Sometimes as homeschoolers we feel trapped between bureaucracy and true education.  Perhaps our state has homeschooling regulations, and while we've learned we can be creative with these, sometimes it feels easier just to buy the packaged curriculum.  This especially rings true when you reach high school, and are concerned with transcripts and getting into college.  The temptation is to purchase the packaged curriculum, and have something to put down in our homeschool students permenant records.

Ruth Beechick really helped me to weed through the different materials available out there in her book "The Language Wars."  I personally do not love the textbook education any longer, though I do feel that a good textbook from a Christian perspective can be a great reference guide.  For example, I love Christian Liberty's "Streams of Civilization."  This is one textbook that I may not just use as a reference guide, but go through it - both volumes.   This year, with my high schooler, I will be using one of the "Uncle Eric" books.  "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy" and it's study guide for Economics.  Take a look at some of his (Richard Maybury's) other titles.  A great resource for teaching history, civics and economics to high schoolers.

For science, I don't really feel I need to look further than Answers in Genesis anymore.  However, Jay Ryan has put out some very interesting looking materials.

Have you heard of "The Painless Series"?  "Painless Algebra", "Painless Grammar," etc.  Most of these really look great - make sure you read the reviews on Amazon - the history one does NOT get good reviews, but that is the exception rather than the norm.  I took a few out of the library a while back, and they really do look great.  I plan to purchase one or two myself.

There is a plethora of materials and options for meeting your state's requirements AND giving your children a true education.  First and foremost - always - keep it in prayer.  God will guide your homeschooling years.  The most important thing to keep in mind that whatever materials we use, nothing matters more than how we exemplify Christ in our daily lives.

Deb @ Homeschooling From the Heart