With so many wonderful homeschool resources out there, it can be confusing to choose just what is best for your family. Our review authors here at The Curriculum Choice have received several questions about classical homeschooling. We know that this is the time of year families are considering curriculum for next homeschool year. So we are sharing many of the reviews tied to the classical model of learning to make your homeschool decisions easy.
We thought we’d point our readers to the reviews and resources we know of – with the goal of helping the decision making process. First off, what is the definition of the classical homeschool?
Definition of Classical Homeschool
From our Homeschool Methods and Philosophies post…“The heart of a classical education lies in the trivium – the grammar, logic and rhetoric stages. These coincide with natural learning abilities during childhood. For most families, classical education includes a dedication to in-depth studies of Latin, mathematics, the arts and sciences, and a deep understanding of world history and its effects that lure them in. Many classical homeschoolers follow a four-year or six-year cycle of repeating science and history topics.”
To learn more about how to implement a classical education, you might like:
- Detailed explanation of the Classical Method
- The Well Trained Mind
- Review of Tapestry of Grace
- English from the Roots Up
- First Language Lessons
- Alphaphonics
- Daily Grams
- Spelling Workout
Five in a Row – When I first began looking into homeschool curriculum a few years ago, one of the first things I came across was Five in a Row, a collection of literature-based unit studies by Jane Claire Lambert. These units are geared towards children ages four through eight, but I have known families who have used this curriculum with younger and older students. There are four separate volumes of Five in a Row.
From Kendra at Aussie Pumpkin Patch:
Sonlight Core E/4 {2012 Edition} Review – This year we made a switch to Sonlight. This was a pretty simple switch for us as Sonlight and Winter Promise can be fairly similar. In fact, I find myself explaining a bit too often their similarities and differences, which I’ll be glad to do here in a few minutes. In the mean time let me explain all the nitty gritty about the curriculum.
We chose to switch to Sonlight this year for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one being that the book selections for this part of US History were just what I wanted. This wasn’t a light choice but an easy switch. The plan is to stick with Sonlight from here on out for our children. Of course, nothing is written in stone so we’ll take it one year at a time.
From Tricia at Hodgepodge:
Tapestry of Grace Review – Have you found a curriculum you and your children absolutely love? One that is a perfect fit for everyone’s learning style? A nice match for the age range of your household? That, my friends, is how I feel about Tapestry of Grace.
What I’ve Learned Homeschooling with Tapestry of Grace – One of those wonderful benefits of homeschooling is continuing to learn right alongside your children. History, a love of art, composers, nature study. I just love continuing education. For many years now, Tapestry of Grace has truly woven together all the learning in our home. All ages learning the same topics, on their age, grade and skill level. We’ve used Tapestry since our eldest was in upper grammar level. Now we have a child in each level: lower grammar, upper grammar, dialectic and rhetoric. It just keeps getting better because now we are cycling back through history!
Answers in Genesis: History Revealed – History Revealed is written and recorded by Diana Waring and published by Answers and Genesis. Ms. Waring is known as a “history evangelist.” Just take a listen to her audio lessons and you won’t be able to wait until it is time for your history studies either!
Plus a Comparison of Tapestry of Grace and History Revealed.
From Barb of Harmony Fine Arts:
Sonlight vs. Tapestry of Grace – First off, I love both approaches to homeschooling. Some of my fondest years of homeschooling were those years that we used Sonlight. The boys were young and eager to read and to be read to and Sonlight’s choices were a perfect fit for our family’s tastes. I really enjoyed having my days all planned out for me and believe it or not….I did not do much tweaking to Sonlight’s well presented plans. (In fact, if you use my Harmony Fine Arts plans, you will see a striking resemblance to Sonlight’s format.)
Tricia shares a question from a Hodgepodge reader:
Q: Hello there- We’re finishing up our first year of homeschool, and I’m researching curriculum like a mad woman. I’m quite certain I’d like to continue following a classical model, and Tapestry of Grace (TOG) really appeals to me. I have a question, though, regarding Tapestry and Classical Conversations (CC). I’m currently involved in a CC group, and I’m wondering if Tapestry and CC would mesh well. I’m thinking about using CC as a supplement to Tapestry, because I LOVE our CC community and am not quite ready to give it up just yet. My oldest is 6, my middle is 4.5 and my little is 2. Any advice you have would be amazing!!! Thanks so much for your awesome and super informative blog about TOG. The best I’ve seen yet, and I’ve been researching so much, I’m convinced I’ve given myself carpal tunnel! In Him, LeeAnn
A: I am sure that CC would mesh well with Tapestry. In fact, when I was working the Tapestry booth at our state homeschool convention, folks would come to the Tapestry booth and then go across to the CC booth. They seem similar and complementary. Though I have not been involved with CC directly myself but have only ever used Tapestry.
I do have a very good friend who blogs about CC: Mary Prather. Mary has an entire page devoted to Classical Conversations resources. You can read all about Classical Conversations at Homegrown Learners. She also shares about it weekly during her Collage Friday posts.
The complete Oak Meadow – First Grade curriculum package , including the Syllabus, which is full of weekly lesson plans.
From Betsy of BJs Homeschooling:
Oak Meadow First Grade Curriculum Review – I was delighted when I found Oak Meadow – First Grade – full of hands on activities, beautiful art, and lots of resources. The Oak Meadow introduction spoke of developing the whole child: head, hands and heart.
Oak Meadow Fifth Grade Curriculum Review – Oak Meadow (OM) included all the subjects that we needed. It came with easy-to-follow instructions plus tons of fun, hands-on learning options throughout. And I loved how hands on crafts and art are integrated together throughout the curriculum.
From Amy Maze of Living and Learning at Home:
Amy shares many classical reviews here at The Curriculum Choice, including:
- Elemental Science Biology – Grammar Stage
- Learning History Through Song with Veritas Press
- Song School Latin Review
Plus Amy’s website is devoted to classical education. She leads an online book club entitled Classical Mamas Read. You might also like to browse her All Things Classical Pinterest board.
More about Homeschool Methods and Philosophies – defining the homeschool methods and philosophies and offering many more resources.
Follow Curriculum’s board Homeschool Methods and Philosophies on Pinterest.
Our Homeschool Methods and Philosophies Pinterest board full of resources!
How about you? What are your favorite resources for classical homeschooling? What questions do you have?
Homeschooling since 2000, Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos with five children. She has seen the fruits of home education with three grads so far! With their You ARE an artist art curriculum she, "Nana" and her family are passionate about growing a love of art. She also shares helpful homeschool habits at Hodgepodge and is author of the book, Help! I’m Homeschooling! She and her husband, Steve, are owners of The Curriculum Choice.
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