What is the best homeschooling program for kids. What is the benefit of these vs. just teaching out of books?

Question

I guess what I'm asking is why pay $1000/year for, say, A beka curriculum if you can get second-hand books and videos, etc. and teach your kids the same info.

Answer 1

Well I would never pay that much for any curriclum. People usually end up finding out too late that it isn't right for them or or not exactly what they wanted. Why not use free books from the local library, book swaps with local homeschoolers, look for free online printables and curriculum. You can bacially homeschool for FREE or very little. ;) We have been doing it for 7 years with 4 kiddos.

Answer 2

Don't discount the books!  My kid can sit there with a stack and absorb more than they could ever pound into his head in a classroom, with all the comprehension tests and spelling quizzes and grammar exercises!  That's how the great men (and women) used to learn before the professionals got ahold of the process---a big ol' stack of books!

One child might thrive with the routine and regularity of a day-to-day program, and one might need the excitement and autonomy of self-directed learning.  We are currently in a program with the Superintendent of Schools office in which they provide some textbooks and a monthly meeting to make sure we haven't been goofing off, and we do everything else.  Now, I know a lot of homeschoolers do not want any government control of what their child learns, but we satisfy the regulations very easily by exposing him to the curriculum standards for his grade and then we can go to town and do whatever else we want---and the Super's office looks over our work and approves it for credit so that he could transfer to another school or graduate.  It saves me the bookwork of registering as a school and documenting every moment, because sometimes we take a day to run around and explore and other days we might feel like churning out paperwork by the ream.  It took a certain amount of conformance, I suppose you could call it, to earn the trust of our resource specialist, so that she could let me have a free hand in his education.  Check around and see what your state or county allows.

I've also checked into (but didn't pursue, as we're happy the way we are) a virtual school which provides a computer, printer and materials for your student.  It seems more restrictive than our current program, but that free computer was tempting!

Answer 3

Are you asking...What is the benefit of packaged curriculum vs creating one?

I think that would depend on each family. Some parents want to take the time to teach their kids, but don't know where to start, and they order the packaged curriculum and really like it.

Some of boxed plans, plan the curriculum and lay everything out for you. They are a LOT less work...and some people are comfortable working with them.

Some get the boxed curriculum and supplement because they don't like all of the content.

Some of us prefer to do the extra work and plan our own curriculum. I don't know that I would say it's just teaching out of books, because they all basically work the same way. The boxed stuff just provides the books for you.

You still utilize the library and other books just like you would if you didn't have the packaged curriculum.

Again, the choice is an individual one. To say that one method is any better than the other is the same as suggesting that teaching all children using the same method will reap the same rewards. That has been proven to be wrong. We all have different learning styles. We just have to figure out what works for us individually.

Hope this answers your question.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

You can't judge a program this way.  Different methods work with different kids and families.

If I had to do it all over again I would probably choose

Sonlight.  I tried bits of this and that.  What worked with one child didn't work with the other, and some I really didn't like. (ACE and Alpha Omega)  What would work best for your kids only you and they can decide.  Determine what and how they learn and that will narrow your choices.

One of my kids thrives on Unschooling, the other doesn't.  Education plans need to be individualized to each child/family.

Answer 5

The best homeschooling program for child's interest and learning style, and the needs of a parent.

A child who enjoys completing workbooks and working quietly, and a mother who likes a pre determiend schedule and needs her children to work somewhat independently will benefit from an expensive program like Abeka.

Children who enjoy movement and interaction while learning, and mothers who have the time and inkling to develop their own curricula may prefer finding books and videos on their own.

There is no right or wrong to either format.  It all depends on the needs of parent and child.

Here is some information about learning styles that may be helpful to you:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here is some information about different teaching methods and their pros and cons:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

each child is different and each child will need different techniques and books to sudy from ....in order to learn effectively. Homeschooling is great--not b/c of the specific books or programs--but b/c individual attention allows you to recognize a problem/area needing improvement--and address it in a way that helps the child learn the material....as opposed to public school...where the teacher may not notice your child is struggling and cannot take individual time with him to address specific areas.

Answer 7

Based on your additional details I'll just say that there is no reason to pay $1000 or $2000 for a program when you can spend far less just to buy the books and teach the child yourself.

A Beka does have books for purchase without enrolling in their program, if you like those books.

I think the best homeschool program is one that the parent designs to suit their individual child, family, and situation, not one that comes pre-packaged, unless that happens to be what suits that child, family, etc. best.

Answer 8

Are you asking about a "program" - such as a virtual school?  If so, most virtual schools are public schools, so you have to follow the curriculum the school uses, rather than fitting one to your child's individual learning style.  There are some benefits to virtual schools, but to some families, they aren't worth it.

Or are you asking about "programs" in the context of a homeschooling *curriculum*.  A curriculum company that "packages" their curriculum does so for the convenience.  If your child's learning styles fit *all* parts of that curriculum, then you can use that.  Most kids, however, are a mish-mash of grade levels (not all companies let you mix & match grade levels) and learning styles.

The best HS'ing program for my HS'ed son may not be the best for your student(s).  You need to choose curricula, and "programs" (umbrella schools, virtual schools) with a lot of thought to learning styles of both the student and the teacher.

FWIW, my son would shrivel up and die if I taught him "just from books".  That is a very dry, and boring way to learn.  It works in classrooms, since all the kids are made to work at the same level, and since every kid in a classroom learns differently.

My son is a global learner, so he learns by hands-on activities, audio-visual, movement, etc.