Does anyone have an opinion on Calvert homeschooling curriculum?

Question

I just started using the 4th grade lessons. Now that I have been digging deeper,I find that many more options are available. What seems to be the best?

Answer 1

I have used Calvert for five years  and have found it to be a good course, with some pros and cons .  If you are new to homeschooling, the regimented daily activities is very helpful.  The teachers manual tells you exactly what to do. If your child enjoys bookwork and can move at a fast pace, it would be good.The cons are that it seems to be very inflexible, there is so much book work, and not a lot of room for open exploration.

  I have a 6 year old that Calvert would not have worked for.  He is a severe epileptic, and is developmentally delayed.  We are going with My Fathers World for him and our four year old.  It goes at a fun and natural pace and teaches as a unit study.  My oldest sons, 10 and 8, have shown major interest in trying a different curriculum.  I believe they are reaching the point of burn out.  Calvert has SO much book work, it has seemed to take the fun and adventure out of learning.  If you are looking for a more Christan oriented education, My Fathers World has Bible Study with each unit.  If you are looking for a more neutral education, Calvert is the way to go.  My biggest advice is know your childs pace and skill level,  research, pick a curriculum and don't be afraid to change it if it doesn't work for your family.  Remember, this is supposed to be a good experience for everyone involved.  Find a curriculum that makes a child passionate about learning and life.  God Bless!

Answer 2

If you are doing school at home, Calvert is the best.  

Personally, I prefer to unschool which is very flexible and has unlimited options.  

Good luck :D

Answer 3

That's a tough question - it really depends on what is best for your child.  Calvert is very good, but their style of teaching isn't right for everyone.  

We use a variety of things, as my son doesn't have one "set" learning style; he needs things presented in a number of ways, and on a number of levels, in order to really "get it".  We use textbooks, notebooks, lapbooks, library books, audiobooks, videos and DVDs, websites, and online video, as well as models, projects, cooking, mapping, timelining, music, art, and just about anything else you could think of.  For him, every activity is another layer to allow him to apply the material in another way.  However, he absolutely hates rote learning and review, and rejects reviewing the same material in the same way.  For him, a school-in-a-box method wouldn't work well.  (Tried it...lots of tears later, we chucked it and went eclectic.)

So the quick answer to that is, there isn't one.  It's different for everyone.  When we were first determining curriculum - our second year of homeschooling - I brought my son to a homeschool convention and let him try everything - use it, read it, play with it - and watched his response.  If he glommed onto it, I bought it.  If he didn't really care for it one way or the other, I didn't spend a dime on it (even if I thought it looked great).  It's a process that has served us well ever since!

Hope that helps :-)