Back to Homeschool Blog Hop - Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschool Curriculum - So many choices are available to homeschoolers.  And the number of choices seems to grow every year.  While it can be a blessing to have so many choices available, it can also be a curse, in that it can sometimes be overwhelming to make final decisions.

Which learning style fits my child?  How much does this program cost?  What grade level does this book teach at?  What prerequisites are there to be able to understand this program?  Which series allows for multi-age teaching?   These questions and more go through our minds as we narrow down our choices for the new school year.

If you read my post from Monday on Homeschool Methods, then you might remember that my teaching style has changed and progressed over the years.  Going from the complete package deal to a pieced together "melting pot" of what works best for us.

I will share some of the choices we have made for this year and little bit of why we made these choices.  I am currently homeschooling a daughter for 8th grade and a daughter for 5th grade, and as you will notice, I don't always pick the same publisher for the same subject for both daughters.  That is just one of the many beauties of homeschooling.  I am free to pick and choose.  I don't have to use the same publisher for all subjects for one daughter.  And I don't have to use the same publisher for a subject with one daughter that I may use with the other daughter.

MATH: 

Aleks.com (5th grade) - I am hooked on Aleks.com.  We tried it a while back to review for the TOS Homeschool Crew and we have been using it ever since.  I like that it assesses my daughter on a regular basis, re-evaluating where she is at.  My daughter answers all questions online and Aleks checks them for me.  Explanations and examples are readily available, right on the current webpage.  Best part?  My daughter can't progress until she truly gets it.  With a regular textbook, it is easy to get ahead of yourself, to move on through a book without really getting a good grasp on the subject and topics.  But with Aleks, it makes you consistently get the answers correct on any given topic, before allowing you to move on.  It gives you the option of practicing the topic a few more times, even after you seem to have the hang of it.

Here is my review for this program. 


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Teaching Textbooks (8th grade) - This has been a good fit for my my daughter.  It is a little like having a personal tutor.  The instructor gives you a lesson on the CD-Rom.  CD-Roms also include solutions to the problems, to help explain any issues you might have with a problem.  Some of the Teaching Textbooks even allow your student to answer the problems on the computer, for automated grading.
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GRAMMAR:

Easy Grammar (both daughters) - We have been using Easy Grammar for about 3 years now.  It has worked great for both of my daughters.  It is a Charlotte Mason style, with a little of a spiral style.  It is just keeps building on learned skills, starting with the basis of the prepositional phrase.  This series has broken grammar down into bite-size chunks, as my daughters are truly getting it.

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HISTORY:

Beautiful Feet (both daughters) - Traditional textbooks for history have not been good fits for our family.  They briefly touch on a subject and move on, without spending much time on any particular event or person.  I discovered a few years back, living books work so much better for us.  We pick a topic and dive in.  We read books and magazine articles. We watch movies and documentaries.  We visit museums.  This is a new learning style for us, breaking away from the textbook.  But I love it and it works.  A friend recently recommended Beautiful Feet to us and after looking into it, I decided it could be a great asset to us, helping me pull all the resources together.  I am excited to try it out.

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WRITING:

Lightning Literature (8th grade) - This is another item we recently reviewed for the TOS Homeschool Crew.  Turns out a few of my friends have already been using it for years and really like it.  We used it briefly for our review, and I was impressed with what I have seen so far.  We plan to continue on with it in the next school year.  I like the selection of reading, mixing it up with shorter and longer selections.  The workbook contains a nice variety of worksheets.  The writing assignments give choices, to help make it more interesting for the student.  It is a Charlotte Mason style, which I am slowing working into.

Here is my review for this book.
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Write Shop (5th grade) - Again this is a Crew item that I was impressed with.  This curriculum is very hands on.  Incorporating so many learning styles and so much creativity.  It is a delight.  I love the concept of the "sloppy copy".  For the rough draft, you encourage your child to just right.  Don't worry about mistakes;  just right.  It is your "sloppy copy".  Then when you do the edits, you start by highlighting some of the things your child did right, before pointing out anything they need to correct.  How cool is that?

Here is my review for this book.

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These are just some of the books we will be using this coming school year.  Some, I have already been using and have been impressed with; others I have checked into and am very excited to try it.  This coming year, like all the years before, will be an adventurel.  We will gain knowledge from the curriculum; but, we will also gain wisdom and experience from our choices, which we can put to use next year when we begin planning again.  It is a journey.

Zane Education Videos - A Review

Pricing ranges from FREE to a recurring GOLD membership of $17.99/month.

You can also try the one-time $5 topic taster, to get an idea of whether or not this is a good fit for your family.

You can learn more about your options here.


Great Deal Alert:
Zane Education is offering a 35% discount on any annual Gold, Silver, or Bronze Membership subscription through the month of August 2012. 
Promotion Code: ZE822HSM
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Age range of videos:  Elementary grades through Adult
Offering online educational video and online quizzes.
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Contact Information  (Contact page)

ZANE EDUCATION
Tel: +1.650.488-8204
 
30 Rewi Street
Torbay
Auckland 0630
New Zealand
Tel: +64.9.473 2280

Be sure to check out their very active FaceBook page.
Zane's Facebook Page

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So just what is Zane Education all about? (in their words)

Zane's online visual learning solution includes 7 key components:

1. The subtitled videos that teach the information - often called the curriculum.
2. The quizzes that test - but also continue the learning process.
3. The lesson plans - for lesson preparation and lesson activities.
4. The video study tools - that enables students to fully explore each topic.
5. The Study Centre - enables student to track progress and provides additional resources (re-opening soon - new features currently being added)
6. The very affordable family subscription - remains the same irrelevant of number of children.
7. Zane's Christian Home Learning Guide - a 420-page publication written by Marshall Foster and Ron Ball that explains how all topics studied conform to Biblical teaching.

*Subjects include: Science & Biology, Social Studies (History & Geography), English (Literature & Writing), Math (free), Art, Music, Religious Studies, Health, Library Skills, Social Sciences.



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An Awesome Free Bonus, even with the FREE membership is the Christian Home Learning Guide.

Christian Home Learning Guides (in their words)

"Zane Education provides a Guide for Christian Homeschoolers demonstrating how to use the learning resources provided on this website to achieve the best educational outcome for the student.
Zane also provides the Christian Home Learning Guide, a 420-page publication specially written for us by Marshall Foster and Ron Ball. This book is a comprehensive publication that reviews all of the content and material introduced in our videos and demonstrates how it conforms to Biblical teachings and beliefs. If you are a Christian Homeschool family then this book will provide you with the confirmation you need to know that your child will not be receiving any information that does not conform to Christian teachings and beliefs.
This Guide can be downloaded free of cost on our Downloads page by those people that have completed a free Registration for a free Basic Membership."

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THE MISSING LINK

A really neat and unique feature of Zane Education is something that they call THE MISSING LINK.  This means using subtitles and closed captioning on their videos, except the math videos which come from a different company.  Using subtitles helps with a variety of learning styles.  Your child can watch the video, listen to the video, and if they choose...read along with the video.  It is helpful for not only basic learning, but also for ESL and special-needs students. I, personally, enjoy reading along.  It helps me process the information better.

You can read more about the research here.


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So what do you get?

• 384 topics
• 1544 videos
• 260 quizzes
• Lesson Plans

Includes the following subjects:  Art, Biology, Geography, Health, History, Library Skills, Literature, Math, Music, Religious Studies, Science, and Social Science.  Skill levels range from Elementary Grades up through Adult.

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Some other great resources included in Zane's Study Centre:

• World Fact Book
• Video Glossary
• Zane Dictionary
• Zane Thesaurus
• Zane Encyclopedia
• Catalogs and Downloads

 

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So what did we think about it?

First I recommend that you start with the "Getting Started Guide" and the "User Guide".

Second, I recommend that you read the Christian Home Learning Guide.  It is FREE with membership and a whopping 424 pages.  It is a wealth of information, a unit study lover's dream.  The guide covers a timeline of history from a Christian perspective, including review questions, related scriptures, suggested readings, and a glossary. The guide lists the relevant videos to correlate with the topics.


The guide also helps you navigate the videos, mentioning whether a video contains references to old earth, evolution, etc.  Here is an interesting quote from the guide...

                "At times, you will encounter secular interpretations of events in the Learning Videos. There is, for example, a clear, evolutionary bias in the material in the Biological Sciences series. Do not be alarmed! It is our conviction that students should know and understand  positions outside of evangelical Christianity. We are confident that their faith will be stronger when they know both sides and understand why we believe the biblical view of the world is correct both intellectually and spiritually."

You will have to decide for your family how to handle videos such as these.  You may choose to avoid these videos or you may choose to watch them, while discussing why you agree or disagree with certain statements.  I chose to view them and discuss them, explaining to my daughters that they can expect to meet and interact with many people who share these beliefs; but also explaining what we believe and why.  That way when they are exposed to these sort of conversations in the future, it won't come as a total shock and they will be more prepared with an answer as to why they believe what they believe.


In addition to this guide, the website is also a wealth of information.  This site covers so many topics.  Without the guide, your hardest job might be deciding just where to start.  The videos are arranged by topic and by age level.  The videos are accompanied by online quizzes, with automated grading.  In addition to the videos and quizzes, Zane Education is jam-packed full of resources...for homeschool, for Christian education, for special needs, for ESL, and more and more.

I am impressed with this site with its videos and quizzes, with its guides and resources. 

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REMEMBER:
Zane Education is offering a 35% discount on any annual Gold, Silver, or Bronze Membership subscription through the month of August 2012. 
Promotion Code: ZE822HSM

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 Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.

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Back to Homeschool Blog Hop - Homeschool Methods

Homeschool Methods - Each homeschool is unique in its own way.  Different styles, methods, curricula, schedules.  Today's blog hop is about the variety of methods homeschoolers use.  Complete packages deals, Traditional Textbooks, Classical, Unit Studies, Unschooling, Charlotte Mason.

When I first began homeschooling, I bought the whole package deal.  Complete sets from online sites for the first two years.  I was knew to homeschooling and didn't feel very confident.  So I wanted a curriculum that would help me to "get it right."  This approach was best for me as a beginner.  It helped me to gain self-confidence.

With a few years of experience, I began to piece together curricula from various publishers.  Finding what I could used and then ordering the rest that I needed new.  This worked better for us.  It saved a ton of money buying used at homeschool book sales, yard sales, and online auctions.  It also helped to find books and programs that were a better fit for my children.  Company A's math book might work great for my daughter; but Company B's grammar book might be a better fit for her.  I like mixing and matching to get what really fits for my daughters.

With a few more years of experience, I realized that traditional textbooks weren't working for us when it came to Science and History.  The more I read about using living books and unit studies, the more intriguing the idea was.  Living books are great because they are typically written by someone who is not only an expert on the subject, but also is passionate about it.  Unit studies are wonderful because you don't just touch on a topic on page 42 and move on.  You stop and dive in and soak it up.  Once we pick a topic to learn more about, the possibilities are endless.  Living books, magazines, documentaries, online videos, lapbooks...

Then we came across other alternatives besides using the traditional math textbooks.  I'm loving the new options available for teaching math, especially the higher grade levels.  Lectures and tutorials are available on CD-Roms, DVDs, and online websites.  CD-Roms and Websites often even do the grading for you!

Next we were introduced to Charlotte Mason style grammar and literature programs. No more stuffy workbooks and textbooks.  These CM style books teach in a whole new way, different from what we have been used to, but different in a great way.


So our homeschool adventure has been a journey.  Starting with the box packages, moving into an eclectic mixture of this and that, and now gradually making our way into a more Charlotte Mason/Living Books method.  I am intrigued by the Charlotte Mason Method, but I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go before I will truly grasp the whole concept.  Until then, we are enjoying the journey.

HearBuilders Auditory Memory - A Review

Home Edition (1-4 players) - $69.95
For a much better deal, use Coupon Code: BLGAM30, for 30% savings.  Expires 8/31/12.

Grades K-8th

 from

 

Hear Builders

Phone:  (800) 277-8737

Other Products Available:

PreK-3rd grade

PreK-5th grade

PreK-5th grade

So just what is the HearBuilders Series?  Well, Super Duper Publications has included samples of 6 activities on their website.  Go check them out. 
They also have included a 10 page document giving detailed information on the "Theory-based, systematic approach".

Here is a brief description from their site, explaining briefly about HearBuilder...

Webber® HearBuilder® Auditory Memory includes five activities to help students practice important auditory memory, closure, and comprehension skills. Students become Recall Agents and help save MemoryTown from Dr. Forgetsit while learning key strategies for remembering numbers, words, sentences, and stories.

The Home and Professional Editions target

• Memory for Numbers (3-7 digits)
• Memory for Words (3-5 words)
• Memory for Details (1-4 details)
• Auditory Closure (sentence completion)
• Memory for WH Information (2-3 sentences/2-4 Questions)

Learn more about the great minds behind this software by reading some of their biographies.


What to expect:

This software program is designed to help your children listen carefully and retain the information for an extended period of time, to be able to recall the details at a later time.

The parent can set up each individual student, up to 4.  You can pick if your child will stay on a certain level, or gradually increase difficulty, or play with background noise to increase the difficulty even more.

Your child can pick from different categories.

Numbers - Listening for the secret code

Words - Click on the pictures in the order the words were called

Details - Click on the agent described such as "blue pants, no backpack"

Auditory Closure - Complete phrases, such as "peanut butter and..."

Planning - Listen to a plan then choose correct answer from multiple choice

If your child gets six correct answers in a row, he earns a break called "Super Six".  This will earn him a quick little game to break up the intensity of the listening.

If your child gets several wrong in a row, the program will offer helpful hints for remembering information for an extended period of time.

The skills get increasingly more difficult as your child progresses through the rounds.

A progress chart helps you to see how your child is progressing in the levels.



How we used it:

I used this with all 3 of my daughters (3, 10, and 13 years old).  I set my 3 year old to stay on the beginning level.  I set my 10 year old to stay on a medium level.  Then I set my 13 year old to increase to the highest level.  It is nice that the software gives you this flexibility.  Otherwise, it could quickly become too difficult and frustrating for your child.

My 3 year old thought the game was a lot of fun.  She has asked to play it many times.  Her favorite categories are Details and Planning.  With Details, the announcer might say "Click on the boy wearing shorts with no backpack".  She then has to remember that description long enough to click on the correct person.   With Planning, she listens to two spies tell about their secret plan. Then she answers a random question like, "What was the name of the store where they were meeting."

She was able to answer most categories on her own.  She did need help remembering number sequences for breaking the lock.


My 10 year old didn't ask to play, but did seem to enjoy it while playing.  Her 3yo sister would usually come over and join her to help play.  She did well in all categories.  But occasionally she would get enough wrong that the program would offer her some helpful hints for remembering.  I think playing this game will be helpful for her.  She sometimes struggles with processing what she hears in order to recall it later.

My 13 year old only played it a few times.  She felt it was too repetitive.  She does have a point.  My 3yo didn't seem to tire of it.  And my 10yo could easily switch back and forth between different categories to help keep it more interesting.  But each category is basically the same thing over and over.  For example the Details category.  You might look for "the girl with a backpack wearing blue pants", then next time for "the boy wearing glasses and a blue shirt", etc. So you are finding a new person each time, but you are still selecting the correct person over and over.

So do I think it is helpful?  Yes.  I think this program would, over time, help a child learn to really focus on what she is hearing and process and retain it, to use the information at a later time.

Do I think it is fun?  It depends on the child.  My 3yo hasn't tired of it.  My 10yo will play it for about 15 minutes at a time without complaint.  But my 13yo finds it repetitive.  My favorite is the Details category, while I quickly tired of the Numbers category, entering the combo numbers over and over.  So maybe the younger your child is, the more likely they will enjoy the game.  And of course, the more they play it, the more difference it is going to make.


REMEMBER:
For a much better deal, use Coupon Code: BLGAM30, for 30% savings.  Expires 8/31/12.

Disclaimer: I received this product free of charge, as part of the TOS Homeschool Crew. The above is just my opinion. Please remember that opinions may, and do, vary.