Resources and books we use in our homeschool
From Personal Experience to Online Sharing
I must say, Master Books curriculum has been a staple in our family for years now. A dear friend of mine recommended it, we gave it a try, and we've never looked back! We have been using their math, English, science, and social science curriculum, and it has been a wonderful fit for our homeschool journey. The best part is that their materials are designed to be "open and go," meaning not much preparation is needed. This has been incredibly helpful for busy, big families like mine, as it takes a lot of pressure off and saves valuable preparation time.
"Math - Lessons for a Living Education features a lovely family with twins Charlie and Charlotte. Students can follow the family’s development and growth as they progress through the math lessons, with the story continuing across different levels of the math curriculum. The book is thoughtfully designed, with a clever integration of math and everyday life events. The curriculum goes beyond just math, incorporating subjects such as science, economics, and important values. My girls have enjoyed “following” what happens to Charlie and Charlotte as they grow and watching the family’s development unfold through each level."
Math
"Life for Beginners has been a wonderful introduction to science, as the book comes filled with engaging activities. The girls made excellent use of the garden, purposefully searching for worms and observing life. I recall one activity where the girls brought their findings, such as the worms and other creatures, to the dining room table, sharing their discoveries with enthusiasm. We had many insightful discussions and enjoyed hands-on learning throughout. This book provided plenty of ideas for activities, offering opportunities to add even more experiences. We especially enjoyed outings to explore plants that we could find in our local forests and parks."
Science
“Let’s Talk Science” by Carrie Lindquist was a godsend for our family. We use this book interchangeably with Life (the book mentioned above). “Adventures in Creation” (Level 1) is beautifully presented and has an abundance of great pictures. It offers many hands-on experiments, arts and crafts, copywork, Bible verses, and encourages nature observations, such as different types of clouds. Lindquist describes this book as “an exciting scientific journey through the days of creation!” It features Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel, with Adam explaining to his children how God created the world. The book features stunning illustrations that bring the content to life.
I needed to purchase a few things before the lessons; there is more preparation needed with this book. The material list is described per lesson, and parents can choose to prepare each week or weeks in advance. I purchased items such as prisms, Cheetos, coloured cellophane, and a few other supplies, and it was all worth it. We went all in and did all the activities suggested. I totally recommend the full experience. Personally, I loved how engaging the children were in each lesson. The copy work is short, with some just a few words or one small sentence, perfect for young, little sponge minds. As a big family, we chose to buy one book and print the activities for each child.
I must say, Master Books curriculum has been a staple in our family for years now. A dear friend of mine recommended it, we gave it a try, and we've never looked back! We have been using their math, English, science, and social science curriculum, and it has been a wonderful fit for our homeschool journey. The best part is that their materials are designed to be "open and go," meaning not much preparation is needed. This has been incredibly helpful for busy, big families like mine, as it takes a lot of pressure off and saves valuable preparation time.