My name is Melissa, and I am a curriculum basher...

[Melissa in CA]

Every single time someone asks me about a particular curriculum I pull out their trusty dusty catalog and begin, well, yawning. :sad:

After schooling 11 years I have read several of their scheduled books and, well, bleck! To me there are so many better selections out there. :confused: I especially find one of their more popular programs completely uninspiring. I find I have a very hard time recommending it, and that is so sad because I know so many use and love it! I instead catch myself turning their attention to Winter Promise, Sonlight or Tapestry of Grace...anything but the curriculum they have set all their hopes and dreams upon! I feel horrible, terrible, awful...and yet I continue on. :blushing:

Is it because I have not actually used the program, only read the books? Perhaps because they do not list all their books in the catalog so I do not see how meaty and interesting it can truly be? Is it because WP, SL and TOG have spoiled me considerably? Or, do you think perhaps it's because I am a big fat opinionated know-it-all who is rather delusional? :blink: :lol:

I hate that I cannot be objective. That I cannot say, "Oh, I hear that is a wonderful program dahling. I am SURE you will love it!" Instead, I am a dirty wet blanket dashing their hopes and dreams of a blissful school year; sucking the life right out of their wonderful happy plans. Telling them my true opinion. :sneaky2:

My only solace, I must confess, is that no one seems to listen to me...:w00t:

[Kristine out of lurking]

>>> My only solace, I must confess, is that no one seems to listen to me...:w00t:

And that's why no one's responded yet here, lol. (just kidding!)

Seriously, when I consider a particular curriculum, I much prefer to hear the CONS. I've already looked enough to think that it might work; I'd rather know why it might NOT. And different things have worked at different times. I'd sworn I'd never use Writing Strands and Singapore again--but we do now, and it's been great this time!

But what do I know. When we moved to VA last year, it seemed that most people use ABeka or BJU. Just shoot me now. One new hsing mom enthusiastically told me how she puts in a DVD for her children, they all learn the lesson, do the work on the computer, turn in the results to the company for testing, she loves it so much, blah, blah, blah. I sat there with my mouth hanging open, and I finally replied, "I would find that horrifying."

What a way to make friends and influence people, lol. (And I'm dying to know what curriculum it is that you think you would hate!)

[Kristine out of lurking]

Oh. my. gosh.

After I hit send, I see that you use BJU. (Which in all honestly, I have never actually seen before.)

Do you see that I have a tact problem?

<<<<<madly blushing>>>>>>>


I need to go back to lurking. Now I'll be scared to come back!

[Melissa in CA]

And that's why no one's responded yet here, lol.

:w00t::lol:

[Melissa in CA]

Oh. my. gosh.

After I hit send, I see that you use BJU.

Oh now that's even FUNNIER!! :smilielol5:


Hmmmm...did I hear you say you use Writing Strands? :eek: :lol:

[Myrtle]

My only solace, I must confess, is that no one seems to listen to me...:w00t:


I think I know where you are coming from.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee27/Carrie3d/SomeoneIsWrong.jpg?t=1215811960

[H.S. Burrow]

I think I know where you are coming from.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee27/Carrie3d/SomeoneIsWrong.jpg?t=1215811960


This is hysterical!! :lol: I love your thread. I think we are all in our own way very opinionated about the things we love and hate. That's what makes this forum so much fun!

What curriculum is it? We're all dying to know!!!

[GSMP]

Oh. my. gosh.

After I hit send, I see that you use BJU. (Which in all honestly, I have never actually seen before.)

Do you see that I have a tact problem?

<<<<<madly blushing>>>>>>>


I need to go back to lurking. Now I'll be scared to come back!

That was funny......:lol:

I tried BJ and Abeka.....they didn't work for me....but you are right.

My personal opinion....if I were going to stick a DVD in for them to watch...I may as well send them back to school.

My opinion only....works for others and if it does...I am happy for ya.....but it doesn't work for me.....:D

[sdWTMer]

ROFLO, that is funny!

[asta]

Oh. my. gosh.

After I hit send, I see that you use BJU. (Which in all honestly, I have never actually seen before.)

Do you see that I have a tact problem?

<<<<<madly blushing>>>>>>>


I need to go back to lurking. Now I'll be scared to come back!

:iagree:

[Amy loves Bud]

Tell the truth, yadda yadda yadda.

What's the curriculum? :bigear:

[DB in NJ]

See, I also have been hs'ing for 11 years. Many people have come to me asking for my opinion on this curriculum or that program. I give my honest opinion. I do say that "oh, I've heard a lot of good things about it; but I didn't care for it because....." I'm open with my feelings on it, and I'm also open to the fact that it might just be a matter of personal preference.

Don't be too hard on yourself. You're trying to be helpful :)

[Dayle in Guatemala]

Isn't it great that we can all feel free to use what works for us in schooling our dc? Isn't it fun that there are so many different methods and choices when at one time that wasn't the case?

That's usually my answer to people. Sometimes I really want to say something else, and at times, I do if I feel that they are truly, truly interested in what I really think. But, other times, I feel like they are just trying to start a conversation I'm not willing to be involved in. What people use is sometimes really personal to them and they get super defensive.

Just ask me about my choices!:glare:

[Dayle in Guatemala]

I use Writing Strands. Want to make something of it?:toetap05:

[elegantlion]

Isn't it great that we can all feel free to use what works for us in schooling our dc? Isn't it fun that there are so many different methods and choices when at one time that wasn't the case?

That's usually my answer to people. Sometimes I really want to say something else, and at times, I do if I feel that they are truly, truly interested in what I really think. But, other times, I feel like they are just trying to start a conversation I'm not willing to be involved in. What people use is sometimes really personal to them and they get super defensive.

Just ask me about my choices!:glare:

You're so diplomatic. I usually smile and listen to their joyous enthusiasm about the very curriculum I gagged over earlier in my homeschooling days. Good thing there are so many choices.

[Myrtle]

Sometimes I really want to say something else, and at times, I do if I feel that they are truly, truly interested in what I really think. But, other times, I feel like they are just trying to start a conversation I'm not willing to be involved in. What people use is sometimes really personal to them and they get super defensive.

Just ask me about my choices!:glare:

Yeah, it's hard to tell when someone really wants honest input or if they simply want validation. Well, it is for me anyway, but I lack social skills...and impulse control.

[Melissa in CA]

Tell the truth, yadda yadda yadda.

What's the curriculum? :bigear:

Nope, not telling! If I did the backlash will be never-ENDING! Oh, and the negative reps! So, so not worth it...not with that coveted second greenie in sight. :lol:

Plus, sigh, I would have to hear how WONDERFUL the program REALLY is and how I just need to TRY it. :ack2: I just couldn't bear it...my head would most definitely explode. It wouldn't be pretty. :D

So, hooey, I say! I don't care how ya schedule them there books...boring is just plain boring. ;)

[Melissa in CA]

I use Writing Strands. Want to make something of it?:toetap05:


No, but please relay my sympathies to your children... :blink:



:lol::lol::lol:

[Dayle in Guatemala]

No, but please relay my sympathies to your children... :blink:



:lol::lol::lol:



:lol::lol::lol: That was good!

[Cadam]

I think she is talking about MFW. Just look at the line up that she points people to instead. WP, Sonlight or TOG. All obvious competitors to MFW and many here love MFW. No worries, every time you bash it, I will gush over it and so it is all balanced out :D

Seriously, before I choose MUS and CW I asked for negative reviews because then I can see if those are things I can live with. Someone else's negative may be a positive for me or it can be a deal breaker and save me $$. I would rather know the possible negatives about a program before I buy then be all disappointed after purchasing it.

[ncmomo3]

**deep breath** -I use Writing Strands and I --**gasp** don't like Apologia (did I really just admit that??)

[Kristine out of lurking]

(breathing BIG sigh of relief, thank you!)

*I* don't like Writing Strands, but my dd does. And that counts for a LOT, lol.

[Lostinabook]

I think she is talking about MFW. Just look at the line up that she points people to instead. WP, Sonlight or TOG. All obvious competitors to MFW and many here love MFW.

Yep, that's what I"m thinking too. I also agree with the others who've said they prefer to hear the cons of a curriculum when trying to make decision about whether or not to buy. In general I've found that people who don't like a curriculum are very, very detailed in their descriptions of why they don't like it whereas people who do like a curriculum often tend to be heavier on the gush & lighter on the details. ;)

[4pillars]

I really feel like I am the same way. I have the nice reputation for being the curriculum junkie and I have actually received calls from people I don't know to ask my opinion about a curriculum!!:001_huh:

Heck, I can't give out many opinions because I have rarely stuck to one thing long enough to do so:lol:

HOWEVER, I am starting to lose that reputation. I mean, I am going on my 3rd year of Rod and Staff English, 4th year of Saxon math and, and, and, I am on week 5 of TOG... and I have not even quit!!!!:w00t::hurray::lol::lol:

[Melissa in CA]

I think she is talking about MFW.

:ohmy: Oh Christina, how could you even think such a scandalous thought!?

I would never, ever, ever bash something so incredibly sacred! :blink:


would I?

[4pillars]

I use Writing Strands. Want to make something of it?:toetap05:

:lol::boxing_smiley:

[Amy loves Bud]

That is so mean. :glare: But I'll give you a little boost anyway.

Not even a little hint?

[Cadam]

:ohmy: Oh Christina, how could you even think such a scandalous thought!?

I would never, ever, ever bash something so incredibly sacred! :blink:


would I?

lol :lol: I knew I was right!!!


Bash away. I will tell you what I don't like. I wish that literature was integrated and assigned, instead of being optional library books, and there were lit questions and writing suggestions to match up with the history or science. The writing was really drawing me to TOG but quite a few things kept me away from TOG and so I am making up my own lit questions and writing assignments using Jensen's Writing.

I don't mind Writing Strands but my ds would like to put it in the fire so we moved on! I am keeping it for dd though because I have found that most things that don't work for ds will work for dd.

[Melissa in CA]

lol :lol: I knew I was right!!!

Yeah, you just keeping thinking that hon... ;)


I will tell you what I don't like. I wish that literature was integrated and assigned, instead of being optional library books, and there were lit questions and writing suggestions to match up with the history or science. The writing was really drawing me to TOG but quite a few things kept me away from TOG and so I am making up my own lit questions and writing assignments using Jensen's Writing.

Ok, now why in the world would you want to do aaaall that work when TOG has gone and done it for ya? I'd rather throw off the things I don't like about TOG than take on basically writing my own curriculum with...well...inferior books. :D :lol:

And people say TOG is complicated... :blink:

[runninmommy]

What is wrong with Writing Strands??

[transientChris]

Well I will say that sometimes what seems like a lightweight selection for a child who may be getting part of the subject at another venue. For example, I am waiting to see what subjects my children will have in homeschool academy, homeschool co-op, homeschool activity days, etc, etc, to see what else they need. I may figure out that for literature, for example, my 6th grader will get enough analysis is her classes but will need more reading. Then I may not use a curriculum. But if she is doing geography but no history somewhere, I might choose a limited history curriculum to fill in the gaps.

Some people like the choices made for them and others prefer to have plenty of choice in a framework.

[Melissa in CA]

What is wrong with Writing Strands??

LOL! :lol: Actually, nothing at all. But, my kids disliked it with a very strong passion. ;)

[runninmommy]

I was getting paranoid that I bought the whole line of Writing Strands and may have made the wrong choice...My daughter does not mind it at all. In fact, she likes it...It that weird?
:001_smile:

[TraceyS/FL]

What is wrong with Writing Strands??

My DD would rather have done math all day that it.....

[kailuamom]

I think I know where you are coming from.

http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee27/Carrie3d/SomeoneIsWrong.jpg?t=1215811960

Oh my! Love the cartoon! Just too funny! :lol:

[Melissa in CA]

In fact, she likes it...It that weird?
:001_smile:

My boys say an emphatic "Yes!" :lol: Of course, remember, they are boys...need I say more? :D

Actually we went through many writing curricula before we found the right fit for them. IEW.

Now, my youngest son is much better at putting pen to paper, but he still dislikes it. My plan is to use Writing Aids this next year since it is integrated with our TOG history. Plus, it appears so well done, and something I believe I can actually teach. But IEW is still a viable option should we crash and burn. ;)

[Cadam]

Yeah, you just keeping thinking that hon... ;)




Ok, now why in the world would you want to do aaaall that work when TOG has gone and done it for ya? I'd rather throw off the things I don't like about TOG than take on basically writing my own curriculum with...well...inferior books. :D :lol:

And people say TOG is complicated... :blink:

Because TOG is complicated!! Good golly, maybe I am just too dumb but I couldn't even figure out what books to choose to go along with it! While I have to match writing assignments to MFW, you have to add science to TOG so I see it as a toss up.

Good thing we each get to make our own choices. Happy Bashing, but I will keep my MFW book list and love it too. :auto:

[Melissa in CA]

Because TOG is complicated!! Good golly, maybe I am just too dumb but I couldn't even figure out what books to choose to go along with it!

Now, nobody is calling anybody 'dumb!' and I was just teasing ya...not meaning to offend in any way. I hope I didn't come across as doing so.
Besides, good grief, you should have seen the convoluted things I did to Sonlight when I used it....talk about someone adding a boatload of work!! :001_huh:
Sheesh...I was a crazy woman! :lol:
TOG has calmed me though...It already HAS all those wonderful things I tried to add to SL...perhaps that's why I wuv it so. :001_wub:

By the way, were you using the classic version of TOG? The Redesign tells you the exact books to read each and every week for each and every level. I never even considered the Classic version because to me it seemed overly complicated. The Redesign has been super simple though! Well, at least for *me* it has. But, of course, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. We are all so very different. ;)

While I have to match writing assignments to MFW, you have to add science to TOG so I see it as a toss up.

Yeah, you got me there! I like picking my own science though. Having a curriculum with a scheduled science would not be my cuppa tea.


Good thing we each get to make our own choices
Amen to that! When I first began homeschooling there wasn't much to pick and choose from. Christian Liberty and Abeka, or how about Abeka and Christian Liberty. :tongue_smilie: Now it's a smörgåsbord! I love it! :D

[Sahamamama]

(And I'm dying to know what curriculum it is that you think you would hate!)

:iagree::iagree::iagree: Oh, PLEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSE!

[Mamagistra]

ROFLO, that is funny!

Way OT here, but Julie...RoFlo is an awesome typo! I am hereby stealing it for use in actual IRL conversation. :lol::lol: <---- See there? I'm ro-flo-ing! :D :grouphug:

[Jenny in Atl]

My DD would rather have done math all day that it.....

Ditto...:tongue_smilie:

[Ellie]

But what do I know. When we moved to VA last year, it seemed that most people use ABeka or BJU. Just shoot me now. One new hsing mom enthusiastically told me how she puts in a DVD for her children, they all learn the lesson, do the work on the computer, turn in the results to the company for testing, she loves it so much, blah, blah, blah. I sat there with my mouth hanging open, and I finally replied, "I would find that horrifying."

(((soul sister)))) Yeah, you can shoot me, too.:eek:

[Melissa in CA]

Yeah, you can shoot me, too.:eek:

Me too! and I use BJU! ;)

A few video classes work great for us, it mixes things up a bit, but I could never put my kids in front of a TV or computer screen all day watching a video teacher! :ack2:

Thankfully we can afford the HomeSat satellite so I pick and choose the best of the best classes...and no offense, but BJU's scence with HomeSat is the best! (my very humble opinion of course :D) Same goes for their English; they pack some pretty good stuff into a 15 min English class baby! ;)

[Cadam]

Now, nobody is calling anybody 'dumb!' and I was just teasing ya...not meaning to offend in any way. I hope I didn't come across as doing so.
Besides, good grief, you should have seen the convoluted things I did to Sonlight when I used it....talk about someone adding a boatload of work!! :001_huh:
Sheesh...I was a crazy woman! :lol:
TOG has calmed me though...It already HAS all those wonderful things I tried to add to SL...perhaps that's why I wuv it so. :001_wub:

By the way, were you using the classic version of TOG? The Redesign tells you the exact books to read each and every week for each and every level. I never even considered the Classic version because to me it seemed overly complicated. The Redesign has been super simple though! Well, at least for *me* it has. But, of course, I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. We are all so very different. ;)

As an aside every-time I hear of a new hs'er choosing Abeka or BJU I have to stop myself from screaming "Nooooooooooooooo, anything but that!!!"



Yeah, you got me there! I like picking my own science though. Having a curriculum with a scheduled science would not be my cuppa tea.



Amen to that! When I first began homeschooling there wasn't much to pick and choose from. Christian Liberty and Abeka, or how about Abeka and Christian Liberty. :tongue_smilie: Now it's a smörgåsbord! I love it! :D

No offense I was just joking along with you. :D

I haven't used TOG. I can't figure out from the website which books to buy for the darn thing! I just want a simple list "buy these books for this age- period". Too many choices and then I have to research each book to see which one is the best for my kid.... :svengo: Then I have to decide which parts of TOG To use exc. With mfw I open the tm and just do it. TOG will probably always intrigue me and I am impressed by people who use it, but it's not for me.

[summer]

If someone says they are using such-n-such and you hate it but they did not ask your opinion, then I agree, you should just not say anything about it. But if they are asking for opinions, then you especially should say something.

I have certain things I really hate for curriculum but unless someone is asking for advice, I do not give my opinion. But if I were to ask an opinion of something before I pay money for it and invest my time and energy in it, I would greatly appreciate it if you told me your opinion. If you withhold and I buy it and try to make it work for a long time and it does not work...but I have spent a half year on it as well as my entire school years budget..well..it just would have been nice if you had said something sooner.

So..in otherwords..I think it is just fine to give your opinions when ask. Don't feel bad about it either.

[summer]

Abeka is my biggest issue sometimes. When someone gives up on homeschooling as being too hard and too time consuming, they generally tried to do Abeka boxed. I know way too many families who did Abeka entire curriculum and gave up homeschooling completely. Abeka sells them on the idea that they must do every single thing in their curriculum or their child won't learn enough and they will have cheated their child. yeah, right. I think their child is cheated as their childhoods are stolen and they are sent back to school because it takes until dinner every day, day after day, to get the work done.

[Melissa in CA]

Abeka is my biggest issue sometimes. When someone gives up on homeschooling as being too hard and too time consuming, they generally tried to do Abeka boxed. I know way too many families who did Abeka entire curriculum and gave up homeschooling completely. Abeka sells them on the idea that they must do every single thing in their curriculum or their child won't learn enough and they will have cheated their child. yeah, right. I think their child is cheated as their childhoods are stolen and they are sent back to school because it takes until dinner every day, day after day, to get the work done.

Yep, I hear ya! Not that I have anything against Abeka...well, OK, I kinda do...but using ALL Abeka almost killed our love of school waaaay back when. I am so very glad I continued on and didn't give up like so many do. Sonlight saved us! I now use ZERO Abeka. Not because the curriculum is bad per say, but I had some issues with the company and really don't want to give them my money. ;) And no, don't ask me what happened cuz I'm not gonna gossip. :lol:
Lets just say that in my personal one on one experience with them, they came across as being more money hungry than Christ-like and it bugged me to no end. :tongue_smilie:

[Melissa in CA]

No offense I was just joking along with you. :D

Whew! Good...I was a bit worried. :001_huh::D

I haven't used TOG. I can't figure out from the website which books to buy for the darn thing!

This becomes easier upon inspection. ;) It really helps to have the program in your hands before purchasing books.

I just want a simple list "buy these books for this age- period". Too many choices and then I have to research each book to see which one is the best for my kid....

Well, if you know your classical levels and the ages of children who fit each level; Lower grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic, Rhetoric, then they really do tell you which books to buy for which age. If you have an in-between grade like my 6th grader who could use either UG or D, then it takes a bit of research to decide what level to focus on. I can understand your dilemma. :001_smile:

TOG will probably always intrigue me and I am impressed by people who use it, but it's not for me.

I said something very similar several years ago when I was in love with Sonlight and planning the rest of our school lives around it. Beware! ;) :D

[6packofun]

Isn't it great that we can all feel free to use what works for us in schooling our dc? Isn't it fun that there are so many different methods and choices when at one time that wasn't the case?

That's usually my answer to people. Sometimes I really want to say something else, and at times, I do if I feel that they are truly, truly interested in what I really think. But, other times, I feel like they are just trying to start a conversation I'm not willing to be involved in. What people use is sometimes really personal to them and they get super defensive.



That's pretty much my response, too. Even to my friend who is taking 2 ds out of a very good school system to plop them in front of the complete SOS program. Oooops, did I say that?? LOL!!!!

Repeat after me in your friendly robot voice: "What's important is that you use what works for YOUR family and inspires a love of learning in YOUR children!" (That last part might make them really think, though...hehe)

**No offense intended at all to those using Switched On Schoolhouse! It's just that I know she's using the full program with both boys as her safety net choice to be sure she "covers everything"! LOL

[Cadam]

It's just that I know she's using the full program with both boys as her safety net choice to be sure she "covers everything"! LOL

I have seen this a lot with first timers. They buy school in a box to be "safe". Then they burn out and send the kids back to school. It doesn't bother me when I see a seasoned hs'er using a few BJU sat classes or the Abeka LA program or any of that. It is the newbie who swallows the whole program and then get buried trying to turn home into school.

It is really sad because there are so many open and go choices made just for homeschoolers but people hear about the big publishers and go for that over something designed for home use. All of my favorite curriculum is made specifically for homeschoolers.

[chanda7]

I'm the same way, although I suspect I'm even worse than you. "Boxed" curriculum tends to 1) be too dumbed down, 2) have glaring weaknesses that require supplementation (which kind of defeats the purpose of using boxed curriculum in the first place), and/or 3) be terribly expensive (at least for my budget). However, it can be the right solution for a lot of people even though it typically doesn't work for me.

[Melissa in CA]

That's pretty much my response, too. Even to my friend who is taking 2 ds out of a very good school system to plop them in front of the complete SOS program.

Yikes! :001_huh: [gasping for breath; heart palpitating; breaking out in hives...but...keeping mouth SHUT! lol]

Repeat after me in your friendly robot voice: "What's important is that you use what works for YOUR family and inspires a love of learning in YOUR children!"

:w00t: :lol: Too funny!

**No offense intended at all to those using Switched On Schoolhouse!

Oh my, I completely agree! No offense to those of you who use and LOVE SOS! What's important is that you are using what works for YOUR family and inspires a love of learning in YOUR children! ;)



...how was that? :blink:


:lol: :lol:

[chaik76]

Okay, this whole thread just made me :lol:.
And I'm bummed because I can't find a classic version of TOG! I want the choices!!!

[abbeyej]

That's pretty much my response, too. Even to my friend who is taking 2 ds out of a very good school system to plop them in front of the complete SOS program. Oooops, did I say that?? LOL!!!!

You know, I only know one family that uses SOS solely, and while they're really lovely people, I find I'm terribly unimpressed with the outcome. I had the dd in a class I taught this past year (middle school level -- her first outside class), and I'm pretty convinced now that the mother has no idea how weak her dd's fundamental skills are. She recognizes that the child "doesn't test well", but given what I've seen, I fear the testing may well be accurate. But again, somehow, the mom just doesn't seem to know...

[Melissa in CA]

You know, I only know one family that uses SOS solely, and while they're really lovely people, I find I'm terribly unimpressed with the outcome. I had the dd in a class I taught this past year (middle school level -- her first outside class), and I'm pretty convinced now that the mother has no idea how weak her dd's fundamental skills are. She recognizes that the child "doesn't test well", but given what I've seen, I fear the testing may well be accurate. But again, somehow, the mom just doesn't seem to know...

I personally know some homeschoolers who just want a curriculum that will get the job done so they can have grades to satisfy state regulations, etc., without having to actually get involved and teach something. The actual educating-your-child aspect of homeschooling really doesn't inter into the picture. It makes me sad. :sad:

In my opinion, they are missing out on a grand adventure. ;)

[titianmom]

My personal feeling about Sonlight Language Arts is, if you really don't want your child to do anything but read, then Sonlight is for you...

But...

If you want them to actually learn something useful, try another curriculum.

Sorry, but I thought Sonlight STUNK.

I used it years ago, hopefully they've improved a lot. But I was not impressed with about 99.9% of what Sonlight offered.

I'm looking at their Science, though, but now I've read that they still confuse their experiments and text. STILL, after 6 years. are They give you good books, their lesson plans and worksheets reeeeeeek. So maybe nothing has changed.

Why in the world would anyone like Sonlight is what I want to ask. I do 1000 percent better writing my own curriculum, and I don't even know what I'm doing, LOL.

Kim


Every single time someone asks me about a particular curriculum I pull out their trusty dusty catalog and begin, well, yawning. :sad:

After schooling 11 years I have read several of their scheduled books and, well, bleck! To me there are so many better selections out there. :confused: I especially find one of their more popular programs completely uninspiring. I find I have a very hard time recommending it, and that is so sad because I know so many use and love it! I instead catch myself turning their attention to Winter Promise, Sonlight or Tapestry of Grace...anything but the curriculum they have set all their hopes and dreams upon! I feel horrible, terrible, awful...and yet I continue on. :blushing:

Is it because I have not actually used the program, only read the books? Perhaps because they do not list all their books in the catalog so I do not see how meaty and interesting it can truly be? Is it because WP, SL and TOG have spoiled me considerably? Or, do you think perhaps it's because I am a big fat opinionated know-it-all who is rather delusional? :blink: :lol:

I hate that I cannot be objective. That I cannot say, "Oh, I hear that is a wonderful program dahling. I am SURE you will love it!" Instead, I am a dirty wet blanket dashing their hopes and dreams of a blissful school year; sucking the life right out of their wonderful happy plans. Telling them my true opinion. :sneaky2:

My only solace, I must confess, is that no one seems to listen to me...:w00t:

[titianmom]

After 6 years, now, I did stumble upon a good math, reading, and LA program by a vendor who has done this for about 30 years and I'm finding it's the best kept secret in homeschooling, because their stuff is so cheap. And it's good, too; most kids are at least a couple of years ahead using this stuff.

Highly recommend it up to about 8th grade:

Christian Light Education. http://www.clp.org



I'm the same way, although I suspect I'm even worse than you. "Boxed" curriculum tends to 1) be too dumbed down, 2) have glaring weaknesses that require supplementation (which kind of defeats the purpose of using boxed curriculum in the first place), and/or 3) be terribly expensive (at least for my budget). However, it can be the right solution for a lot of people even though it typically doesn't work for me.

[gardenschooler]

I use Writing Strands. Want to make something of it?:toetap05:

I've used it, too, Dayle. Except I can't really defend it! :lol:

[Melissa in CA]

My personal feeling about Sonlight Language Arts is, if you really don't want your child to do anything but read, then Sonlight is for you...

But...

If you want them to actually learn something useful, try another curriculum.

Sorry, but I thought Sonlight STUNK.

Oh my Kim! What are you thinking?? The backlash! The BACKLASH! :eek: I think I see the SL police already closing in...:scared: :lol:


I used it years ago, hopefully they've improved a lot.

No, I don't believe it has changed much. The IG is still unbelievably confusing and convoluted, and the science labs still unrelated to the subject matter being taught. At least that was MY experience. The only reason I am using SL's Science 5 this year is because I can get it FREE, and because I like the subject matter.

I do 1000 percent better writing my own curriculum, and I don't even know what I'm doing, LOL.

:lol: You know, I fell in love with SL due to the books. We had come from a curriculum that was workbook oriented (yeah, I was clueless) and I realized that my older boys had never really read an actual book. :eek: At the time, I didn't have a solid clue on how to change that as our workbook workload was already time consuming. When I discovered SL I decided it would be the perfect curriculum for us...something that would FORCE them to read. I purchased Core 6. It worked! I got great joy in seeing my boys reading, and reading TO them. I attribute my youngest sons love of reading to SL exclusively; another program taught him to read, but SL's books gave him a love of reading.

But I left SL and don't plan to go back. It is not what I want for my youngest. This boy is a thinker and I see great things for him in the future, and from using SL's upper Cores with my older two, I know that SL will not give me the outcome I desire. Plus, I got VERY tired of rewriting SL's IG to make it more palatable and user friendly. ;)

[Melissa in CA]

After 6 years, now, I did stumble upon a good math, reading, and LA program by a vendor who has done this for about 30 years and I'm finding it's the best kept secret in homeschooling, because their stuff is so cheap. And it's good, too; most kids are at least a couple of years ahead using this stuff.

Highly recommend it up to about 8th grade:

Christian Light Education. http://www.clp.org

I have often wanted to look at CLE's English (not reading) but they do not offer any samples of it online.
I guess unless one goes to a convention one will not know about it. :confused:
I am happy with BJU, but am always willing to try something different should it appeal to me.

[titianmom]

I think they only have samples of the lower grade reading course. But I know they plan to update the site with more samples.

The good news is, for $2.90 plus shipping, you can order one of their Light Units for LA or any of the others and check it out for cheap.

Their diagnostic tests are only $2 ea.

You can get an entire sample packet for an entire grade or pick and choose, I think for $10 plus shipping.

Just a thought.

Kim

I have often wanted to look at CLE's English (not reading) but they do not offer any samples of it online.
I guess unless one goes to a convention one will not know about it. :confused:
I am happy with BJU, but am always willing to try something different should it appeal to me.