Advice - New to homeschooling - Curriculum info

[ESG82]

New to homeschooling, quick and to the point. Amount of info you can find for resources and books can be overwhelming.

 

Kid is going into the 6th has been it public school till this year.

 

Looking at using Time4Learning, LIFEPACS, and The Great Courses Plus. Haven't bought any of this yet, just through research this is kind of what I've come up with.

 

Time4Learning

Math

Science

Social Studies

Vocabulary

 

Alpha Omega Publications LIFEPACS

LIFEPAC 6th Grade Bible Set

LIFEPAC 6th Grade Language Arts Set

 

The Great Courses Plus

Extra supplemental information and learning

 

Does this look pretty good for 6th grade curriculum? Any recommendations or changes?

[Kat w]

On the Lifepacs, my girls didn't like them. I don't remember why, was quite awhile back.

 

Anything Great Books I would say would definitely be worthwhile.

 

Time4learning, I have zero experience.

Starting off with a preplanned curriculum is for sure the way to go. Then, you can have more time to research based on what you see going on at home. Do they like it? Is there something better or different to accomplish this goal?

 

Usually when kids come home from PS. You find holes in their learning. Things you thought they knew..or assumed they knew...you find out, they don't.

 

Starting a list of those holes as you find them, write them in a notebook , then look for curriculum/book to correct that.

 

Homeschooling is fun and exciting :) glad you took the plunge. It's...fun!

Edited August 6, 2016 by Kat w

[featherhead]

For the language arts I suggest looking at CLE rather than LifePacs. They are similar, but CLE is so much nicer to use. Also, make sure your child takes placement tests for math and language arts. Homeschool materials do not often follow what children learn in public school. Math and language arts are subjects where children can't just jump ahead.

[SnMomof7]

For Lifepacs, there is also Monarch, which is like an online option that does most of the grading. Throwing it out there since you had t4l on your list.

[OneStepAtATime]

I agree, instead of Time for Learning, you might consider Monarch or Switched on Schoolhouse.  For math specifically then something like Teaching Textbooks or even CLE if you are o.k. with a workbook format.  And I also agree that CLE language arts would probably work better than Lifepacs.  

 

As mentioned above, do placement tests.  And don't get discouraged if the student places in a lower grade level.  Most programs can be accelerated.  Students tend to do much better, though, if they are placed where they can fill in holes and function successfully.

 

CLE:   https://www.clp.org/store/browse/31_curriculum

 

Teaching Textbooks:  http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/

 

Alpha Omega Publications:  Monarch or Switched on Schoolhouse might be good options -  https://www.aop.com/curriculum

 

Don't forget to focus on things that your student has interest in.  Find their passion and run with it.  Good luck!  (FWIW, DD started homeschooling for 6th grade, too).

[ESG82]

I agree, instead of Time for Learning, you might consider Monarch or Switched on Schoolhouse.  For math specifically then something like Teaching Textbooks or even CLE if you are o.k. with a workbook format.  And I also agree that CLE language arts would probably work better than Lifepacs.  

 

As mentioned above, do placement tests.  And don't get discouraged if the student places in a lower grade level.  Most programs can be accelerated.  Students tend to do much better, though, if they are placed where they can fill in holes and function successfully.

 

CLE:   https://www.clp.org/store/browse/31_curriculum

 

Teaching Textbooks:  http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/

 

Alpha Omega Publications:  Monarch or Switched on Schoolhouse might be good options -  https://www.aop.com/curriculum

 

Don't forget to focus on things that your student has interest in.  Find their passion and run with it.  Good luck!  (FWIW, DD started homeschooling for 6th grade, too).

 

I looked a lot between Monarch and Time4Learning over the last week, decided on Time4Learning based on reviews and pricing.

 

CLE I haven't really looked at, but do they not have complete kits for subjects? From the way it looks I have to buy Light Unit Set, Answer Key Set, Language Arts 600 - Teacher's Guide, and On Teaching Writing individually? Im scared id miss a book sense I don't see complete subject kits.