Homeschool Grammar Curriculum
February 15th, 2008 | 
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Question: Do I have to use a textbook for math? (Grade 3)?
I am new to Homeschooling. This coming school year will be my first time. I bought a social studies book to follow, and I have a reading textbook and tons of books. I downloaded our states standards and plan on using free worksheets for language arts lessons such as grammar, vocab, punctuation etc. I also plan on making my own spelling lists (I have been researching effective 3rd grade spelling word families). My question is about math though. I have 2 math workbooks but not a textbook. I have the state's standards on what they need to learn but my question is can I just use a whiteboard and the workbooks and Internet as math tools or should I get an actual curriculum? We are trying to homeschool as cheaply (but effectively!) as possible. Thanks for any info/advice!!
Answer: No!
You can definitely do math, especially at the 3rd grade level, without a textbook. A significant part of 3rd grade math is spent on mastering the basic facts--memorizing those addition, subtraction, multiplication and division facts until the child doesn't even have to think about them--and that doesn't require a textbook. Flashcards, drills, computer software, games (homemade or bought) are all great ways to work on those skills. Making change, telling time, reading thermometers or other scales can be better done by working with money, clocks, thermometers and other devices.
Sugestion: Some state standard lists may be useable, but I know that our state's are so general and vague that they are fairly useless. So, you might want another list to refer to as well. http://www.worldbook.com has a good set of lists for each grade level under "typical course of study". Or check with your local public library--many of them have a number of books with "scope and sequence" lists showing topics that are usually covered at a particular grade level.
Note: My parents homeschooled me for 2nd and 4th grades years ago and didn't buy math books but made up their own drills and such. We worked in large part on basic facts until I knew them backwards and forwards and inside out. And I ended up getting a degree in math at a top university--in large part due to the background they provided...
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