I started homeschooling 7 years ago. I have had children K through graduation.
The most I have homeschooled at one time is 6.
Initially, I though I would pick and choose curriculum from different companies. But it became very stressful for me. It did help me figure out what I like and don't like, though. Some people really like to do this. I am not one of them.
We used Seton for a long time, but we have left them.
Now we are using Kolbe Academy. We have good reason to use a correspondence school--mostly for our state requirements for diplomas. Kolbe is much more flexible than Seton and you can use whatever textbooks you like rather than theirs.
I have one in K, 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 10th this year.
For handwriting I am books from Universal Publishing. They have a series called Writing Our Catholic Faith.
For Science for the K and 2nd we are using OLVS, Science and Living in God's World.
In previous years, I have used Seton's religion books beginning with Kindergarten. I think they are pretty good. However, in the last few years, particularly with the older grades, I found myself going through the books to avoid references to Luminous mysteries, Sister Faustina, etc.
Since we are using Kolbe this year, I decided just to use the Ignatius press textbooks. I have no idea what they are like, but I doubt they are traditional Catholic. I will be supplementing and avoiding, but I was doing that anyway. I do like Seton's material though, generally speaking.
I am using Pearson's Phonics this year. Seton used to use them until they began making their own phonics workbooks. I like the Pearson books. I don't mind Seton's but some of the images are confusing and unless you are enrolled you can not have access to clarify the images.
Our reading is National Catholic Reader. These are tried and true and have been used for many years successfully. I have never used them before, but at first glance, these seem very good. I think they may be even a bit challenging. I am starting my 2nd grader in the First Grade Reader.
I absolutely HATE Saxon math. Seton uses this for higher math grades starting in grade 5. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this is the gold standard for homeschool. I don't think it adequately prepares students for upper level math, as it is not a mastery approach curriculum. I am using MCP for my Kindergarten and 2nd grader. I am starting my 5th grader in Singapore math. I am going to see how I like it. If I don't, he will go back to MCP.
No history really for my Kindergardener other than field trips we take or coloring pages I will print throughout the year of saints and important events. My 2nd grader will have Bible History. After that we will be using the Land of Our Lady series for history. In high school, we start with the classics---Greek history, Roman history, History of Christendom, then Modern History.
Seton history books are a mixed lot. On one hand the do stress the importance of the Catholic Church in the history of the world. This is especially important when teaching about Christopher Columbus and the Exploration Age. But the later history books, in my opinion, verge on Americanism and American Protestant superiority. I actually wrote a letter to Seton about this. Some of the books they use in the upper grades are A Beka and are vehemently anti-Catholic, even referring to Catholics as Popists.
Homeschooling has been so valuable to me and my family. Honestly, I am not sure which curriculum is better. I think every person has to figure out what works best for them. More important than the curriculum really is your family. Homeschool has helped our family grow very strong and faithful. My husband and I are able to really have a major influence on our children's lives and world view.
Good luck with your curriculum choices!
Topic: Homeschool Courses and Curriculum (Read 4644 times)