100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum

This book is not perfect; it will eventually become outdated. However there are some wonderful things to learn about yourself and your kids within these pages. The book is not just about curricula; it also talks about learning styles, and teaching styles. Well worth the read if you're even just considering homeschooling.

ISBN 10: 0805431381 / 0-8054-3138-1 
ISBN 13: 9780805431384
Publisher: B & H Books
Publication Date: 2005
Binding: Softcover

Selecting the right curriculum can be a time consuming, heart wrenching task for any family that chooses home education. Now, homeschooling guru Cathy Duffy makes choosing the right resources for your child easy!

Cathy guides you through the process, offering her "Top Picks" from each subject area, narrowing down to a manageable number of choices. Parents no longer need to sort through the entire universe of products before they can find something suitable.

In 100 Top Picks, Cathy narrows the focus and simplifies the curriculum selection process with questionnaires and charts. She walks her readers through the process of figuring out their preferences in terms of a philosophy of education, learning styles, and goal setting.

A major feature of 100 Top Picks is the charts showing the 100 Top Picks in relation to educational approaches, learning styles, and practical features such as prep time needed; design for independent, one-on-one, or group learning; and ease of use for the teacher.

Complete reviews of each of the Top Picks provide parents the information they need to make the best choices for each of their children.

100 Top Picks gives parents just the right balance of guidance and choices so they make well-informed choices in their curriculum purchases.

Rod and Staff Preschool ABC series

• Adventures with Books
• Bible Pictures to Color and Bible Stories to Read
• Counting with Numbers
• Do It Carefully
• Everywhere We Go
• Finding the Answers
• &
• Going on Eagerly
• Hearing and Helping
• Inside and Outside

At last year's MACHS conference my mission was to find Liam some small, simple workbooks that would introduce him to school without too much pressure or difficulty. I wanted to teach him to want to do school. 

These little workbooks were quite possibly the cheapest thing at the curriculum hall, but they were just right for Liam. They're nice and small with simple pictures, and simple instructions. I don't know about other kids, but I've discovered that Liam is very easily distracted by too many extras on workbook pages. If there's too much colour or too many bold pictures on a workbook page, he just can't focus. These books have none of that. They're all black and white line drawings, and there are no extra pictures; only pictures that pertain to the work at hand.

The books are sold is two sets. A through F, and G, H, I. They are intended to be done in alphabetical order, but its not necessary. A, B, C, and D can quite easily be done interchangeably, and E is intended to be review. F is intended to be a little more difficult, and should probably be done last. 

We haven't started G, H, I yet, but by the look of them, I think we will do those ones in order.

Rod and Staff also has a preschool series for 3 to 4-year-olds, but it is very basic. In my opinion its not worth it. At that stage, just give them colouring books and craft supplies. 

After the preschool series Rod and Staff skips right to Grade 1. From what I can tell, the Grade 1 program is focused on learning to read, and it looks like it could be a good program. However, we will not be finding out. There are just too many books and too much money involved. The rest of the curriculum, from what I've seen, seems to be more suited to girls, and/or kids that learn well in the traditional school room setting. It looks decent, but not for our boys. 

In short, I think the Rod and Staff Preschool ABC series is amazing, but that's pretty much the only Rod and Staff curriculum that I'm a fan of. 

'Tis the Season......Tax Season.

Well its that time of year again, time to think about your money. So I figured it would be a good time to do this book review that I've been meaning to do for a while.

Well, its more of a recommendation than a review. This is by far the best finance book I've ever read. Granted, I've not read very many, but I'm convinced that I'll not find a better one for a long time. 

This book explains some simple concepts that make your finances seem a lot less scary.

 

ISBN 0-06-273686-8

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Wealth

"How did a secretary, a firefighter, a retired naval officer, a housewife, a construction worker, a schoolteacher, and a pharmacist become wealthy? Bestselling author Ric Edelman has studied the wealth-making habits of these and 5,000 other ordinary Americans and reveals his findings in this extraordinary book that outlines in eight easy, practical steps and secrets to achieving and maintaining wealth.

Here you'll find a lifetime of wealth-building experience from people just like you -- people who have figured out how to arrange their finances and make wise investment decisions so that they can reach their goals and achieve financial security. Plus, you'll find tips on:

How to turn your mortgage into a wealth-enhancing tool. Why small investments work better than big ones. How to max out on your employer-sponsored retirement plan. When to hold investments and when to fold them. When to pay attention to financial news and when to turn it off.

Let your neighbors lend you a hand. And let Ric Edelman guide you through their lessons in this eye-opening journey with thousands of ordinary folks who found their way to extraordinary wealth."

I recently found out that Ric Edelman is on the faculty at Georgetown University. That combined with the fact that we're planning a vacation very close to there made me feel a little like one of these crazy fans.

Wanting to snap a picture, or shake his hand, just to say I did.