On this page you will find a plethora of information regarding curriculum favorites, field trip opportunities and helpful websites. Everything on this page will have been tested and tried by your fellow T.C.A. members and will come with their recommendation. Just click on the images to go to the sites presented. Have something to add? Contact Carla Müller with your latest "finds"!
FOREIGN LANGUAGES: "The Learnables" <www.learnables.com> is a great tool for learning a foreign language. I love languages! I have also purchased more foreign language curriculum over the years than I want to even think about! Although there are many good programs available, I have found "The Learnables" approach the most natural and "user friendly" without forfeiting academic quality. You begin the program with "The Learnables", (which is actually really fun!) and then move on to "Basic Structures" Level One. The combination of these two make up a full year of foreign languages study. You can choose from French, Spanish, German, Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese and Russian.
MATHEMATICS: Astrea Jones writes: "Love Saxon math. I love the teaching style (building on previous concepts plenty of practice), I also love the deeper skills I believe it teaches such as diligence and discipline. We are a society of entertainment junkies (a stronger but inappropriate for children word came to my mind) and I hear a lot about 'curriculum needs to be engaging'. I agree that lots of learning can take place if children are engaged but I believe they need to learn to do hard things whether they enjoy it or not, to persevere, to conquer! I'll get down now. <hmhco.com> or <christianbook.com>
LITERATURE: Christine Harlander writes: "Progeny Press Literature Guides" (high school) offer comprehension questions, higher level thinking questions, vocabulary, study of literature elements, Biblical Worldview, essay topics, background on period and author. "Standards-based Literature Guides" are a great addition to Progeny Press but are not written from a Biblical perspective. They have some helpful worksheets on literary devices, and literary elements. <progenypress.com>
WRITING: Christine Harlander recommends "Excellence in Writing" <excellenceinwriting.com>
VOCABULARY: "The Word Within The Word" (Advanced Jr. High and High School) Christine recommends this vocabulary study for students who really love language. It uses etymology. <amazon.com>
GRAMMAR: "Jensen's Grammar and Jensen's Punctuation". Christine explains that the Punctuation book uses literature selections to systematically teach and the grammar book is a great final "brush up" to use for late junior high or early high school. <jsgrammar.com> or <christianbook.com>
HISTORY: (Economics, etc) "The Exploring Series" by Ray Notgrass. Biblical worldview that offers a balanced perspective. Includes literature selections and primary source documents. The course is adaptable and has material for literature or Biblical studies--or just the basic course. <notgrass.com> or <christianbook.com>
THE KHAN ACADEMY is a FREE site where you can receive help with difficult subject areas such as math, biology, chemistry, medicine, economics and more!! Khan Academy also offers prep for SAT testing.
WRITE WITH WORLD is a program intended to encourage middle-schoolers in critical thinking and writing with purpose. This is a course developed by the publishers of "God's World News" and "World" magazine.
