Choosing the correct curriculum is essential for your child's academic success. Let homeschool expert Cathy Duffy help you determine your educational philosophy and the approach that best complements your child's learning style. Her product reviews will acquaint you with some of the best materials available for all subjects, including unit studies, electives, online classes, and all-in-one programs---all with a Christian perspective. 320 pages, softcover from B&H.
Choosing the right curriculum for a homeschool student can be a daunting task for a parent, so Cathy Duffy comes to the rescue with her new book 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. Back when some of us began homeschooling in the 70’s and 80’s there were not many choices as far as curriculum. Now there are so many that a parent could spend years just sorting through it all and never get started, or waste a year trying to use a good curriculum with a child that it does not fit.
Cathy Duffy is a household name with veteran homeschoolers. She has been a leader in homeschool circles for years and made her first major contribution with her book Christian Home Educator’s Curriculum Manual. For the past twenty years Cathy has been a speaker at homeschool conferences and worked as a consultant to publishers, distributors and individuals. Her writing is a wealth of information and good guidance for beginner and veteran alike.
100 Top Picks is designed to help a parent determine his student’s best choices by evaluating the student’s learning styles and the parent’s educational philosophies. Chapters 1-5 are interactive chapters posing questions with writing space, like a workbook, to help a person line out his philosophies and then judge what type of learning styles his student has. Chapters 7-11 discuss the basic school subjects and introduce suitable curriculum for each. The reviews of the materials are detailed and even include prices and purchasing info. Chapters 11-13 discuss choices for unit studies and all-in-one programs, foreign language programs, electives, and on-line classes.
This book helps answer the question; “How in the world do I figure out which curriculum to use?” I would recommend it highly to anyone starting out in home education. It would also be beneficial for homeschoolers who feel they need to rethink their philosophies or change curriculum. – Elece Hollis, Christian Book Previews.com
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 stars(5 out of 5 stars)
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5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Michelle Allgood (Cleveland, TX), October 08, 2009
I'm new to homeschooling and this book is a great resource for those who aren't sure where to start. Cathy Duffy breaks it down to the basics with details later. She uses her own experience as well to give practical advice. This is a MUST BUY for everyone in homeschooling.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Lori Powers (Gillette, WY), May 22, 2009
This was by far one of the best resources I have found. It really helped me out when trying to find the right curriculum. I would recommend it to anyone feeling overwhelmed by all the homeschool stuff out there.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Jesica Walker (Austin, TX), October 08, 2008
A very smart book with indepth review of major works, an explanation of learning styles that goes beyond the ordinary (which helped me to understand my daughter much better), and a quick reference chart that rates all works according to how they impact the specific learning syle. It simply works! You can look at the book for 30 minutes and know what to buy for you child. I confirmed some of my ideas and impulses, changed my mind in regard to others, and decided to go with a couple of methods on some subjects: one that I believe is a must (chronological history) and the other that I know would be intersting to her learning style (Character trait history).
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rick And Margaret Shaver (Dauphin, PA), August 20, 2008
Highly recommend for those just starting out homeschooling and those who need a refresher. This is my second book because I gave my first to a friend who was starting to HS.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Susan (Yorba Linda, CA), July 06, 2008
Excellent resource for anyone considering homeschooling. I value Cathy's experience in the area of homeschooling. Its like having a friend to help in sorting through the vast amount of home school curriculum available.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Kim Leuty (Hemet, CA), June 25, 2008
As a new person to homeschooling, this book was insightful and informative. I gave me a great deal of information helpful into identifying how my children learn and how I will best be able teach them. Then it goes on to list the curriculum that would best benefit my child and the ways in which he/she learns. The book itself is large and at first, I thought I didn't possess the time to read it all, but really there are only a few great chapters to read before it lists numerous curriculum and resources available. It is a must read for new homeschoolers.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Homeschool Mom of 4 (Algonquin, IL), June 20, 2008
This book is a great resource for home schoolers to help determine which curriculum would be right for both you and your child. She has a matrix in the book that breaks each curriculum by the type of learning style it appeals to, ease of use, prep time, how much or how little parent direction is needed, and what type of educational philosophy it falls under etc..
The book then has a detailed review of each curriculum.
It's a great book that helps take the guess work out of determining what to use for your home school studies.
I would highly recommend it.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Joseph Pyle (Bagdad, AZ), March 14, 2008
This book is a must for home schoolers. It helps you find the best curriculum based on your teaching style and your childs learning style. It even helps you figure out what your styles are.
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