I love the idea of a huge box of books, but like others I satisfy this desire by ordering from various places throughout the year. While ninth-grade and twelfth-grade kits include Friendly Biology and Friendly Chemistry,respectively (which both have easy-to-do labs), other high-school levels have minimal lab activity or only videos of lab activity, and this might not be sufficient. Timberdoodle has a line of "classic" kits for all grade levels that have some religious content as well as a parallel option of non-religious kits. Lots of art, STEM, games, etc. I know, I know. I looked into Bookshark but decided against it for several reasons. From old favorites like Blueberries for Sal, to modern ones like A is for Musk Ox, the book selection is fantastic (except one book, see cons for that). Copyright 2023 - Grove Publishing, Inc. Bible & Religion Parent & Family Resources, Catholic Programs, Publishers, and Web Links, Ungraded, Multi-level Resources - Comprehensive, Ungraded, Multi-level Resources - Grammar, Ungraded, Multi-level Resources - Composition, Publishers Offering Courses for Many Languages, Reading and Phonics Parent Resources and Other Helps, Reading, Phonics, and Literature Web Links and Supplements, Standardized and Special Needs Testing Products, Weblinks for Standardized Testing Services, Online Schools with Complete Programs and Courses: Religious, Online Schools with Complete Programs and Courses: Secular. While they do carry some traditional resources, such as math and grammar workbooks, they have tended toward fun resources more than others. Sarita has chosen to continue marketing to the Christian homeschool community. It even has Thinking Putty! Except Sonlight says it does just that using nothing more than their discussion questions. we specialize in hands-on homeschooling and help you customize your homeschool curriculum. It sure didn't work for my middle ds who didn't like historical fiction much and didn't make any connections between the fiction and the history unless I connected he dots for him. Website: www.timberdoodle.com Christian Curriculum Options It is unit based, so one week we learn about Musk Oxen and their habitat, and next week we learn about trees and their life cycles. I long ago rejected Sonlight, not because it religious, although that would be a major consideration. OP- I am keeping BookShark on the radar. The source of the data behind the claim suffers from significant selection bias and should not have been . but can you give me any thoughts about trying to choose between Timberdoodle and Sonlight? timberdoodle. I'm more likely to use BS than SL. The kit came with a number of other awesome things I loved. It's great and flexible. Your link has been automatically embedded. I love the 4 day schedule that is all laid out for me. Click on links where available to verify price accuracy. I've learned quite a bit about both company's that I didn't know before (as in, they're from the same people! ) They didnt hate it. Anyhoo, it's like I used to love Burts Bee products.then they sold to Colgate or some other major pharm company..Burt's Bee isn't who they used to be anymore. It has some arts and crafts to keep Peanuts hands busy and help strengthen those muscles. Along with them, you get resources such as Skill Sharpeners: Geography - Grade 1, Daily 6-Trait Writing: Grade 1,Beginning Coding: First Grade, Spark Publishing's Test Prep: Grade 1, and the workbook What's New? Its sort of a marvel. BookShark only comes with a 4 day schedule. I did stumble upon Rainbow Resourceand they offer some awesome literature packages. Don't Buy Homeschool Science Curriculum Without Answering These 3 Although, I know an all-in-one kit can never be perfect, I'd be willing to give it a try as we constantly have a ton of things going on. It is about a greedy couple who want a cat, so they adopt millions of cats. Depending on your child, youll be more involved than that answering questions and helping redirect the student, but it isnt the same as planned teaching time. Memoria Press. Timberdoodle vs. Sonlight: What's the Difference Sonlights curriculum is available for preschool through highschool. To me, the value here would be the IGs.and then I read that thread I linked to earlier, and now I'm like..hmmm.Not So Much! The great debate is truly between Moving Beyond the Page, Five in a Row, and Bookshark. Weve reviewed a few here. Due to everything that happened, he has chosen to market to the secular homeschool community. This looks great - it's Sonlight without the religion." Faith-free i.e. I found about a third to be acceptable. I will need to combine my kids and I wonder if I can do that with Bookshark. I personally love Sonlight. I think even one of their 24 smarmy points was "if you don't want to use Christian material, then Sonlight is not for you" kinda statement. The expense is an issue as I like to spread what I purchase out over the year - we probably do spend that amount in a year (my DD is moving rapidly through curricula and goes through more than a year's worth of most curricula in a year at the moment) but it is spread out over at least 4 different purchases. It sounds like it's right up your alley: good books, hands on projects/crafts, and you can determine pacing or how many books to use. John pulled away from SL, and Sarita has done whatever to keep their Christian customer base. BookShark - Overview, News & Competitors | ZoomInfo.com All levels except Pre-K include a science kit with resources required for the activities. Tgtb also doesn't have math for that level. I looooove Bookshark's history. Timberdoodles charter school friendly kits are simply known as the non-religious editions and are available from 0-12th grade. Mainly: Way too light and doesn't teach deep thinking no matter what they claim. Most items in each kit are self-contained and don't need any further instructions in the handbook, but additional instruction is included when the product isn't self-explanatory. My friend has used it for years and her daughter has done really well with it. BookShark Virtual is an online platform that enables students to access their schedules, view Story Maps, Take Assessments, and receive instant auto-grading results. Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." History Quest Early Times - Curriculum Overview - Forgetful Momma I bolded the part that stands out to me. Time. The complete kits add more, including resources for science and history, and the elite kits have all that you need plus extras such as additional hands-on resources, art courses, or the audio version of one ofThe Story of the World books. I have been a big fan of Timberdoodle for years now. Plus its secularso no Christian infighting occurs. Convenient, comprehensive and open and go unit-based curricula Uses high-quality and high-interest books that will excite and engage kids Scripted and easy to use, but still flexible enough for parents to teach naturally Challenging, in-depth and thought-provoking common core aligned curricula High quality learning for gifted and advanced students I once took all the kids to the beach on a whim 2 in diapers with nothing but a pack of wipes and a few extra diapers. Also enjoyed were builder options like Robotis Pets. The secular kits were created by removing or replacing religious materials in the standard or elite kits. I've never used the IG much though. Yes, it does use lots of living literature books. I'm just generally unimpressed. . Timberdoodle Curriculum Kits - cathyduffyreviews.com They have both christian and secular options, and you can customize the packages to suit your needs. . For high school, the instructions are written directly to the student, assuming that they are completing their work independently. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. But for under $720, this is a great deal and I know Peanut would do well with it. A box has never appealed to me. (middle of her 7th grade year). All reviews and articles on this site belong to Grove Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise identified. The Good and the Beautiful has been recommended to me by my sister in law, and I like how it's laid out for me and not super expensive. Its almost open and go! I was floored and flabbergasted at what he said. The Grammar Ace is used with levels E through H, and Keys to Good Language is used with levels F and G. BookShark's 2021 revisions aligned their science programs with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). I am tempted to get it. I don't care what your beliefs are, stand by your beliefs. Timberdoodle Co (@timberdoodleco) Instagram photos and videos timberdoodleco 434 posts 6,180 followers 239 following Timberdoodle Co Crazy Smart Homeschooling since 1985! But I am a tweaker at heart and my husband would probably pass out if I wanted to spend hundreds of dollars on a box that I would then spend ANOTHER hundred dollars tweaking to death. BookShark Level 3 History. Just NO!!! Torchlight is quite an eclectic curriculum. Timberdoodle has opted for a much simpler handbook which gives you an overview of each subject and how to schedule it, along with an annual planning schedule and a weekly checklist for your student, the reading challenge, and perhaps best of all, access to our online custom scheduler. Sonlight offers All-Subjects Packages for Kindergarten Twelfth Grade and also offer customization. Category. They have so many great ideas on how to encourage handwriting without even using a pencil! I have to add a heads up for those opposed to same-sex marriage since the DK book Children Like Me (in the BookShark level B history package) presents a family with a same-sex marriage. Sonlight comes with extensive documentation in the form of an Instructors Guide that tells you what to read and do each day, gives you extra notes to help you talk about any difficult subjects, suggests discussion questions to spur great conversations with your kids and helps you get the most from your books and timeline. They also have a 3-week sample available online. I haven't used it. Bookshark: "BookShark is a complete . Timberdoodle Co - Homeschool Curriculum, Resources, Materials & Books 5-Star Learning for Grades 0-12 Award-Winning All-In-One Curriculum Kits Shop the Kits Have I Got a Story For You! Mar 9, 2022 Timberdoodle; 9-12 Mar 10, 2022 eDynamics; Mar 9, 2022 Acellus; Mar 9, 2022 Aleks Math; Mar 9, 2022 . I would prefer a home library. It has no literature. Reading with History packages include both read-aloud books and books for independent reading, along with timeline and map resources. You could get acore of your choosing(history, bible, literatureGREAT books! I think I am probably going to end up picking and choosing from various companies for different subjects as well. Over 30 classics and modern well loved books. They do not honor discounted pricing on Heartland orders* Janna and her guest Amy R., BookSharks Curriculum Editor and Designer, discuss the ins and outs of BookSharks High School Curricula. Now, they totally dump that and sell out for profit. Thanks! Its ok. Were not fancy nancys or anything, but I really believe order has its place in the classroom as explained amazingly well in this inspiring read about Montessori handwriting. No review or article may be copied or reprinted without permission except for a single copy of a review made for temporary use AND not shared with others. What's Different? Whether John and Sarita disagree on their religious beliefs inside their home and marriage, none of my businessbut when you approach me as a company, and that is what Sonlight does as they do major marketing, HUGE booths at conventionsthey are just everywhere homeschoolers are, so they ARE approaching me).when you do that, your company becomes my business. How well Sonlight is doing it, their science is NOT what I would call secular, is a discussion that could be had. Instead we read all the readers, most/many of the read alouds, replace the spine with something that can be used with both kids and do interactive/hands on notebooking and some projects, it's the perfect compromise for us. (You can see the central role played by the concept of evolution in the NGSSby reading the standards, particularly those for life science.) lit. 41.2K. Wonderful literature is great, but I need a little help in what to do with it. It would be very stressful to try to fit in that amount of scheduling reading and read-alouds on top of our regular schoolwork. It has begun. But I agree with you - I feel like this is different, since they've been so outspoken in the past about being uncompromisingly Christian. hahaha!!!! Each kit comes with a Timberdoodle's Curriculum Handbook written particularly for that level. Levels I and J have "History and Literature" packages that are designed for independent study. # Type at least 3 character to search # Hit enter to search. I can only imagine that these were hard individual decisions, difficult decisions for their company, and had to involve thoughtful discussions in their relationship with each other. BookShark's use of "real" books in this manner reflects the influence of Charlotte Mason'sapproach to education. Go with the 4-Day version. The Well-Trained Mind is the guide that millions of parents trust to help them create the best possible education for their child. The Top 5 Reasons Sonlight Didn't Work for Us. They tend to be very dramatic, and emotional. If I had to choose one among all boxed curricula, however, Bookshark would be at the top of the list. :). BUT, I find the world-view of the Sonlight curriculum has changed a bunch over the past few years, and not in a good way. Thanks! This platform should be very helpful, but it doesn't provide complete record keeping. And I love how theyre travel-friendly. You schedule days off, speed up or slow down or double-up your lesson plans, set holidays or start and ending dates, generate a daily schedule or set it over a range of dates its extremely customizable. So -- yeah, it's not new, but it puts an option back on the table that was completely wiped off before. "No matter what we touch, an atom, or a cell, we cannot explain it without knowledge of the wide universe. Sonlight does include some critical thinking tools, but not with quite the same scope. If you want to use Bookshark, or Sonlight, and the price is intimidating, you can still do it very cheaply. There are a few religious books (ie. It wouldn't leave much time for the other stuff I want to do. To give you a better idea of what a kit looks like, the elite kit for first grade (religious version) includes Timberdoodle's Curriculum Handbook (one that is specifically for first-grade level and this school year), All About Reading: Level 2, Math-U-See: Alpha, Spelling You See: Level B, Story of the World: Volume 1 (along with its activity book and audio book), and Science in the Beginning(plus lab set), all of which are or have been among my Top Picks. I want it all there for me. None at all to me and maybe much. Complete and elite kits also include STEM resources for both book learning and activities such as the Turing Tumble kit in the sixth-grade kit that has activities for learning computer logic and introductory programming skills. I would be willing to make it work though, but I dont like the amount of out-of-print books. Powered by Invision Community, Well-Trained Press To the uninitiated, Timberdoodle is a small family business that offers curated curriculum choices both secular and religious. A Beka is also one of the nation's largest distributors of homeschool and Christian educational materials. 4. Your link has been automatically embedded. So in my quest, I eliminated any highly religious curricula (sorry My Fathers World, Sonlight, and Lifepac!). Timberdoodle Co (@timberdoodleco) Instagram photos and videos No read alouds. It has puzzles. Much closer to what I want in a literature type curriculum and the owners are fantasticenough good stuff cannot be said about their customer service. The great debate is truly between Moving Beyond the Page, Five in a Row, and Bookshark. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 "Guidelines Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. We include hands-on learning, game-schooling, car-schooling, media, and bedtime story recommendations into our curriculum to spread out the learning and make it more of a lifestyle. I rejected it long ago because it is not the right program for my kids. Just curious! Powered by Invision Community, Well-Trained Press Torchlight and Build Your Library Curriculum - Embracing Eclectic For each level, the program up through level H has four subject-area packages for history, language arts, science, and math. Ooothis discussion hits the nail on the head for me. So what did I choose? I love the open and go factor. They know it is Sonlight made secular-ish. I never really thought Sonlight was all that impressive. If I was in a season where I couldn't write 75% of our curriculum myself, which is a reasonable assumption, I would go with the new Well Trained Mind box. I do look at almost every boxed curriculum but more to find out which books they are using - and we have read plenty of them and enjoyed them, but I don't need to be told when to read what or given a guide about how to discuss a particular book. Box day would be fun. When prices appear, please keep in mind that they are subject to change. I did Timberdoodle with my oldest for two . The chances that I would like ANY of the choices are slim. Its science is hands on. After going through the samples of each, and actually planning out a typical week from each of them, I think Ive found my match! Many families don't start regular home school instruction until their children are 6 years old. Sonlight offers their programs in 5 day and 4 day a week options. I would have to order the Science K and also the K Language arts and readers. It turned out that BookShark was a spin-off from Sonlight, operating as a separate company to offer a secular option that is similar to Sonlight's Christian curriculum. I have to admit that other than the science, it does appeal to *me*. . That business model does not work for them any more. The literature is amazing! Now wheres my wine, strawberries, and chocolate? When I looked into it, it looked like a literature based program with a kinesthetic approach. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. They serve different populations. Structure was another. I do love a good OT-type break for the kids, but I would try therapy putty to be honest or the Faber-Castell Coloring with Clay which was particularly enjoyed by my artsy middle daughter. As nice as it sounds to have everything laid out, it would make me cry. It's very light and superficial. Timberdoodle lost because of the heavy writing component, making this curriculum almost useless for a few more years. I do this with mine. issuesbut I'm not sure I want to support that in any way. Pasted as rich text. BookShark - Cathy Duffy Homeschool Curriculum Reviews (I dont think their LA program is spectacular.) Global Rank. My 8th grade curriculum review was also a mixed bag, but I love Timberdoodles variety and the way they showcase so many fun ways for kids to learn! The bulk of each handbook consists of an explanation for how to use each item in your kit. * When you open a box of BookShark the first thing(s) you see are books. It doesn't speak to education or love of reading or tell us anything about the company. I dont know if its heresy to say well among the AMI-trained folks clearly it will be but I think Maria herself would have liked the Math Wrap Ups. And it may be that because they seem to be trying, that they'll respond to any concerns and tweak things. Peanut is very hands-on, and learns best by either doing things hands-on, or watching a video. My week is all planned for me! 2. While it is possible that Sonlight or Bookshark will improve SAT scores beyond the national average, the claim is not supported by the facts they reference. I use a lot of hands on and moving around when I can for subjects. Upload or insert images from URL. Science packages combine hands-on activities with an assortment of topical books. The great debate is truly between Moving Beyond the Page, Five in a Row, and Bookshark. Bookshark- Boxed Curriculum- Secular version of Sonlight ; Calvert- Very old school, over 100 years old, tough but good and complete ; Time 4 Learning-online; Middle School/High School Online Learning. Pre-K Homeschool Curriculum, 2019-2020 I did Timberdoodle with my oldest for two yearsand I did find it to be workbook heavy and he didnt love much of it. 2023 BookShark, LLC. Yes, we could go monday to friday, 180 days, but I know wed probably burn out very fast. Timberdoodle offers curriculum from 0-12th grade. Sonlight vs BookShark Level C Homeschool Curriculum Comparison She just can't handle all that drama and it makes her have nightmares. But whatever. I mean, just LOOK at all the pictures in our catalog of happy families reading the books on our lists!!! I had serious considerations when I looked at TGTB a few years back due to a lack of adherence to fact, in everything from geography to book reviews (it was evident that the reviewer had never even read some before declaring them bad books). Sonlight includes a ton of books, while we at Timberdoodle opt to rely more heavily on your local library and not your budget. Sonlight didn't work with our large family time restraints (there's only so much of me to go around!). I have not looked at Moving Beyond the Page so I will go look at that next. Christian PK to 12 Their curriculum kits also include STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) resources, critical thinking books and activities, and a number of items that have been among my Top Picks. I received curriculum in exchange for BookShark reviews. Regardless, I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Ken Ham slammed SL for years and John Holzmann specifically for not being "Christian" enough for including books that he (Ken) didn't feel that Christian children should use. This minimizes the switching time for me, and it works!". So even though I only have 2 students right now (and being a year apart they would be theoretically easy to combine) I want to keep in mind the ability to have the whole bunch together for as many subjects as possible. I've never even considered it. Build your Library would win out for literature alone, but it falls down on hands-on activities. This makes it a bit more expensive if you want the out of print copies since they sell for a ridiculous price. It looks so busy. Peanut cannot write yet, so they would either be omitted from the kit, or would sit on the shelf until he can do them. That's in their advertisements? Sonlights sister company, BookShark, offers a charter school edition which is available for Pre-K through age 16. Sonlight is a literature-based approach, with an emphasis on learning by reading. For example, while DD is a great little reader now, she is also a picky reader and a bit behind in math. Well, no, a box appeals to me every single year. This is the most obvious difference and has a huge impact on the price of each package. Usually I just supplement our school days, road trips and many hospital visits with a selection or two of products. It also uses Math U See, and Spelling You See too. They tend to offer very unique and hands-on materials. Today's podcast is for all your questions about books in the levels, how it differs from other levels, why you should consider BookSharks High School curriculum and more. Christian Light Education. As I said at the beginning of this review, BookShark is essentially a secular version of Sonlight. This arrangement makes it easier to select the correct level for each child in each subject and also makes it easier to combine children who are within three years of age into one level for some subjects. All Rights Reserved. curriculum. These activities incorporate critical thinking skills, fine motor and creativity all in one. They are also tied in with the History curriculum for Levels D and above. I lean towards Project Based Learningso a curriculum of tons of reading is not for me. And I am sure Sonlight works for lots of families and doesn't for many. This will definitely be time consuming to find and organize the crafts, but I do love the literature so it may be a small price to pay. Curriculum Options Baker Charter Schools Shes at the right age for that program, too. Yes that is basically where I land on it too, especially since we already have a curriculum we like. -My kids are everyone on the ability level. Since the NGSS stress evolution as a foundational concept, BookShark science is now likely to promote evolutionary viewpoints. I'm picky with books. When I think of Sonlight and bookshark, kinesthetic approach is not what pops out to me. He very rarely wants to sit and listen to a story, do a worksheet, or color a picture. The section I am looking at would the the 5-7 range. is a proud supporter of, Privacy Policy | Cookies | Terms & Conditions | Security. If my youngest turns out to be a big reader as my youngest daughter is I may consider it. Hopefully, this comparison will help you figure out what is best for your family! Subject areas packages include the instructor's guide along with an assortment of resources that sometimes includes a traditional-style textbook.
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