May 26, 2019

Tina's Take on Things: My Curriculum Suggestions

Because of my work creating The Homeschool Resource Roadmap over the last several years, I'm often asked by homeschoolers online and in real life what curricula I recommend. Of course, answering such questions feels a bit presumptuous - a good fit with curriculum and other educational resources happens when parents find a match in material with how God has designed each of their children, and I certainly don't know other people's kids well or at all. For that reason, I wrote a summary guide a while ago describing a process through which parents might walk to narrow down the options, and I also created a tool - the Route-Finder - through which I can provide some personalized guidance. But, given the 3,900+ educational resource providers I've identified to-date via The Roadmap [Update: In July 2022, that number had risen to 5,400+], I understand how the prospect of choosing can still be overwhelming.

So, though I absolutely do not consider myself the arbiter of what will work for all children in all families, I decided that putting together shorter lists of possibilities for those interested in my opinion might be helpful. I used The Roadmap as my starting point and homed-in on a few guiding principles to facilitate a sorting process:
  • Though The Roadmap is designed to be "agnostic" in regards to the common core standards (CCS) and its related initiatives - I've gone to great lengths to present a "just the facts, ma'am" approach there so that users can find what they are seeking in terms of CCS, whatever that might be - I am not. In fact, I'm quite opposed to all things CCS. Thus, choosing only that which is wholly independent of the CCS became my first parameter. And if a provider I currently suggest decides at some point to connect with the CCS, I will edit the lists to remove it no matter how much I may have liked it before;
  • Via its Deluxe Charts, The Roadmap classifies resources in a number of other ways beyond CCS, including worldview/religious perspective. As a Christ-follower, I've included a large percentage of Christian providers on my lists, but that's not all. I also felt comfortable listing a couple of Jewish resources and quite a few that I call "Non-Sectarian," by which I mean "material that doesn't obviously promote any other perspective - i.e., it is as 'neutral' as possible where worldview is concerned - and, thus, might be comfortably used by people who embrace a variety of...other perspectives." In my life and on The Roadmap, I distinguish "Non-Sectarian" from "Secular," and I have chosen on my lists here to eschew almost anything I've determined to be "Secular" (with fewer than a handful of exceptions), as well as anything espousing other worldview perspectives;
  • I hold strongly to young-earth creation science so cannot in good conscience suggest old-earth-oriented material. Of course, in many cases on The Roadmap, provider websites haven't specified a position on origins - or it's not relevant to the content in question - but where it might come into play, I list only resources that are young-earth or consciously neutral;
  • In terms of other classification categories - i.e., homeschool style/approach, recommended age range, delivery method, whether or not something is free - I've tried to include a wide variety of options;
  • Within those parameters, I've listed everything I've actually used and enjoyed over the years - or am otherwise familiar with - marking each with an asterisk;
  • As you'll see, though, the lists include a lot more than I could ever personally use...because I wanted to suggest multiple good options in as many categories as possible. So, in compiling the suggestions with which I don't have direct experience, I've relied upon information gleaned from wise homeschoolers I know in real life and in the large online group I moderate, as well as studying company websites as I've built The Roadmap. And everything I list is something I'd at least consider for my own kids.
As you browse the lists, you'll notice that some are still quite long. But I wanted to include everything I felt worth considering and, given that some subjects' complete lists are very long (some have over 800 total options!), including somewhat longer lists here seemed appropriate. In contrast, you'll notice a few categories with very few or even no suggestions; that's generally because the original category - which you can view here - has few options, none of which I felt met my parameters.

Will you like everything on these lists? Surely not. Would your parameters for making similar lists be different than mine? Quite possibly. I want to reiterate that these lists are merely suggestions based on my personal experience and study, not prescriptions of what is "best" for "everybody."

Though the lists are copyrighted, I offer them freely for downloading and printing; simply click on a link to open a PDF list. I ask only that you link to this post when sharing the lists with others.

May these ideas be a blessing to many.

 *****

NOTE:
Most of the lists
(other than the ones for PRESCHOOL and PARENT RESOURCES)
link to resources for use with "school-aged" kids (i.e., Ages 5-18).

And, though this post was written in 2019, the lists below
are regularly updated to remain current.





Multi-Subject Packages
Charlotte Mason/Living Books
Classical
Delight-Directed/Guided Unschooling
Montessori
Principle Approach / TJEd
Project-Based Learning
Reggio Emilia
Traditional/School-Style: Print-Based
Traditional/School-Style: Online/Video
Waldorf (Steiner)
Unit Studies: Bible-Based
Unit Studies: Geography-Based
Unit Studies: History-Based
Unit Studies: Literature-Based
Unit Studies: Math-Based
Unit Studies: Music-Based
Unit Studies: Science-Based
Unit Studies: Thematic


Art
Appreciation/History
Integrated Technique
Crafting
Drawing/Illustration
Filmmaking
Graphic Design
Painting
Photography
Printmaking
Sculpture/Ceramics


Business Education
Accounting/Business Math
Entrepreneurship
Marketing
Office Skills


Geography
United States
World


Health
Integrated
First Aid
Growth & Development
Hygiene/Personal Care
Nutrition
Physical Education/Fitness
Safety/Prevention


History
American
World
Anthropology/Archaeology



Language Arts
Integrated
Composition
Drama/Theater
Grammar
Literature - Texts
Literary Analysis
Penmanship
Reading/Phonics
Spelling
Vocabulary


Life Skills
Character/Manners
Driver Education
Home Management
Keyboarding
Personal Finance/Consumer Math
Public Speaking
Speed Reading


Math
Elementary
Secondary Integrated
Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Calculus
General Math
Geometry
Pre-Algebra
Pre-Calculus
Statistics
Trigonometry


Music
Appreciation/History
Composition
Listening/Enjoyment
Theory
Instrumental Technique


Religious Education
Apologetics/Worldview
Bible Study/Theology
Christian Living
Devotional
Scripture Memory
Sunday School/VBS
Denomination-Specific
Tenet-Specific


Science
Elementary
Middle School
High School Astronomy
High School Biology
High School Chemistry
High School Earth Science
High School Forensics
High School General Science
High School History of Science
High School Origins
High School Physical Science
High School Physics
High School STEM


Social Sciences
Civics
Economics
Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology
"Social Studies"


Special Subjects
Advanced Academics
Career Studies
Other


Technology
Architecture
AutoCAD
Coding/Computer Programming
Drafting
Electronics
Engineering
Game Design
Robotics
Web Design


Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Middle East
Pacific Islands
Miscellaneous



Academic Support
Brain Training
Research Tools
Standardized Test Prep
Study Skills
Tutoring



Educational Games & Toys
Activity Books
Board/Card Games
Digital Games
Puzzles
Toys


Educational Media
Magazines
Audio Libraries
Video Libraries





Special Needs
ADD/ADHD
Autism/Aspergers/PDD
Cerebral Palsy
Cognitive Disabilities
Emotional Disturbance
Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders
Gifted & Talented
Right-Brain Learners
Sensory Disorders
Speech & Language Disabilities





No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...