Here are some of the resources that I use for homeschooling:
This will be an ongoing list, I will add things as we go along! We are currently doing Grade One and Junior Kindergarten. We are eclectic homeschoolers which means that we use pick and chose between different curriculums for different subjects, according to what suits our family best!
Reading
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons - I LOVE this book. Be warned though that some children may not like some of the repitition. I tried it with E and decided to stop after a few lessons, because it was such a struggle, we then started again a few months later and took our time with it- at 5 1/2 years old he is probably now reading at a Grade 3 level. We just read Charlotte’s Web together and he read most of it himself! G is going through the book right now, we just took a one month break from it because he needed it. I would HIGHLY recommend this program, great price for what you get!
Christian Light Publications – Reading 100 I Wonder - We have done 2 of the 5 lightunits in this program already. I really like some aspects of it and somewhat dislike other aspects. There are some really great things in this curriculum, so overall I am very happy with it. This is not a learning to read program, it is about reading and comprehending the stories, observation and learning some English language terms etc. It consists of a reader, a workbook and a teacher’s guide for $20US.
Starfall – This is a free web based program. It ranges from alphabet activities to full stories. Lots of fun activities for kids. G started to use this when he was only 3 1/2. The kids love to be able to use the computer and the games are silly and fun. Highly recommended.
Writing
Math
Math U See - Primer - This is a great program for introducing math. It comes with a video in the Teacher’s Guide that I loved, because I would watch it with E and he could see Steve Demme (founder) do the presentation. Then we would work on the worksheets. E didn’t really need the manipulatives, although that is the greatest asset to the program, especially for hands on learners. We used this for E’s Kindergarten year and have started it for G’s Junior Kindergarten and will move at a much slower pace, because he is younger (he loves math though!). Math U See uses a mastery approach.
Christian Light Education – Mathematics 100 - E has done four lessons in this program so far, but we really love it! He asks to do Math everyday! It is a spiral approach, which means there is a lot of review. The workbooks are fun. The extras like the flash cards, counting chart, clock and calendar book make this a really complete program. We haven’t started the calendar book yet, but it looks like a lot of fun!
Science
Christian Light Education – Science 100 – Very good basic information. Learn about animal habitats, senses, colours, fuel and energy and a lot more.
Social Studies
Christian Light Publications – Social Studies 100 – God-based learning about family and surroundings. Not too much to comment on here, except that E really likes to do the workbooks.
Language Arts
First Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind - Good basic lessons, quick and easy and all laid out for you! Language Arts is not one of my favourite subjects, but this book is great and I love not having to plan ahead. It covers Grades One and Two, although we started it in mid Kindergarten.
Spelling
All About Spelling - We have not started this program yet, but it looks great! It is all planned out for you and moves at the child’s pace. I have heard great things about it, but I will update when we see how it works for us.
Art
Kinderart Artbook – We started this last year and have had fun doing the different art projects. Kids learn about primary colours, warm and cool colours, etc. Free (plus cost of supplies).
Preschool/Kindergarten
KidSparkz – I really enjoy using this preschool curriculum. I plan to use this for G’s Junior Kindergarten year. I have used a lot of random parts in the past for E and G. There is a thorough daily plan. Things are done in themes that are often seasonal. There is a summer curriculum, as well. Lots of hands on ideas, worksheets, flash cards etc. Also, many of the pictures that you need to print are coloured with air brush type colour, so it takes less ink.
