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
If your student has completed a 6th grade math program and you’re looking for something more rigorous, the Art of Problem Solving Pre-Algebra and Introduction to Algebra could be a good fit. Be warned, though; AoPS unapologetically states: The text is written to challenge students at a much deeper level than a traditional middle school prealgebra course. Developed by the Read more
Back in the 1990s, a group of 3 college friends who had met during the Math Olympiad Summer Program, created a new math contest which they called the Mandelbrot. The first year of the competition didn’t go so well, so the trio decided to write their own math book to help students think deeper in math. That book is what Read more
We’re just going to say it like it is: Art of Problem Solving is a math curriculum designed for kids who LOVE math and are really, really good at it. We’re talking about the kiddos who may be starting Algebra 1 at the age of 10. That’s not to say that other students would not benefit from AoPS. But, if 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
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
