This fall, a local private school will be using homeschool curriculum for its science courses! Truly, we’ve come a long way.
In the past, apparently, it was very difficult for homeschoolers to get curriculum. Any curriculum. Since then a huge effort has gone into providing homeschoolers with everything they could wish to educate their children. Some of these products have, unfortunately, been flops but the vast majority are useful. Some are not only useful, but excellent. Consider, for example, most of Cathy Duffy’s 100 Top Picks. And now, some homeschool products are being sought after by schools.
It makes sense. People interested in educating children will develop better curriculum than people interested in pushing the latest educational or social engineering theories.
We are blessed to have access to wonderful resources for educating our children. I’ve been taking them for granted, but now I give thanks for all those who have put effort, time, and money into developing God-honouring, child-friendly curriculum. May God be with them and bless them.
For more about homeschooling see Thirsty Thursday: Satisfying our Kids’ Thirst for Knowledge One Sip at a Time.
I'm curious. What science curriculum they are using in the private school?
It's the elementary Apologia science, a wonderful program. Good content, beautiful books, interesting to students, no busy work, great for indepth learning.
Annie Kate
I am SO thankful for the wonderful resources out there for homeschoolers! I think now the challenge is figuring out which of the wonderful options to choose. A dear friend and mentor told me to not stress too much about finding the "perfect curriculum" in a subject, but to trust that most things will work. That has proven true. The rare duds have been replaced without too much pain and sorrow.
That's so true, Laraba! I think it was Ruth Beechick who said that any curriculum will work as long as mom does.
Mind you, I like curriculum that doesn't make me work too hard, since we have 5 busy learners at our house.
Annie Kate
I'm interested to know, which were the flops or duds that you referred to? I know that certain resources dont work with some children and work well with others (sometimes within the same family), but are they any resources/curricula that have been universally disliked?
I think the only ones that are total flops for almost everyone are the ones that are full of mistakes. Fortunately, those either disappear or are improved. Most products will work for at least some people. But, before you buy a product, check out reviews on it, and study it as closely as possible. You don't want to spend money on something that won't work for your family.
Annie Kate