jd
- Reviewed on Thursday, July 29, 2010
- Grades Used: none
- Dates used: none
This is for those wishing Calvert had a high school program-I spoke with a Calvert rep today, and she said they are looking into the possibility of having a program for grades 9-12...So be on the look out for that should they proceed..
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findtheduck4
- Reviewed on Friday, April 23, 2010
- Grades Used: 1st, 4th, 6th
- Dates used: 2009-2010
I have been homeschooling for 7 years now. I taught in a private school for 8 years before that. I have 4 children pre-k through 6th grade. This was our first year using Calvert, and I have to say it's been a great year. I feel that we have covered much more material than we have ever done before because everything is so well laid out in the manuals. Most importantly, ALL of my kids have begged to continue with Calvert next year. They LOVE the structure and they look forward each day to looking at the list of materials and pulling out different books each day... one day they might study geography, the next history, the next science or art history (but always the 3 r's everyday). The variety is what they have enjoyed the most I think. I don't understand other reviewers' remarks that the readers are boring! They switch to "real" books in 4th grade and in 1st-3rd the readers are full of REAL stories, like Frog and Toad, Henry and Mudge, etc... PLUS, they have background info about the author and illustrator of each story! My little ones have LOVED that. My littlest just turned 5 and has sat in everyday with his 1st grade sister and has learned to read by just sitting in and listening! He is now 10 lessons into the 1st grade curriculum because he has BEGGED me to teach him too!
I can't give a review on the math. We use Teaching Textbooks one level higher than their grade and Saxon for the little two.
I worked really hard as a classroom teacher to prepare lessons for other people's children. Yes, Calvert does require a lot of my time and interaction with my children, but that is why I am homeschooling them! I think of homeschooling as my "job" from 9-2 everyday and I do my best to devote as much effort into schooling them as I did for other people's kids when I taught in a school. The difference is, I love my homeschool students so much more because they are also my precious children.
I know Calvert won't or doesn't work for everyone. I'm so thankful there are so many great choices out there for homeschoolers! Calvert works for us because I like having only ONE teacher's manual per child, my kids LOVE it, and they are flourishing. It has been a huge blessing to my family.
Hope these few comments will give someone some help or encouragement!
Happy Homeschooling!
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LISA LAPP
- Reviewed on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
- Grades Used: 2,3,4,5,6,7,8
- Dates used: 2007-2010
I started the Calvert three years ago with a cyber school in my state. I have not been disappointed at all. I find the manuals well written and detailed. That you do not have to follow the manuals to the letter and can deviate is a plus as I throw in other materials from web sites and other books. I do keep very busy with three children involved, but I also love the hands on activities and explanations in the texts. All supplies are sent to me and I only supplement where I feel my kids need a bit more repeating. The pace of the lessons are adjustable to your levels, consequently we may complete history before science, which is fine. The math levels are separate allowing for faster paced work for those math wiz kids.
My kids love the books they get. There are additional supports such as reading and writing books to enhance learning. They have learned to work very independently and enjoy the wide variety of history subjects (the European and world history begins at a younger age than in public schools here) and my kids loved the Greek mythology in third grade. It really opens their eyes to different subjects not offered at that age in school.
Overall, Calvert is giving us a great homeschooling experience and I will miss it when my kids are out of 8th grade.
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CAylen
- Reviewed on Wednesday, January 06, 2010
- Grades Used: 1 and 4
- Dates used: 2006-2007
Inconsistant. Some lessons were too challenging, some were so lame that I had to double check that I wasn't using the wrong grade level.
Boring. The books caused my son to absolutely hate reading, to the point where he would just burst into tears when it was time to read.
Too structured. Half way through the school year I stopped looking at the schedule and we relaxed.
Difficult with two children in different year levels. Both needed constant supervision or assistance and it seemed that one of them was always waiting for me.
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