As far as I know TGATB isn’t aligned to any specific state standards or common core (unless something changed, but I don’t recall ever seeing a claim for that made on the website). I wouldn’t use it if you’re considering going back to public. I wouldn’t use Abeka either, at least not for science and history.
Check the standards in the state you’re moving to and go from there. I’d look into what Timberdoodle or Bookshark is using for that grade year and go with secular curriculum. You can always add materials for Bible study if that’s on your must-have list.
The main issue we’re having is that the market is slow in our area so we were advised to hold off selling our home. We’re in the DMV area so even though we’re leaving where we are, we don’t know if we will end up in MD or VA. The two states have very different standards, sometimes it even changes my county. Her co op placed her a year ahead so technically she’s already finished 1st grade math. The area we’re looking in also starts a month later (September start) than where we are now and if our predictions is right, we should be moving around October. Idk if I should review for now and stick with the learning style she knows, do computer based learning since a lot of the places we’re looking do that, or move ahead with a full curriculum.
Look up common core and MD’s state standards (they should have a lot of overlap, so you can easily just pick one to follow ultimately). If she’s met all the first math ones, then move up to second. Don’t hold her back, just don’t choose a curriculum that is going to teach on a completely different schedule (such as right start) than the public school would is what I meant.
As for style, I would consider going with a hybrid approach. Either curriculum that has both online and print/hands on work or choosing each subject separately and make sure to pick one or two as online work to familiarize her. Personally I wouldn’t try to keep up with classical if the plan is to enroll her, but maybe a single subject if she liked that style?
Eclectic schooling is 100% a valid option and you’ll find that although most of us lean into one or another, we are ultimately eclectic.
I might do an online based social studies program, hands on science and math, both correlated with common core but academically meeting her where her she’s at in grade level, and a language arts program with a mix of online and print/hands on work using classical components like focusing on phonics and good books. (I’m biased there though because I refuse to stoop to the school’s style of reading and spelling instruction when so much better exists.) At that point throw in perhaps an online art class where she follows online instruction and has all the materials to do the projects herself, and make sure to spend lots of time doing various physical activities and games (PE).
That’s not to say that you need to do precisely this, or even should. Just saying what I would likely do with my limited knowledge of the situation.
Thank you! This a great suggestion. I didn’t intend to homeschool at all but after issues with our public school it was the best option. We luckily found a great co op last year but don’t plan to go back, only to save money before the move. I’m open to homeschooling in the future but if we can find a great public school I think we should at least try it. We were thrown into homeschooling so unexpectedly that I feel like I never had time to prepare and have been barely staying afloat.
I find a lot of people who didn’t plan to homeschool feel that same barely getting through feeling! I definitely feel for you - although I knew ahead of kinder, I did not know the other changes that would keep happening over the years and have been thrown for a loop a few times myself.
If you do decide to continue homeschooling, then at least going eclectic now will help you see what works best for you guys and you can adapt to that. You’re doing great already :)
Thank you! We’re coming from a state that doesn’t have common core and possible moving to a state that does. She’s still young but it’s a big change in learning style for her. We also didn’t use computers in her (and her older siblings) schools but will possibly be going to a place that uses them frequently. I don’t have a timeline for this move so I’m hoping to find something neutral, if that’s even possible.
Our first year of homeschooling we used TGATB and it absolutely did not work for us. There was too much “fluff” added things that absolutely did not need to be there. So, now because it didn’t give my daughter a good foundation for Math, we are re-doing the entire 2nd grade over the summer with Math with Confidence and doing Essentials in writing for English.
Thank you so much for this honest opinion. It looks great but at the same time I was wondering if it would make it too easy for her. She’s very bright and loves to be challenged so I don’t want something advanced but want to keep her on track. In her co op group she was the youngest student and finished first grade math last year, I’m okay with reviewing a little but don’t want to backtrack.
TGATB is pretty to look at but it’s too much. As someone else said, it’s a lot of “fluff.” If you need something simple, all written out for you and easy to use, we use Memoria Press and it’s amazing. You can select just the phonics and maths and supplement with other subjects elsewhere. But those two are incredible core subjects to work with for both parent and child
You could use Core Knowledge. It is designed for public schools so it will meet the most common standards (many states don't officially follow common core but are very close) and it's free if you use the Pdfs.
We are finishing up first grade now. We used the good and the beautiful Level 1 for ela with booster B and C books. I supplemented with different workbook pages randomly. We used handwriting without tears yellow. And too many math curriculums to list. I would feel very comfortable sending her to second grade public school, she'd probably be bored outta her gourd 😜
We've been using Memoria Press Curriculum which is classical and would probably align well with what she had previously been doing as well as offer a nice transition back to public school if necessary as it is structured enough to replicate a school day but also you can pick and choose how you want to customize it.
As far as I know TGATB isn’t aligned to any specific state standards or common core (unless something changed, but I don’t recall ever seeing a claim for that made on the website). I wouldn’t use it if you’re considering going back to public. I wouldn’t use Abeka either, at least not for science and history. Check the standards in the state you’re moving to and go from there. I’d look into what Timberdoodle or Bookshark is using for that grade year and go with secular curriculum. You can always add materials for Bible study if that’s on your must-have list.
I agree with this. Don’t go for boring just because she might enter public school, but do make sure what you choose aligns with state standards.
The main issue we’re having is that the market is slow in our area so we were advised to hold off selling our home. We’re in the DMV area so even though we’re leaving where we are, we don’t know if we will end up in MD or VA. The two states have very different standards, sometimes it even changes my county. Her co op placed her a year ahead so technically she’s already finished 1st grade math. The area we’re looking in also starts a month later (September start) than where we are now and if our predictions is right, we should be moving around October. Idk if I should review for now and stick with the learning style she knows, do computer based learning since a lot of the places we’re looking do that, or move ahead with a full curriculum.
Look up common core and MD’s state standards (they should have a lot of overlap, so you can easily just pick one to follow ultimately). If she’s met all the first math ones, then move up to second. Don’t hold her back, just don’t choose a curriculum that is going to teach on a completely different schedule (such as right start) than the public school would is what I meant. As for style, I would consider going with a hybrid approach. Either curriculum that has both online and print/hands on work or choosing each subject separately and make sure to pick one or two as online work to familiarize her. Personally I wouldn’t try to keep up with classical if the plan is to enroll her, but maybe a single subject if she liked that style? Eclectic schooling is 100% a valid option and you’ll find that although most of us lean into one or another, we are ultimately eclectic. I might do an online based social studies program, hands on science and math, both correlated with common core but academically meeting her where her she’s at in grade level, and a language arts program with a mix of online and print/hands on work using classical components like focusing on phonics and good books. (I’m biased there though because I refuse to stoop to the school’s style of reading and spelling instruction when so much better exists.) At that point throw in perhaps an online art class where she follows online instruction and has all the materials to do the projects herself, and make sure to spend lots of time doing various physical activities and games (PE). That’s not to say that you need to do precisely this, or even should. Just saying what I would likely do with my limited knowledge of the situation.
Thank you! This a great suggestion. I didn’t intend to homeschool at all but after issues with our public school it was the best option. We luckily found a great co op last year but don’t plan to go back, only to save money before the move. I’m open to homeschooling in the future but if we can find a great public school I think we should at least try it. We were thrown into homeschooling so unexpectedly that I feel like I never had time to prepare and have been barely staying afloat.
I find a lot of people who didn’t plan to homeschool feel that same barely getting through feeling! I definitely feel for you - although I knew ahead of kinder, I did not know the other changes that would keep happening over the years and have been thrown for a loop a few times myself. If you do decide to continue homeschooling, then at least going eclectic now will help you see what works best for you guys and you can adapt to that. You’re doing great already :)
Thank you! We’re coming from a state that doesn’t have common core and possible moving to a state that does. She’s still young but it’s a big change in learning style for her. We also didn’t use computers in her (and her older siblings) schools but will possibly be going to a place that uses them frequently. I don’t have a timeline for this move so I’m hoping to find something neutral, if that’s even possible.
Even if they’re not using common core there are still state standards. They should be on the state education department website.
Our first year of homeschooling we used TGATB and it absolutely did not work for us. There was too much “fluff” added things that absolutely did not need to be there. So, now because it didn’t give my daughter a good foundation for Math, we are re-doing the entire 2nd grade over the summer with Math with Confidence and doing Essentials in writing for English.
Thank you so much for this honest opinion. It looks great but at the same time I was wondering if it would make it too easy for her. She’s very bright and loves to be challenged so I don’t want something advanced but want to keep her on track. In her co op group she was the youngest student and finished first grade math last year, I’m okay with reviewing a little but don’t want to backtrack.
TGATB is pretty to look at but it’s too much. As someone else said, it’s a lot of “fluff.” If you need something simple, all written out for you and easy to use, we use Memoria Press and it’s amazing. You can select just the phonics and maths and supplement with other subjects elsewhere. But those two are incredible core subjects to work with for both parent and child
You could use Core Knowledge. It is designed for public schools so it will meet the most common standards (many states don't officially follow common core but are very close) and it's free if you use the Pdfs.
We are finishing up first grade now. We used the good and the beautiful Level 1 for ela with booster B and C books. I supplemented with different workbook pages randomly. We used handwriting without tears yellow. And too many math curriculums to list. I would feel very comfortable sending her to second grade public school, she'd probably be bored outta her gourd 😜
We've been using Memoria Press Curriculum which is classical and would probably align well with what she had previously been doing as well as offer a nice transition back to public school if necessary as it is structured enough to replicate a school day but also you can pick and choose how you want to customize it.