Is a bought curriculum necessary for homeschooling?

Question

I am looking onto doing some homeschooling at leaste for this summer with my "easily distracted, yet extremely bright " 6 1/2 year old and my "gifted" 3 1/2 year old.... I may think about homeschooling full time because of the many benefits, but I was wondering if a "BOUGHT" curriculum is really necessary? And if anyone knew the best places to look for helpful ideas on building one on my own, as I believe I will be the best judge of the best ways my children learn...

Any input is gratefully accepted! :D

Answer 1

We homeschool in NC without store bought curriculum

We rely heavily on the computer and use lots of free video from online, library and television.

Answer 2

No, a purchased curriculum is not necessary. (And what someone mentioned about some states having free programs--it doesn't actually legally qualify as homeschooling; they are online public school programs.)

There are some great resources out there on designing or building your own curriculum, even if loosely done. A great book is "Homeschooling on a Shoestring." Even if you don't need to skimp money-wise, it is a great resource to get you thinking creatively about how to do work in various subjects. This website http://www.design-your-homeschool.com/ looks really good. Rebecca Rupp has a very popular book called "Home Learning Year by Year" on designing homeschool curricula.

Most people I know don't set up anything extremely structured. They'll find a few different resources to get them started--sometimes they stick with them, sometimes they find during the year they weren't a good fit and switch to other things. There are lots and lots of resources out there! You can mix and match as you wish.

Answer 3

Well you've got the right attitude. You ARE the best judge of the way your children learn second only to the children themselves once they're old enough to understand and communicate their needs and desires (and they may be nw so don't hesitate to talk with them about lessons and get their input)

No, a bought, boxed curriculum isn't necessary. You could probably get by without buying anything, actually, especially with kids so young. The library has great literature for language arts/reading and writing will bounce off of that. There are tons of nonfiction books out there that can be used for history. Just start from the beginning and go in chronological order. Nonfiction books about science topics are great, especially the ones that give ideas for easy experiments children can do at home, and if they're a bit too advanced for your little ones you can read and leanr with them and help explain things. You can also let them read some age-appropriate science fiction that actually refers to a lot of real or plausible science (might I suggest Robert A. Heinlein's juvenile collection). There are textbooks, educational videos, audio books, and many other resources at the library as well that you can use, even books specifically about homeschooling and designing a curriculum. You've also got the web for a lot of things and places in your community. This morning, we went to Walmart and Home Depo to run some errands and mom gave me a really good hands-on, real world review of algebra and geometry concepts such as slope, rate of change, inequalities, linier equations, area of a triangle (had to figure out how much grass seed we'd need to buy for a triangular shaped back yard of a certain size) volume of a cylindar (paint cans and which brand gave you more for your dollar) as well as a bit of physics, bottany as we picked out seeds to plant (I love gardening), some economics as we talked about taxes and the like, and other concepts (like what makes a tomato that's sold on the vine any better than one that was plucked off and then sold, or why store advertisers use words like "ten for ten" in sales ads instead of just one for a dollar.) We did all that in a few hours out today with only a notebook and a calculator and some imagination, and I'm in highschool. Imagine how much you can do with your little ones, practicing addition and subtraction and other basic maths, learning to read maps, make lists, learning about colors and shapes and how things grow and so much more. You could go on field trips to the simplest of places and get so much out of it... Go to a bakery and ask questions about where the bread comes from, then go home and learn to bake some of your own (math, science, and language arts right there). Go to the bank one day and learn about checking and saving and how things like that work. Go to a farmers market or a recycling center or even turn a trip to the dentist into something interesting and educational, and then you have museums, science centers, art gallaries, plays, concerts, zoos, parks, cultural events, festivals, and so much more! You can even get the kids volunteering and learning at the same time. Just be creative.

If you do want to buy some textbooks, just go to any publisher's website such as Glencoe, McGraw Hill, Prentice Hall, Saxon, and so on. Also look at homeschool specific companies like Math-U-See (highly reccomended), Teaching Textbooks, or the Home Science Tools website (google Home Science Tools and it's the first result) and you'll find tons of workbooks, textbooks, videos, teachers guides, computer software, manipulatives, and educational toys, gadgets, and experiment kits that you can mix and match to create your perfect curriculum. You've also got other resources in your community that would require you to pay but may be worth it. Music lessons, art lessons, classes for children at museums or zoos or science centers, martial arts classes, and much more.

As long as you have the drive and motivation to help your kids learn to love to learn, it will be easy and fun. Good luck!

Answer 4

I'm a homeschool veteran of 15 years :) No, a boxed curriculum is not necessary, and in my humble opinion, not the best way to learn; however, it may be a good place to start if you are unsure of yourself.

An Old Fashioned Education (OFE) http://oldfashionededucation.com/index.h...

is a free k-12 literature based curriculum (click "full curriculum" on the left). There is also a link to a free off-site preschool curriculum.

This would be a good place to start some research for putting together something for yourself.

A few other links to check out:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

A great place for overall homeschooling information.

http://www.accelerated-achievement.com/

A low cost k-12 (similar to OFE) 99.00

http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/

Another low cost k-12 (similar to OFE) 195.00

There's a book, "Homeschool Your Child For Free" http://www.amazon.com/Homeschool-Your-Ch...

HTH

Answer 5

It depends on where you live.  Some states have very easy homeschool laws, check here first  http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp

I am lucky to live in  a state requiring no notice (one of the 10 in green on the map, above). In yellow, 14 states require simply notifying them...There are 7 states (red on map) that have high regulations requiring test scores, approved curriculum, home visits...

I bought too many workbooks from here   http://www.schoolspecialtypublishing.com...     Then saw them cheaper on amazon.com.  The Spectrum workbooks are good.

I also paid for a whole year of a Canadian online school, because they said their teachers where from all over America and they didn't require a test.  My kids hate it and now they are getting addicted to the internet, watch out for that.  Your kids are younger, but by 3rd grade you might want to try http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-...

edit: I paid 19.99 +S&H for this (in different grade) and it covers the 5 basic skills in 1 big workbook, now I see amazon has it for a 1st grader @ 2.31+ shipping  http://www.amazon.com/Comprehensive-Curr...      Then go borrow books from the library, because if your kids eventually go to public school they have to be used to reading 20 mins. every day. Just get your child used to a schedule,now.  But, an expensive bought curriculum isn't necessary for young children, like Sonlight's reading package for 1st grade is $300, the library is free.

Answer 6

It is totally NOT nessesary. We Use these websites and pick books that sound good for us!

http://www.cbd.com

and

http://www.rainbowresource.com

Or you can build you own curriculum through numerouse worsheet websites and your local library and search websites! Really you can build a curriculum from almost nothing..

Hope this helps!!

Answer 7

i had a curriculum in highschool but when i first started my mother went the barnes and noble or borders and bout me a book that had a bunch of different worksheets for different subjects. mcgraw hill is the bes for your children

Answer 8

It is not necessary. Some states may require you use a specific curiculum, you can check with your state dept of education to make sure.

My daughter can not learn with things that are 'written' so we can't use a planned curiculum. It's too expensive anyway.

I have to spend a LOT of time searching and planning what to do for our school. It takes a LOT of time.

I do however have a program for math, spelling and vocab. That makes it easier.

We also use www.time4learning.com  for $20 a month, it's a  full curiculum in itself for grades K-8.

There are SO many things you can do for homeschool it makes my head spin!

Educational tv shows.

field trips

educational videos online

millions of sites that help with lessons and games

go to library

take many classe for music, arts, sports, 4H, girl scouts, etc.

ALL of these can be used for subjects you have to teach.

Answer 9

No it isn't, but they can come in handy. Writing your own curriculums for everything would be impossible. Now I may be wrong, but you seem to think "bought curriculum" means what we tend to call a "boxed" curriculum, where you buy the entire range of subjects as a set. There are plenty of those around, but you don't have to buy them. Most people, as far as I know, buy curriculums from a range of places, and supplement with books from the library, etc. Some people "unschool." If you are particularly against buying curriculums, I suggest you do some reading about unschooling. However, since you say you have bright/gifted kids, you may want something different. I suggest you also read The Well Trained Mind, by Susan Wise Bauer and her mother, Jessie Wise; and read up on the Charlotte Manson method. The two of them work well together.

I follow the main principles of The Well Trained Mind, (TWTM)with a Charlotte Manson influence. I don't follow all the recommendations for curriculums from TWTM. I have made much use of the reviews on amazon and these two sites: http://www.homeschoolmath.net/reviews/ and http://homeschoolreviews.com/ I've drawn up a table with the grade level on the side and the subjects I want to teach along the top. Slowly I'm filling it with what I feel are appropriate resources, based on what I want the kids to learn, and how I want to do that. You need to answer those questions before you can make decisions. Reading other people's reviews (message boards are a good help too) will help you clarify your goals. Once you have a plan, you can change it when your kids require :)

Of course you are the best judge of how your children learn. That is one criteria you will use to count or discount teaching philosophies, curriculums, books and other resources. Here's a good place to start anyway: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/meth...

Most people start off with one style and become more eclectic over time. Anyway, do what you think is best. You have to satisfy yourself, your hubby, the state and to a reasonable degree, your kids.

Answer 10

If you are going to make your own curriculum you will have to sacrifice a lot of time. But if you are up to that, and are willing to make that sacrifice, then it is a great choice. Just teach the way they like to learn.

The second option is to look for material at your local library. Get lots of non fiction books and some literature books for your children and that will really help them learn. This option can be incorporated into the previous and next option.

The third option is obvious. Buy a complete curriculum, or different curriculums for different subjects. If you choose this option here is a site that will help. Oh, and this site also allows you to see if the book is at your local library also.

http://homeschoolingtogether.com

Answer 11

My sister home schooled her daughters til they got to the 6th and 7th grade and we admitted to a Gifted and Talented  middle and high school.  She stated that you can do without one, but it is easier to have a guide to follow.

Answer 12

Look up "Sonlight" and ask them to send you a free catalogue.  You do not have to buy their program, but you can see all the little bits and buy what you like.  

We liked Horizons math (but skip the teachers guide, just get the workbooks) Easy Writing and Easy Grammar.  Sequential Spelling is supposed to be great.  You just cobble together what ever you like.

I could never get into the "curriculum in a box" thing.  I want to teach what I want to teach.

Some people don't use any curriculum at all.  Depends what you want and what works for your kids.

Research "unschooling", they use the world as a classroom.  I think it's great for bright, motivated kids.

Answer 13

Why don't you look at other people's study guides. You don't want to miss out on teaching your children on important things, because you might forget or not think of something important.

Answer 14

Depending on where you live, there are homeschooling programs that are free. Just google homeschooling in _____ (your state), and see what's available!