What are some recommendations for homeschooling curriculum?

Question

My son has had a period of "deschooling" after taking him out of public school. He has pretty severe ADHD and had a hard time in public school so the deschooling has helped a bit. We are now ready to have some formal lessons after the break. I was just looking for any recommendations for curriculum others have had experience with. Thanks

Answer 1

The de-schoooling part is a great way to start, we firmly believe that that is an important part of starting the home school journey/process.

Unschooling is but one method, but the method most often used; unlike what you may hear, it is not without guidance.

Children need guidance, and direction throughout their young lives to be able to learn, and develop character, and integrity.

Unschooling is a natural continuation of basic parenting, parents who unschool simply add academics when their  children are ready, and do not confine themselves, or their children to grade level work.

Unschooling simply means learning in a natural setting, and using non-traditional means to teach.

Non-traditional meaning without an artificial school setting, either in a conventional school, or at home.

The world, and everything in it becomes your classroom, from the grocery store, museums, playgrounds, from the mountains to the beaches.

Unschooling uses many media, and some, at times but to a lesser extend traditional school text books, much of the learning is hands on, by working along side the adults, through 4H, and other organizations that have hands on training.

4H can be used for all our electives, as well as speech and debate. (Toast Masters).

Unschooling is learning by doing, not just reading about it.

This is especially important for boys, and those who have been labeled with being too active.

These children are highly intelligent, an need to be able to explore, and try things out.

I would however take away, or extremely limit any type of video gaming.

There are many great sites on the computer that can be substituted for gaming.

Most will teach/learn math, reading, and writing in a more structured (traditional) setting once the children are between 6 and 10, but it depends on the child, if a child does not read by the time they are 8 or 10 do not panic, each child is unique, and by the time they are about 12 no one would know the difference if they read at 6, 8 or 10.

Unschooling also uses a lot of games, board games, computer software, or outdoor games.

See these web sites what is available for games, and you will see learning does not have to be confined to a textbook.

http://www.educationallearninggames.com/...

http://www.planetcdrom.com/

The last web site is where you can order computer software that is free, or they charge a nominal fee for shipping and handling.

Click on home school soft ware, or browse the most popular ones; Dorling Kindersley, Jumpstart, and Clue Finders.

Unschooling can be completely, or to some extend be child directed, and this; at least for many this simply means that when our children come to a particular subject that they want to learn about, parents do not put a time limit on them as to how long they can learn about it, they simply try to provide every opportunity they need to learn as much as they want too.

Most often when children are allowed to learn in a natural way, in the form of unschooling, relaxed, Montessori, or self directed learning, they understand the concepts better, and score high on any (academic) test they are given.

Hands on teaching, instructors who are experienced in their field, from a car mechanic, pilot, store clerk, to a doctor; if these are willing to answer children's questions and children would be encouraged to ask questions freely; can teach more in 15 minutes than textbooks, and hours in classrooms could accomplish.

For some other sources to research the many faces of unschooling see:

Click on the little purple box to view the video for free.

This is a great little video to explain to many parents why schools often times do not work for our children, especially those who are labeled with something, or another.

http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/...

For the next website, click on home school methods, and than unschooling.

This web site is vast, and has much to offer in the arena of home school information, not just the unschooling method.

When visiting this web site we recommend you get a large cup of coffee, or tea, and get comfortable because you, and your spouse will be there for awhile.

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

http://www.unschooling.com/

http://www.livefreelearnfree.net/index.h...

A curriculum site that is more secular, and may give you a place to start when looking for  non-religious based books and materials is:

http://www.angelfire.com/or/mtdewbydo/se...

Blessings, and good luck.

Answer 2

It sounds like you have done your homework on homeschooling by doing the deschooling.  The curriculum choice can be overwhelming.  We had help in  our choices due to our resources.  We could afford used books, online resource and library resources.

My son learns best with audio/video.  We use some PBS programs of online classes.

Anyway, just wanted to encourage you.  

The standardized testings help encourage me.  I sometimes get discouraged and can pull out the standardized test scores and realize that we have made progress.

And, I 'don't feel story for your son' as the previous post said.  He's going to be all right! (smile)

Answer 3

I think unschooling is a wonderful way to live for anyone, but especially a person with ADHD.  From my own experience, I find that unschooling allows me to use my ADD to my advantage rather than disadvantage.  I see it not only as part of my charm, but also the creative spirit that so enriches my life.  I can accomplish so much more in my unschooling lifestyle than I ever did when I suffered through public school.  

Best of luck to you :D

Answer 4

How old is he?   Are you looking at following your state curriculum outcomes or doing your own thing?   Do you want to be more relaxed or very formal?  Do you want religious or non-religious curriculum?  

There are so many different types of great learning tools out there that if you gave us a little more direction it would be helpful.

Edit:  Okay, now that we have more info there are lots of choices.   Personally for the younger ages I love Math U See.  It's a very well done math program that has a DVD included that has a teacher on it.  That helps my ADHD girl learn better.   She undestands him more then me.  LOL

If your son loves computers Time4Learning.com is supposed to be great.  I've looked at it but haven't used it.  I know a lot of people with special kids have used it.  

Videos from your library can do a lot for science and social studies.

Answer 5

simple words 2, 3, 4,5 sysable

numbers

simple addition

drawing and art

He needs to know how to print and write the alphabet

how to read enough for a simple Dr Seuss book

How to do numbers to 100

Simple addion

1+1

2+2

Answer 6

How old is your son??? All children learn differently. Try to find out how your child learns.....my daughter learns through hands on while my son has to know why something is the way it is and books are his style. I have found that computer learning works well for both children. When children have ADHD video games and computer games help them. Ok, I don't remember exactly how the doctor put it but something to do with their brains and so much going on at one time on the screen.

Also not having "traditional" schooling helps too. Having an 8am-3pm day doesn't work at all for us. We start around 9am and sometimes they are done at noon and other times it's 2 or 3pm. We do about 2-3 hours of work a day but because they take breaks when they are flustered some days are long.

Because you didn't state how old your son is I'm not sure if this will work for you ...... I give the kids a list of things to do each day and when they are done with it then they are done.

One more thing.....there are lots of pre-made curriculum and homeschool academies out there. We do our own. I go to thrift stores, library, movie stores, online, bookstores, and wherever else I can find things to use. I go online and find their curriculum requirements for their grade level. We do lots of field trips and artsy types of learning for my daughter.

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/

http://www.efieldtrips.org/

http://kids.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Fun_Kids...

http://www.kaboose.com/

Hope this helped......good luck to you!

Sounds like you have a child much like my son who loves to be a video gamer. There are many many computer games that help with reading and math skills. I went to Circuit City when he was younger and just searched through their computer software and found some games for him to do. I found I didn't mind him playing computer games or video games as much if I felt he was learning something! If you google online you can also find some online sites that have educational games for him.

Don't feel like he's not learning because he is picking up more than you think. You will be surprised one day when he tells you something and you don't remember teaching it to him! This happens all the time with my daughter! It's a great feeling especially when you are discouraged and feel like they aren't learning anything!!!

Answer 7

I agree.  We need some more details - how old is he?  What type of activities does he like - listening to read alouds or books on tape, building things, watching his lessons on DVD or on the computer, etc?

There are so, so many curriculum choices out there; please let us know a bit more about him (and any restrictions you may have with prep time) and we'll be happy to help you out!

Answer 8

I have been homeschooling my children for years. Go to http://homeschoolanswers.blogspot.com

I have several suggestions there depending on what you are looking for

Answer 9

I feel story for your son... I guess Special Ed./Resource did not help?

Asher Heimermann, WI

http://www.ASHERHEIMERMANN.com

Answer 10

My daughter is ADHD. We do not medicate. We build our own curriculum, keep to a schedule, and let her move at her own pace. Play to his interests. You'd be shocked how many lessons you can make revolve around his favorite sport/pet/hobby! Use video, audio, and hands on lessons. Spend at least one day a week on physical activity. Keep the TV off, put the video games away. Allow him time for discussion with you. Often we ADHD kids get more from one on one talks than we can from the best book.

Best of luck!