This week marks the first Wednesday of the month, which always means extra fun at Works for Me Wednesday, because that means that there is a special theme!
The theme for this week’s WFMW is the Backwards Theme. That means that instead of telling you what works for us, we’re going to ask what works for you!
So, we would love to know…
What curricula has worked best for you for homeschooling? Or, maybe just a certain book, software, manipulative, etc. that you couldn’t do without.
Please share these in the comments. And, we would love to compile them into a single blog posting. Then, as long as we can find your blog address in the comments section, we will link to you in that post.
Thanks! We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!
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Angie can be found writing on faith, family, and household management at Many Little Blessings
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{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I have a list of links we use regularly in the sidebar of my homeschool blog. Most of them are free. http://www.makingmemaries.blogspot.com
I have links to what we used last year on my left sidebar. We’re sticking with the same curriculums this year, too.
I love Miquon Math. LOVE it!
Also Story of the World for history is just right for 2-3rd grade.
I reviewed a couple of homeschooling books here:
Homeschool Book Reviews
The INTERNET is my #1 homeschooling resource.
We enjoyed using the Prairie Primer when my girls were in elementary school. Of everything we used, they still have vivid memories of lessons from it.
I homeschool five kids, one with Tourettes and two with Reactive Attachment Disorder. So, I have to have something very flexible, yet I want it to be really good, too!
I’m now crazy, crazy, CRAZY about Sonlight. I teach all four of my oldest together with History/Geography and Science. I utilize my library instead of buying all of the books from the publisher.
It’s an ideal solution for so many different needs and learning styles.
The other item about which I would like to RAVE is Sequential Spelling. It is a completely different approach to spelling (immediate correction – no weekly spelling tests – no grades). It teaches thoroughly without adding in the major stresses that are a booger for special needs kids.
I agree with Christine about the Sequential Spelling. Genius is a terrible speller, and has always hated traditional spelling and tests in school. She looks forward to spelling each day, with the Sequential Spelling material. We are definitely buying that one again next year.
When we homeschooled (3/5th grades) loved “How ___ Works” series {i.e. “How Math Works?) for projects and loved a lot of the books at Amblesideonline.org What I wouldn’t buy again? Classical Writing Aesop. We LOVED Beautiful Feet’s Geography with the Hollins books! Still favorites!
A big vote for Apologia’s elementary level stuff – we did the astronomy one last year and it was awesome. Lots of good information, wonderful, bright, and colourful photos, links on their websites (you get a password with each book) to extra info….fun projects, the works. It’s written to the child in a way that older kids can enjoy reading it on their own. We had a great time using it… the only thing is that it *can* get a bit monotonous doing the same subject all year, so perhaps using it along with other science topics would work best for some. :-)
Some of my favorites over the years are: Mystery of History(we’ve completed volumes I and II), History for Little Pilgrims, Apologia Science(we’ve done General, Physical, and just started Biology), I LOVE Rod and Staff for Grammar and BOOKS, BOOKS, and more BOOKS. I encourage new homeschoolers to read a ton…to your children, listen to them read, and have the read on their own every day.
I adore My Father’s World! I started with it in Kindergarten am still using it in 2nd grade.
Oak Meadow. The early grades are gentle, using good stories and a lot of art to teach. As it progresses up in grade level, the difficulty progresses too, turning art into hands-on projects (and some art!), still using good books. In the higher grades it seems to really encourage a child/teen to think.
I use several curriculums, depending on the subject, but the one I absolutely LOVE is Math U See. ;-) It has not only been wonderful for the nephew, but I have learned math all over again, the way I SHOULD have been taught for my learning style. If I had Math U See when I was in school maybe I would not have failed Algebra. ;-)
Wow, lots of good picks in these comments..I’ve used such an eclectic mix over the years but one thing I couldn’t be without is:
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons…
I also love DiscipleLand for Bible curriculum…
This year I’m using k12 curriculum and I’m liking it so far..but we’ll see after all is said and done…has anyone ever used it before??
I use Christian Liberty. They help me keep up with testing and grading. I use this for my 5th grader. For my 3 year old I just pull from the web and books I can find in local stores. This works great for us.
Handwriting without Tears! It really saved my son and I some frustration!
Oh, and DEFINITELY agree with Wendydarling about Math-U-See. I personally have learned a lot from Steve Demme!!
Last year, for Kindergarten we used Sing, Spell, Read & Write, Math-U-See, and supplemented with good books, plenty of field trips, and opportunities to learn.
This year, for Pre-K and 1st grade we've added Sonlight. I just love it. Great books are such a blessing. We also have trips to the symphony and the theatre planned.
HogwartsHomeschool.wordpress.com is BRILLIANT! :)