JenniferB Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Please name your #1 most favorite curriculum EVER! I'll start. Mine is Teaching the Classics. I just discovered it this year and every lesson is like gold. We use this once a week with 5, 8, and 9 year olds and sometimes our friends who are ages 8 and 11. We are learning literary devices, story arc elements and how to find conflict, plot and theme in a story. We are doing the Kindergarten picture book list from Reading Roadmsps. The lessons are deep and meaningful and the highlight of the week. Please tell me your #1 program and why you love it so much. I would love to have such high quality lessons for the rest of our subjects. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 "Roadmaps" above - I'm sorry, I'm on my phone and can't edit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer WI Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I don't know that I can choose just one, but my current crush is MCT language arts. We are really enjoying it. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I also don't think I can pick just one, but the thing I roam the internets talking up and probably believe in most strongly right now is Bravewriter. As I have probably said now a million times, even if the whole "lifestyle" doesn't work for someone, I think pretty much every homeschooler could get something out of reading The Writer's Jungle. But gee, I really want to say Miquon too. Ds started part of Purple yesterday (he still has some Yellow to finish up too) and I got all sad! No! No! Don't let it come to an end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 All About Spelling I don't think I've ever learned so much about the English language and my oldest can spell amazingly well when he stops to think about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 I also don't think I can pick just one, but the thing I roam the internets talking up and probably believe in most strongly right now is Bravewriter. As I have probably said now a million times, even if the whole "lifestyle" doesn't work for someone, I think pretty much every homeschooler could get something out of reading The Writer's Jungle. I just started using their Arrow and Boomerang guides. This may be another keeper, but I haven't used them long enough to say for sure. So far so good though. I might check out Writer's Jungle next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Honestly, Story of the World reigns in this house. We just adore it. It's well written, detailed, and offers such an abundance of activities and reading suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Art of Problem Solving hands down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Right now...SSL! With the DVD, I get to sit back and be a "discipula", too. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ItoLina Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I am really new to this, but so far the thing that has been most consistently wonderful for us is SSRW. My son loves it and it just works so well for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifesadream83 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Math In Focus hands down is the best math curriculum IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Latin Prep from Galore Park. Actually, most Galore Park products. I'm not so fond of their middle school maths, but it does the job. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Word Smith Apprentice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My choice: IEW Kids' favorite: Story of the World Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2squared Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 For us thus far, RightStart math. It keeps math fun and enjoyable even when the kids are being stretched veeerrry far. It works well,for my gifted math learner and my bright, but not mathy kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lily_Grace Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I'll let you know when I stop buying and butchering curriculum. :laugh: Seriously, Moving Beyond The Page has come the closest. We used their lit units individually instead of buying the whole package, but oh, my...I don't think I did anything to them. They had everything I wanted: book study, grammar/literature element study, learning how to write, and all wrapped up in neat hands on projects that encouraged my kid to learn. He can still tell you all about falcons and specific mountain ranges he studied through MBTP. I only wish they went higher than age 14 right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We love SOTW, especially the first 3 volumes. Singapore CWP and my kids would absolutely say Draw Squad. Their skills have improved so much and they loooove the book. We are getting them a bunch more for christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Story or the World. We finished it last year. I really miss it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Explode the Code for sure! DD hated reading and learning to read with a passion last year. And then we found Explode the Code and she loves it! She laughs at the silly sentences and is proud of herself when she figures out the right answers. It's not too much writing and gives her confidence. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Oh, this is too hard! Virtually impossible. I asked everyone. Is that fair? :D DS6: Life of Fred DD: Show Me a Story (book, not curriculum; a part of our writing workshop, tailor made for artsy kids) DS9: AoPS Me: Our homemade inquiry science. Aside from that, it's a tie between MCTLA and IEW-TWSS (funny as that may sound). DH: SOTW & Story of Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in LV Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 We're only in our second year (first grade), so I don't have a lot of experience. However, the biggest hit in our house has been Life of Fred. After finishing Level 1 of MEP, my son decided he no longer "liked doing math". We took a break from MEP & broke out Life of Fred. He even asks to read it on weekends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Story of the World and Beast Academy. Can't choose between them. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chava_Raizel Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Over ten years of homeschooling, I think our favorites are: Story of the World Teaching Textbooks Sequential Spelling Elemental Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I also don't know that I can choose just one. This year our favs so far for my youngest are: Home Art Studio Adventures in America Teaching Textbooks 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Story of the World- hands down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BugsMama Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Logic of English- Especially the new foundations program. It takes something I am terrible at, and breaks it down into easy to use lessons, full of engaging, fun activities and games. Spelling and learning to read could not be easier. And- Beast Academy- it's charming and challenging, and gets rid of all the math battles in our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aurelia Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 My personal favorite is Galore Park Junior English. DD8 likes Classical Conversations, particularly the VP cards she has to memorize, which we do as a co-op with another family. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted December 5, 2012 Author Share Posted December 5, 2012 Right now...SSL! With the DVD, I get to sit back and be a "discipula", too. :laugh: Please tell me what SSL is. I looked up the abbreviation sticky doc and I don't see it listed there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 This is hard. We're actually having a really good year this year. But I think over the past 5 yrs., I'd have to go with Rightstart Math used in combination with Math Mammoth. (The things I was frustrated w/ each on their own was solved when I combined them.) ;) (like how I got to answer two but count it as one? :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Please tell me what SSL is. I looked up the abbreviation sticky doc and I don't see it listed there. Song School Latin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedmom4 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Hmm, this is an interesting but difficult task! I've been homeschooling for 13 years and during that time I have had many different favorites. Right now my list would be: HOD-Preparing Landry Academy classes CLE English and Math AAS I'm still looking for a great writing program for my boys. I'll be checking into some of the favorites mentioned in this thread. Thanks, Elise in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 MCT would be my top. It is so flexible and adaptive. I am doing Island with my 6 and 8 year olds and I never though a 6 year old would be able to look at any sentence and point out direct/indirect objects, and fully understand object/subject pronouns. It's like impossible not to learn from it. I was totally in love with IEW. Well actually I still am. But I am finding it too formulaic for DS :crying: I am still trying to accept it and the possibility of going back to WWE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I always giggle when we are asked to come up with our 1 favorite something, b/c I know at least half of us will be unable to list just one thing!!! I'm having the same problem, I can't do it! I keep going around in circles between choosing the things that I think teach most effectively (WWS, Math Mammoth), and the things I enjoy teaching the most (MCT, homemade science), and the things dd has had the most fun with (LOF, Gale Carson Levine's creative writing book). I asked dd, and told her to pick just one thing, and she picked WP's Equine Science, though she said that MP's Entomology is right behind that . . . guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehogs4 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 WWE / WWS, SOTW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Singapore Primary Math (1st - 5th with IP & CWP) But Galore Park (History, English, French, & Science) is a close second. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kandty Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I'm enjoying this thread! I'm finding it hard to answer too. Of course, not because I have more than one favorite, but really I can't think of one favorite. We tolerate a lot of stuff and slightly like the rest of it. I guess I could say RightStart Math. We started it late and had we used it from the beginning I'm sure I would LOVE it. We run into problems once in a while because it is just so different from other programs we have used. It is working great for us this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fraidycat Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Please tell me what SSL is. I looked up the abbreviation sticky doc and I don't see it listed there. Song School Latin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lots of boys Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 For us it would definitly be Math Mammoth!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txmommyofboys Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Kids and I agree: Life of Fred! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFM Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I, also, haven't been at this very long. However, when asked, my son immediately said, "SOTW!!". It's a huge hit here, it's engaging, thorough, and easy to build off of as well. We really enjoy it. My close second would be Singapore's Primary Mathematics oh and WWE. These are the things we have done from the beginning without changing. They just click with us. So. 1 - SOTW 2 - WWE (We even get a lot of our read alouds from the snippets in WWE, love this thing.) 3 - Singapore's Primary Mathematics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 I just hopped on this board for the first time in a while and answered two questions about SL. That's what caught my eye, because that's always been the best part of homeschooling for me and my kids. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StartingOver Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 Can't pick one. Writing With Ease Story of the World Singapore Math Elemental Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheres Toto Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Math Mammoth Explode the Code Those are the ones I found easiest to do consistently and have the best results for the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ewe Mama Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 CLE math for Joy, Simon, and Theodore McRuffy phonics for Faith Alvin likes McRuffy Math best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy to monkeys Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 CLE math Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 As in complete boxed? None. Otherwise... Math Modern Curriculum Press Lials BCM and Introductory Algebra Jacobs Geometry English Little stories for little folks (catholic alpha phonics) combined with ETC (I don't use the 1/2 books) Primary language lessons Intermediate language lessons Write with the best vol 1 and 2 Lightening lit 7 and 8 DUKE Once and Future King garlic press advanced guides Literary lessons from lord of the rings Kolbe 9-12 An extensive book list History SotW vol 1 and 2 catholic textbook publishing texts grades 5 - 8 Seton press history worktexts (NOT the carrol books!) Glencoe Spevogal and CLEP and extensive booklist and Teaching Company DVDs Science Real Science 4 Kids Apologia or Abeka pending kid learning style and needs Lab equipment, field trips, getting dirty, and YouTube Religion Catechism and Kolbe Memory work Classically Catholic Memory Harp and Laurel Wreath Favorite Poems Old and New Cursive and Spelling Our Lady of Victory Or Natural Speller Maps, Charts and Graphs Grammar Daily Grams and a foreign language In 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th grade I add a grammar program. Seton, Our Lady of Victory and/or Daily Grams Foreign Language In person. Just about any in person experience is better than anything online or DVD IME. Heavens knows I tried just about everything on the market not in person. :/ Art Art with a Purpose Draw Write Now Drawing through History (I'd LOVE to see a science version and more history editions!!!) God and the History of Art I feel like I'm missing something... Can't remember what... But this is my core program after many a trial and error and wayward diversion over the years. My biggest regrets are: I simply cannot afford foreign language lessons as young as I would like. Say kindergarten! As it is, I can barely scrape funds together for high school foreign language. I think it is a travesty that foreign language isn't taught easier much much earlier in America. I simply cannot afford quality music instruction. In home schooling circles it seems to either be the great but crazy expensive studios/instructors or the almost embarrassing no one really excels bc its all fun instructors. I don't think I've done badly per se. They love music. But they aren't challenged and pushed and given the high bar expectation I'd like. (and yes, I know that can go negative too.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLDebbie Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 My farvorite is Barton Reading and Spelling. It has worked wonders with my dyslexic son and he actually likes to read now. That, to me, makes it worth it's weight in gold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prissygirls Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I am loving WWE and FLL. I do not know what took me so long to find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenniferB Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 As in complete boxed? No, not boxed, just your one most favorite curriculum ever, like the one I mentioned, Teaching the Classics. This is a literature curriculum, and I look forward to our once a week lessons. Each and every lesson has been like gold to us, like a bowl of hearty, healthy chicken soup, like the best lesson ever. If you have an experience like this with a particular program/curriculum resource, please share that experience here. What lessons do you look forward to teaching? What lessons do you get the most out of, holistically? That's what I mean by my question. This year I took up a theme, which was to use this Bible verse, "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The theme/verse is what I use to direct our lessons, "What can we find in this lesson that is true or noble or just or ...?" Using Teaching the Classics we have *easily* been able to find at least one, but almost always each and every one of these things in our literature studies. Without Teaching the Classics, this task would not be as easily accomplished. The true, noble, just, etc. is usually kind of hard to find (for me) but Teaching the Classics made it super easy, and fun, and eye opening, altogether nourishing for all of us. If you have a curriculum that you just love in a deep way, like I love Teaching the Classics, please share it. That is what I'm asking. :D I hope that makes sense, and I hope to glean some gems from this thread. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Violet Crown Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Favorites others have mentioned: AoPS Galore Park Jr English Favorites nobody else uses: Sound and Sense (poetry) Artes Latinae My Catholic Faith Standard Service Arithmetics Unfindable favorites: Scribner School Editions (literature) Open University Discovering Science Favorites everybody uses: Handwriting Without Tears Miquon TOPS (science) 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.