Don’t give up your much loved homeschool approach when using boxed curriculum.
Today, in how to use a boxed curriculum without giving up your homeschool approach, I will be sharing some boxed curriculum providers and giving you a tip or two on how to pair one with your homeschool approach.
From Overwhelmed to Confident
Also, I will be listing the next 3 features of a boxed curriculum.
In my post 8 Components of a Boxed Curriculum I shared the first 5 features of a boxed curriculum:
- understanding whether a curriculum has a religious or secular worldview
- determining if a teacher’s manual is a treasure trove or glorified check list
- planning your school year with 120 or 160 days in mind
- deciding whether you need an accountability service or reporting service and
- understanding that all curriculum required to complete a grade level like workbooks, student work text and readers come in the box.
Look at these next 3 parts of a boxed curriculum.
Testing and Answer Guides/Sheets. In addition, most curriculum providers have an option for testing along with answers sheets to the tests.
Most boxed providers can give you some local places in your area which tests your child.
If you do not live in a place that has stringent laws requiring testing, then I encourage you to not bring extra stress by having to report the testing scores.
Simply use the tests that come in your boxed curriculum for your own peace of mind.
I used the tests provided in our boxed curriculum for review and for my own purposes. It also gave my kids some familiarity with test taking which is very helpful in the older grades.
Student Evaluation or Assessment Help. One mistake made when using boxed curriculum is assuming that your child is ready for a grade level when in fact he he may be ahead or a bit behind.
A provider should have some way of you assessing your child’s level and then you should be able to get feedback on it.
I can’t encourage you enough to take time using informal testing methods to find a better fit for the grade your child should be in.
A huge mistake made by seasoned veterans and new bees alike is thinking they are back tracking if they have to repeat a grade.
No matter how many homeschoolers I counseled on this, many still push and shove ahead to the next grade level, which their child may not be ready for only to be met with tears and a brick wall several months into the curriculum.
Homeschooling is about being masters of their material and that is hard to do when they don’t have time to simmer on a grade level that a child needs to be on. Homeschool scholars are made by being immersed in a subject or skill and not by skipping ahead of it.
Extras. Some boxed curriculum providers also have on line classes where your child “meets” with other students of similar age and the classes try to make you feel like part of a school or group.
They may encourage your child to become involved online with any contests or communities they may be promoting.
Depending on the level of commitment or your time, you need to determine ahead if you want your child to be involved in any extra curricular activities a curriculum provider offers, if any.
Take a look at some of these common homeschool providers. Also, where possible, I added a tip or two for helping you to find a better fit for your homeschool approach.
Though most boxed curriculum providers would be categorized as a textbook approach, there are some differences worth considering.
*Note: Technically, a boxed curriculum contains ALL subjects, however, there are some curriculum providers that provide everything except math, so I included a few of them.
Boxed Curriculum Providers
A Beka A Beka would fit nicely with the strong language arts approach to a classical method of approach. With strong emphasis on writing and reading, this would fit nicely with those wanting to build a strong language arts foundation in the early grades.
A.C.E {Lighthouse Christian Academy}
Alpha Omega {Switched on Schoolhouse, Life Pacs, Monarch, Horizons}Takes a Biblical worldview and is a solid textbook approach.
Bob Jones or BJU Press. Taking a Biblical worldview, Bob Jones has a more rounded out text book approach, but all subjects have a Bible based theme throughout.
Calvert Though Calvert uses basal readers for teaching reading, some of their books written by head master Virgil Hillyer, I would categorize more like living books.
Charlotte Mason and the classical approach both encourage reading and using living books. A Child’s History of the World continues to be a much loved book in our home. Note: the book starts off with a bit of evolution, which we skipped, but continues on a middle school level for a great read and a broad covering about world history for budding history buffs.
Recently, I read A Child’s Geography of the World, which is outdated with facts, but is still a great read. These books were written about the 1930’s.
Christian Light Education
Covenant Home Curriculum
K12 Takes a more secular approach, but has a more straight forward textbook approach with rigorous standards.
Memoria Press Memoria Press takes a classical approach to homeschooling and their boxed curriculum is no different.
The most significant feature of the classical approach is using history of the ancients to teach. So Memoria Press uses books like Famous Man of Rome and D’Aulaires’ Greek Myths to name just a few to start building a basic foundation in history.
Also incorporated are some Charlotte Mason techniques like copywork and memorization.
My Father’s World {but does not have math} My Father’s World combines both the classical approach by using history as some of it’s stepping stones along with a Charlotte Mason approach. From the classical approach, it utilizes a chronological approach to history.
Also there is a hands-on approach in many of the grade levels and a focus on science and arts, which is encouraged by a Charlotte Mason approach.
Moving Beyond the Page{but does not have math} Moving Beyond the Page uses a unit study approach to covering all the subjects except math.
Having the combined layout of structure along with using the basic concept of a unit study, which is tying all the school subjects around a main theme is another option for your family.
Oak Meadow
Seton Seton uses a strong language arts focus in their boxed curriculum and they are a Catholic provider.
Sonlight Sonlight uses living books which is both a feature of the Charlotte Mason approach and classical approach along with a strong emphasis on Bible.
Trail Guide to Learning<{but does not have math} Trail Guide to Learning uses living books in their boxed curriculum and takes on more of a Charlotte Mason approach with a classical bent because of using their history focused guides.
Veritas Press Like Memoria Press, Veritas Press has a strong classical approach to homeschooling with an emphasis on history.
Whether you are new to homeschooling and trying to learn the ropes or if you are overwhelmed with the season in your life right now, knowing the 8 components of a boxed curriculum can help you to avoid the busy work that can accompany a boxed curriculum and find one that can help you make headway.
Hugs and love ya,
Check out Cathy’s Duffy’s 101 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum.
My favorite is Bookshark. It’s the secular version of Sonlight.
So glad to hear that Diane,
I love Bookshark too , which is why I write for them. Have you seen their blog?
http://www.bookshark.com/blog/
I’ve often said our curriculum should be a tool we use, not our master. We shouldn’t be a slave to it, but should use it in a way that best benefits our family. Great post Tina, thank you!
Well said Linda :o) Now only if we can remember that when we feel we are getting “behind”. Love your wisdom and thanks for being here!