Traditional K-12 Curriculum

[JoyfulLife]

I finally decided to try a standardized test for our kids this year.  Needless to say, they did not perform well.  I completely understand the pros and cons of such tests, so I do take them with a grain of salt.  However, I did notice a big gap between what we learned this year and what was covered in the test at their grade level.  This will be our third year homeschooling. I'm feeling really weary just playing 'catch up' on areas that were not covered by the curriculum we chose.  So could anybody recommend a solid and thorough curriculum that will cover everything that is supposed to per grade level? I've been looking at CLE, LIFEPACS, SOS, Rod and Staff, etc.  I love everything about classical education and we will continue to do our best to follow most of it, but I honestly do not want to keep catching up and filling gaps every year!!!

 

 

 

Thank you!!

 

[HS Mom in NC]

You should specify which gaps in which subjects for which grades.  Not everyone who provides a Classical Education in its many variations has children testing poorly on standardized tests.
 

"Traditional" curriculum isn't a term with a widely accepted definition, so it's hard for anyone to answer your question. What exactly do you mean by traditional?

[Lang Syne Boardie]

I finally decided to try a standardized test for our kids this year.  Needless to say, they did not perform well.  I completely understand the pros and cons of such tests, so I do take them with a grain of salt.  However, I did notice a big gap between what we learned this year and what was covered in the test at their grade level.  This will be our third year homeschooling. I'm feeling really weary just playing 'catch up' on areas that were not covered by the curriculum we chose.  So could anybody recommend a solid and thorough curriculum that will cover everything that is supposed to per grade level? I've been looking at CLE, LIFEPACS, SOS, Rod and Staff, etc.  I love everything about classical education and we will continue to do our best to follow most of it, but I honestly do not want to keep catching up and filling gaps every year!!!

 

 

 

Thank you!!

 

We've never had gaps, but then again we've never taken standardized tests. :p

 

The first test of that kind that my children take ever is the PSAT or the ACT, in high school. My kids tend to score very high on that first attempt at testing, partly because they're naturally good at taking tests and don't even need to practice (this isn't a virtue, it's just a trait), but also partly because my homeschool is a very good school (she said humbly). I know that many other hs'ers on these forums have had similar outcomes.

 

So we can't pin this on classical education. You'll have to figure out a few things:

 

1. If you accept that the school curriculum is the arbiter of what is "supposed to be covered per grade level," why not send the kids to school?

 

2. If at least part of the reason why not to send them is that you want something different (and presumably better) for them, academically, then why does it matter that they failed to learn lessons they were not taught? The question is, did they succeed in learning the lessons you were trying to teach?

 

3. Are you teaching the right things, to hit the goals that YOU have for YOUR children? What are the gaps you have noticed, that matter according to what you're trying to do and not just according to school philosophies or standards? The more specific you are, the more helpful we can be with our curriculum suggestions.

Edited June 11, 2016 by Tibbie Dunbar