What is the best Christian homeschool material?

Question

I am in the market for a good homeschool curriculum. We are a Christian family and would like to use Christian based material but it's not a must as we can teach her ourselves at home and through Church. My daughter isn't preschool age yet but I wanted to get a headstart on what we are going to use and get all the details about what we need to know...since I have never homeschooled before. Thanks!

Answer 1

Abeka

Answer 2

I have taught in private schools for 8 years and I now currently homeschool my kids and they have always used A.C.E.

It's challenging and fun for kids.  It really helps them get the preschool phonics down so they can be excellent readers.  And the character traits and little animated strips throughout the PACES help kids to learn Biblical values in everyday situations.

Answer 3

You have some really good answers already. The previous answers are correct, however, keep n mind that you will need to learn your child's learning style. Most likely you will have to try diffrent cirriculum's to see what best fits you and your child.

I have 3 that I homeschool currently. They do not learn in the same ways. One type of cirriculum is not sufficient. The better question would be which catalogs or companies sell Christian materials. Search that out to the fullest.

For your answer: Character First , Math-U-See (just to name a few)

For my suggestion:

Christianbook.com

RainbowResource.com

There are many many more.

It gets really exciting as to all the possiblites you will be able to do with your child.

Answer 4

Id have to say Abekka, there awsome. Last year I used a history book by them, & my son loved them so much, that hes now actually getting more interested in history. I let him chose his History book for this next year, & he chose 1 by Abekka for 6th grade

Answer 5

My child really likes the way A Beka does things. We have tried others and have gone back to using A Beka. They have early educational materials also.

Try to go to a homeschool convention or book fair in your area, or look up a local homeschool support group. The people there are great and you can see the materials first hand.

Answer 6

I think that they A.C.E. Paces are the best homeschooling program for Christian Homeschool.  They really challenge my daughter and it is such an easy system to set up.  I have never even heard of Abeka.

Answer 7

Personally, at such a young age, I'd make my own curriculum.  Abeka and Sonlight are Christian...but very, very wordy.

I'd try lapbooks (kind of like a 2 or three page scrapbooks) for a subject or based on a book read.

I'd make your own posters...like ADDITION or PIRATES etc.

I do HIGHLY recommend the book Well Trained Mind.  It got me off to a great start. I still use the 3 ring binder ideas.  Get a PILE Of 3 rings...then make one for spelling (when your child writes something and spells a word wrong, add it to the binder..then go over the words later in the week) and one for math etc etc.  

I could go on all day.   I also highly recommend A) not spending any money you don't have to at this early point.  I got abeka and sonlight and many other books I HATED and never used because I thought I had to....if you must buy something, lay your hands  on it, really imagine yourself using it every day.

Look up Sunday School lessons online for good Godly ideas.

GET the books from Walmart/Sams Club:  Comprehensive Curriculum for __________ grade. (K, 1st etc.)  Then use them a lot, expand by making similar worksheets yourself.

There are TONS of free printables and lesson plans online.

Answer 8

A.C.E. is really good, but I'd say abeka is better. Anyone I know that took abeka is really smart.

Answer 9

Abeka is really good.  It teaches things really well too. I use it and I always do pretty well on the standardized tests. They just teach in such a good way and it even comes with a Bible class.  They teach penmanship so kids have nice writing techniques when they are done with it. I really like it and am soooooo glad that I am home schooled and not in public school any more. I have been home schooled since second grade....I love it.

Answer 10

I love Sonlight! You will be doing a ton of reading to her and it's all wonderful stories that half the time we have trouble putting down to move on with school.

I think its great that you are looking into it so early! You have plenty of time to decide what you like and plan to do with her.

As for ACE it is a good program but it wasn't for us. It's very self driven and my daughter hated that. She begged to go back to Sonlight within a month of trying it.

Answer 11

Abeka is fine, a lot of people use it.  But it's too many books and bells and whistles for my style.  I love Christian Light Education.  Very cost-effective, very flexible.  www.clp.org  Request a free catalog, because the website is pretty much just an order form until they get the new one up.  They don't really have "kindergarten" as such, but they do have preschool-type materials designed for parents to use at home before their child starts first grade.  Their materials are used in their Mennonite schools, but some of the schools are classroom schools and some are individualized, so there's no real "adapting" needed for use at home.

Answer 12

Bob Jones Press curriculum is great also. You may also check My Father's World curriculum & Tapestry of Grace curriculum. These are all unit study program.