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Throughout our homeschooling journey I have run across several
products or websites which have made the process easier or more
enjoyable. We hope that you will find these general resources to be
useful also.
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Tapestry
of Grace
When our kids were in grades 1, 4, and 7 we began
using a curriculum called Tapestry of Grace. TOG follows the “classical
method” using a 4-year rotating cycle of Ancients, Middle
Ages/Reformation, Early Modern and Modern. Based on a Christian
worldview, this is the BEST curriculum I have ever used. Having all
three of my girls using the same curriculum means that they all cover
the same topics and subjects, but each grade level has age appropriate
activities and expectations. Each Year Plan can be purchased in digital
format (DE) as well as in print. You purchase the lesson plans
(instructions) for Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 and then use them
over again as you go through each cycle. If you began this curriculum
with your child in 1st grade you would go through the 4 year cycle 3
times before he graduates (going through Ancients in grades 1, 5, and 9).
The reading books and reference materials will change with each grade
level as you go through the curriculum, but you only have to purchase
the lesson plans once. You can purchase additional pieces to go along
with the curriculum for subjects like writing/grammar, map work, etc.
We added our own math and science for the older students and the
Tapestry lesson plans provided instructions for everything
else...including hands on projects!
At first glance, it can be intimidating. I
honestly looked at it for 3 years and didn’t think I could it, but I
eventually figured out that each Year Plan has everything in it for
grades 1-12 and I would never “do it all” in one year. We have now worked with Year Plans
1, 2, and 3 and I can honestly say that we are solid in our decision to
use this curriculum until our last child graduates from high school.
You even have access to online help including other users and the
authors through the Tapestry Forum on their website. Check it out by
clicking here...
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Little
Giant Steps
“Empowering children to achieve their God-given potential.”
Little Giant Steps helps all children by improving their ability to
learn more efficiently by using neurological methodologies.
www.littlegiantsteps.com
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Learning
Page
Learning Page provides a huge collection of professionally
produced instructional materials you can download and print. Lesson
plans, books, worksheets and much more. You can sign up (for FREE) and
discover some wonderful printables.
www.learningpage.com
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Hold
that Thought
Timelines – history and Bible events/characters. You do not even
have to hang them on the wall! All of the timelines and copywork pages come in CD format and you print what
you need.
www.holdthatthought.com
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VegSource
(although a vegetarian website, the homeschool board is not
related)
Individuals selling new and used curriculum. Many people post every day
so it can get overwhelming if you do not know what you are looking for.
Better to have something in mind and then just scan the subject lines
of the posts for what you need. “For Sale” posts are divided by grade
level from Pre-K to College.
www.vegsource.com/homeschool
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Singapore
Math
(we used the US edition)
They offer more than mathematics, but we have only personally used the
math. Our oldest daughter began using Singapore in 3rd grade
and the middle child began in 1st (where she is now). Each
child uses a textbook to discover and figure out the concepts and then
the workbook to show they understand the concepts.
www.singaporemath.com
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