My kids are dyslexic, and as such the curriculum I have chosen meets that need. However, I believe that the curriculums are solid options for any child. If you have any questions about dyslexia I have a few posts about that subject:
Here are a list of some of the types of learning styles that will drive your curriculum search:
- Visual Learning
- Auditory Learning
- Reading & Writing
- Kinesthetic (hands-on)
- Verbal Learning
- Social and Interpersonal Learning
- Solitary and Intrapersonal Learning
- Self-Led Learning
- Interest Driven Learning
Here's what has worked for us:
For Science: Berean Builders by Dr. Jay Wile
For English: The Good & The Beautiful
Math: Teaching Textbooks
Social Studies: Hillsdale College Free Courses (You will have to add research, writing, and projects to make this a high-school class with adequate skill development and documentation. Each unit lecture is in video format with a lecture quiz provided in the courses.)
World History: Susan Wise Bower has a three volume world history that is a great text for high-school world history. Mom and student will have to decide on projects, research, and writing projects to fill out the text and create a dynamic course and provide graded work for the course transcript.
Civics: 1776 Unites has created quality civics curriculum for free
Hillsdale has created civics curriculum for kids of all ages, K-12
In Depth U.S. History: “A Patriots History of the United States.” — this is in print and on audiobook. It is a thorough history of the United States, written contemporarily by authors, who sought to tell a complete history, without denigrating the extraordinary contributions of the United States to the world, and the values upon which it was founded. It is the rebuttal to Howard Zinn’s “People’s history of the United States”, which is become the revisionist historical Bible for American history and underlines most American history curriculums in the United States today. The same authors do an in depth “Patriots History of the Modern World” in two volumes.
These text can build a quality high-school/College level courses when you add student research, writing, and projects for grading.
Economics: Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell is a citizen's guide to economics, written for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Bestselling economist Thomas Sowell explains the general principles underlying different economic systems: capitalist, socialist, feudal, and so on. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. With clear explanations of the entire field, from rent control and the rise and fall of businesses to the international balance of payments, this is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions.
Economics (Part 2): Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One : The application of economics to major contemporary real world problems -- housing, medical care, discrimination, the economic development of nations -- is the theme of this new book that tackles these and other issues head on in plain language, as distinguished from the usual jargon of economists. It examines economic policies not simply in terms of their immediate effects but also in terms of their later repercussions, which are often very different and longer lasting. The interplay of politics with economics is another theme of Applied Economics, whose examples are drawn from experiences around the world, showing how similar incentives and constraints tend to produce similar outcomes among very disparate peoples and cultures.
Health: (Custom Curriculum, LDS Study)
For English: The Good & The Beautiful
Math: Teaching Textbooks
Social Studies: Hillsdale College Free Courses (You will have to add research, writing, and projects to make this a high-school class with adequate skill development and documentation. Each unit lecture is in video format with a lecture quiz provided in the courses.)
World History: Susan Wise Bower has a three volume world history that is a great text for high-school world history. Mom and student will have to decide on projects, research, and writing projects to fill out the text and create a dynamic course and provide graded work for the course transcript.
Civics: 1776 Unites has created quality civics curriculum for free
Hillsdale has created civics curriculum for kids of all ages, K-12
In Depth U.S. History: “A Patriots History of the United States.” — this is in print and on audiobook. It is a thorough history of the United States, written contemporarily by authors, who sought to tell a complete history, without denigrating the extraordinary contributions of the United States to the world, and the values upon which it was founded. It is the rebuttal to Howard Zinn’s “People’s history of the United States”, which is become the revisionist historical Bible for American history and underlines most American history curriculums in the United States today. The same authors do an in depth “Patriots History of the Modern World” in two volumes.
These text can build a quality high-school/College level courses when you add student research, writing, and projects for grading.
Economics: Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell is a citizen's guide to economics, written for those who want to understand how the economy works but have no interest in jargon or equations. Bestselling economist Thomas Sowell explains the general principles underlying different economic systems: capitalist, socialist, feudal, and so on. In readable language, he shows how to critique economic policies in terms of the incentives they create, rather than the goals they proclaim. With clear explanations of the entire field, from rent control and the rise and fall of businesses to the international balance of payments, this is the first book for anyone who wishes to understand how the economy functions.
Economics (Part 2): Applied Economics: Thinking Beyond Stage One : The application of economics to major contemporary real world problems -- housing, medical care, discrimination, the economic development of nations -- is the theme of this new book that tackles these and other issues head on in plain language, as distinguished from the usual jargon of economists. It examines economic policies not simply in terms of their immediate effects but also in terms of their later repercussions, which are often very different and longer lasting. The interplay of politics with economics is another theme of Applied Economics, whose examples are drawn from experiences around the world, showing how similar incentives and constraints tend to produce similar outcomes among very disparate peoples and cultures.
Health: (Custom Curriculum, LDS Study)
- Diet & Physical Health: “The Word of Wisdom, A Modern Interpretation” by James E. Witsoe
- Human Sexuality & Family Life: “Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments” by Jeffery R. Holland
- Life Priorities & Time Management: Good, Better, Best, For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices
- LDS Children & Youth Program: Introductory Guide, Youth Guidebook
- Healthy Habits in an Virtual World: “Things As They Really Are”
Highschool Transcripts, Exams, and Diplomas
A high school diploma is not necessary to go to college. High school diplomas are issued by state governments, they certify that the student completed all state required coursework, therefore, diplomas differ in what they mean from state to state, because each state has their own set of requirements. Of course there are similarities between what states require of their high school students, but it is not a universal standard, and because of the differences colleges do not at diplomas when they consider applications.
What colleges look at is the high school transcript. The high school transcript is the only thing they can use to compare applicants evenly, regardless of what school district or state the student graduated from. High school transcript shows the university what coursework in what subject areas the student completed and at what level of proficiency they completed it. They compare the transcript to the ACT/SAT scores looking for incongruity between them, that is taken into account. They weigh the transcript against their own admission requirements.
My suggestion is that you choose a shortlist of schools that your child is interested in and go to the school admissions page and find the requirements they layout for a high school education that meet their admission standards. Then create a high school plan that mirrors their admission standard, and set goals to meet that standard. This will result in the greatest success in college admissions as a homeschooler.
Another important component in preparing a university focused high school plan for your homeschooler, is to prepare them to be able to score well on the college entrance exams that they will need to take. ACT OR SAT depending on the schools, you are looking at. There are an extraordinary amount of ACT and SAT preparation, materials, courses and curriculum.
Create a detailed, homeschool transcript, the HSLDA has excellent resources and courses for parents to take in order to learn how to build a homeschool transcript. Recordkeeping will be very important. Keep records of important coursework and test, the scores given throughout the course, and concise teacher notes. Keep records of books read, field trips, service hours, and extracurricular activities.
All of this can be done without joining an umbrella, however, being a member of an umbrella is a great thing. I am a member of an umbrella, I make my own detailed transcript and keep records, but I also like having the transcript that the umbrella creates for me as well, it is a second document verifying my homeschool transcript.
If during your child’s high school education, they take courses at an accredited school, such as a community college in which they are concurred enrolled, you will collect those course transcripts as part of the paperwork you turn in during college admissions.
All of these records and test scores are the evidences needed for a college admissions board to consider your homeschooler for admissions. There is no need for diploma.
A high school diploma is not necessary to go to college. High school diplomas are issued by state governments, they certify that the student completed all state required coursework, therefore, diplomas differ in what they mean from state to state, because each state has their own set of requirements. Of course there are similarities between what states require of their high school students, but it is not a universal standard, and because of the differences colleges do not at diplomas when they consider applications.
What colleges look at is the high school transcript. The high school transcript is the only thing they can use to compare applicants evenly, regardless of what school district or state the student graduated from. High school transcript shows the university what coursework in what subject areas the student completed and at what level of proficiency they completed it. They compare the transcript to the ACT/SAT scores looking for incongruity between them, that is taken into account. They weigh the transcript against their own admission requirements.
My suggestion is that you choose a shortlist of schools that your child is interested in and go to the school admissions page and find the requirements they layout for a high school education that meet their admission standards. Then create a high school plan that mirrors their admission standard, and set goals to meet that standard. This will result in the greatest success in college admissions as a homeschooler.
Another important component in preparing a university focused high school plan for your homeschooler, is to prepare them to be able to score well on the college entrance exams that they will need to take. ACT OR SAT depending on the schools, you are looking at. There are an extraordinary amount of ACT and SAT preparation, materials, courses and curriculum.
Create a detailed, homeschool transcript, the HSLDA has excellent resources and courses for parents to take in order to learn how to build a homeschool transcript. Recordkeeping will be very important. Keep records of important coursework and test, the scores given throughout the course, and concise teacher notes. Keep records of books read, field trips, service hours, and extracurricular activities.
All of this can be done without joining an umbrella, however, being a member of an umbrella is a great thing. I am a member of an umbrella, I make my own detailed transcript and keep records, but I also like having the transcript that the umbrella creates for me as well, it is a second document verifying my homeschool transcript.
If during your child’s high school education, they take courses at an accredited school, such as a community college in which they are concurred enrolled, you will collect those course transcripts as part of the paperwork you turn in during college admissions.
All of these records and test scores are the evidences needed for a college admissions board to consider your homeschooler for admissions. There is no need for diploma.
