Curriculum Reviews
Saint Emmelia Ministries does not endorse all aspects of the curriculum options below. Please use your discretion as you select curriculum for your homeschool needs. We believe these to be a good place to start from what is currently available in the English language.
Alpha Omega LIFEPAC Review
https://www.aop.com/curriculum/lifepac
(From Cathy Duffy reviews) “Alpha Omega offers full curriculum for grades one through twelve, including Bible and electives. (Non-denominational Christianity is integrated throughout the material, not just in their Bible courses.) Courses are available in complete sets for each subject for each grade level. For most courses, each boxed set includes ten LIFEPACS and a complete teacher's guide which includes all answer keys, tests, and teacher helps for the subject for that year in a perfect-bound volume. Subject areas are Bible, Math, Language Arts (English), Science, and History and Geography for the elementary grades. While you can buy complete grade level packages, you can also purchase subjects separately, selecting different grade levels if need be. Only a few of the LIFEPAC courses require the use of a supplementary book to complete the course. Alpha Omega offers elective courses for many subjects such as art, foreign language, government, literature, health, speech, business, and worldview.
Children are placed at the appropriate starting point in each subject area in the program, and they work sequentially through a number of full-color workbooks, called LIFEPACS, as they master the material in each one. LIFEPACs are called a “mastery” program since students are not supposed to move on to the next LIFEPAC until they have mastered the previous one.”
** Note for Orthodox families**
LIFEPACS are written from a Protestant perspective. They have Bible courses, but also have Christian themes throughout their materials. Orthodox parents may want to substitute some other materials or use the different viewpoint as a discussion starter about Orthodox beliefs.
Ambleside Online Review
Ambleside Online is a Charlotte Mason based lesson plan site covering science, art, music, literature, and history. All plans are free, as are many of the book choices (if you have a Kindle or use Librivox). The program stresses the formation of Christian virtues, appreciation for the natural world, and artistic pursuits from a Western Christian perspective. Some of the theological works are not compatible with an Orthodox Christian education, but can be easily substituted out with books (I highly recommend replacing Trial and Triumph with The Children's History of the Church from Paidea Classics for example.) Another feature of this curriculum is the availability of group plans for large families or co-ops. Similar grades can be taught together because the phonics and math can be done at the individual child's pace using your preferred books. The format of this curriculum works well around little ones as well, since they will enjoy the nature study, and will often sit in and listen to the read alouds or if an older sibling is listening to a book on Librivox. The music study encourages memorization of hymns, and Orthodox ones of your choice can be substituted easily. Gentle and encourages family closeness.
Bookshark Review
Bookshark is a secular version of Sonlight. Emphasis on reading great books to learn. American history spine is taught from an American exceptionalism POV. Easy open-and-go. Science is Usbourne book based. Because it is secular, Orthodox families might find it easier in some ways because they can just incorporate Orthodox books into the reading schedule without having to worry about teaching incorrect theology. Can be an economical option, especially if one purchases the books second hand.
Beautiful Feet Books
Beautiful Feet Books provides guides for combining academic subjects (history, geography, science) with carefully-selected books, both fiction and non-fiction. Their history curricula are thus equivalent to one history class plus one language arts (literature plus composition) class. Flexible lessons combine teaching about history with reading, reflecting on, and writing about works of historical fiction or conducting short research projects.
The historical fiction book selections are of high quality and often faith-based. Other book selections (Beowulf, Ramayana) are classics. Materials make an effort to offer diverse perspectives on historical events without being "woke." The discussion, research, and writing prompts encourage a Christian worldview and values/character education, and are easily adapted to an Orthodox perspective.
One frustration has been that pacing in the curriculum guides can be somewhat irregular (e.g., there may be weeks with very little material and then all of a sudden you discover that you're supposed to read all of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in two classes), so the instructor would be advised to review the proposed assignments well in advance with an eye to condensing or stretching, as needed.
For those on a tight budget, it is possible to customize your book bundle purchase so you can utilize books already available at your local library. BFB also offers geography, science, and some electives for K-12.
Calvert Homeschool Review
Calvert is a secular school-at-home. Online classes with teachers. A very full class load every day. Everything you need is sent to you. Access to teachers for help. Expensive. Will require a lot of computer class time, so many not work with large families who share a computer. Might be a good choice for a dual-parent working household with a small number of children who are crisis homeschooling next year and just need everything outsourced.
Charlotte Mason Educational Center (CMEC)
The CMEC curriculum has been an excellent fit for our large Orthodox homeschool family. This Mason-inspired curriculum is Christian at its core and in its goals. It is centered on the idea that children are born persons, worthy of great respect and with duties to God and man. It holds sacred the role of the Holy Spirit in the child's education, and is designed with an eye toward his moral development. That being said, Miss Mason was an Anglican, and some materials in the religious education component of the curriculum might be substituted or enhanced by adding similar Orthodox resources. This can be done quite easily.
The annual $300 family CMEC membership includes a thoughtfully designed and detailed curriculum for grades K-12, schedules, shopping lists, term exams, online community meetings at the beginning and end of each term, training for those interested in starting a co-op in their community or church, and endless online and video resources in every subject area. The CMEC also offers a mother's education course for a small fee.
I can't recommend this curriculum and The CMEC highly enough!
An overview of the program and contact information can be found at: thecmec.org.
Children's Garden of the Theotokos
www.anaphorapress.com/curriculum
Children's Garden of the Theotokos by Macrina Lewis is written for children from about 4 to 10 years old. The scripted lessons and suggested art projects are most appropriate for this age group. However, the subject matter can be easily adapted for older children by adding discussions, readings from Scripture and the Fathers, more complex artwork, and writing assignments. It can still work well as a catechism spine for large families or homeschooled children out of the target age range. Although originally conceived of for homeschooling families, it has also been used by parents and teachers in a variety of settings:
parochial Orthodox school program for Kindergarten or pre-school
informal pre-school parish groups
Sunday school
after-school catechesis for children in public or private school
Contains: Teaching Guide, Seasons of Grace, Treasury of Feasts, Book of Hours, CD, and one set of consumables. $80 for the printed program, $60 for the digital program, the CD may be purchased separately as well as a consumable book.
An addition review of the Children's Garden of the Theotokos can be found here.
The Good And The Beautiful
The Good and the Beautiful is an open and go curriculum based on teaching children academically solid curriculum in a beautiful, easy to use, affordable, character building way. The curriculum was started by Jenny Phillips, a Christian singer and homeschool mom of 5 children and a member of the mormon church. The curriculum is multi-denominational, pointing to God’s love and beauty without any specific dogma. History and science are taught for all ages simultaneously (family style learning), language arts, handwriting, and math are individually based on grade. Other subjects include handwriting, nature notebooks, typing, creative writing, arts and crafts, and many books. The multi grade learning style is great for families and our relationships. There’s nothing in the curriculum we’ve encountered that contradicts Orthodoxy. Language arts level 1-5 and the marine biology programs are free, and all of it can be printed via downloaded pdfs.
Memoria Press Review
Memoria Press is a classical education curriculum. It is very school-at-home. High quality textbooks with corresponding workbooks. Some components are not compatible with an Orthodox education (such as the Bible/church ones), but because you can buy all the components separately you can just omit those and substitute an appropriate option like daily Bible readings or A Children's History of the Church. This is ideal for parents who do not have financial concerns, but just want a curriculum that they can open-and-go. Includes a math option. Academically rigorous.
Sonlight Curriculum Review
(From Cathy Duffy reviews) “Sonlight Curriculum is structured, yet flexible enough to maximize real-life learning. Influenced by Charlotte Mason’s ideas, they also wanted to include real books. In addition, they wanted to create a program that doesn’t require too much time from busy parents.
Sonlight has designed comprehensive grade/age level programs with carefully selected resources. "Open and teach" instructor’s guides outline lessons for each day using specific pages within the materials provided. All guides, whether for Core Packages or individual subject areas, include week-by-week lesson plans with record-keeping calendars, thorough instructions, student activity sheets, answer keys, and much more. The easy-to-use guides are one of the best and most important features of Sonlight Curriculum.
The Sonlight website offers a number of free resources (webinars, podcasts and more), and experienced curriculum advisors are available at no cost for one-on-one consultation.
Sonlight sells build-your-own packages and complete curriculum packages that include every subject for preschool through high school, but you may also purchase any of the individual items found in the Sonlight packages.”
** Note for Orthodox families**
Sonlight was created for Protestant missionary families. There are several missionary biographies and the subject of Bible has books written from a Protestant perspective. If you choose the build-your-own package option, then you may be able to not purchase the Bible material. The history in some years does include some Eastern Christian history too.
Your Morning Basket
Your Morning Basket, created by Pam Barnhill, is a subscription program oriented around coming together as a family to focus on selected topics throughout the day. It provides morning time lesson plans, live events (for nature study, art, memory help, music, math, and methods), forums, coupons to other educational programs and websites, and instructional videos and tips. The plans do require some preparation since you do have to provide your own books. The lesson plans include reading, ritual (good for Orthodox prayer, or lighting candles, or history of saints), recitation, and relationship with each other. Each plan has a category: Seasonal, History (some compatible with CC), Preschool, Catholic, Literature, and Summer. The morning basket plans are great for beginners who might want a framework to begin their days or veteran homeschoolers looking for a new structure. The only issues we’ve run into as an Orthodox family has been a suggested prayer or hymn to memorize or study which is easy to substitute for an Orthodox version. The Catholic plans include several Orthodox children's books in the plan. The subscription cost is $99 a year.
Math Curriculum Reviews
Sonlight Math Curriculum Comparison
https://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/subjects/math/
By clicking on each math curriculum, it will take you to a summary at the end of the section describing the program. This is a good way to get a high-level view of many good math curriculums. We suggest going to the curriculum publisher's website for more details for the curriculum that you are interested in.
Singapore Math
Singapore Primary Math pages contain extra pictures, which can be a positive or negative attribute depending on your child.
RightStart Math
RightStart Math - RightStart™ Mathematics is a complete elementary and middle-school program that uses visualization of quantities, de-emphasizes counting, and provides strategies and games for learning the facts. The primary learning tool is the AL Abacus, a specially designed two-sided abacus that is both kinesthetic and visual.A more in depth review is located at https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/math/math-grades-k-6/rightstart-mathematics
Teaching Textbooks
A good description and review can be found on Cathy Duffy Reviews: https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/math/grades-9-12/teaching-textbooks-math-3-through-precalculus
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is an online program that can be used to supplement your math program with teaching videos. (The secular worldview that is at time presented is not compatible with the Orthodox faith.)
Additional research and reviews can be found at CathyDuffyReviews.com and RainbowResource.com.