What Home School Programs Would You Recommend?
Submitted by America Loves R... on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 09:09
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My wife and I have been investigating several home school programs, but we haven't settled on one yet.
Is anyone familiar with any of the following?
The Robinson Home School Curriculum (From Stanley Monteith's Page)
Anyhow, which do you all recommend?
By the way, I want a Christian-based (or values-based) curriculum WITHOUT IT BEING NEO-CON !!!
I know that's a tall order, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
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I have been a homeschooler since 1984
and still am. We started with Christian Liberty and they are great. Good for freedom loving, and not neo con. Used others too, but some were, and their history courses really were not good. Now we use Sonlight. We absolutely love it. Nothing neocon about it, and really goes to the heart of the truth, no matter who looks bad/good. I recommend it heartily. If it is too expensive for you, just get the core curriculum (which covers history and the literature is along with the history). Then get your own cheaper language arts, math science.
Consider these
Comments from a veteran whose children learned at home through the "high school years."
Sonlight is a better balanced curriculum than most Christian "canned" curricula (and I am a Christian). For the most part we just used their catalog to read their fabulous book list! Their history, science, and religion manuals are balanced, having you read from several side.
Christian Liberty has some nice things (I liked their Nature Readers).
The Well Trained Mind will take you a long way on your journey.
But remember that you are responsible for your children. I would urge you not to bring the school into your home and to have confidence in yourselves without spending oodles of money on a curriculum. You all have so many choices now that weren't there thirty years ago If all you do for a while (as in a few years!!!) is keep your children by your side, living and working with you, they will be far, far beyond most of their peers who are in school for most of the day. Read books. Let them tell the story back to you. Do dictation. Do math through real life activity. If they need to learn calculus someday, do it then, when it will serve a purpose for them and therefore stick! Through out the TV if you have one. Encourage practical skills. Let them muck about.
As the years went along, we did less and less formal stuff and became more and more "unschoolers." Yes, they have gaps. Yes, we wish we had insisted more on language (although one learned a tough language of his choice with Rosetta Stone). But their parents have gaps, even with degrees with honors including Ph.D.
That's our story in brief. A philosophy of lifelong learning. By the way, the children had no difficulty in going to college/university when they decided to do so and they have no high school diplomas, just resumes and portfolios. And once there did brilliantly although the youngest is still behaving like a home schooler . . . negotiating constantly for an individual program and winning. And we are all still learning. Look where their mum hangs out! (A load of my RP friends in my area are home school parents, some veterans like us, some still with youngsters at home.)
I just saw Mike Lawson's comments way down and I would urge you to listen to him! We wanted just what he describes. Expose children to ideas you may disagree with (within reason, of course) and then talk abut them so that they don't fall part when confronted with concepts that are contrary to the family belief system and are in fact able to articulately defend their positions.
"We wanted
just what he (Mike Lawson) describes."
Would that be "kids raised on MTV and Doritos" or "kids with the skill of bringing their dates to tears?"
We had our childrent educated at the Minnesota
Waldorf School.
However, perhaps you and your wife might wish to look into Waldorf homeschooling network.
By far this was the greatest gift we felt we could give our children. They are centered, thinkers, doers, and self responsible young adults now.
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/methwaldorf/Methods_Waldor...
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/methods/Waldorf.htm
A Great History Book Recommendation
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Here's an online history book from 1957 that I just ran across of which some of you may like to access:
THE POISONED NEEDLE
Suppressed Facts About Vaccination
By
Eleanor McBean 1957
This would be a great history book for parents who home school.
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www.vaclib.org
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www.vaclib.org
Some suggestions
TAPESTRY OF GRACE-history-lots of reading and projects
APOLOGIA-science
SPELL TO WRITE TO READ-obvious-phenetic based-Awesome!
ROD AND STAFF-math-very thourough
Just to name a few.
"There are only two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by sword, the other is by debt." - John Adams
We just started our oldest
We just started our oldest son in home schooling (he is four). We had heard that Rod and Staff was good, but we found that it just did not work for him. He needed the stimulation from colors and bright images where Rod and Staff was entirely black and white.
What it comes down to, I believe, is that you first need to know your kids and what they need? How do they learn? What is their personality? And then you need to find the program that works best for them. Some kids will do quite well with Rod and Staff, and it is certainly affordable. But it is not for everyone.
Khomar, what is 'Rod and Staff'?
Please explain.
Some lists of good books a child should read
I like to give a list of books that I would like my child to read and learn as well. (Children's reading)
1. The Bible (not just to read as a history book, literature, but the Word of God that can give us life).
2. The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. Talks about the process of salvation, overcoming trials and reaching glory. 2nd best seller after the Bible.
3. The Holy War by John Bunyan. It's a less well known book by Bunyan, but as powerful as the Pilgrim's Progress. Talks about the inner working of Jesus' salvation and the battle for Man's Soul.
4. The Prince and Pauper, by Mark Twain
5. The Adventure of Tom Sawyer.
6. The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn.
7. Biographies of saints, heroes, missionaries, scientists, inventors, patriots, etc.
For older kids I would recommend non-fiction Christian readings from Madame Guyon, Andrew Murray, Charles G. Finney, George Fox, Jonathan Edwards, A. W. Towzer, etc.
Another good book to
Another good book to consider is How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture by Francis A. Schaeffer. It gives a good analysis of the history of Western Civilization by exploring the art, science, and culture of the people of western Europe since the fall of Rome.
Awesome books!
I love most of these books, especailly Francis S.
"There are only two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by sword, the other is by debt." - John Adams
A Beka Academy
A Beka has a very good and traditional Christian curriculum. It has traditional home school or video home school. My church has used A Beka for more than 10 years. We have several graduates from the school. It is a very good in terms of English, US History, World History, and Bible education. It's math is very traditional, and very difficult to understand. I am a high school math teacher, so I can compare its curriculum with the general math in public schools. It's math curriculum is even a generation or two before me. I would definitely suggest A Beka to anyone. I plan to use A Beka for my own kids, and add on to the math curriculum, maybe the Singapore math (I myself is Chinese and learn math the Chinese way).
Singapore math
The math is taught in a logical progression. It unfolds in a way that is easy for children to comprehend. I was afraid they weren't learning because it seemed too easy! We homeschooled up until high school. My kids are really good at math and they like it. My oldest daughter is a high honors student and intends to be a math major. It's nonsectarian but I never saw anything that would offend Christian sensibilities, so if the rest of your curriculum is Christian, I'd highly recomend it. We had great success with it. Singapore routinely gets the highest math scores in the world and this is the curriculum they use.
22 yrs ago
I used Covenant Home Curriculum for my kids. They had great materials for history and literature. They were quality books, that made the subjects very interesting for the kids. (Published by Beka.) I had to make up many of the assignments and tests myself, so it was more work for me.
Later, to save expense, I used the Sonlight Curriculum passed on to me by a friend. It was much easier for the teacher, because I didn't have to make tests, etc.
"It’s not like I’m just trying to win and get elected. I’m trying to change the course of history." ~Ron Paul
I've home educated for 14
I've home educated for 14 years. Each child is different and will learn differently. Check out Understanding the Times, by David Nobel for a study on world views, which is through a "Christian" perspective all through your schooling years. Great resource for you and your children. Robinsons cirriculumn is hard and teaches self directed learning early. Teach reading, writing, arthrimitic and critical thinking, tried and true basics. We've not been perfect but all our grown children are considered strong Christian men who happen to be pretty well rounded and independent thinkers. Add that Bible and by God's grace you can do it together .
Peace
Nullify and set your self free!
Help them
learn what they need to know and what they want to know. period
Do you really want to program your child? Just provide the resources.
Thomas Jefferson Education!!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again...particulary since you specifically requested something that is *not* "neo-con"...
Regardless of whether your kids are homeschooled, private schooled, public schooled or not formally "schooled" at all, go check out a Thomas Jefferson Education (go now; don't even bother reading the rest of this comment; it'll still be here later...what; you're still here? Go on; go to that link now!), and for older students looking for a college, try George Wythe University (George Wythe was Thomas Jefferson's mentor). Seriously. Just go to those links and check 'em out.
For a Christian-based homeschool education, I add another vote for Sonlight, if you want a curriculum that is all laid out for you. Very comprehensive; you get FAR more materials than you could ever use in a semester/year, and you can always use what you want and chuck the rest if you don't cotton to what they teach (though most Christians would be fine with everything they present).
I'm in that miniscule group of Christian homeschoolers who do not believe in a Young Earth; for that reason and other reasons, I tend to go a-la-carte with my curriculum, rather than take my curriculum all from one source. Do what works for you and your kids. In fact, one kind of curriculum may work for one kid, while something entirely different would be best for another kid in the very same family. Clue into how each kid is wired; get information from people (just as you have requested), but trust your own instincts and your own research, rather than just doing what people tell you to do. I know you'll make the right decisions and will do just fine.
One other suggestion: if you haven't already, check out the HSLDA. You'll be glad you did.
Blessings to you and your kids. And congrats on taking responsibility for your children's education!
May I suggest some books I think every Christian should read
1. The Bible (not to many christians actually read it)
2. EM Bounds on prayer (he wrote a lot of books on prayer but they have one where they combined them all I think you can get it for fifteen dollars)
3. Spiritual leadership by J. Oswald Sanders
4. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnagie (This book teaches discretion and I wish I would have read it as a kid instead of screwing up my testimony as an adult before I read it)
5. Spiritual Maturity by J. Oswald Sanders.
6. Foxes book of Martyrs (although you may want them to wait till they are in high school to read this one)
All of these books have had a big benifit in my Christian life. Also get your kids away from all of that fake stuff and get them reading biographies. D.L. Moody once said that in reality wicked stuff is boring and right stuff is very interesting but in fantisy wicked stuff is interesting and right stuff is boring.
Jim Eliot, george muller, david livingstone among others, in the biography department and all of their biographies have been written at very different reading levels so the younger kids can enjoy them too.
BY the way I am a Baptist and I do not think I listed one Baptist author but one of the biographies I mentioned might be about a baptist I am not sure.
Google Unschooling
We are an unschooling family, and while it may not suit everyone I have found it to work very well for us. It gives a much freer, natural and organic approach to learning than chopping up knowledge into categories which in real life flow together. The key is building the relationships in the family, and trusting the innate drive to learn. If your children have been in school awhile you may also want to check out the term deschooling.
You can find unschoolers of the Christian persuasion (as well as most other persuasions) if you search the net -- people to help answer questions about how it looks in practice.
Home schooled my kids for a bit
Lose the TV
Get your kids reading. Had my 12 year old tested years ago. She read at college level.
Also she got intrested in Egyptology so we started her on kids books at ten and took her to the library and soon at ten was reading adult books on subject. She found an intrest and we just fed her all she could get.
later she trumped her ap history teacher on the subject.
She read every book in our house so one summer at 12 someone gave her compleate works of shakspere and in one summer read them all.
Now she in college as a English lit major and gonna be a teacher. also in love with Jesus.
I have six kids
3 of 6 and 4 of 6 are lazy and not readers like her.
Ditch the TV!
I got a TV and
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Bekka Books has good material.
I used that throughout most of my pre-collegiate education.
--Cliff, Sioux City, Iowa
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Challenging and Xian.
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Christian Liberty Academy
I graduated from their "CLASS" program, and it was great. I loved it, and it was challenging. Plus the 2 "God and Government" books you have to read in High School planted seeds of liberty in my heart that came to fruition when I heard of Ron Paul and his message.
"Every generation needs a new revolution"
-Thomas Jefferson
"Every generation needs a new revolution"
-Thomas Jefferson
Just teach your kids to be decent, smart, and responsible.
I recommend the school of awareness.
~Mikael / Peace, love, Light and unity ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Stop the NWO....It's just illumi..Naughty !
I had a mixed curriculum while growing up
so Im not sure about one program over another. My education worked out well and we are very comfortable with homeschooling our son, starting next year. We just found homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/ for volume discounts on curriculum. Hope that helps
I may not agree with what you say but i will defend to the death your right to say it
Check out this link
http://www.moorefoundation.com/
It is not so much a curriculum as a philosophy. But there are a lot of curricular materials available there, too. I am very impressed with their philosophy.
They even have one of "Uncle Eric's" books on Common Law, or as we know it, Austrian Economics. I taught my son out of some of these books. They are exceptional.
Healthnut4freedom
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
Healthnut4freedom
The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment...Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight. Prov 12:19,22
Values-Based?
By saying you want a "values-based" home school program, are you implying that people who want to teach their kids about the world without forcing them to believe that Bronze Age Jewish mythology is literally true cannot adequately teach kids about values?
Values-Based
means values based on their Judeo-Christian beliefs. Why is that a problem for you? Why do people insist on putting the Christian beliefs down. If he were searching for a curriculum whose values were based on Buddhism, would you be so critical? Probably not.
In this one thing I find it so disturbing. For such "open-minded," Libertarian-thinking people, so many here are so critical of something you don't agree with. The person is just asking for information and giving their needs criteria and you make an excuse to be critical and sarcastic. Shame on you.
Healthnut4freedom
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5,6
Healthnut4freedom
The lip of truth shall be established forever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment...Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are His delight. Prov 12:19,22
It's not a problem for me,
It's not a problem for me, teach your kids whatever you want. I just despise the term "values-based", because it implies that people who don't base their lives on your brand of ancient mythology don't have any values. It's a very arrogant assumption.
The poster was fine by saying they wanted a Christian oriented program, but throwing "values based" in there was just over the top insulting.
Of course,
labeling someone else's religion as a "brand of ancient mythology," is niether over the top, arrogant, nor insulting. Why can't you look in a mirror?
The guy wasn't even talking to you after all. He's asking for homeschooling advice from people who understand exactly what he is saying and are a little too thick-skinned to be offended at the use of the term "values-based" to refer to Christian.