In many homeschool groups on the online space, parents are asking for the best curriculums out there. Very rarely will a whole collective group of homeschooling parents agree on what the best curriculum of all time is. Because really, there isn’t the best curriculum for everyone, but there is the best curriculum for your particular family unit. No homeschooling family is alike.
There are literally thousands of curriculum choices out there. From all-in-ones, piecing together, hodge-podge, you name it, and it is out there, with technology, homeschooling curriculum, and choices have become a lot more readily available than they once were.
This curriculum was a no-brainer when I found it. I would have taught writing very similar to IEW's approach to writing had I remained in the classroom teaching. Writing is a simple process, but I know it can be overwhelming to some. IEW takes away that overwhelm with clear and simple steps that build off each other and can help the most reluctant writer.
I settled on choosing our curriculum for reading and math fairly quickly (See the posts on our other favorites, AALP and MUS). The rest of our subjects took some trial and error on my part and time to figure out what worked best for us and fit into my vision for our homeschool.
I began trying to write my curriculum, using a concept similar to Sonlight of teaching history through literature and not a dry textbook. I kept referencing Sonlights books lists and would also pour other online lists. So approximately three years into our homeschooling journey, I bit the bullet. I purchased a Core B (Introduction to World History) from a Facebook group and pieced together the missing parts. It took us a year and a half to use that first core, then I switched to year-round homeschooling, and Sonlight fell right into place with our homeschooling journey.
Once we settled with Sonlight, here are the top five reasons we will continue to use Sonlight.
Like our story with All About Learning Press, I stumbled upon our math curriculum and began using Math U See. I was very leary of teaching math because it was not my chosen field, and I struggled with it in school. I somehow managed to make it through high school and college, but it was a struggle. I knew I needed something that would help guide me along the way and be very user-friendly in the long run.
In came Math U See, another curriculum we have used since our homeschooling journey began. Mouse, our oldest, has just started Zeta (Decimals and Percents), and Thumper has started Delta (Single and Multiple DigitDivision). I do not see us switching math curriculums, and here are the top five reasons we have chosen and continue to stick with Math U See.
When we started homeschooling, I was unsure of my ability to teach my child how to read. I was "trained/educated" to help students interpret and analyze what they read, but not how to read. So I searched the internet, found homeschool blogs, and trolled Facebook groups. All About Reading kept coming up. So I dove in and made our first homeschooling purchase, and we haven't turned back.
Before beginning their homeschooling journey, many homeschool parents worry about homeschooling for several reasons. They weren't good in school, didn't go to college, are not trained as a teacher, or can't currently help with homework. There are many more reasons beyond these. Still, these are several reasons I have seen in observing various homeschool groups of parents starting.
About four years ago (when we switched to year-round schooling), I began planning and prepping for one year at a time. It has taken me a few years, but now I think I have finally found a system that works well. Now, I want to share it with others and help them to do the same. These little steps are not lesson planning in the traditional teacher's way of planning things. This planning allows things to run smoothly and for me to be organized enough to travel as we do each year.
Last month I introduced our Beyond Literature Program I am using with my girls this year. I am going beyond with out literature journey and touching on areas we have not yet touched in our homeschool. The first unit of this program is about the different types of literature and I am going to off it for FREE!
When we decided to home school, it was because we wanted to be able to travel with my husband and his job. We wanted to stay together as a family. To make our journey successful needed to follow the mantra for our homeschooling journey, and for our blog/website is “home schooling anywhere and everywhere”. Our home school need to be able to be able to be picked up and taken and done wherever we were. After nine years, I think we have finally found a groove and several things that make this happen for us. Each year it has gotten easier and easier to pack up and go this way and that. There have been five key things that has been consistent over the last nine years that keep us going.
I introduced the concept of Beyond Literature earlier this month in a blog post titled Beyond Literature: A New Adventure for Our Homeschool. But basically, it is a literature program. I’m creating for my girls, and I am also sharing it here as well. As of right now there are three main components: Elements of Literature, Book Lists, and Book Reports and Summaries. Today I would like to take a closer look at these three components and shed some light on what to look forward to.
In the spirit of National Reading Month, I thought I would introduce our new literature program that I’ve begun in our homeschool this year. I will also be releasing parts of it on our Homeschool Printables Page. I will also offer more details and information on our Beyond Literature page later this month and throughout the year.
