Homeschoolers: Please help!

[Cadbury]

I used Hooked on Phonics for my daughter. She completed the Kindergarten level/ yellow book last year. She was three. It really breaks it down to the smallest part and really practices it until you’ve got it. The practice is kinda boring but you only spend about 10 to 15 min doing that everyday. The stories are cute and she really liked them. Plus there is a game CD that comes with it that is really fun and reinforces the words they learned. The CHC reading stuff just started off way to fast in their books. But then they are written for kids that are older too. Anyway we are using Hooked on Phonics again for this year so they get my vote. Everything else we are using comes of the Kindergarten list at Angelicum.

I also went and looked into the A beka books this year. I really liked the fact that you can get the DVD program. It would really save me given that time is hard to come by here with a 4 year old a 2 1/2 year old and a newborn. But I am very leary of the protestant take on things. I was actually taught using A beka when I was a kid at an Evangelical school. So I can vouch for the fact that their reading program and math is top notch. But as I recall absolutely every subject is saturated with their view point on religion. However I did learn to use and read my Bible and I still enjoy that to this day…so not all bad. If only they used the “real” Bible!

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

17 years of experience talking . . .

There is no ‘prefect’ curriculum. You can look and look and change programs every year, but at some point you make a decision, have confidence, and just go with it.

ABeka and other Protestant curricula may be more splashy than many of the Catholic materials out there. We got to a point when we decided we wanted to support the Catholic suppliers. There are many more Catholic materials now than there were when we started. If people had not supported them, they may have gone out of business.

I did use some ABeka materials and tried to buy those used, so I was helping a homeschool mom, not buying from ABeka directly.

Just my .02

**Yep. What she said.:yup: **

I’ll also add, that if one simply cannot find what they need from a Catholic provider, which I do understand happens, there are many non-Catholic matierals out there that are not produced by anti-catholics. Sadly, sometimes it’s better to even go with something secular than protestant. Secular as in fairly neutral not as in anti-all religion or humanist based.

If it will help, my blog as lots of sources. There’s a catholic education and a general education tab at the top with resources listed. It’s not everything there is, but there’s several items I know to be good and not anti-catholic.

 

[Feedmysheep]

There’s Cathswap for buying used Catholic materials. I was able to buy all of one child’s curriculum one year off Cathswap for 1/3 of what I would have paid new.

I’m so picky about not supporting anti-Catholic providers in any way, so that rules out even the “neutral” A Beka materials. I’d rather support a secular company than one that includes heresy in any of its materials, so I don’t mind the extra time it takes to hunt down used Catholic materials.

 

[leonie]

Good point. Another point I want to make regarding goals for our children’s reading education: The most prevalent educational philosophy on reading today is to teach children to read early. Yet, some children may not be developmentally ready to learn to read in kindergarten or even first grade.

Super good point. My oldest son didn’t read until he as almost ten, though he was very good on phonics. His brain just wasn’t ready to put it together. He has obvious signs of dysgraphia, too.

When he did read, he advanced vey quickly and within months was above grade level.

Since he was my oldest, I was full of anxiety, but now that I’ve been through it, I am better able to be patient when kids are not on the typical schedule.

My 3rd grader is still at a beginning 1st grade reading level. And, my first grader is just starting to show readiness signs to learn numbers and letters.

Every child is different.

 

[wifenmommy]

Here’s my two cents on A Beka, then I’ll tell you what we used.

I can’t bring myself to support in any way a company that is anti-Catholic. I know lots of devout Catholic homeschoolers who use A Beka for math or whatnot but not their history, but I still see it as funding a company that spreads heresy. If I can support a Catholic company, I would rather do that.

Ok, off soapbox.

We use CHC’s “Little Stories for Little Folks” and Spectrum Phonics books (secular) until the Kindergardener can read very very simple sentences. Then we start to integrate the “Faith and Freedom” readers (Seton carries them) and child-chosen library books.

We also use www.starfall.com to help with beginning reading. It’s a very fun, interactive website. After using CHC’s phonics program, our children can read from this website by mid- to end of Kindergarden.

I like CHC because it is gentle, age-appropriate, and very Catholic. I don’t feel it’s as overwhelming as Seton’s program.

I’ve also had friends who’ve had great success with the “Learn to Read in 100 Easy Lessons” book. Have you checked that out, yet?

You might be surprised at what your DD finds appealing. My children are all so excited to learn to read they don’t mind sitting through the less exciting CHC program. Plus, if I let them pick very very easy books from the library, it offsets the less than glamorous nature of CHC.

Uhhh…have you been peeking in my classroom?? LOL!! That is exactly what we use, CHC, Starfall, 100EL!!! I refuse to use Abeka also for the same reasons. I agree, I would rather support a Catholic company first if I could!!

 

[mamacita]

**Okay, now everyone is stating how ‘anti-Catholic’ Abeka is however I fall to see it in the kinder. READING books. Am I missing it?? Those books speak nothing of religion in them from what I saw, where is it in the K readersbooks???

By the way, I had heard of Bob Books and they do look very cool but still need a writing program to go w/ it. I was always told that if you are let’s just say for instance here, starting w/ letters ‘s, t, a, and m’ in the first set of books then you would need to start off w/ a phonics writing program that emphasizes those same letters and their sounds, so how does that work out when you are using the Bob Books?? **

 

[Krisy]

By the way, I had heard of Bob Books and they do look very cool but still need a writing program to go w/ it. I was always told that if you are let’s just say for instance here, starting w/ letters ‘s, t, a, and m’ in the first set of books then you would need to start off w/ a phonics writing program that emphasizes those same letters and their sounds, so how does that work out when you are using the Bob Books??

I guess this is why I love Sing, Spell, Read, & Write so much. It has phonics, writing, reading, etc. It is a complete, fun program that teaches all of the necessary reading/early writing skills to young children. It emphasizes phonics, and it teaches children many of the important things to remember with song (they are catchy, so the kids remember them easily). They read books appropriate to the step they are on (included in the program) and master one thing at a time. They learn creative writing, spelling, and beginning grammar within the steps. My 7 and 5 year olds just finished the final step in the program a few minutes ago (except for the final tests), and I am so proud of how far they have come using this program. The tip about Cathswap is another great suggestion. I am purchasing 3 things for next school year from that site.

HTH,
Krisy

 

[mamacita]

By the way, I had heard of Bob Books and they do look very cool but still need a writing program to go w/ it. I was always told that if you are let’s just say for instance here, starting w/ letters ‘s, t, a, and m’ in the first set of books then you would need to start off w/ a phonics writing program that emphasizes those same letters and their sounds, so how does that work out when you are using the Bob Books??

I guess this is why I love Sing, Spell, Read, & Write so much. It has phonics, writing, reading, etc. It is a complete, fun program that teaches all of the necessary reading/early writing skills to young children. It emphasizes phonics, and it teaches children many of the important things to remember with song (they are catchy, so the kids remember them easily). They read books appropriate to the step they are on (included in the program) and master one thing at a time. They learn creative writing, spelling, and beginning grammar within the steps. My 7 and 5 year olds just finished the final step in the program a few minutes ago (except for the final tests), and I am so proud of how far they have come using this program. The tip about Cathswap is another great suggestion. I am purchasing 3 things for next school year from that site.

HTH,
Krisy

**
I looked up the Sing, Spell, …program on Angelicum’s site but it doesn’t let you ‘see inside’. Is there another site that carries that particular program where you can actually see what is inside the books??

I am one of those people that hate buying w/out fully seeing something, kwim??**

 

[Krisy]

**
I looked up the Sing, Spell, …program on Angelicum’s site but it doesn’t let you ‘see inside’. Is there another site that carries that particular program where you can actually see what is inside the books??

I am one of those people that hate buying w/out fully seeing something, kwim??**

I really don’t know where to direct you to see more information about the program, but feel free to PM me anytime for specific details. I understand wanting to see it ahead of time. I took a chance with it, and I’ve been truly thrilled. Let me know if you want to “talk” more about it!

Krisy

 

[Feedmysheep]

**Okay, now everyone is stating how ‘anti-Catholic’ Abeka is however I fall to see it in the kinder. READING books. Am I missing it?? Those books speak nothing of religion in them from what I saw, where is it in the K readersbooks???
**

My objection isn’t anti-Catholic content in each particular book. I’m sure the lower level stuff is completely free of anti-Catholic sentiment. My personal objection is supporting a company that spreads heresy in ANY of its materials.

Personally, I view it the same way as I view donating to March of Dimes or Susan B. Komen. They may not personally perform abortions, but they have enough contact with organizations that do that I prefer to take my money elsewhere.

There are so many amazing Catholic and secular homeschool resources out there that I haven’t run across any problems sending my hard earned money (or, more to the point, DH’s hard earned money) to companies I don’t have any moral issues with. Purchasing A Beka’s math materials, for example, provides them with money they can then use to produce more anti-Catholic upper-level history books, and our family has chosen to not take part in that.

 

[surfinpure]

I was homeschooled using the A Beka Curriculum, and I can testify that most of the anti-Catholic or just outright Protestant beliefs I formed during my early years came straight out of their material.

To be fair, however, this did not occur in every subject or at every level. Their spelling and grammar books were so good that they either matched or surpassed what I encountered in college, and their science was (at least in my young estimation) highly engaging. But much of their reading material (at least back then) was not only Protestant but Puritanical. Most of the indoctrination took place from perhaps 5th or 6th grade on.

When I was finishing high school my parents took me to visit Pensacola Christian College (which publishes the A Beka books) and we were absolutely shocked at the atmosphere and ideas we encountered. They are strict Independent Baptists, they are vehemently anti-Catholic, and they recommend that anyone who is a Catholic not attend their school. While this information may have no bearing on your decision about curricula, I think it may help to understand the background of the A Beka thinking.

Hope this helps,

Mary

 

[surfinpure]

Afterthought:

Since you mentioned specifically the reading program, I will share this. While at the 4th or 5th grade level they may not actively promote Protestantism (though likely they will in some way, by including writings from Puritans or the “Great Awakening” period), you can be sure they will filter the material so that nothing they believe to be inappropriate will get through. Even in high school I never studied Homer or Virgil. There was very little Shakespeare (I think only Julius Caesar, actually). And other classics you would expect a student to encounter in literature were noticeably absent from the text. So if you choose to go with the A Beka reading materials, you may at some find it helpful to supplement with some broader stuff as well.

 

[mamacita]

I was homeschooled using the A Beka Curriculum, and I can testify that most of the anti-Catholic or just outright Protestant beliefs I formed during my early years came straight out of their material.

To be fair, however, this did not occur in every subject or at every level. Their spelling and grammar books were so good that they either matched or surpassed what I encountered in college, and their science was (at least in my young estimation) highly engaging. But much of their reading material (at least back then) was not only Protestant but Puritanical. Most of the indoctrination took place from perhaps 5th or 6th grade on.

When I was finishing high school my parents took me to visit Pensacola Christian College (which publishes the A Beka books) and we were absolutely shocked at the atmosphere and ideas we encountered. They are strict Independent Baptists, they are vehemently anti-Catholic, and they recommend that anyone who is a Catholic not attend their school. While this information may have no bearing on your decision about curricula, I think it may help to understand the background of the A Beka thinking.

Hope this helps,

Mary

**
Thank you for this post Mary. It really gives me a clearer idea of what the previous posters were stating but none really gave me direct examples.

Thanks again!! **

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

**Thank you for this post Mary. It really gives me a clearer idea of what the previous posters were stating but none really gave me direct examples. **

**Thanks again!! **

I’ll give an example. My oldest ds did some 1st and 2nd grade. I remember him getting very upset that monsters were comming after people. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out where in the reading and writing materials he was getting that idea. Finally, he threw a fit and said, "We’re supposed to save them! But it doesn’t say what from! Just that if we can tell them about Jesus we can save them and we have be a witness to it! We have to tell others about it! But I don’t know what to save them from?! How can I save them without knowing what is comming after them?!"

---

**I kind of laugh about it now. Bless his logical Catholic heart. **

---

Poor kid thought monsters were coming after everyone because he’d never heard those terms before. So no, the book didn’t say the pope is the anti-christ (although Abeka and Pensacola have been known to teach that sentiment) , but it was VERY heavy even in 1st with witnessing, saving, and proclamations of faith. That was 6/7 years ago and the materials havn’t changed much since then. So that’s MY personal obvious example, but once my eyes were opened to noticing those things, I saw lots of really little nuances that pointed in the same direction in more subtle ways too.

---

Even if that hadn’t been the case, I wouldn’t want to fund them anymore anyways knowing what I know now.

---

I’m NOT saying you have to use something specificly and expressly Catholic, just saying there are LOTS of great options that aren’t so protestant and will help you meet your goals.

---

**But the greatness of homeschooling is that YOU get to do what YOU feel is best for your child’s education. **

 

[Feedmysheep]

**But the greatness of homeschooling is that YOU get to do what YOU feel is best for your child’s education. **

Absolutely. I in no way want to appear to condemn another family’s curriculum choice- that’s the beauty of homeschooling- the FAMILY gets to decide what is best for the family.

 

[leonie]

We use whatever I feel is best for our family. Abeka has a very good math program. and, the mathtexts are very affordable. I much prefer it to Saxon Math.

I have a little different take than some hsers. I’d rather give my money to a Christian publisher than a secular one. But really, I go for the best deal. I’ve been able to get abeka books from ebay, the used book store locally, and other secondhand online store. Actually buying wholesale is my last choice.

For history, readers, literature, and religion (of course), I use Catholic materials because these are the subjects that form a worldview.

If you are worried about giving your money to a Protestant publisher, you can try to find the material secondhand. Lots of people buy materials that they never use because their plans change. Then you get the materials and the seller gets the money rather than the publisher.

 

[Feedmysheep]

If you are worried about giving your money to a Protestant publisher, you can try to find the material secondhand. Lots of people buy materials that they never use because their plans change. Then you get the materials and the seller gets the money rather than the publisher.

That’s why I love Cathswap. One year, I got all of our HS books for under $100- including consumables! If you’re willing to sift through all the emails, you can’t beat Cathswap.

 

[mamacita]

**One more question for you wonderful homeschoolers.

Have any of you tried Horizons? Is it anti-Catholic as well? I am not sure that’s why I am asking all of you. Thanks!!**

 

[Feedmysheep]

**One more question for you wonderful homeschoolers.

Have any of you tried Horizons? Is it anti-Catholic as well? I am not sure that’s why I am asking all of you. Thanks!!**

Check out keepingitcatholic’s red flag list here:
keepingitcatholic.org/pit.html
and
keepingitcatholic.org/pit2.html

Now, FYI, they’re a DR-only, anti-Harry Potter sort of website, so if those are things that get stuck in your craw, heads up. But they do explain what warning signs to look for in a text book, and give reasons why some common Protestant books are not Catholic-friendly.

 

[mamacita]

Check out keepingitcatholic’s red flag list here:
keepingitcatholic.org/pit.html
and
keepingitcatholic.org/pit2.html

Now, FYI, they’re a DR-only, anti-Harry Potter sort of website, so if those are things that get stuck in your craw, heads up. But they do explain what warning signs to look for in a text book, and give reasons why some common Protestant books are not Catholic-friendly.

**
Okay, thanks. How do I know if Horizons is Protestant or not? I know they aren’t Catholic but they are Christian.

By the way, what does DR-only mean? I don’t read Harry Potter, no thank you. **