Mapping the World With Art (which was written as an alternative curriculum to Mapping the World By Heart) is one of the most popular homeschool geography curriculums on the market. The concept is simple and easy to implement: Read a 2-page mini-history lesson on mapmaking and then draw a map about the historical and geographical region. For the less artistic, Read more
Each book of REAL Science Odyssey is a complete one-year science curriculum based on a strictly secular and science-backed approach. Each topic in the REAL Science Odyssey series is presented in an entertaining story-like format and is followed by hands-on activities along with background science information, parent instructions, labs, reading lists, journaling ideas, and websites. RSO Biology (Level 1 – Read more
Target Grade Level: 4th – 7th If you’ve got a quirky kid who likes logic, enjoys word humor, and picks language rules up quickly, then Language Mechanic may be a good grammar curriculum for your family. Each individual lesson begins with an attention “grabber” – a basic fact which is then followed by three sentences: You Write; Reader’s Think; and Read more
The Key To series offers self-paced, self-guided workbooks—covering topics from fractions and decimals to algebra and geometry. The workbooks offer bite-size, easy-to-follow lessons. Simple language and clear visual models help students grasp concepts quickly. The large number of problems ensures complete mastery. Key to Fractions covers topics from basic concepts to mixed numbers. Handwritten examples provide a non-threatening model, and Read more
Target Grade Level: 6th – 8th Advanced Academic Writing, Volume 1 (AAW 1) is the first of the Michael Clay Thompson writing Middle/Secondary writing series. It’s a serious tome designed to teach a learner how to write an MLA-style academic essay or research paper. It’s designed to be used with MCT’s Magic Lens 1 (grammar) and Word Within a Word Read more
Philosophy for Kids: 40 Fun Questions That Help You Wonder About Everything, written by David A. White, is aimed at children 10 and up but could easily be used with somewhat younger gifted children, depending on verbal skills and their ability to think abstractly. The book is broken down into four sections: 1- Values (ethics) 2- Knowledge (epistemology) 3- Reality Read more
This isn’t your father’s math textbook. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to call it a math curriculum. But, if you’ve got a math-phobic kid who likes all things girly and is into pop culture then this might just be the book you need to get the learning done. Add in your own extra daily practice, like Key To workbooks, and, Read more
Gym class in traditional schools isn’t always a lot of fun. First, there’s the waiting. With 20 to 30 kids and only one ball at play in most games, standing around waiting your turn makes up a big portion of time in large-group physical education classes. Then there’s the mismatch between abilities when kids are randomly selected to compete against Read more
Target Grade Level: 5th – 8th Not often will you get the advice to start reading a book on page 322, but that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you to do with A Pirate’s Guide t’ th’ Grammar of Story. There, you will find a Note from the Publisher, where parents get the straightforward scoop about this curriculum. I’m Read more
Recently, a friend asked me if I had ever heard of the Global Village School homeschool curriculum. She knew I had unschooled my kids in the early years and she knew I was Quaker, with a strong belief in community service and civic responsibility. When my friend stumbled onto GVS, she thought of me and wondered what I thought of Read more
