Our library wants curriculum suggestions

[Alicia64]

Would you believe that our head librarian and youth librarian invited a group of homeschooling parents to share what we want/need from the library??

 

They're going for a grant and wanted to know what we needed!!

 

Do you have anything to suggest?

 

Ideas for curriculum? I suggested SOTW. How many should I suggest they order since this takes so long to get through?

 

Other cool curriculum ideas?

 

Book suggestions on the topic of homeschooling?

 

Thanks!!

 

Alicia

[Blossom'sGirl]

The new Well Trained Mind

[Aurelia]

I wish my library would carry all of the FIAR and SL titles. Maybe some foreign language stuff, like Song School Latin or La Clase Divertida.

 

I also wish they had a copy of LCC to glance through, and other books about different homeschooling philosophies (CM, unit study, Classical, Neoclassical, etc).

[Ali in OR]

I would love for them to have all of the books used in many popular curricula. Give them lists/catalogs for FIAR, Sonlight, VP, Biblioplan, TOG, WP, the books in the SOTW AGs, etc. and have them get as many of the books as they can. Science books used in Noeo, the One Small Square series, the Let's Read and Find Out series, etc. would be good. DVDs such as Liberty's Kids, Magic School Bus, and Drive Thru history would be good. I'm sure there are others. I would love to have courses from The Teaching Company available. My library has several, but I would love more.

 

I would second having the new WTM book. I liked Karen Andreola's book on the CM method (Charlotte Mason Companion?? can't remember the name) and I think Cathy Duffy's 100 best Homeschool Curriculum or whatever it's called is fantastic for beginners.

 

That's a start.

[Matryoshka]

Ooo! My library just asked me this and I got them to order the entire "The World in Ancient Times" and "The Medieval and Modern World" series, which are excellent books and really expensive to buy new! I also had them get the American Heritage student dictionary and student thesaurus, because the ones they had weren't very good. I have them at home, but when we were doing research at the library it was frustrating.

 

I tried to talk them into Life of Fred - I've been meaning bring them by and do a hard sell but I forgot...

 

I also tried to suggest some of the algebra texts that homsechoolers like to use - Jacob's, Lial's, Foerster's, but they didn't want to buy textbooks.

[stripe]

I think good books about many of the "theories" (CM, WTM, John Holt, etc), those "how to" books, books about learning styles, those "standards" type books some people seem to like (what your 5th grader needs to know) information about your state's homeschooling laws (may be just a file, not a book), lots of videos about science and those Weston Woods type , a robust collection of children's fiction including the "classics" and award winners (and books on CD as well), books about activities and crafts, and popular reference works. Singapore Math. Math practice / drill books. Narrative works of history and "living" science books.

 

Re textbooks -- my library has some textbooks. If they don't want them, then please include other methods of learning algebra, calculus, chemistry, and so on.

 

Also test review books.

[mom31257]

Don't be afraid to give them a big list. My sister's library in TN got a grant for the same purpose and received $12,000. Hopefully they will receive a large amount as well.

 

Here's a link to a math story series that I just love. Our library in TN had them all. The library here has very few. They are stories to teach lots of math concepts, very funny and useful.

http://www.stuartjmurphy.com/

[Chris in VA]

Joy Hakim's history series and her history of science series

Books from AO

ITA Sonlight lists

See if you can give her some of the religious books--those are about impossible to find at a public library.

[Amy in KS]

Audio cd's of the SOTW and audio sonlight books!

[sagira]

Joy Hakim's history series and her history of science series

Books from AO

ITA Sonlight lists

See if you can give her some of the religious books--those are about impossible to find at a public library.

 

:iagree:

 

Of course Story of the World! All the volumes! Maybe even the Activity Guides! :tongue_smilie:

 

And also:

 

Calvert curriculum

Living Books Curriculum would be nice.. :)

Noeo Science

I also agree with WinterPromise

 

Books:

 

When Children Love to Learn (if they don't have it already)

Charlotte Mason's Original Home Learning Series (at least the Home Education one)

For the Children's Sake

A Charlotte Mason Companion

Teaching Children: A curriculum guide to what Children need to know through grade six

 

Can you smell my bias? Actually, my library carries Teaching Children and one of Charlotte Mason's books, Home Education.

 

Oh, I almost forgot: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding by Dr. Bernard Nebel

and

Tapestry of Learning

Edited April 28, 2009 by sagira
Added BFSU

[King Alfred Academy]

Oooooo...is it the whole Sac. library organization? If so, guess I better pay those fines so I can check stuff out again! :glare:

 

How about Audio stuff...

Anything by Jim Hodges and Jim Weiss (especially the Henty recordings)

Your Story Hour Audio

Twin Sister Productions

 

Videos...

Drive Thru History

Liberty's Kids Complete collection

 

I'll post more as I think of them. :001_smile:

 

ETA: Latin Centered Curriculum and Living Memory by Andrew Campbell

Edited April 28, 2009 by King Alfred Academy

[LunaLee]

Hey Alicia,

 

Which library? I've got a list somewhere around here I'd love to let them have.

[Emilylou]

I second the Jim Weiss Audio books, and any other audio books from the AO lists.

 

SOTW Audio, D'aulaire Biographies (our inta library loan ones are so old and beat up)

 

Books from Beautiful Feet Book lists too....

 

I would love to do the shopping for the library. :)

[Lori in MS]

Schlessinger dvds, especially the ones for History and science

 

Rosetta stone for multiple languages, but particularly Spanish and French.

 

Unabridged audiobooks.

[teamturner]

I don't think anyone has mentioned Phonics Pathways, 100 Easy Lessons, and all the other great "teach your child to read" type books. Those would be great to have at a library to review and decide which one you wanted to buy. Also all of SWB's books.

[Brindee]

I was going to suggest Rosetta Stone, Berlitz and/or Visual Spanish.

 

For Elementary Chemistry: "Fizz, Bubble & Flash" by Anita Brandolini, "Usborne Internet-Linked Mysteries & Marvels of Science"

[stripe]

Normally libraries seem to have readers among the fiction for new readers, but make sure they do (including those ever popular BOB books). Also -- DK has some nice non-fiction readers that may appeal more to boys, who tend to be a bit less kean on fiction compared to girls ("Truck Trouble" and "Rockets and Spaceships" are two that I've seen).

 

Art resources. Maybe collections of prints (poster-like instead of in a bound volume)? Wide classical CD collection, if they don't already, but located in children's area, not just in the adult section. Biographies of artists and musicians. Books that are not gigantic that have good art information (rather than the 500 page, 25 lb coffee table book that only the very strong can pick up).

 

Also I recently checked out a book from my library called "The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book" which has lots of ideas for games that actually provide a workout for very small groups, as an alternative to playing with a full, regulation sized team. It could work for older kids (it's not so much for the very young). And other books about games and physical activity. There are also some books on cooperative games, such as by the Luvmours' "Everybody Wins!" (nice last name, eh?).

[Mothersweets]

 

Art resources. Maybe collections of prints (poster-like instead of in a bound volume)? Wide classical CD collection, if they don't already, but located in children's area, not just in the adult section. Biographies of artists and musicians. Books that are not gigantic that have good art information (rather than the 500 page, 25 lb coffee table book that only the very strong can pick up).

 

Great suggestion!

[Audrey]

Lots of good ideas already. As a librarian, I would say ask for everything you can. If they're going for a grant, they want to be able to show a big demand, so a big list is good.

 

That said, I'm fairly certain they would not be interested in buying textbooks (very expensive, and constantly being "reprinted"). Other things that they likely wouldn't acquire include consumable workbook-type things, and Teacher's Manuals/Guides from specific programs (e.g. Sonlight, Winter Promise, Tapestry of Grace or similar schedules/TMs/guides).

 

You would stand a good shot at having them acquire sets or series of books (like the Hakim books, for ex.).

 

Also consider asking about magazine subscriptions -- not just homeschooling magazines, but think about some really good, interesting ones for kids or that would enhance your homeschooling. I got a subscription for our library to "Learning Through History" magazine which was a great purchase decision!

[Alana in Canada]

Winston Churchill's A History of the English Speaking Peoples.

 

It seems to have gone out of print--and then back into print--That's exactly the sort of thing a library should have. (I t seems ours has a rather unfortunate policy of getting rid of oop books.)

 

Have you asked on the High school board? You'll be wishing you had in a few years, I bet, lol!

[Janice in NJ]

These are $$$, but there are a ton of great sets that will boost any high school syllabus and help the momma's self education process.

 

Most of their materials are geared toward adults, not high-school students. They do offer some courses at the high-school level; I have not viewed all of them so I can't recommend them. I can recommend the chemistry and the geometry courses. Both well done. Note: I would not consider the chem/geometry full courses. We use them as supplements to a standard textbook course.

 

http://www.teach12.com

 

I would start with these:

(This is just a starting point. There are so many great sets to cover the humanities.)

 

Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition

History of World Literature

 

Great Minds of the Western Intellectual Tradition

 

Foundations of Western Civilization I & II

History of the United States

 

Economics

 

Joy of Science

Understanding the Universe

Nature of Earth

 

Art Across the Ages

How to Listen to and Understand Great Music

 

How to Become a SuperStar Student

 

There are so many others. Some of our favorite lectures:

 

Thomas Noble

Elizabeth Vandiver

Bob Brier

Rufus Fears

Steven L. Goldman

Michael Starbird

Edward Burger

 

This company has expanded our tent-pegs more than any other.

Have fun!

 

Peace,

Janice

 

Enjoy your little people

Enjoy your journey

[Jen in PA]

Schlessinger dvds, especially the ones for History and science

 

 

I didn't even know these existed a couple of years ago -- now they are how I introduce new subjects to my little visual learner. I recommend them constantly, but only recently discovered how much they cost! They would make a great addition to any library system that doesn't already own them.