I need recommendations for homeschooling programs!?

Question

I am beginning to homeschool my son who is in 2nd grade and very advanced intellectually. I am hoping to find a program that I can select subjects between different grades. (He is reading at a 4th grade level, but he does need help with math!) Any suggestions?

Answer 1

National Home School (American Academy)

Uses Pace and they are designed to work on the levels your child is on.

My son is doing 9th grade literature and english, but 7th grade math.

Answer 2

K12 would have your son take placement tests to see where he was in the curriculum.  If he tested at a higher level for reading and language arts, then he could work at that level.  Same with math.  If he was behind, then he could do maybe the 1st grade math.  K12 has an excellent curriculum.  Some states also offer a K12 virtual academy that is a free public school option, but your son would still stay at home.  If you visit their web site, you will find out everything you need.  

http://www.k12.com/

I'm working on History right now with my 4th grader, and I also have a 2nd grader using the K12 virtual academy in Ohio.

Answer 3

Try K12...  you can get homeschooling products there.  Also, Christian homeschooling magazines are great places to find very educational books.  If all else fails, you can find anything at good libraries that aren't grade-specific.  Try to get some self-teach books from Barnes&Nobles.  I like "Illustrated" by Maran, and also the "For Dummies" are good.  Books where the answers are in the back were my favorite when I was homeschooled.  Hope this helps!  Good luck!  :~D

Answer 4

ABeka

Answer 5

Why not simply explore different and more specific curriculum instead of trying to make a general program fit? Your obviously interested in an approach that's more focused on your sons needs in each area so a general curriculum may be something you end up unhappy with.

Take the time to start exploring curriculum at places like www.homeschoolreview.com. Visit curriculum suppliers you're interested in and download or request samples that you can view (make sure you get your son's opinion!). Check out homeschooling blogs and message boards to get an idea of other people's experiences. But take the time before paying any serious amount of money. It's THE biggest mistake new homeschoolers make...Paying for curriculum that ends up being a poor fit.

While you're doing your research encourage his learning in other ways. Stock the bookshelves with books that he'll enjoy. Read to him a lot about science and history. Play games that encourage math skills. Cook and bake together. Take walks and go on trips to the local museums.

Any reccomendations you get here, or that I could give you would only be what worked for those reccomending it and that's no guarantee that it will work for your son.

Answer 6

I agree with Darcy34.  We've used K12 for five years (as independent HS'ers, not as part of a public virtual school).  My son is profoundly gifted, which is the number one reason we HS.  We did switch from K12's Pre-Algebra into Teaching Textbook's Algebra 1 this year.

http://www.k12.com

K12 allows students to have different grade levels of subjects and also to work at different speeds in each course.  This works the best when independent HS'ing ("Consumer Direct").  The virtual schools have some restrictions there and if you go with one, you need to really quiz them about how they accomodate for giftedness.

My son is 9 and currently has these K12 courses:  Language Arts 5 (literature, grammar/usage/mechanics, vocabulary, spelling, composition); Advanced Physical Science (8th grade); History 4, Art 4, and Intermediate Music 3.

K12 is very deep and broad and it's a great jumping off part for gifted kids to go even further in the topics they want to research more.  It has activities for every type of learner, which is great for us b/c my son is a global learner.

You can attend an online information session and then receive access to a demonstration account to learn more about the program.  The materials used are very great, too.

My son says, "It's very advanced such as learning about atoms in 1st grade."

Answer 7

I've been using the 'Complete School' set by Dr Michael Milford to homeschool my 3rd grade son and 4th grade daughter. It's worked very well for me as it gives me most of what I need to know (in Math and English) in a single package.

I do supplement it with regular textbooks and reading material, but I use this set as my primary reference for the two subjects.

Answer 8

Bob Jones has some excellent resources for advanced students.  

Abeka is great for visual learners.  

We love the Saxon math for the older students, but if he's struggling, he might prefer Abeka or Singapore Math.

For reading, there's nothing like the McGuffey's (through grade 12).  You might also look into Rod & Staff Readers.  They are wonderfully wholesome.

Christian Liberty Press has an academically strenuous program for all areas.  If he's up for a challenge, that's a good one.

Were you looking for one with a particular bent?

Answer 9

I would try Christian Liberty Press, they mix and match their grade level curriculum's from several great home school suppliers; Abeka, Bob Jones, Saxon, Modern Curriculum Press, as well as including their own materials.

These do built on each other every year, but we bought them separately so that it could be adjusted to each child's academic ability.

We are not on the same grade level for any subject; our now 5th, and 6th grader are working between 5th and 8/9th grade level books, depending on the subject.

Christian Liberty Press is also very inexpensive, and when ordering on line it is even less.

http://ebiz.netopia.com/clpress/...

Here is a run down of the materials we have, and are still using.

We use Sonlight, and Bethlehem readers, Saxon math, Key books for additional math practice in concepts that need it, Write Shop for writing, Wordly Wise 3000 for vocabulary/reading comprehension/spelling, Memoria Press for Latin, Apologia, and CLP for science, and Bible, later for Bible we also include some books from Positive Action for Christ; as you see over the years you will pick what works best for the children; it is on hand when they want it, and when they are ready for it.

For the ones that prefer to do the piano on their own, although they do enjoy their lessons, I have Piano for Life on the book shelf; this is a self taught video/DVD series that is really good.

In the end it is all trail, and error, we have bought several items we never really used, and other we gave away pretty quickly; if it does not appeal to my kids we do not force the issue.

See if your local home school group is willing to loan you some items to start with, this is a great way to see if it is worth buying.

A pretty active site for buying books is

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1001books/