MellowYellow Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Can you please list your curriculum? Which one is your favorite? Which curriculums have you tried and hated? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satori Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Here's a big secular curriculum list I made. As for favorites, keeping in mind that what we like may not work for others, you can check my sig or blog. Editing to be more helpful without all the acronyms. Singapore Primary Mathematics RightStart for the earlier years All About Spelling Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading Explode the Code Growing with Grammar MCT Island (just getting into this) Handwriting Without Tears and Getty-Dubay Italics SOTW with Activity Guide (yes, we think it's secular enough for us) R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Starting Singapore My Pals Are Here this week, looks promising Meet the Masters Prufrock Press logic books Discovery Education Streaming videos Edited June 7, 2011 by Satori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Daughter: Singapore Discovering Mathematics - love, love, love. Picture me hugging the books with hearts all circling around my head. Singapore Interactive Science for Inquiring Minds - Good and solid and pushes my daughter to think. Not simply the best secular science I've seen but one of the best science programs period. Jensen's Punctuation and Vocabulary - Dry as dust but wonderfully effective. Grammar Voyage - Yay! I get grammar, I get it. Oh, works for my daughter too.;) Getting Started With Latin - Great introduction. L'art de Lire 3 - A little too much drawing for my daughter but it's a few grade levels below her I think. We started French late. I'm sticking with it. Lingua Mater, Language Lessons from Literature - Haven't got it yet but looking forward to it. It's actually a Catholic program with lots of writings from Catholic sources but I like that. A way to introduce some ideas that have been very influential to Western thought perhaps? My First History of Canada by Donalda Dickie - start it tommorrow A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich - recall the picture with me hugging and lots of hearts. Son: Singapore Primary Mathematics - Passionate love Singapore My Pals Are Here - He can't WAIT to do science Apples and Pears and Dancing Bears - Not just secular but with characters drinking beer and a goat named Groin, just naughty enough for a 9 year old boy. Peterson Directed Handwriting - Another favourite of my mine and my son's. Lingua Mater is the only thing that's not secular. L'art de Lire has a story featuring the Bible a character's favourite book in the first book but it's not religious at all. Edited June 7, 2011 by WishboneDawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsunshine Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 All my curricula is in my sig line. My favorites are Singapore Math, FLL and SOTW. We also enjoyed WWE for the first two years -- now I incorporate narration, dictation and copywork across the curriculum. I am trying out WWW for next year, so can't really give a review yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Robyn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Apples and Pears and Dancing Bears - Not just secular but with characters drinking beer and a goat named Groin, just naughty enough for a 9 year old boy. What?! I wish I had known that before buying McRuffy. Wow. I'll be looking at Dancing Bears samples after posting. My personal favorites are not necessarily the same as the things that work best for my children, and add to that that my children have needed very different things at times. But, off the top of my head, things I have loved: MCT Island level (even though the linguist in me has seizures of disapproval from time to time) Oak Meadow K Noeo Biology 1 - minus the experiments History Odyssey level 1 Ancients and Middle Ages Key to Decimals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HistoryMom Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 DD7: Mathmatics Enhancement Programme (here), All About Spelling, Writing with Ease, Growing With Grammar, Song School Latin, Intelligo history/civics/geography, Mr. Q Science (here) DS5: Ordinary Parents' Guide to Teaching Reading, BOB books, MEP (as above), Zane Bloser handwriting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 What?! I wish I had known that before buying McRuffy. Wow. I'll be looking at Dancing Bears samples after posting. LOL! All it takes is Groin and some beer, eh? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JessieC Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 We're using Five in a Row, Math Mammoth, and Explode the Code now. I am eyeing Moving Beyond the Page as an option when dd gets to second grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nansk Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Many of the programs I like or have planned for later have already been mentioned on this thread. I'll just add a few more that we use(d) and like(d). - KISS Grammar - CSMP math - Miquon math - Blend Phonics - Word Mastery - Webster's Speller version for public schools ETA: Forum member "ondreeuh" has a huge list of secular materials in her signature. Do a Tag Search for "secular". Edited June 7, 2011 by nansk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erika Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Explode the code FLL WWE In the fall I will start LBC's World and US History (I am really looking forward to them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiegal Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 We've used and really enjoyed (my boys are 6 and 8 years old) All About Spelling Evan Moor Word Family workbooks (A, B, C, D) The above two programs have been key in helping my 6 year old learn to read. We've used lots of things from the Critical Thinking Company. Faves are/were: Dr. Dooriddles Can You Find Me? (pre-K) Math Analogies Balance Math and More Balance Benders We use Math U See as our math spine (the instructor is Christian and there is the odd reference to a Bible story sometimes), but have also used: Jump Math My logic- and riddle-loving 8 year old has also really enjoyed Mindware's "Analogy Challenges' and "Perplexors" books. For science and history we do a lot of reading, watching DVDs, and real world exploration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 These are curricula we have used and liked: Math: Right Start, Math Mammoth, MEP Phonics: Jolly Phonics/Jolly Grammar, Dancing Bears Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears, Zaner-Bloser Spelling: Apples & Pears Science: Great Explorations in Math and Science History: Story of the World Art: Atelier Multi-Subject: Oak Meadow, Moving Beyond the Page, Five in Row We haven't started the Galore Park stuff I ordered, but it looks good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoo_keeper Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I'll just list the stuff we're keeping, not what all we've tried... Singapore Math (with Chris McCullen's workbooks and thatquiz for drills) Getty Dubay Italics Growing with Grammar (and Winning with Writing is on its way!) Power Spelling (with spellingcity for review) Story of the World (with tons of supplemental library books) Real Science 4 Kids (with tons of supplemental library books) Homemade literature list Now this is going to sound silly, but our middle daughter LOVES Little Einsteins, so most of our formal art/music memorization is built around the work featured in the show (we made flashcards/soundcards in Anki) Various Critical Thinking Co workbooks for logic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellowYellow Posted June 7, 2011 Author Share Posted June 7, 2011 Thanks! I love seeing all the different curriculum you all are using. I haven't heard of a few of these. I will definitely be checking them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 We're just starting out but so far we really like: All About Spelling Explode the Code Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading Scholastic Grammar, Usage and Mechanics Math Mammoth MEP REAL Science Odyssey History Pockets Intellego Unit Studies a lot of games and activities from Scholastic books (usually bought during dollar deals) Magic Tree House books Magic School Bus books, videos, activity guides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matilda Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Here's our secular list: MCT Singapore Saxon RS4K Science Explorer Spelling Power Phonics Pathways TOG (I have to make this secular. It doesn't come that way.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 We use Oak Meadow and really love it. OMK is really sweet- laid back, gentle, Waldorf-inspired. It gets more academic in later elementary school years but still manages to stay pretty hands on and creative rather than dry and textbookish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) AAS WWE SOTW Trail Guide to World/US Geography HWOT Starfall Brain Pop Saxon Drawing With Children Ambleside Fundamental Keys ETA- Winston Grammar Edited June 7, 2011 by BLA5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 We're up to 5th grade, so the age ranges will vary: Saxon Math SOTW k12 Human Odyssey R.E.A.L. Homeschool Spanish Key to... math series Writing with Ease Explode the Code Spelling Power History Pockets Mark Kistler online art program electronic field trips to Colonial Williamsburg through Homsechool Buyer's Co-op Brainpop (getting ready to start Discovery Education Streaming) Editor in Chief Horrible Histories and Horrible Science Dick and Jane books, various leveled readers from the library Five in a Row Caesar's English I A few we tried that were horrible fits: powerspeak French---fun, but she had zero retention Growing with Grammar--she liked, but zero retention (this could be just her---nothing is really seeming to make grammar stick!:confused:) Phonics Pathways Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons Singapore Math (US and Standards)--I liked it, didn't fit well for my daughter Miquon Math--couldn't wrap my brain around this one Vocabulary Vine--I let her try to do this independently too early, I think--again, poor retention. CE is working better for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 What I use is in my siggy. I'm courting: Exploration Education Physical Science which another boardie assures me is completely secular. You can always ask here. Some websites are "coy" in their FAQ, and some don't address it at all, which, if you are marketing to homeschoolers, really hacks me off. Surely they must KNOW that some people want their egg salted and some people don't. Anyway, I've asked here many times and have never gotten rolled eyes or heavy sighs. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann@thebeach Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Here's what we've used consistently: Explode the Code Nora Gaydos Now I'm Reading series Handwriting without Tears MCP Math Growing with Grammar Writing Skills (Diana Hanbury King) Teaching Textbooks Scholastic mini books (variety of subjects) EnchantedLearning.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) We've used OPGTTR Saxon Math Spelling Power Wordly Wise Easy Grammar Shurley Grammar National Geographic's Map Essentials Runkle's World Physical Geography Science in a Nutshell Kits and lots of materials from Critical Thinking Press and Study Skills materials intended as work books for schools. Several history programs are easily editable to be secular or make have a secular focus if you are Christian but not the same denomination as the authors. SOTW is (IMHO) the most secular Biblioplan TOG Vertias Press (as a reading list) I think of Real Science 4 Kids as a secular program as written despite many claims to the contrary on the boards. IEW Writing is another program that is either secular or easily editable depending on your perspective. Edited June 7, 2011 by JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 (edited) Favorite secular resources: Story of the World Volume 1 and 2 and AG Math Mammoth 1A-2A Serl's Primary Language Lessons Getty Dubay Italics Books A-C Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding K-2 Getting To Know The World's Greatest Artists Series GTKTWG Composers series Edited June 8, 2011 by sagira Added things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Well, I'm brand-new to homeschooling so I can't say for sure which of these programs we'll stick with for the long haul, but here's what we've decided to use for our first year: -Classical House of Learning Literature (CHOLLA) that I'll be supplementing with Mosaic's Bringing Up Learners for a more in-depth look at prehistory -Writing with Ease/First Language Lessons/All About Spelling -Real Science Odyssey (Life) -Combination of Miquon and Singapore for math Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MangoMama Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 (edited) Excellent questions! I'm sure I won't be able to remember them all, but I will try... Math Singapore Math - liked it, but wasn't a good fit at the time Teaching Textbooks - like it and DragonGirl is still using it after a year Math U See - liked it, but MonkeyBoy got too distracted with the blocks and just wanted to play with them MEP for math - like it for MonkeyBoy and still using it Social Studies / History Story of the World - didn't care for it History Odyssey - didn't care for it Beautiful Feet Early American History - liked it Science R.E.A.L Science by Pandia Press - didn't care for it Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding - liked it, but we decided to go the unit study route with science Dr. Dave's Science - flipped thru it, didn't like it's approach to science, sold it Language Arts Michael Clay Thompson's Language Arts - liked it Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading - didn't care for it First Language Lessons - like it and still use it Growing With Grammar - like it and still use it Writing Strands - like it and still use it Explode the Code - wasn't a good fit for MonkeyBoy... too much writing for him Plaid Phonics - didn't like it Latin for Children Primer: A - liked it, but wasn't a good fit for DragonGirl Song School Latin - like it and still use it Latin Prep - like it and still use it Handwriting Without Tears - like it and still use it with MonkeyBoy Getty Dubay Italic Handwriting - like it and still use it with DragonGirl Unit Studies Five In a Row and Beyond Five in a Row - liked it We recently started a unit study by Intellego and I reviewed our first week on my blog. I'll definitely be buying more of these! :) Edited June 8, 2011 by MangoMama Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I have nothing to add in terms of curricula... just :seeya: to my fellow secular homeschoolers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momof165 Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 We really like: Chalkdust Math Oak Meadow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.