I am getting tired of Abeka. I buy the stuff and end up only using it for review. I am always using other resources. I can never commit to just one. I am not happy with Abeka's math program. I only use that workbook for a review or extra help. I need a solid math program. I am also not happy with Abeka's science. Not detailed enough. My dd loves science. However, she is bored with the science reader books. So, if I am buying so many supplements, then why buy Abeka at all. I did like their phonics stuff. Worked great with my dd. She went from struggling to read to a great reader. So, I am searching for ideas. Oh, and I am not bashing Abeka. My friend's kids love it and do great with it. It just isn't working for me right now. And like I said the lang and phonics is great.
Sorry Ava! Didn't read your introduction first! What kind of learners are you older two? Marlie (my fyo) "enjoys" A Beka math & phonics but we recently scrapped the other stuff for Five in a Row and we are really enjoying it. You may want to check out their website at www.fiveinarow.com. It's not for everyone but sure has made our homeschooling much more interesting and enjoyable. I've heard Math U See is really good, Saxon Math too! Wish I was more help to you!
Thanks for the reply. I will look into those options. My son is able to learn by reading and listening. My daughter is more tactile. She also has an affinity for math. She lives and breathes it. However, procedures are her issue. She can see math all around her and can deduce things very quickly. But the procedures get her. My son right now seems to excel in reading but math is pretty easy for him. I am not quite sure about his style. Whatever I use he adapts. My dd likes it her way. She flunked every spelling test in the beginning of the year until I made spelling games for her. Now she gets 100%.
Ava, My dgs has done Abeka now for 1/2 of K - 5th grade (this year). The past 3 years have been with the DVD's. He is really bored and we fought the whole time about how much school he had to do. With the help of this forum, I realized that I didn't have to stick to the DVD's and do all that was required. What grade are your children in? Do you like the History Book? I don't like Science - so no matter what book he has, I probably won't like it I am planning on changing all the curriculum this year. Keep watching the posts and you will get a wealth of information from these wonderful ladies
For science I use "Considering God's Creation". As you can probably discern from the title, it is Biblically based and non-evolution. It can be used for various ages. I use it with all my children (11, 9, and 6) at the same time. You can use it as a "spine" and add additional activities that fit your kids. Your older ones can do additional reports, etc. Lots of cutting and pasting, and they have a CD with songs that go along with the lessons. It has taken us two years to go through it, but I'm slow and add stuff. It can be done in one year if you want to take the time. It covers life/earth sciences. I'm satisfied with it! For history, I use "The Mystery of History". Again, I teach all three of my children history at the same time. You will find that many of us here are teaching Ancient History through one curriculum or another. I think at least two of us are doing MOH, others like "Story of the World". I looked at this, but DH told me no because it's not Biblically based. But it IS a good book. Again, I REALLY LIKE doing all my kids together. It's worked well for me.
I use Abeka for science and history, and I am switching next year, too. I just don't like their lessons. I constantly find myself supplementing with my 1st grader. Forth grade is better, but sometimes it is too many details and not enough real substance. IMO, anyway.
Pam, you said it perfectly. Those were my thoughts also. That is why I am trying to find something new.
Ok Ladies I need some help here. I went to a abeka homeschooling meeting last night and they showed us the homeschooling dvd. My dd's watch them and love them. We were thinking of going that way next year for them. But, I need to know is it worth the money or is Abeka not a good group or books to work with. I have worked with some abeka but not all. With highschool coming on is it worth it or go some other way? They said they get report cards, help with grading and the girls will get a diploma from them for college just like a high school. Ok give me some of your opinions on this please.
Kris, I used the Abeka DVD's for the last 2 years. We were doing school all day. If we would have done all the work they required, we would work from 8:30am - 8:30pm. I had him watch all the DVD's. Besides the DVD's there is homework, book reports, and current events that were required - that made him doing school for hours. They also give you a calendar that you had to follow. If you were late getting the DVD's back to the school, they charged you. If you were late getting your tests and report in, they charged you. I felt it was a lot of pressure. Last week, I e-mailed them and told them I wanted off the program where I sent in all his test and told them that I would keep all the paper work. Now the pressure is off me and him and that alone is much better. I can give him what he needs and finish school a lot earlier. He still watches some of the DVD's, but not all of them all the time. I still have to return them by a certain date, but I don't feel pressured. He really got bored and wanted some play time. If I gave him play time, we were behind in school. I also thought the teacher did all the teaching and I just needed to sit him at his desk an play the DVD's - well, come to find out he was not watching, but playing. That was the main thing. He is in 5th grade this year and I have been looking into other things to do next year - he needs a change and a life outiside of Abeka. I also know a couple of families that use Abeka (they have girls) and they love it. They can keep focused and they enjoy school. Unfortunately, mine doesn't. Well that's an opinion of an ole Grandma - hope it helps
Grandma it does. Do you have to do all the work they give to them. Can't you do all the odd problems for them. That's what we do now so we aren't at school all day long. I make them do the odd ones not all of them and if they get them right or most of them we move on but if they have trouble then we go over them better. thanks Grandma your opinion helps.
Kris, I don't know about ABeka, but my oldest ds wanted to do a dvd program, cuz he thought it'd be easier to see the teacher explain it and then do his work. So we narrowed it down and purchased Bob Jones Univ.DVD program for his grade. Boy is it tough! Wow, they have a lot of great stuff, but it takes FOREVER to do. It's like G-ma was saying, it could go all day watching the dvd, then doing the bookwork and reports and writing exercises and research---it's just overwhelming him! He's behind in a couple of classes, cuz he didn't quite get one section, but then they just kept moving on. I don't like that. One thing I like about homeschooling is that you can slow down and let them really learn something before moving on, and skim over stuff they already know. But having a set program, and deadlines to get the dvd's back in doesn't allow them to learn at their own pace and learn well. Next year we will NOT be doing a dvd program! I feel like he learns better going at his own pace. Of course, if he goes to college, then he'll have to learn to keep up with the classes, but he'll be more ready to do that at that age......
Guys, this is just my opinion, so please don't send any tomatoes my way!!! I know there are some who would do absolutely wonderful under something like that, and if your kid is one then go for it! But it seems to me that this sort of thing is just putting the kids back on a "regular school" schedule. You either get it or not, and we're moving on when we move on. No regard to the individual differences of the child. Part of the reason I homeschool is to allow my children to develop and learn at their own pace, NOT at the pace of their peers. I want to do more than just transfer the classroom into my home.
Jackie~ I totally agree (but I don't want tomatoes either~ I don't care for them!) I want to be able to work at our own pace in our homeschooling and not be "tied down" like in a public school setting. As for Abeka, I think they do offer some wonderful materials. I've said it before and I'll say it again~ I think their phonics/reading program for the early grades is second to none. Even that, though, doesn't work for everyone~ my youngest dd wasn't one bit interested in that method of learning to read. My biggest problem with Abeka (for us) is that, even though their books now say "homeschool" on the front, they are definitely more designed for Christian school use~ for teaching to a whole classroom of kids, as opposed to just one. This wasn't the method of schooling that I was longing for, so we ended up putting Abeka aside (for older dd) and went with a variety of different things. All that being said, when Ashley gets to some of the higher level maths, if I feel that I cannot adequately teach her, we may look into a dvd program (Abeka or otherwise) to help with that. But, I wouldn't want to be tied down to an entire program. Everyone's different though, and each person needs to do what's best for their own family.
Jackie and Heidi, I agree totally with you! I'll take the tomatoes, as long as they're handed nicely, I love them! The ONLY reason we tried this program was because he's in 10th grade and is getting beyond my level. My ds wanted to try it, so we thought it might spur him on to help get things done. Well, it wasn't what was good, and we won't do that again! I'm willing to try something, especially if my child thinks they could do better that way, but this time I was sorely dissappointed. But we do that with a lot of curriculum over the years. I too, wouldn't do a dvd program with younger kids, for the reasons stated above in my e-mail and Jackie's and Heidi's, but that's just my vote among many....
I have to say I totally agree that Abeka is more classroom material. I love the phonics/reading for the early grades but that is it. I know some do very well with it but I didn't homeschool so I could play classroom. Abeka just doesn't have depth, in my opinion. There are two private christian schools in my area who use the abeka program. I know a teacher at one of the schools and she doesn't care for abeka's math stuff either. For what that's worth....maybe something....maybe nothing.
Wow, I'm glad there are other that think the same way I do. I thought my dgs was just being lazy - although I knew it was quite a lot of work. We have had better days since I switch from the DVD's. He still watches the Bible DVD, but that is it. He is doing so much better and has a happier attitude. He is still a boy, roudy, silly and lots of energy, Praise the Lord. He is happy and healthy Thanks so much for helping me through this. You gals are the best
Ladies thanks so much for the feed back it sure help. I was mostly looking for high school stuff not the younger ones. Thanks again now I have to sit and do alot of thinking and see where we go.
Kris, What grades (approx.) will your dd's be in next year? What interests do they have? Is there a curriculum they like or do better with? They're old enough to have some say in the matter, probably. Does your dh have any thoughts on what to use? My dh mostly leaves it to me and trusts that I'll make the best decision, since I'm the one that works with them the most. I'm thankful for that trust, but sometimes (like right now) I'm just not sure, with so much available, which way to go! Anyway, just thought I'd ask...
