books/ curriculum you use and enjoy

[fahawk]

I have been using Oak Meadow curric.. as a guide.. partly because it HELPS deal with all our state requirements and paperwork...which I dont like dealing with.

but honestly, we are getting bored with this..
alot of the same... read/ write about what you read..

esp in history and science...

I looked on line..and MOST all curric. I found were Christian / Caltholic ..whcih for us ( Native Amer/ pagan..isnt what we want..)

So yeah,, I could just find books to ad and use..which I might end up doing
..but any ideas- esp for around 5th-7th grade ages.

[Treegoddess]

I've used OakMeadow too, but it seems kind of too *simple* sometimes...I love how it's Earthbased though. :)

We are eclectic homeschoolers, so I just use a bunch of stuff, other than Oakmeadow, I've never bought a boxed curriculum. They are mostly xian anyway.

When the kids were younger, I used the "What Your ___th Grader Needs to Know" series as a guide and just found info for whatever section we were reading through. I have also used Enchantedlearning.com for a LOT of free printouts, etc.

[Ceres]

Are you involved with ongoing stuff with the local homeschooling group? Ours does a series of science workshops at the university that teach different parts of science - chemistry, physics, biology. The workshops are taught by the students, so its kinda cool for the kids to meet these young people that are really enthusiatic about their pet subject. Maybe there is something similar in your area? Here si the link to ours if you want to request the university in your area start a similar program: http://www.eng.uwo.ca/dw/workshops.htm

We read a lot of magazines (borrowed from the library) like Smithsonian, Popular mechanics, National Geographic and Discover for science topics. I dont require them to write about what they read, though, that would just be annoying for them and for me :lol: You also might try googling kitchen science and see what sort of experiments come up.

For history, we usually approach it by way of fiction first. Or truth that reads as good as fiction. Most kids love to read about King Henry VIII killing off superfluous wives and that leads to all sorts of discussion - about england's relations with the church, the power of the RC church in history, about their involvement with European countries, about how women lived as chattel to men, about nepotism, about monarchies..... gods, it goes on and on. There are many topics like this that interest kids too. When we read the Indian In The Cupboard series, we talked about aboriginal rights, aboriginal culture, the impact of European settlers to America....you get the idea.

Tell me their interests and I can probably help you find fiction to get them into history.

[Lyrien]

My 11 year old is doing American history this year, as well as following along with SoTW with my younger child.

We are using A History of Us (http://www.amazon.com/History-US-10-Vol-Set/dp/0195152603) for American History and it's a good two years worth of study. You can buy the books as a set or individually. This is not written from a Xtian perspective, but from a historical one. I love these books.

Story of the World is probably a bit young for middle school, but DD is doing it along side DS because she really likes it. SotW is not necessarily Xtian, but the Xtian stories are told as truth, while the other myths are just myths. Since I read the story aloud, I make changes where they are needed. :hehehehe:

We are not currently using any formal science study beyond classes at a co-op and simple kitchen experiments. We did use k12 science for 4th grade and it was a VERY good and quite advanced program. Although, it is quite pricy.

I've heard great things about noeo science (http://www.noeoscience.com/), but have not used them personally. I think they are for younger students though.

Also, I know many people that have used the Young Scientists Club (http://www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/) for experiments. I had planned to use this for this year, but got sidetracked. Basically they send you the stuff and instructions for a science experiment every so often (you say when). I think each one is 15 dollars.

You can also subscribe to Robert Krampf (http://www.krampf.com/) for free science experiments.

Hope this helps

[Cat]

I'm considering Oak Meadow K for next year--I want to try a boxed curriculum because I'm tired of feeling so lost and second guessing myself, and I like what I've gleaned of their approach.

Clonlara and Laurel Springs are secular programs. Clonlara might be high school only, I don't really recall.

I use Singapore for math and science, and I've really liked it. So has dd, which counts for a lot.

Goddess Moon Circles Academy is pagan (Im guessing Wiccan), BUT I was unimpressed with their course offerings and requirements. YMMV.

Evan Moor and Usborne are both secular publishers. I've heard good things about Evan Moor's history packets, but I've never seen one.

I ordered a package from Winter Promise (a Christian supplier), and thought it would be easy to secularize, but it was totally inappropriate for my 5 year old so I set it aside. Maybe in a few years. I'm told Konos can be secularized too.

Isaac Asimov has many educational books out on math, history and science, but no projects along with them.

Calvert and K12 are boxed curricula that are intensive and very expensive. I suggest you not chose the free K12 option even if you qualify, as it allows them to control your homeschool.

Butch has lists of links to secular resources here: http://www.angelfire.com/or/mtdewbydo/

You can talk to additional secular HSers here:
http://thedenimjumper.com/

[Alora]

Do you use Oak Meadow because you like Waldorf education? If so:

Go to yahoo groups and type key word Waldorf.

Bob and Nancy's bookstore has an excellent selection.

For a Waldorf curric I love Golden Beetle/ Spiritual Syllabus. However this is just a how to guide. Roy Wilkonsin's guides are also great. They are the same thing. Waldorf was never meant to be a curric. Teaching is an art. Designing your educational program is possible, fun, and makes your homeschool program individualized and tailored to your child's needs.

Donna Simmons has some wonderful materials too.

Also, read about Unschooling. I'm a mix between the two.

[Faol-chù]

In addition to the Saxon Math, we use Write Shop writing curriculum for middle school students.

If you've tried the Saxon curriculum and liked it, you would probably like the Write Shoe curriculum. It is sort of modeled on the Saxon curriculum for its incremental method. It it is not a grammar book, but instead, it is focused on expanding writing vocabulary, style, and audience.
Yes, they have a website!

Beannachdan

[TheWanderer]

well, to preface this: i am catholic and raising dd as such.
we use catholic heritage curricula. i like it because it schedules in a free day each week, plus we are done around noon. they are very focused on child lead education and not making homeschooling "school at home".