Deciding on Curriculum and Resources

You will need to decide on a philosophy of education before you decide what curriculum and resources to use. A wide variety of resources is available. The closer your choices fit your family?s philosophy and style, the more successful you will be. Most families piece together their own curriculum by picking and choosing the best for their family from different publishers. It is usually best to start small and add later. To get a firsthand look at the a large variety of materials, attend NCHE?s Annual Conference and Book Fair. Our conference features about 90 vendors of curriculum and educational materials. A brief description of the most commonly used curricula and resources is provided below.
For a more detailed and comprehensive description we refer you to:

• Christian Home Educators? Curriculum Manual (Elementary or Jr./Sr. High), Cathy Duffy
  
• The Big Book of Home Learning: Getting Started, Mary Pride

Curriculum Approaches

Below are four common curriculum approaches**. The four corresponding letters will be used as a descriptive tool in the Commonly Used Curricula section that follows.

• A Traditional and Conventional Text Books: Uses graded textbooks for each subject; most commonly used approach in institutional schools.
• B Early Academics: Stresses reading, writing, and arithmetic skills at an early age; uses workbooks, visual aids, and manipulatives.
• C Workbooks or Programmed Learning: Workbooks are consumable books with questions or projects included and condensed instructions. Programmed is step-by-step sequence of small units of facts which provide immediate feedback.
• D Unit Study: All subjects center around a common theme and different ages can be involved with the same theme. Units do not include a math or language program, therefore, these need to be added.

Commonly Used Curricula

A Beka (800) 874-BEKA

• Curriculum approaches: A, B, C
• Christian, patriotic, and conservative.
• Developed for classroom use.
• Must be adapted to home situation; if done as recommended it would be a whole day?s school work; books may be good reference material.

Accelerated Christian Educators (800) 925-7777

• Curriculum approaches: B, C
  
• Materials designed for students to work independently.
• Students are placed at the appropriate starting point in each subject.
• Biblical perspectives are incorporated throughout the material.

Advanced Training Institute (630) 323-2842

• Curriculum approach: D
• Unique Bible-centered family program emphasizing life training and character development.
• Requires attendance at three week-long seminars and adoption of certain spiritual convictions.
• Requires commitment to regular reporting to the Institute.
• Multi-age level use.

Alpha Omega (800) 622-3070

• Curriculum approaches: B, C
• Bible-centered.
• CD-ROM and correspondence versions available.
• An interactive, teacher-presented math is an option in K-6.
• Diagnostic tests for appropriate placement in each subject.

Bob Jones (800) 845-5731

• Curriculum approaches: A, B, C
• Christian, patriotic, and conservative.
• Developed for classroom use.
• Must be adapted to home situation; if done as recommended it would be a whole day?s school work; books may be good reference material.

Calvert (410) 785-3400

• Curriculum approaches: A, B, C
• Early academics offered but more relaxed than Bob Jones and A Beka.
• Uses a tutorial method and therefore takes less time than other traditional approaches, especially in the early years.
• Mixing of grade levels not allowed; pre-packaged for each grade level; fully prepared daily lessons.
• Secular, but has traditional moral values.
• K through eighth grade.

Christian Liberty Academy (847) 259-4444

• Curriculum approaches: A, B, C
• Christian, patriotic and conservative.
• Texts chosen according to student?s achievement level.

Clonlara (734) 769-451

• Curriculum approach up to the parent.
• Provides record keeping and counseling.
• Supportive of less structured homeschooling.
• Provides recommendations of educational resources.
• Offers some computerized high school courses.

Konos (336) 887-2045

• Curriculum approach: D
• Based on character traits such as obedience.
• Comes from a Christian perspective.
• Provides activity suggestions, book lists, vocabulary words, pertinent historical character examples, and optional character timeline.
• Multi-age level use.
• Offers a new high school program covering world history, English and art, written to the student.
• Emphasis is discovery learning.

Sonlight Curriculum (303) 730-6292

• Literature based, emphasis on world history and cultures and international Christian missions.
• Provides materials in all subjects and coordinates them for a school year.
• Early academics offered but more relaxed than Bob Jones, A Beka, Alpha Omega, etc.
• Provided in grade levels but can be adapted for multiple children close in age.

Other Sources for Math

• Elementary Algebra and Geometry, by Harold Jacobs
• Discovering Geometry, Key to...Workbooks, Miquon, Key Curriculum Press (800) 338-7638
• Making Math Meaningful, Cornerstone Curriculum Project (972) 235-5149
• Mastering Mathematics (828) 684-0429
• Math-U-See (888) 854-6284
• Moving With Math, Math Teacher?s Press (800) 852-2435
• Saxon Math Series
• Singapore Math

Other Sources for Phonics and Reading

Other Sources for Language Arts