How to choose the best homeschool curriculum for your child can be tricky at first.
Younger kids tend to like Time4learning.com. Its inexpensive and online.
I always went over everything in the books "What Your ________
Grader Needs to Know." You fill in the blank with First, Second, etc. I
think they have books through the 6th grade.
There are tons of curriculum choices. You can check out my website:
http://www.homeschoolsantafe.com for more ideas.
One of the best resources is also a way to save money:
http://homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ I get lots of things through this site.
Abeka and other similar curricula are decidedly
Christian in nature. If that is the type of education you want for your
child, then I've heard its a good one. There are many other options that
leave religion out, or they talk about all religions, not just one, and
are much more similar to the topics they would receive in public school
and need at the college level. You will find many choices at the links
above.
The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that you can
pick and choose the method and format that works best for each child.
What works well with one is completely wrong for another. Only you know
your child. If you are like me, and many of the other homeschool parents
I've talked to over the past 9 years of homeschooling, at first it is a
trial and error thing. You try something and see how it goes. Does your
child learn better by reading, watching, listening, or doing? Are they
highly tactile, needing to hold things and act things out? I highly
recommend that you not go out and spend tons of money on a curriculum
that may not work until you have discovered the methods and rhythm of
your child.
Our education has changed immensely over the years. Time4Learning
was wonderful for us for the first 4 years, then it was no longer the
right choice. Somewhere around the 6th grade, my son decided on his main
area of interest and what we have done to make sure he is ready when he
gets to college has shifted a lot because of it. We use a combination
of tutors, online programs, books, and live classes. So we don't get one
of those out of the box, covers every subject, type of systems. That
would really not work for us.
Best of luck,
Takara
