happyWImom Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I know I probably won't end up doing it-but just in case, I wanted to see what all of your pics would be & why? Sonlight is what I always gravitate to, because of the living books aspect, but are there other programs that use living books that are all-in-one? Including k-12 type things, on-line academy's? So-my pic would be Sonlight because of the living books, that they include everything but you can have choices in some things, and because they have missionary stories and the Christian bent (despite recent stuff going on). What's yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 It's interesting. I never think of SL as an "all-in-one" curriculum or "box" curriculum. SL is the program I've chosen to use for history/literature throughout most of my homeschooling. It's what piqued in me a desire to homeschool in the first place. It's also the heart of our homeschool and the one year I set aside for a bit ~ choosing instead to follow a strictly WTM approach to history ~ was a let-down. I have zero interest in going the other routes you mentioned ~ online academy, for example. We're far too independent for that. But SL is a wonderful backbone for our studies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TraceyS/FL Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 For a variety of reason we moved to BJU Homesat last year for a majority of our stuff. It turns out to have been a great move given the upheaval our life will have this year (divorce). I'd be doing Tapesty of Grace if i could, but like Colleen, i don't think of Sonlight as "boxed" either. We have Core 6 and Core 4 LA - in case it matters if i have actually used it! LOL!! I'm hoping to be able to add some TOG to my boxed stuff in the future, and i'll always throw a list of SL readers at DD to pick up at the library. But, for this phase in our life, BJU/Homesat is what we need to be doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 MFW, WP or Sonlight would top my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanne in ABQ Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I would use Sonlight. I've looked at for years, and will probably use the history for high school The recent hype just makes me more attracted to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Probably My Father's World or Winter Promise, although Sonlight would be on the list. Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I've tried Calvert for K, 1, 4 & 6 and could NEVER stick to it BUT I like it better overall than others I've used. I like parts of many publishers curricula so I combine Calvert, SL, AO, VP, R&S, CLE and others. Right now we're using SL 6 history with AO's Our Island Story and VP cards; Calvert literature, science & art history, R&S English 6 and CLE math 6. I'm SO glad I get to pick & choose! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I would use Sonlight. I've used Sonlight. My kids are now in public school, and I find myself looking at the SL stuff and thinking, "but we could still do this..." LOVE Sonlight. Despite JH. LOL. Ria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudoMom Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 If I had to, I'd do K12. I'm not interested in a boxed curriculum at all, and doing so would mean that something big was going on, so I'd need accountability and structure that K12would afford. I can also get it free by going through the public charter in our state, and I imagine that if something was big enough to push me to a box curriculum the free aspect would be important. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Winterpromise, but I don't consider them school in a box. Same for AO, Robinson Curriculum, A2 and Sonlight. They are all part of my "back-up plan" At this point, for a true School in a box, it would be between curriculumservices.com, CLE or BJU. But there are several that I never looked at that I would definitely explore before using one of these... Seascape and oakmeadow come to mind as contenders. Edited January 31, 2009 by Lovedtodeath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I would try to find the best secular classical curriculum I could find. Luckily I haven't had to research them so I don't know which one I'd pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 If I wanted to keep it traditional I would go with Rod and Staff. Their constant review makes it feel like my kids are actually learning something. The other one I would go with is Sonlight (complete opposite). I love literature, and I think it is a good curriculum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshyne Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I would use MFW. I use TOG currently, but I still find myself perusing the MFW packages from time to time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I know I probably won't end up doing it-but just in case, I wanted to see what all of your pics would be & why? Sonlight is what I always gravitate to, because of the living books aspect, but are there other programs that use living books that are all-in-one? Including k-12 type things, on-line academy's? So-my pic would be Sonlight because of the living books, that they include everything but you can have choices in some things, and because they have missionary stories and the Christian bent (despite recent stuff going on). What's yours? I love Oak Meadow, although I use a different math and I supplement here and there and add Latin and French... and... well, I'm a tweaker, I guess! :lol: But, still... if I have only one homeschooling regret, it is that I wasn't able to use Oak Meadow from the start. Another curriculum that impresses the heck out of me, but with a different approach than Oak Meadow, is Calvert. I believe Ria used Calvert and every time she would answer someone's queries about it, I really, really wanted it. :D However, it is heavy on the American history and not as easily adaptable as is Oak Meadow. That won't be an issue for you if you are American, but we're not, and don't want to spend entire years on Pilgrims and colonies and such, IYKWIM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perry Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I'm using K12 this year, but it was a mistake. I won't do it again. We might use Sonlight next year, though I'd prefer something secular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 If I had to, I'd use K12. I like that you can mix and match the levels of the different subjects and that they generally have a similar philosophy about education that I do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) BJU is the only boxed curriculum I would use. ETA: I would also use Covenant Home, with some of the modifications they allow. Edited January 31, 2009 by angela in ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyinTN Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I use all A Beka with the DVD option. This is our 3rd child to use it and it's worked beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 SL or Oak Meadow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pamela H in Texas Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Each of my kids used a full curriculum for 7th grade. DD used Abeka DvD (a combo of 7th-9th grades) and DS used K12. Really, a lot would depend on the reasons why and which kid. I can see using Sonlight or Calvert or K12 even Alpha Omega/SOS. But other than that one year, I've put things together myself and it has always been best. Recently, I almost took on my friend's Kindy kiddo and couldn't pick a full curriculum for him either. I generally don't consider ANY boxed curriculum best IF I'm capable of homeschooling independently adequately. And though I will NEVER be able to do MY ideal, that is even more true of trying to do that. But sometimes "boxed" is nice when we have certain needs. For some reason, that fell at 7th grade for each of my kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 If I couldn't teach right now, I'd use Time4Learning, but I have young kids who can't work independently. If they were older (5th and up) I'd choose either Calvert or K12, probably Calvert because we've used the K and liked it. SL and WP don't really strike me as curriculum "in a box" because although they're open and go, you do have to spend quite a bit of time reading and discussing with kids. They only save some planning time (depending on your tweakishness ;)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in Neverland Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 Probably Robinson or BJU Homesat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just a Jen in Mississippi Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I've used Sonlight for three years and love it! I've never used it in it's entirety (just Bible, history, and literature), but if I needed to, I would. I've had good luck recouping a good deal of my money from it each year too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 I am currently using Calvert 6 with 7 math and my sixth grader says she really likes Calvert and can we continue next year? (Yes) My older one uses Spanish 2 with BJU and I would probably use BJU for high school. The only reason for me to use box curriculum is to make it easier for me or because a child wants it. Sonlight is way too much work for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragons in the flower bed Posted January 31, 2009 Share Posted January 31, 2009 (edited) Probably, I'd use Great Books Academy (or Anglicum), but I'm not 100% certain. It seems to include the books I'd like my kids to dissect (although it includes many, many more than I'd make the kids study in a year). It has all of the stuff I'd do in a lifestyle of learning way if I wasn't in a situation that required me to have a boxed curriculum, like music and philosophy. Registration includes subscription fees to the OED online, which would keep my language geek kid very happy. I'd probably not do the whole language arts segment though. Alternatively, maybe Living Books Curriculum. That has a better LA program, I think, more like what we do now. Neither one offers a math I'd want to use, though. Edited January 31, 2009 by dragons in the flower bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imeverywoman Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2boys Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I already use Sonlight. If something happened - health or financial crisis - I would choose K12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Probably Sonlight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I don't even know. We currently use TOG and love the living book aspect of the curriculum, but it is not an all-in-one. I would consider Sonlight and Calvert. I would also want to research Robinson, Winter Promise, and a few others I have seen mentioned here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 It's interesting. I never think of SL as an "all-in-one" curriculum or "box" curriculum. SL is the program I've chosen to use for history/literature throughout most of my homeschooling. It's what piqued in me a desire to homeschool in the first place. It's also the heart of our homeschool and the one year I set aside for a bit ~ choosing instead to follow a strictly WTM approach to history ~ was a let-down. I have zero interest in going the other routes you mentioned ~ online academy, for example. We're far too independent for that. But SL is a wonderful backbone for our studies. Ditto. I don't get it when I see SL listed as a boxed curriculum, that is more Calvert and the like to me. I don't order all subjects from SL, I just use them for history, so I don't get everything in one box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I would want to look into Pearblossom too. I forgot that one earlier. And time4learning, because it seems it would be so easy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I would want to look into Pearblossom too. Wow, there's one I've never heard of. Link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 http://seascapecenter.com/ Had you heard of this one? and this one? http://www.curriculumservices.com/ Here is Pearblossom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie Laurie Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 http://seascapecenter.com/ Had you heard of this one? and this one? http://www.curriculumservices.com/ Here is Pearblossom Curriculum Services is the only one I had heard of out of those, and I'd never really looked at it. Interesting. I'm trying to find online foreign language classes for my high schooler, but those seemed to offer only the entire package/grade level. I might see what Oak Meadow or VP has online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 Hmmm... I know seascape has individual classes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I would use Oak Meadow. I use bits and pieces of it now. If for some reason I could no longer teach them myself, I would probably have the children enrolled in Oak Meadow using the online/teacher services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaReese Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 http://seascapecenter.com/ Had you heard of this one? This one looks interesting. Has anyone heard of them or used them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 I would probably use k12. Maybe Oak Meadow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momofkhm Posted February 1, 2009 Share Posted February 1, 2009 It's interesting. I never think of SL as an "all-in-one" curriculum or "box" curriculum. SL is the program I've chosen to use for history/literature throughout most of my homeschooling. It's what piqued in me a desire to homeschool in the first place. The reason I didn't do Sonlight when we began kids is that I would need 2 cores to cover the age range of my kids. So how do you do it with your age range? How many cores do you use? Sincerely asked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 http://www.osbeckeducational.org/CatalogofCourses.html Here is another one. They are talking about these in a yahoo group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 for elementary Abeka. I don't think there is a boxed I would like for middle to highschool. I love saxon math, Apologia science so a boxed would not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 OakMeadow is the only boxed curriculum that I would use. I used it for my youngest last year and I really, really liked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 School in a box? CLASS. I just can't wrap my head around either ABeka or BJUP dvds/satellite, at least not for dc under high school age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jzsnow Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 We have chosen to go with Veritas Press. I wanted a classical education with reformed theology. Sonlight is next on my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Katia Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Oak Meadow would be my top choice. Next in line would be Calvert and/or Sonlight. Maybe NARHS for high school as second choice after Oak Meadow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich with Kids Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Loving Switched-on-Schoolhouse here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2read Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 K-5 would be Heart of Dakota or Moving Beyond the Page depending on the child 6 & 7 would be k12 8th and following would be either Seton or Angelicum.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StaceyinLA Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I'd probably use Switched on Schoolhouse just for the sheer convenience with the grading and stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oakblossoms Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 If I had to use a boxed curriculum it would be because I went back to school again. I would probably use Switched on Schoolhouse (I think that's it) for my oldest (who has Aspergers and loves the computer). I would get him the most inexpensive laptop I could find, so he didn't have to share. We homeschooled before while I was in school (my husband was in school or working, as well) and it could get really messy, really fast. You will notice from other posts that my older two children are a bit behind in subjects. We never really had help from anyone else and we just did the best we could. We all did enjoy the challenge though! My younger two would be doing the least possible with WTM. I would definitely move closer to my SIL and niece and make it impossible for them to say no to helping out. I would rather spend my extra money on them, then something like Sonlight or Abeka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisN in NY Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 If I *had* to, off the top of my head, I'd go with Hewlitt Homeschool's packages. They're the most like what I already do. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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