Homeschooling

Archive for October, 2009

Question: Homeschool Textbooks??????

What company supplies public schools with their text books? or is their somewhere else we can order textbooks?
I am looking for an 8th grade earth science and a history homeschool textbook. I'd like it to be non-religous

(because the last christen-based curriculum we got was too religous. The science course was the same as the bible course).

thank you

Answer: For Earth Science, get a kit complimentary to the textbook form Nasco Science. (Link Below) They have several books on their website as well. Request a sample page to be sent to you (or email via PDF).
For History you can start in the High School level if the child likes to read and is interested. Glencoe has a decent book "The American Republic Since 1877) or get "America: Pathways to the present" by Prentice. (link below). If you are not a US resident, start with a geography course and a world history book. For example Harcourt's "World history and you" and "world geography and you". Check out the library as well, also look at the PBS website for teacher links. They have great stories highlighted, with teacher materials for free.
I find that it is best to seperate science, history and religion. You can teach religions as a subject, inlude them all, and continue what you do for your family, the rest should be taught regular.

Covered Wagon LooLeDo.com

Question: Where can you review different homeschool curriculums? I am so confused...?

my 7 yr old is above average in most subjects there are so many I have been to many websites

Abeka
Sonlight
Horizons
Lifepac

Any reviews or advice out there?

Answer: You first need to find out his learning style. Only then can you choose the correct curricula to meet that.

I just gave you a long reply to your "offline Chicago area curricula viewing Q".

While we are Christians, that's not the main reason we HS. For that reason, I've chosen a secular curriculum that has no equal in the Christian market. Sonlight is the only one that comes close, but it doesn't fit my son's learning style, nor my teaching style. I cannot stand A beka or Bob Jones, but YMMV. Any AOP curriculum is fair. Lifepacs get so boring so quickly since they only use one style of learning.

We've used K12 for over 5 years and LOVE it. If your son is an advanced learner, then I'd really recommend you look into it. If you happen to be in the Chicago school district, you can use K12 through the Chicago Virtual School. If not, you can purchase it to use as an independent HS'er like myself.

There is a great "Homeschool Review" group on Yahoo Groups, as well as a great HS group for IL (most members are in Chicagoland):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AHomeschoolReview

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/homeschool-Illinois

Again, first figure out his learning style (and your teaching style/goals), then choose curriculum. Visit the Johnsburg HS Resource Center I mentioned in the other reply.