Question about homeschooling curriculum?

Question

I am contemplating homeschooling my daugther when she becomes that age. I am wondering if there are any parents who chose to use the text that the local public schools use? I probably won't seem like your typical homeschool mom, but I really feel strongly about making sure my daughter is up to the same level as her other classmates within the school system. When I have talked about this to other homeschool parents they act like that is the most horrible idea ever. What is so wrong about it? I am not saying that I will not use any other supplemental material for learning, but I will make sure she knows everything in the books that the other public school kids are using. Anyone else do this?

Answer 1

We use Sonlight and absolutely love it. The problem with the PS books is simple. It's written for a class of 20 or more. The projects are designed to be done in medium to large groups so Thea the cost of supplies are less.

Home school Curriculums are designed to be at least grade equivalent if not higher. They are also designed with a much smaller class size in mind. The projects are scaled down to 1 kid. The lesson plans for some are planned out so that you can know what you are doing from one day to the next. You don't get that with the PS textbooks. You can also have her tested for level each year for a small fee.

Answer 2

I'm gonna keep this short

use ACE if you decide to go back to public school you won't have to test back in if you use that curriculum.

but i prefer using Bob Jones(just google bob jones university press for more info)

Answer 3

Well, most experienced homeschool parents have quickly discovered how poor the school textbooks are and how many better alternatives there are out there. We have not used a single school textbook and our daughter is well ahead of her age level classmates and more importantly enjoys her learning.

Answer 4

If you use either of these, your daughter will be far ahead of her peers in Public School:

Alpha Omega Horizons

https://store.aop.com/aop/67.cat

A Beka

http://www.abeka.com

Answer 5

Most school texts are BORING.   They are written, as the poster above wrote, as a one size fits all curriculum.  

You can easily keep your child at the same grade level, if not above, if you really want to by getting a scope and sequence of what schools in your area cover each year and then just covering it at home.   However, you can choose your curriculum and make it a lot more exciting and fun to learn.  

Some kids are visual, other are auditory, others are hands-on, etc.    The best way for your child to learn is the best way to teach them.  They will catch on faster and remember longer.

Good luck.

Answer 6

The reason we don't often use ps texts is because they tend to be on the...well, dry side, honestly, and because they are designed for classroom use.  If a classroom text is the best resource to use for something, we'll use it.  But usually, we either use a homeschool curriculum or put together our own on the internet and at the library.  For example, I found an awesome Civics book (designed for classroom use) which is pretty deep and very interactive, that I'll be using with my son next year.  It'll tie in well with his Scout badges (Citizenship) and the elections.

However, for his History and Geography studies this semester, he's learning about Presidents and States.  We found a great series that includes a well-written book on each president that we notebook from and discuss.  He then researches each state and fills out information in his notebook.  He maps and timelines everything.  He's learning the social, political, military, and religious issues behind the major events in our country's history, and he's finding out how it shaped both our geography and our thought processes.  I haven't found a ps text yet that will have a child do that.  

Classroom texts are generally aimed at handing out the basic information in a small amount of time, as the kids only have 45 minutes or so of class for each subject - and at least half of that is taken up by the lesson.  And with NCLB testing requirements, most of the lessons are taken up by teaching kids how to do well on the tests.  Therefore, at least until the upper grades, many of the texts really don't go very deep into the material.  (Quite frankly, my 10yo is already working on the same level as many of the high schools in our area, just because he has the freedom to do so.)

Usually, homeschool curriculums go beyond what is required in the public schools, just because they can.  They are not restricted by state requirements or testing, and they often give a fuller picture of what is being studied.  Also, because homeschooling is not restricted by class schedules, hs curricula will often give ideas for extra projects that can be done to advance learning and retention.

I don't see anything wrong with using ps curricula, I just don't choose to limit my son in that way.  Honestly, the public schools haven't been all that successful with it in many areas (and I hear teachers by the dozens being frustrated with how dumbed down the current curriculum choices are), so I don't really see a point in using it as a major resource in my homeschool.

JMHO!

Answer 7

I searched very extensively when I decided to home school my son that was attending private school, but wanted to be home schooled. I found K12. The child takes assessment tests to see which level they are at and that is how they are placed. You purchase all the books and you also get online service. They have it all structured out, down to lesson plans, attendance, hours child worked in the day, EVERYTHING!! They have interactive lessons that my son LOVES. Look into it. What could it hurt? Also, with them, it is a mastery system, so the child can't go on until they master the lesson at 80% or more. Not like in school, where you can get a D and pass. This is the best thing I have ever done for him and he thanks me every day for it. Go to www.k12.com and check it out.

Answer 8

My mom chose American School of Correspondence for me, and I am graduating one year early this year. The material is pretty much the same as what was being taught in my school

Answer 9

I've never used what our public schools use because it was full of so much "twaddle" and was not very broad or deep.  Like one person said, K12 is great, and we've used that for over five years.  It meets, or exceeds, every state's standards.  We moved to a new state two years ago and I compared our new school districts scope & sequence side-by-side with K12's.  Even against the "challenge" (gifted) curriculum, K12 was two years ahead of the district.  I want to best for my child, so I get him the best (that fits my goals).

Also, my son just doesn't do well with textbooks.  They don't fit his learning style.  He's a global learner and needs all sorts of different activities.

I assume your plan is to one day put your daughter back into the PS system and that's why you want her on track?  There are many ways to do this when HS'ing rather than using the schools' books.  First, you can download your state's standards at the state board of education site.  There is also a good one here:

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?cur...

Here is a good page with info for you:

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/mate...

If the school district's books work well for you, then go for it!  Or you could use them to get going, then get a feel for different HS'ing methods and switch to something else.  If you pull her out now, in the middle of a school year, it's a very smart thing to do.

I think the reason you're getting a strong reaction from other HS'ers is because they know there is *so much* better out there than the "assembly line, fits all" school curriculum.  Most HS'ers want better than what the schools do - and that's a main reason for HS'ing.

Answer 10

Wanting your daughter to be on the same  or close to the same level as her PS peers, is not a bad thing.

Most School Boards have their State level guidelines listed online at their website. It gives you an idea of where your child needs to be every year. I would suggest also a series of books called 'What your _______(insert grade) Needs To Know' and goes year by year in pretty good detail. It also gives ideas and lessons and is by Core Knowledge with links to a website.

I have been homeschooling my daughter for 4 yrs now and I use these books.....to make it easy I buy the year I need at the end of her current school year since this gives me the summer to read thru it. Instead of collecting them all, I simply pass the unneeded book onto someone who can use it.

I also peruse the web and have a collection of websites that have educational use (most are free), use JumpStart and ClueFinders computer learning since they can go up to about the 6th or 8th grade. There is also a computer series called  Elementary School Success that will follow your state educational guidelines. You can check with your local school or school board just before the end of each year to see if they have any 'extra' books that they no longer need...sometimes they will send you to their warehouse where they keep unused books and in most cases you can pick up the books you may need for little to no charge.

Science is the easy part as most is 'kitchen' science and there is a website run by Robert Krampf that you can get FREE science lessons from (sent to your email). There are even online disection lessons (for those who don't want to actually harm an animal), and the Smithsonian puts out some great lab kits (most available at Walmart).

PE is just a matter of going to the park, ice skating (if she takes lessons it counts as a PE credit), playing tennis, swimming...I think you get the gist of that.

History doesn't have to be just out of a book, find reenactments that are taking place and go to them, visit a Living History museum, regular History museum, etc.

Math can be achieved thru 'real life'.

You can also get alot of things from thrift stores, Dollar Tree stores (they have a teacher section). Joining a scout group (or starting your own), 4H group, volunteer work all count for school and keep you in the socialization loop. Also most places will be happy to give you a discount when you show them proof of homeschool for buying things that will be used to educate and student discounts can be favorable for any child. Day camps also count (my daughter attended a day camp at our local history center which earned her not only History credit but Science credit as they learned about Archeology with hands-on).

Personally we use McGuffey Readers & speller, Harvey grammar, Spencerian Writing and Ray's Arithmetic as our full 'cover' and then use workbooks and computer programs, hands-on science and Living History to supplement. Now all of that is what works for US, so you have to find what works for YOU. I also scan the newspaper daily and cut out the 'Today in History' article ( I tape those to a piece of notebook paper and place in a 3 ring binder), articles on plants and from Sunday's paper we get a series called 'Shortcuts' (usually found on the back side of the Sunday comics).

One last book I would like to suggest is called 'Homeschool Your Child For Free'.

No homeschool family is 'typical' and what works for one doesn't  work for another. If you have a budget, make sure you stick to it otherwise you wil find yourself going broke before the year even gets started.

Answer 11

Google your state + learning standards, e.g., "Illinois Learning Standards". You will find the standards, goals, etc. for each grade level for your state. You can use this as a guideline to make sure that your daughter is keeping up with her grade level.

Answer 12

I applaud your decision to homeschool.  You need to use the method that works best for you and your family, regardless of other people's opinions.

We used the same texts as the public schools for a period of time.  There is an advantage to this - the materials are free.  The disadvantage is that your child is registered as a public school student, subject to all requirements and tests as any other public school student.

Many parents find that the standard of their state are so low that they can do better on their own.  However, no one should be criticized for making this choice.  Do what works for you.

Answer 13

There are tons of curriculum to choose from according to the style of learning that is best for your child. Public schools use a one size fit all approach to learning, that is precisely why they are failing in so many cases. I don't see anything "wrong" with using resources from the schools, but use them as just that in my opinion, resources.

We have used little to no resources from the public school and our daughters are equal to or above kids in their age group on standardized tests.

The other thing to consider is in History and Science a lot of the Public Schools are honestly out dated or inaccurate. I was shocked by this fact after we started doing research on our own.

I would suggest books by "The Core Knowledge Series." They have books called "What Your _ Grader Needs To Know" for every grade up to 6th. They are really good as a resource, but don't stress out about making sure your child knows EVERYTHING in them.

Blessings!