. I think it's just the way I learn.
I would like to hear the "whys" of what you didn't like about the curriculum that gets posted. Just curiosity and it may be helpful for those looking at a particular curriculum.
I hate workbooks and traditional school--even when I was a teacher I hated traditional school. Abeka, Bob Jones, Alpha Omega. . .all of them. . .I don't like that teaching style. With Covenant Home part of it is I don't like the approach in general but part of it is that I think Veritas Press is so much better if you must go with a prepackaged classical curriculum. I have to throw in though. . .that I think when homeschooling almost all roads lead to Rome. I know someone who exclusively hs'd with AO and someone else that did CCH and I really don't see the difference in the final outcome. I think it's all about what meets the needs of your family.
We used Abeka since K, I didn't think I liked it, so last year, I used Math-U-See last year. Elijah hated it and wanted to go back to Abeka. Soooo, in the fall we will go back to Abeka. He did learn a lot with Abeka.
Believe it or not, I tried "Five in a Row" twice (with Rachael AND with Faythe) and didn't like it either time! Simply didn't work for me, and EVERYONE loves it! POWER GLIDE!!! I bought Power Glide French, all excited because I had heard so much about it! Midway through the year, we quit. HATED it!!! I'm also one to not go for "school at home" stuff, so I avoid BJ, Lifepacs, and all that kind of stuff that was originally designed for the Christian school. I head toward the stuff that allows me to teach subjects together, and aren't labeled with a grade.
I havent started but know we will not like AO lifepac Science and Social Studies. A good amt. don't seem to fit the subject. English work in Science? A lot of repeat from 1st grade. AO Lifepacs Math. DD got tired of it. Some she needed more work on and had to get extra stuff to supplement. Or there was just too many problems to do on a page. DD is not one to do a whole page of just math problems. I did try Five In Row with DD but she didn't like it.
Oh yes!!! I forgot to list all the foreign language curriculums I hate. But I'll second the don't like power glide and I liked Rosetta Stone even less.
Didn't like FIAR either. Only used with my eldest for the first year - was kind of Kindergarten. Some of the books, i thought, dealt with subjects that are a little over a 5 year old's head (Can you say "Rag Coat" anyone???). I liked Scaredy Cat reading, but it got boring and repetitive for my eldest. She'd master a lesson in 2 days, and want to move on. (Now, I differ from all of you in that I LOVE Lifepacs! I supplement a lot with other stuff, but for my eldest we use the complete set - it helps that she loves it too! We don't mind the intermingling of subjects and the repetition....at least not yet... )
Math in LIfe Paks was too slow moving, so I guess if I have to pick on that would be mine too Kris, HOrizon is good! I am going with them becasue they are more active in reminding and going on to new stuff at the same time. I think you learn something and thats good! Okay and Weaver Spelling.. we tried that with two kids, neighther have liked it yet it was too much work for them to do on thier own with out the work book fill in the blanks so it was boring to them. They like workbooks and filling in the blanks and mutiple choice even!
I need to change it to that i did not like it. MY DD likes them. It is also why I have grade 2. Just cuz I dont like it don't mean she dont.
The biggest flaw with Saxon phonics is those cards you must use. They are so bothersome. BJU spelling was lame. So was their math and science. Their English was nice, though.
Now see I think all spelling is lame! I would never pay money for a whole curriculum just for spelling.
With my ds we were grasping at straws to find somethign he woudl actually work on. re the spelling, and re AOp Life paks I have enjoyed them for years, just with ds9 it seemed slow moving for him. Hes my fast guy, Dd did fine up ot this year with them when she slacked once she hit 9th, out of bordome partly and partly out of same old same old after all her years of school she is ready for a change too. ds9 will probably go back to them for 6-9 since I have the teacher books already anyway, but for this year I am trying my wings!
