I home school my child. She is 7 yrs and in the third grade. I am currently using the A Beka curriculum. She i

Question

not being challanged. Do any of you know of a more challenging curriculum?

Answer 1

Why do you want to home school her?  The only way I could ever see to do this is if I had to live in a HORRIBLE school district, couldn't afford private school, couldn't get a district transfer to a better school etc...kids need each other and they need to learn what life is like.  We have a few home schooled kids in our nice area and they are the strangest ducks around.  They have anti-social tendencies and don't seem to be well versed in any subject and their vocabularies are WELL below the other kids in the neighborhood.  One may be a religious family but other than that...go figure.  Any answers as to why families do it would be great.

Answer 2

For Math, I would recommend you to use Saxon Math. It uses proven educational practices of incremental development and continual review. “With incremental development, topics are developed in small steps spread over time. One facet of a concept is taught and practiced before the next facet is introduced. Both facets are then practiced together until it is time for the third to be introduced. Instead of being organized into chapters that rapidly develop a topic and then move on to the next strand, Saxon Math is organized into a series of lessons that gradually develop concepts. This approach gives students the time to develop a deeper understanding of concepts and how to apply them."

Answer 3

Try looking at Sonlight http://www.sonlight.com . You can mix and match stuff from different levels instead of going with just a single grade. Plus, it's literature-based instead of workbook-based, so you can definitely expect more with her written or oral work that way.

Answer 4

You might try using a classical education program such as Memoria Press or the Well trained mind.

Such programs allow students to learn at their own pace and move as far ahead as their ability takes them. They are focused on learning how to gather and use information rather than on gathering knowledge. This would make it easier for her to gather information and use it as needed throughout her life.

Memoria Press offers curriculums in Latin and Classical Greek which will increase her understanding of the roots of language which will make it easier to learn modern languages.

Answer 5

I also am sold on Sonlight!  We discovered it when I was looking for a science program and loved the fact that they provided all the supplies you needed (like iron filings etc.) in an inexpensive kit.  Then, after I saw the great literature in their catalog, I tried their Core Programs.  (We've used Sonlight since my daughter was in 2nd grade, and she is now a 10th grader.  Last year,she went to public school, but she found it totally not challenging.  She begged to come back home.)  The nice thing about Sonlight, besides the fact that you don't use textbooks, is that it develops a love of reading.  And reading enthusiasm is a trait which encourages life-long learning and inquisitiveness.  Additionally, you can tailor the difficulty level of the curriculum to suit your child's challenge level.

Answer 6

K12 is probably the most challenging curriculum I've seen.  I've used it for going on five years and every time I compare it to another curriculum's scope and sequence, I'm blown away.  The depth and breadth is amazing!!!

They have a 10% off sale through the end of the month.

http://www.k12.com

(I have nothing personal to gain...just a very satisfied user!!!)

Answer 7

Try this schooloftomorrow.com the ACE is a really simple program but they have a diagnostic test click on the home school link then the Lighthouse Christian Academy link then you'll see a link for the test its really easy at first but it will get harder it will tell you where she needs to be and what she needs help on for us my daughter is in third grade doing 4th grade English and some 2nd grade math. I'll give a plug for sonlight as well we used that last year but it sounds like you need to figure out where she's at before you start and sonlight is really expensive where ACE runs me about 40.00 a month

Answer 8

Maybe she needs a real school!

Answer 9

"Professor" C and Judi

First to C. I see that you claim you are a professor. More like a "teacher" at a junior college. A true Professor had to have run into a homeschooled student at one time or another...which would have made your answer of "send her to real school." something positive instead and a little more enlightening.

Homeschooling is "real school" do your homework "professor" and see the not so surprising statistics that homeschooelrs...well whip some butt in the testing department. Hmmm I would call that real school then.

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Judi, so let me get this right. The homeschoolers you know are unsocialized, and not well spoken. I have been homeschooling for ten years and not once have I met a homeschooled child who did not have confidence and poise when speaking...to people of all ages.

You see the term "homeschool" is a misnomer. We do not hid in our kitchen with our curtains and blinds pulled tight. Homeschoolers live in the REAL world. They are not subjected to a sterile classrom where they are stuck with 20 other kids who happen to share the same birth year as them. Because when your kids grow up Judi they are going to go to work with the same age co-workers and NEVER run into anyone older or younger right?

Instead homeschoolers belong to groups that get together for park days(not 15 minute incriments during recess) and socialize for hours at a time. These children play with other's of all ages and diversity among homeschoolers is the norm not the exception. They make true and lasting friendships not friendships based on what click they are in, and what they can afford to wear.

So while your children sit in a classroom all day wishing they were outside and truly learning the world...homeschoolers are doing just that. Get ready Judy cause those "odd ducks" are you children's future employers!

Answer 10

This website has reviews for a variety of curriculum:

http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/index.h...

Good luck!

Answer 11

Yes!! Check out   my Blog for a bunch of homeschool suggestions.   http://thesummerhouse.blogspot.com/

Sonlight

ALEKs math

Excellence in Writing

Answer 12

Here is another plug for Sonlight, and we are a non-religious homeschooling family. We have used it for 5 years and all of us enjoy it and are learning a lot (ALL of us, not just the junior members :)  

The great thing about homeschooling is you can change curriculum at will, you don't have to go before a school board to do so. Customize what you need to keep her interested and challenged!  Good luck!

Answer 13

I used Abeka at private school, and when my mom started home-schooling my sister and I.  We aced through it.  We even did schooling in the summer and by 12 o'clock we were done with our work.  Results=graduating HS early and taking college classes during our HS yrs =)