Answers:
Calvert may still allow you to use Saxon math but they do have their own math program. It was very systematic yet simple for the child to understand and progress. I found it to be very well done. Calvert does pick and choose from various secular publishers through the grade levels. Due to this, there may be a book from time to time that is dry. I found that not using the teacher help from Calvert allowed me to be more flexible in what I taught. (I found the 4th grade history book to be horribly dry. It had no pictures and told history like a story but the effect was one boy who now thinks he hates history.) The 5th grade history text is colorful and much more enticing than Calvert's 4th grade offering. This is not simply true of Calvert. You may get a book or two that does not quite meet the needs of your child when you use any complete curriculum supplier. Calvert offers two levels of academia for its students. You may choose the scholastic level or the higher level. The scholastic level is very academic but the higher level (I forget what it is called) requires even more work from the student. Unlike many complete curriculum programs, Calvert has ONE main teacher's manual. To my knowlege, no other curriculum provider does this. Most require a TM for EVERY subject. Calvert only has one main TM for every grade. The exception is that the math will have a seperate TM. This means you will not be juggling manuals nearly at the rate of other curricula users. I still personally prefer using unit studies but I can also recommend Calvert to anyone needing a comprehensive program for their children without the headaches of multiple TMs. My advice, if you do choose Calvert, is still to allow yourself to be flexible. Teacher's manuals and lesson plans and daily schedules make great servants but they make TERRIBLE masters, if you understand what I mean.
Sharon :)
I'm not sure what you want to know, be we used their curriculum when we homeschooled for a couple of years. It was an excellent curriculum. They were very prompt and professional with their guidance and grading. The courses were demanding enough and when we went back into the public school system, we were ahead of our classmates in many areas.
I used Calvert School 2nd-8th grade and I thought it was a very strong curriculum. The teacher's guide was very easy to follow and the materials were easy for me to read and understand, as well as for my mom to teach. It was definitely challenging and forced me to grow and learn but it wasn't unbearable. Great choice in my opinion.
We used it back when my son was 8. After that first year we reverted to a more eclectic, and later an unschooling approach. But, it was a good transition from public school. I was really impressed with the lesson plans and materials. Plus, as a bonus, it's secular, which was a must for us. I'm not sure how much has changed in the last seven years, but it was the only secular curriculum that I could find that I was willing to use.
We never went with the record keeping option, which I've never found to be necessary K-8. We just ordered the lesson manuals and curriculum.
Overall a very sound program.
I have not personally used Calvert but I have heard many wonderful things about the curriculum. Here's a website that may be useful, it's filled with reviews of different curriculum. I've sent the link for Calvert: http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews...
But, if I remember correctly... Calvert uses Saxon math. Calvert doesn't actually make their own curriculum, they simply piece together a package from other makers.
Anywho, Saxon math.. we hated it. We found it had way too much mindless busy work and each lesson took way too long. Now we use Math U See.
Good luck on your choices!
I have not bought the Calvert School book but have used them for the last two years. I know that Calvert offers the box sets for home-schoolers and then they also have a program where you get teacher support but it is expensive. $800 (kindergarten) $1500 (9th grade) if I remember right.
For the last two year my children have been part of a "school" called Connections Academy which is a virtural public school a school without walls. That uses the Calvert school. It is a wonderful program. And it is totally FREE to you because it is a public school your tax $ that you already pay in covers the school (61% of the per child tax $ that you pay that would normally go to your local public school goes to CA the other 39% still goes to your local public school)
What is Connections Academy (CA)?
a virtual school at home program, it is totally FREE to you, you get the books, computer, supplies, in some states they help pay for you Internet and you have a teacher to turn to if you have any problems or questions. (Ohio $50&change every 3 months)
To see if they are right for you go to www.connectionsacademy.com
I can tell you it have been a great program for my two kids, (we are in Ohio)so far we have done grades K, 3 & 4. And we are coming back next year. We spent about 2 hours doing Kindergarten and around 4 hours with the 4th grades ( also have a 4 year old and a 2 year old)
My 4 year old would work on the kindergarten thing (I made copies of the pages and he is working on Hooked on Phonics too) also I got him work books at teacher supply stores and even wal-mart carry many of them. My 2 year old would color pictures or work puzzles play with blocks and such during school time.
Connections Academy uses some of the better curriculm suppliers: same ones that Calvert uses: McGraw-Hill, Zaner-Bloser, Prentice Hall, Glencoe, Hooked on Phonics, Jump Start, just to name a few.
They cover and the core classes, plus that are so many enrichment classes and clubs to join like, Book Cub, Literary Magazine, Chess Club, Home Life (Home Ec/Shop) Quiz Bowl, Poetry Corner, Mythology, Art, Music, Spanish, French, German, Latin, Debate Club, Student Advisory Team, Science Fair, and many many more.
They have field trips, social events, dances, and prom, and a cap and gown graduation is being planned too.
For next year they will cover grades k-11 (for the 2007-2008 school year) in Washington, Oregon, Calfornia, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Indiana (maybe it is still up in that air if they have state funding), Mississippi, Ohio, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, & South Carolina
You have the whole school year to complete the grade level, but if your child finishes let's say math early, they will send you the next grade level to start. Each child works at his or her own pace and there is as much or as little help from our base teacher as you want, they will call every few weeks to check in and there is marked lessons that have to be mailed in, in their pre-paid envelopes every 6 weeks.
If you have any questions please e-mail me. There is a link on my profile. (just click my "picture")
Hey there!
I used Calvert for Kindergarten with my son, and I'm thinking about using it for 1st grade, I have not decided yet though. It is a great curriculum! We have enjoyed it. I really can not think of any Cons, just that it is really expensive. :( Other than that, it is a great education.
Take care!
I used it and hated it. I didn't like how the days work was arranged, it was not very user friendly. It required too much preparation time for me. I also didn't like the whole language approach to reading. Phonics is the best way to learn to read, and Calvert didn't use it. It was also way too expensive.HATED IT THE WHOLE time. I ended up switching curriculum in the middle of the year because it was such a pain.
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