Archive for the ‘Homeschool Curriculum’ Category

Getting Started Homeschooling

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Alpha Omega Publications

Wondering what’s the best homeschool curriculum Christian parents can use to successfully educate their
child? If you’re like most homeschool parents, you probably spend countless hours researching different
products to find the perfect resource to improve your homeschooling experience. Although quality, Christian

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A decision by The Texas Board of Education to change the curriculum in Texas social studies textbooks has brought on a tremendous amount of controversy between the democratic and republican members. A few of the primary decisions that were made and heavily argued over are the following:

•  The Board removed Thomas Jefferson from the Texas curriculum, “replacing him with religious right icon John Calvin.”
•  The Board refused to require that “students learn that the Constitution prevents the U.S. government from promoting one religion over all others.”
• Classification of historic periods (still B.C. and A.D., rather than B.C.E. and C.E.)
• Students are now required to explain the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its impact on global politics 
• Former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir will be a required learning 
• There will be a reference to the Second Amendment right to bear arms in a section about citizenship in a U.S. government class
• Arguments over including hip-hop as an example of a significant cultural movement (Will Not happen)
• Denial to add the names or references to important Hispanics throughout history
• Teachers in Texas are now required to teach the Judeo-Christian influences of the nation’s Founding Fathers, but not highlight the philosophical rationale for the separation of church and state.

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Can you imagine most of Americans not knowing what the true meaning of Easter is? Apparently, this is sad a reality.

According to a recent study done nationwide by the Barna Group asking Americans what their definition of the Easter holiday is found that although most Americans identified Easter as a holiday, little knew what the true meaning of Easter actually is. How many exactly? While 67% of Americans relate Easter as a religious holiday, only a staggering 42% of Americans said that the true meaning of Easter was the resurrection of Jesus or that it signifies Christ death and return to life. These numbers mean that over have of Americans have no idea what Easter means. Yikes!!

He Is Risen DVD

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Biology books by Apologia and Bob Jones University Press, two top homeschool curriculum textbooks dismiss the popular Darwin theory of Evolution to homeschool students causing college professors, homeschooling mothers, and many others to become appalled and speak up. Specifically, one AP reporter wrote about a secular homeschooling mom’s “outrage” who thought her 10-year-old daughter was going to “have a coronary” when she encountered passages in her biology textbook which disputed Darwin’s theory of evolution. 

Many professors such as Professor Jerry Coyne who runs the blog WhyEvolutionIsTrue.com and Professor Porter, the director of the Darwin Correspondence Project at Cambridge University, believe that the government should ban the textbook. “If this is the way kids are home-schooled then they’re being shortchanged, both rationally and in terms of biology,” Coyne said. He argued that the books may steer students away from careers in biology or the study of the history of the earth.

 “So should the government ban them or censor them, said Rob Shearer Director of the Francis Schaeffer Study Center. Ah, tolerance – extended by the liberal main-stream media to every imaginable political, religious, or sexually deviant interest group, except conservative Christians. America, what a country!”

Or should parents of homeschooled children have the right to have a textbook that only focuses on Christian beliefs rather than scientific beliefs?  Should parents make sure they teach both so that kids are prepared for the reality they face when they take Science classes in college? Read the rest of this entry »

Top Ten Things to Do When Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum

1. PRAY and ask for God’s leading. He knows the perfect curriculum for each member of your family and will guide you in your search.

2. EXAMINE the different homeschooling teaching styles. As a teacher, consider which of the following methods you would enjoy best:

• Print based – Many first-time homeschoolers enjoy the confidence of teaching with a proven, print-based curriculum. LIFEPAC® for grades K-12 is a grade-level, worktext curriculum designed by seasoned educators. It covers the general subject areas of math, science, history & geography, language, and Bible, plus a variety of electives. LIFEPAC is based on the principal of mastery learning, and teachers use consumable worktexts, drill and memorization, practice problems, review, testing, and grading to instill academic concepts in their student. For more information about LIFEPAC, visit http://www.nestlearning.com/lifepac_s46.aspx.

Another print-based option for homeschoolers is Horizons. The Horizons curriculum is language arts and math courses for students in grades K-6. Using a method called spiral learning, students using Horizons will move through each concept in a process of introduction, review and reinforcement. Students enjoy each colorfully illustrated lesson and parents benefit from detailed Teacher’s Guides and a precise structure that diminishes prep time. It’s a smooth, fast, and very effective curriculum. For more information about Horizons, visit http://www.nestlearning.com/horizons_s48.aspx.

• Computer based – Teachers use technology and time-saving features found in the CD-ROM based Switched-On Schoolhouse® (SOS) curriculum to instruct students in grades 3-12. Homeschoolers can add their own touch and easily customize lesson plans with this interactive, multimedia curriculum that covers five core subjects and a variety of electives. Grading, record keeping, and daily lesson planning are also automated with the administrative tools for teachers found in the curriculum. For more information about SOS, visit http://www.nestlearning.com/switched-on-schoolhouse_s47.aspx.

• Unit studies – Teachers focus on a particular topic or time period with age-appropriate activities for students in the main subject areas. This method requires intensive teacher preparation, but teachers and students alike enjoy the active hands-on learning. The Weaver Curriculum® from AOP is an excellent curriculum that is based on the unit study approach. For more information about Weaver, visit http://www.nestlearning.com/weaver_s196.aspx.

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