Halcyon Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I'll go first: 1) Ellen McHenry Science--love the idea, but just doesn't get done. We tried the Elements one and had better success with the Brain one, but DS just doesn't seem interested, particularly in Biology (this, I do not understand). 2) MCT--meh. It just wasn't a fit for us. I don't know why. Maybe I should try again with my younger, who might be more receptive. Or maybe not. 3) CPO Science: just too. much. prepwork. And the textbook? Blech. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 LOF - too scattered IEW's Fix-It grammar curriculum - plods along; too silly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Food4Thought Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. There was crying in this house over that book, and it wasn't just mine. Everyone raves about it, but I despised it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 1) AAR. I really don't see the love here...lol. 2) MUS...it isn't that MUS hasn't worked for us...it has....for my severely dyscalculic DD. I would not use it as my sole math curriculum with a typical average math student. Aside from it's very incremental approach, leaving behind grade levels in favor of single topic study...I just find it to be very shallow. It doesn't explore math as much as I like to see. 3) Apologia. Ok...we are fundie christians. But much of the content of Apologia makes me roll my eyes. The author speaks down to her reader, and includes anecdotal stories from her own life. I get that she is trying to relate to her readers, but I don't find it appropriate to read a story about the author's son getting a scar from a dog bite...not in a science textbook. Plus...the material is too in depth for elementary kiddos. IMO, of course. 4) FLL and WWE. I wanted to pull my hair out with FLL1. 40+ lessons on what a noun is. Enough said. 5) LLATL. It really is just a terrible language arts curricula, imo. Its obvious 90's datedness doesn't help. Edited to add 6) FIAR. Loved the concept...could not implement it. 7) ToG. Wow, was that an expensive mistake. Again, I loved the concept, I just couldn't implement it. It was WAY too much...and WAY too complicated. I might have liked it better if I'd had a hard copy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Explode the code. I couldn't stand the scribble drawings. Singapore Math. I liked it. It made ds cry. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 We are this family!!!! If the general consensus seems to be that XYZ program is awesome, you can bet that it's a total flop here. We seem to be too weird even for homeschoolers. Here's our list: AAS/AAR Math Mammoth Singapore Standards with HIG IEW FLL OPGTR Edited to Add: FIAR (forgot about that one!) Mystery of History Heart of Dakota (flop for me as a teacher, but I still love the idea behind the program) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Winston Grammar; all ABeka (e.g., ABeka for every subject, every year, just like school :zombiechase: ), 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 FIAR - just didn't care for it at all. Singapore Math - overcomplicates concepts that are really very simple. Math Mammoth - I don't mind this program, but it drove DD crazy. IEW - just didn't feel the love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 my big problem with lof is that it is just waaay too easy to be considered a stand-alone for most kids. It's a fun supplement for some, but I had a friend who raved that her 7th grader was doing Algebra and her mom said she was "done" in 2 months. Methinks the topic is broader than that. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strange_girl Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Singapore math. Which includes Math in Focus. Used both. Ditched both. Apologia elementary science. All our eyes just glazed over. Science in the Beginning. Better for 4-5th graders than early elementary, I think. It was too much for us in 2nd. I'm sure there are others, but it can't think of them at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 That I can think of at the moment: 100EZ lessons (daughter cried), Phonics Pathways (daughter cried), Miquon Math (couldn't wrap my head around it), Singapore Math (daughter cried), Life of Fred (not enough practice, but fun supplement), Michael Clay Thompson (too involved and I needed more support for writing--ended up outsourcing), Powerglide French (fun but no retention, perhaps because of lack of interest on her part in elementary), focusing an entire year on one science in elementary, trying to do foreign language at home, and basically anything Christian-specific (we did try a couple of things but they required too much modification to be worth it). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Latin? :lol: I'm with you on Ellen McHenry's science. I just don't see the fantastic there. It's ok, but not fantastic. I liked LOF at first, but quickly fell off that bandwagon. AoPS texts - I tried and tried and tried to like them, but, I just don't. Neither dd or I learn well from them. Hmm, what else? BFSU for science, but I think I'm in the majority when I say I liked the idea but the reality didn't match up! WWS for a 5th grader. FLL for anyone. :zombie: (oo, when did we get a zombie emoticon?) Oh yeah! Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings. Love the books, but the analysis is overkill. That's all I got at the moment. I'm sure if I looked back to see what I've sold over the last couple of years I'd think of more. :leaving: 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy_of_4 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Singapore math Math mammoth FLL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deerforest Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I never use any overtly religious curriculum so I know there are others that folks love that would not work. These are just ones we tried and failed. LOF, DD thought it was too weird and I have no desire to have political, religious, and social opinions during math FLL, too much repetition, too slow, too scripted CAP W&R, just not for us at all. DD begged me to stop. Still need to sell them. Spalding AAS, didn't move fast enough BFSU, love the concept but don't have time to pull it together Singapore, didn't work for us at all when she was younger...used bits of 5A/B but still not good fit Sassafras Science, weak science, poor plot, grammatical errors, couldn't finish Math Mammoth, too much going on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Over the past couple decades I have often come back and again used things I thought I didn't like so much when I was younger. All curricula is starting to become a big blur to me, with few extreme feelings of passion and disgust. Everything is becoming a shade of grey. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Mystery of History was not for us. Explode the Code- I couldn't figure out what the stupid pictures meant! Singapore Science AAS- it was fine at first but by the 3rd level it was dragging and we ditched it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Let's see.... Mystery of History was not in-depth enough English From the Roots Up - B.O.R.I.N.G R&S English - overkill with Latin and just too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LoF - kids didn't like the samples Jacobs Geometry 2nd Edition - borrowed plenty of times from library and kids don't like the style. Prof Edward Burger videos - sends my kids to sleep. He has a monotone voice I guess because even I feel sleepy watching his videos on the samples at iBook, Thinkwell and CTY FLL and WWE - kids didn't like it after reading through at B&N. SOTW - read the library copies and they rather read exam study guides. The AP world history study guide was a easier read for them. They like their history books concise and watch documentaries for content. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 my big problem with lof is that it is just waaay too easy to be considered a stand-alone for most kids. It's a fun supplement for some, but I had a friend who raved that her 7th grader was doing Algebra and her mom said she was "done" in 2 months. Methinks the topic is broader than that. Oh yeah. I almost forgot about LOF. Definitely did NOT feel it was a stand alone - despite the author e-mailing back and forth with me assuring me that it was. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 MFW /Sonlight / really, any type of curriculum like this Abeka math/ saxon math Apologia science, elementary and general science ( except astronomy) too wordy and looong Truth in Science ( big bust) wha? don't even know how to make it work. Queens language lessons,..just didn't work for us/ not enough. (5 days of copy work in a row for language..:/ ) Serls language lessons Hake grammar ( my dd called it "hate" grammar lol ) Personally, I really love what we are doing right now ;) I LOVE math u see. SOTW is awesome... ;) Sweet, simple, easy,...no big guide book to tons of books with a chapter here, a chapter there. EIW made my 12 year old daughter write some awesome reports!! Love! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 In no particular order... Life of Fred Saxon Jacobs Geometry 3rd ed Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings WWE WWS IEW Winston Grammar Growing with Grammar Spelling Workout Spelling Power R.E.A.L Science RS4K SOTW 3 & 4 100 EZ Lessons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Science in the Beginning - I wanted to love this one. I still thinks it's a good program, but ... ugh. Just not getting done at all. Singapore Math. Over-complicates math and I find its cult following tiresome. Those are the two that stand out in my mind. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 (edited) . Edited September 5, 2023 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrygal Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 WWE and FLL Phonics Pathways MFW Miquon - I couldn't figure out what I was suppose to teach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Megawords - I thought it was going to be more independent than it turned out to be & when I spent the teacher-time on it that it needed, we didn't see any improvement at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 MCT WWS Heart of Dakota Math Mammoth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FO4UR Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOF - I really thought we'd love that one. Nope. Van Cleave Science - I'm just too lazy to gather stuff. MM - ugh! I had dreams of never buying elem. math again. Over the past couple decades I have often come back and again used things I thought I didn't like so much when I was younger. All curricula is starting to become a big blur to me, with few extreme feelings of passion and disgust. Everything is becoming a shade of grey. You need a break, my friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Wizards Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Lightning Literature MCT WWS RS4K I know there's more, but this is just what I can think of at the moment. ETA: RS Math NL Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waa510 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOF - Admittedly, Dd loved Fred. But it was more the wacko story than the actual math instruction. It was just too bizarre to me. I let her read it on her own but I can't see this as a kid's only math :confused1: IEW- No. Just not working for us at all. DVD curriculum is annoying. I guess I just prefer to teach it myself 100EZ lessons, RSO anything, some aspects of MCT, Mr. Q's Earth and Life, ToG, GWG, Hake Grammar, MEP, Saxon Math, MUS. Wow. I kind of want to cry over the amount of money that was wasted!! :crying: I could probably buy a nice car with my failed curric stash 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetandSimple Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Dolciani Pre-Algebra-- not enough hand-holding for me to teach it properly, I guess. That translated into my son and I working through the problems together, which turned him into a kid who couldn't do any math unless I was sitting right next to him. Eeek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 FIAR - so much work, so little benefit LOF - story-loving DD loved Fred wanted to know what happened next, not take her turn to "play" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Crazy 4 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 MCT WWS WWE AAR Truth in Science christian kids explore Math Mammoth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Lets see: Pretty much all of SWB's stuff. Her style just doesn't fit us. Though TWTM is my homeschooling bible and I recommend her curriculum to all new homeschoolers who ask. LoF Story of Us AAS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 AoPS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I've been pretty lucky with what we use and we don't supplement much or curriculum hop, so there haven't been too many real flops. But these stand out as fails for us over the years: Khan Academy: DS loathes this with a burning passion Bravewriter: We needed a highly scaffolded writing program. This one looks fun for natural writers, though. MBtP: Just no on all levels. DS got nothing out of this at all. RSO Chemistry. Bored my science lover to near tears. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Mr. Q Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstenhill Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Of local homeschoolers I know, I feel like it would be MFW/HOD...I feel like at least 75% of the people I know use one of those programs and love them. (Ok, maybe not really 75%, but it feels like it). I so cannot use that kind of curriculum. Of things people here seem to like, I guess it would be WWE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g1234 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea3829 Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOF - Admittedly, Dd loved Fred. But it was more the wacko story than the actual math instruction. It was just too bizarre to me. I let her read it on her own but I can't see this as a kid's only math :confused1: IEW- No. Just not working for us at all. DVD curriculum is annoying. I guess I just prefer to teach it myself 100EZ lessons, RSO anything, some aspects of MCT, Mr. Q's Earth and Life, ToG, GWG, Hake Grammar, MEP, Saxon Math, MUS. Wow. I kind of want to cry over the amount of money that was wasted!! :crying: I could probably buy a nice car with my failed curric stash Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyinMD Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Teaching Textbooks- I loved the concept but both of my kids that used it didn't seem to retain what they had done. Saxon- I have tried it 3 times and just not a good fit for our family TOG- It was way too much. I like the concept but it was too much for me to pull together. MFW- I've used 4 different programs from them. I like some of it but overall realized it wasn't for us. FIAR- I like so much about this program but could never really implement it. I finally realized I just prefer to read the kids the books. LLATL- I've owned 4 different levels of this and not completed a single one. I really hated it but obviously it took me awhile to give up on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOF as main programme - it worked fine as a supplement. Trail guide to World Geography - the questions and answers just didn't seem to hang together properly, even though I spent a lot on shipping the specified text books over. Sonlight LA 3 - their big grammar year. It might have changed now, but Calvin and I were looking at each other after a while, trying to work out why we were spending so much time learning this stuff, when he was an intuitive writer who just needed a little guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shinyhappypeople Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Oh, I forgot about Saxon! Actually I liked Saxon but DD... oy. She'd love to go to a brick-and-mortar school but has stated that she will NOT go to the local private school strictly because they use Saxon math. That's how much she hated it. It went WAY too fast for her, and the tight spiral left her dizzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Logic of English (it made the kids and I want to put ice picks thru our temples) Vancleave's science experiment books (idiotic and simplistic, just so idiotic) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOF -- I thought DD might appreciate the story aspect and humor. Nope. Too silly. She asked for her straightforward Saxon back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
go_go_gadget Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 We're still using some MCT stuff because I haven't found anything better, but his writing makes my skin crawl right off my body. We just use it for grammar, vocabulary, and poetry, since I'll saw off my own right arm before I use his writing to teach my kids writing. We were going to use MUS Algebra as pre-algebra as some have done here, but when I compared it to AoPS Pre-A, there was no contest. I sold the MUS. I loved RS B and started out loving C, but it was too slow very quickly. I don't think we've had any other flops, though. Things tend to flop for us during the planning stages (recreational researcher here). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 LOE IEW - Anything McHenry - I just don't understand the love at all. Wierd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HS Mom in NC Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 100 EZL IEW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LilBearsMama Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 FIARRS4K Focus On Elementary Chemistry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sorbie Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 IEW LTOW Memoria Press Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loowit Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Singapore math Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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