102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum

When I first started reading this book I was very impressed at the detailed reviews provided & would have given it 5 stars if my objective was merely to review curriculum options by subject and nothing else. Unfortunately for me that was not the only goal & may also not be so for other parents new to homeschooling. I will explain this below ...My objective as a parent, completely new to homeschooling, was to review all the curricula available subject by subject and then decide, based on our family needs and budget, which one would suit us best. Fair enough?This book has a step by step method at the beginning which was 'supposed' to help me narrow down my choices based on learning styles of my kids and some other variables. At first I thought that would be useful and it also came close to what I was myself looking for but as I read more and more of the book and got inundated with all the info. it was quite apparent that I was only getting lost - To begin with, the reviews are not very consistent in their presentation. For example, the Price, while listed for some is absent for others. Similarly the Grade Level while listed for some is totally lost in the verbiage that follows for some other ones. What I would have preferred to see was an actual Table for each Subject listing all the curriculum options sorted by columns that showed the Price, suitable Grade level(s), whether or not it requires supplemental material, religious vs secular worldview and a purchase link - That would have helped me make a quick decision rather than the method she proposes (which is taking forever) - the way she has it all laid out makes it quite difficult to make an easy decision and even if I do find a curriculum that fits my kids' learning styles it is usually one that is pretty expensive and out of the budget for us. IF there was a better TABLE (the kind I described earlier) then one could still quickly move on the next affordable and suitable option without wasting time reading page after page trying to find that info. Unfortunately, that was a BIG WEAKNESS of this otherwise extensive and detailed collection of reviews by Cathy Duffy viz. that relevant info such as Price & Grade levels were all over instead of being in ONE concise table. Very frustrating!Next, it seems some programs are missing entirely from her book - not even an 'honorable' mention, especially given that they appear to be very popular otherwise in the honeschooling world - as an example, take the 'Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading' which I have heard many other moms rave about - why was it completely omitted? If Cathy doesn't personally like it for some reason shouldn't she mention it so reviewers can look into the objections for themselves too? The job of a reviewer, after all, is to bring both the good and bad to the forefront so others can decide for themselves. That just made me question what other programs have been omitted and 'why' - personal bias or something else?I also realized 'eventually' that most of these reviews in her book are already present on her website - for FREE. So then, what exactly was the idea behind making me pay for the same stuff, esp given that, like many other homeschooling moms, I'm running on a shoestring budget?!Lastly, although my family is religious / spiritual (not secular), we belong to another faith and are NOT Christians - Many of the resources Cathy has included in her 'Top Picks' for HISTORY & SCIENCE all either have a Christisn / Catholic / Protestant bias to them or are just plain BIG on it. Not to mention the 'WEST is BEST' superiority complex that is pervasive in her listed resources. That's fantastic if you are a Christian but if you are from another faith (+ have close or distant familial roots in Eastern cultures - DOUBLE WHAMMY), then that's more than half the book that you will not be able to put to any use whatsoever because of the inherent bias with which those reference History books have been written (I know because I went and previewed the chapters from those History books - you will see it too if you just go and preview those History books for yourself - the only ancient civilizations these books recognize are the Egyptian, Greek & Roman - it's as if the other (more ancient civilizations e.g. Indus Valley & others) didn't exist or were of no consequence & didn't contribute to human existence - the same goes for the entire period b/w the fall of Rome and Renaissance (The Western 'Dark Ages' versus The Muslim Golden Age) - totally chewed up - wonder what the idea is behind teaching kids a doctored version of history?). I am sure there are certain so-called Christians who will be thrilled with this intentional bias and belief in 'Western Exceptionalism'. But for the rest of us who don't want our children to grow up learning butchered facts and half-truths, this will potentially be a source of major problems. All I would have liked the author to do was to disclose to readers very EXPLICITY, right at the start or, even better, indicate in the TITLE itself (e.g. by editing the title to read '102 Top Picks for CHRISTIAN Homescholing Curriculum') so that those who are secular or belonging to other faiths are adequately warned and are able to make an informed decision without feeling that they got short-changed or ripped off.Bottom line: If you are a Christian homeschooler looking for a book to review different curricula then this is a good resource (although, in all honesty, you can still get all that's in it for free from the author's own website). If, on the other hand, you are NOT Christian then either save your money & keep looking or proceed with caution and then be fully prepared to feel lost, frustrated and disappointed in the end if you do.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is considering homeschooling. Many choose to go to homeschooling conferences to learn more about curriculums. Personally, I don't think that is the best route for everyone. In this workbook Cathy has done the research on the top curriculums. While answering a series of questions, you learn about the type of teacher you are and what your child's learning type is. This allows you to narrow your choices down. Using this book has helped reduced my stress as I enter the new journey of homeschooling. Thank you Cathy!!!

I love this book! I love that she includes assessments to find out what kind of teacher you are & what kind of student is your child. I have 3 very different students and only one learns the way I teach. It was an eye-opener. There are charts to help you figure out what you want your kids to learn and to help you decide what curriculum to choose. Cathy Duffy provides in depth reviews of each product, including the cost & where to purchase. This is my second purchase. I gave my first copy to my sister-in-law. I highly recommend this book.

If you are trying to find more information about homeschooling and picking a curriculum, then this is for you. I have used this book as well as the website and put together a curriculum for my son. I have never homeschooled before and did not want to go the usual route for picking an all-in-one program. This really does give you a whole range of different ways you can put together a homeschooling curriculum that you can taylor to your child

LOVE this book!! Before buying it, I spent many hours reading and researching curriculum and reviews. Even Cathy Duffy's website! This book is so much more than the title implies. I was hesitant to spend the money on the book, thinking it would just be more in-depth reviews than what her website had. But it's so much more! Ms. Duffy walks you through questions to figure out what your very own schooling philosophy is, set priorities, determine what your learning style is, what your children's learning styles are, and helps you put all that information together to figure out which curriculum could work for you and your family. This book has saved me so much time, helped me organize my thoughts, and simplified the curriculum decision for me. I am thanking God for this book right now!

My girlfriend suggested I get this book since I’m considering homeschooling my four children next year. I have SO many questions, but this book was so informative- and I really loved the “workbook” side of it. I was able to really think through and put into writing my fealings and fears! I didn’t skip ahead, but filled out all of the sections and learned SO much. I Love love love the charts for the curriculum! It makes it so easy to figure out what style is best for your family! Can’t wait to start!!

A must have for all homeschool parents, both seasoned and new. Stay up to date on choices that fit your teaching goals, philosophy, and match with your child's learning style. Although I would have been fine with my original curriculum choice, I learned that there were even better options available to fit our needs, and that my goals had changed over the years. This grounded me and ensured we are headed in the right direction.

I recommend this to EVERYONE even non homeschoolers because it really helps you understand that everyone learns a different way and this book helps you connect with your whole family in new ways. I now 'Get" my son and we connect much better. Ive found techniques to use so that he can be his best and enjoy learning!

I love this book!Whenever I am planning a school year, this is my go-to guide to help me figure out what curriculum I should go with. She does a very good job at reviewing most homeschooling curriculum out there!

Well-rounded book with lots of insight

I like Cathy, but her website was just as informative as the book .

Excellent book very informative and an awesome guide to picking the curriculum. Thank you!

Good book for an overwhelmed beginner like me.