Eclectic homeschooling vs. pre-packaged curriculums...

[hsmommyto1]

Which is more your style, eclectic homeschooling or using a pre-packaged curriculum? So far, I've been an eclectic homeschooler who uses a variety of different resources. This fall though, I am considering possibly using a pre-packaged curriculum.

What made you decide whether or not to use a pre-packaged curriculum?

[canadian gardener]

I've used both. Both have their advantages. I don't know if I'd have kept my sanity in my first year without Alpha Omega lifepacs holding my hand and reassuring me that it was all getting covered.

But by the end of that year we ditched workbooks and moved onto a VERY relaxed unit study crossed with unschooling approach and now they just finished their BSc degrees at university.

I found the workbooks helped us get started, then when the confidence was up and we all understood how the process worked, we branched off into a DIY approach.

[Early Bird]

What Dozy said.

My first year, full Sonlight -- bought everything from them.

This is year FIVE (!) for us. [where did the time go?] We're doing Prairie Primer, eclectic science, mishmash of grammar and readers, Saxon math, and music lessons from a local teen. And some other stuff!

[QuilterMom]

We use a variety of materials. This year (1st grade) we'll be using Saxon 2 math (ds is ahead a year), Explode the Code 3, a Starfall handwriting workbook (an Internet freebie years ago that I've been saving) and Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power (he'll go through this fast thus the need for 2 workbooks to last the year in handwriting), Language 1 and the 1st grade level history from ABeka (can't remember the name of the history book right now), Power Glide Jr. for Spanish, Wordly Wise 3000 book A for vocabulary.

I wrote our science curriculum myself using a book at the library (Earth Child) as a jumping off point and obtained additional experiment/activity ideas from a variety of books and we'll be reading tons of books from the library that go with each unit within the curriculum. I wrote our spelling curriculum myself as well using online lists and words that will pop up often in our subjects this year.

For reading materials I like to use Sonlight as a jumping off point for books that we read and I just go along with ds's interests as well. We listen to a wide variety of music, ds is allowed to explore art right now as he sees fit and we have tons of crafts ideas I've saved from magazines over the years, we go on a variety of field trips, and try to attend about 4 productions at our local performing arts center during the school year.

[dutchwoman]

Well, its my first year and my daughter is using Switched on Schoolhouse. She seems to be learning so much more than she would have in the public school and we're only three weeks in. I really like the total curriculum and she loves to do the work on the computer. I only grade a few things, the computer does the rest of the work for me. She is in 7th grade this year.

[Valerie in WA]

I find it interesting that many of you started very packaged and branched out to more eclectic, but I've done the opposite.

Our first year (pre-K) I did my own unit studies, my own learn-to-read & my own math.

The next year (K), we did Five in a Row (loose guidance), Miquon math and Spelling workout (workbook).

This year (pre-K and 1st), we are doing Sonlight Core K (bible, history & read alouds) and Sonlight Science. Older dd is doing just the Activity Sheets of Sonlight Language Arts 1, as she reads at a 7th grade level. She is also doing a computer based math curriculum. Younger dd is doing Horizons math (workbook) and my own learn-to-read.

I went with the organization of Sonlight because I was getting burned out with planning. I wanted more time to just be with and teach the dd's. I also wanted the assurance that I was doing 'enough'. And it turns out I'm doing LESS than I was doing on my own!

[peanut]

Hi, I am eclectic. I've never been happy with any curriculum I've seen. They all seem very watered down for dd#1 and didn't allow her to go at her own pace. Meaning too much busywork.

I've used more curriculum with dd#2, but still I plan her courses around curriculum. The curriculum isn't all there is to the course.

I love language arts so I have always devised that curriculum for the girls. Also art. Science was a mishmash of stuff till high school. Then I started relying more on texts, but I also complemented it with unit studies, labs and experiments. In fact, most everything is eclectic because I couldn't find anything suitable for the girls otherwise.

I find most curriculum writers talk down to the kids in the materials. Some kids can handle that just fine. I guess it depends where they're at. Mine were annoyed by it and refused to use it. Why spend money on something that they view as belittling or patronizing? We used the library and explored the world on our own.

DD#1 is in university Bus. Admin. pulling honors with distinction right now and dd#2 is just finishing grade 12. FWIW, I think dd#1 got the better education.

Just our humble experience. Different strokes for different folks.