Homeschooling

Archive for May, 2010

Question: Suggestions for 11th Grade books?

I've been home-schooled for four years now but considering I'm in 11th grade, I'm having trouble finding books that meet my expectations. I'm trying to find text books with teacher's edition and a student edition w/test and test answers that are good/high quality. Also if there are any venturing away from a Christian curriculum since I'm not of that religion. I'm looking for typical courses for an 11th grader American Literature/Psychology/American Government/Chemistry. I've found a math book already I'm just having trouble finding books for those courses. So any of you fellow Homeschooling parents or even kids if you could help or have any suggestions of books you used, etc, that would be great.

Answer: Hello Anonymous,

The best Chemistry book we found is "Exploring Creation with Chemistry" by Dr. Jay Wile. The religious comments are few and far between. You will do experiments and learn a lot!

All the Best!

Abeka curriculum | Abeka Preschool Curriculum

Question: What re some non-American based homeschool curriculums.?

Hi there,

I was just curious of what homeschool curriculums are available for a non-American, who (whilst having nothing against the U.S.) doesn't want to spend 4+ years with the major social studies/ government/ history/ geography focus being extremely american? Are there more international curriculums available (I am aware of Sonlight, was wondering about others)

Answer: I'm Australian and use mostly American materials because they produce more than we do.
*Maths is maths, so there's nothing wrong with using American programs if you like them. We have Math on the Level, which doesn't follow the Australian curriculum, of course, but it's the program I like best. As long as it is methodical, it doesn't matter exactly what order, does it?
*I use American stuff for English too, and correct the spelling if needs be
*I use an American science book, Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding, but science is science so that doesn't matter.
*I use an American set of books for world history, Story of the World. It's a little heavy on the US in parts, but we can skim over them and supplement with an Australian specific curriculum.
*Obviously I'll be using Australian material for studying government and such things, though an understanding of the American system wouldn't hurt either, since they have so much influence on us.

Being too American is certainly something to look for when you are trying to pick curriculum, but that fact that it was written in America doesn't automatically mean it will be too American. If you like an American curriculum better than something produced locally, buy the one you like! Most people will tweak anything they buy to suit themselves anyway, whether it is adding in religious material, skipping over it, reading extra on a topic that interests or skimming over topics that don't. You'll probably find that piecing together resources from here and there will suit you better than a "school in a box" will.

You haven't said where you are from, but I know of South African http://www.south-african-homeschool-curriculum.com/ and Australian and New Zealand materials: http://www.downunderlit.com/

If you are looking for a specific age, we may be able to help more.

Home School Curriculum: Geography : High School Home School Geography