bethm
- Reviewed on Monday, October 26, 2009
- Grades Used: 1st and 3rd
- Dates used: 2008-2009
Calvert has the reputation for being one of the best homeschooling curriculums out there, but I can't see it. It is most certainly not worth the expensive price tag. Thankfully, we didn't pay for it last year, it was provided free through our state cyber charter school, but even for free it wasn't worth it. To begin with, the math is horrible.It jumps around all over the place, from concept to concept, with no rhyme or reason, and the student doesn't have enough time to grasp the concept before getting slammed with something completely different. For example, with my oldest son, he was introduced to multiplication by doing about 4 lessons with multiplying by 2's and 3's, then it skipped to doing geometry and didn't come back to multiplication for 3 months!! We had to supplement with worksheets and online games so he wouldn't forget how to multiply.Math was so stressful for us last year, my son was reduced to tears whenever he had to do math.This was a child who LOVED math until Calvert. Thankfully, this year we're homeschooling on our own using a curriculum that actually works for us and he loves math again.The grammar and phonics has the same problem with lack of consistency for both grade levels, jumping all over the place, no rhyme or reason and no review.The readers are incredibly dry and boring and didn't hold my kids' interest at all.I can't really review the 1st grade social studies, because there was hardly anything there to review. My oldest son, however, did enjoy the "Childhood History of Famous Americans". But, like the rest of the curriculum, there's no rhyme or reason to the way it's laid out either.The science is also dry and boring.I didn't like Calvert Script at all, and ended up using Handwriting Without Tears with my youngest son, although I ended up not liking it either, in the long run.About the only positive thing I can say about this curriculum is that the teaching manuals are well organized as far as daily lessons. Other than that, this curriculum is horrible.
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TeriTrent
- Reviewed on Saturday, October 17, 2009
- Grades Used: 1st, 3rd, 5th
- Dates used: 2007
If you have more than one child, you will run yourself back and forth from one kid to the next all day long without stopping. I love the curriculum itself. I think it provides a good education but it is very hard to use with three children. Like I said, I wouldn't even want to use it with two.
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love2learn
- Reviewed on Thursday, August 06, 2009
- Grades Used: 3rd
- Dates used: 2009
I purchased the "Complete Calvert 3rd Grade Homeschool Curriculum" about a month ago. I did not purchase the ATS (Advisory Teaching Service).
Since receiving the curriculum, I have spent many, many hours reviewing every aspect of the program in great detail. I can honestly say that I LOVE IT! I have read many other reviews about the Calvert curriculum, and I absolutely agree with others who say that Calvert is extremely thorough. This issue is very important to me. I do not like wondering if I forgot to teach something, or wondering if I am spending too much time, or too little time on a particular subject. I feel that Calvert helps me in these specific areas of concern and frees me from worrying!
I also found that their text books and workbooks are very colorful, interesting, and well-made (meaning "not cheap"). When working with younger children, you do not want books that fall apart easily. As for the academics, Calvert offers the homeschool parent many ideas on how to teach in a more "active way". This can be very beneficial for many children. Calvert does not "insist" that you follow their lesson plan. Instead, their lesson plan is meant as a guide. They make you fully aware that you have the option of enhancing (when your child is academically adavanced), and they also offer ideas on how to "slow down" (if your child lags behind in certain areas.)
As we all know, there is "NO" perfect curriculum that is a "perfect match" for any one child. Just because a child is in a certain grade, this does not mean they are functioning at that grade level - they could be ahead in some subjects, or behind in some subjects. With Calvert, it is easy to move ahead, or slow down - without any gaps!
I absolutely love the teacher's manuals and lesson plans. I hope they never change them! I find these to be the best I have ever seen - no more guessing, no more gaps!
I also love the fact that the Calvert Curriculum comes with everything you need - right at your fingertips! I am SO TIRED of curriculums that claim to be "complete", however, you are continually running to your computer and printing out worksheets, tests, information, etc.
I hope Calvert will continue to keep in mind that not all of us have a fast internet connection - nor do all of us like going on the computer for all our needs. I once had a "so called" complete curriculum where I must have spent hundreds of dollars in paper and ink just to print out worksheets - and this does not even include the time I had to waste getting everything together! Thankfully, I don't have to do any of that with Calvert.
While reviewing this curriculum with a "fine tooth comb", never once did I feel like I spent too much money, nor was I disappointed with any of the materials I received. Instead, I felt completely relieved and even more confident as a homeschool parent! I would definitely recommend Calvert.
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hsschool
- Reviewed on Thursday, July 30, 2009
- Grades Used: 4th -8th
- Dates used: 2006-2009
Calvert school has the best curriculum on the market. When you order your students grade level you don't need to by anything else other than a school, few art and science supplies.
The few negatives about Calvert is it only goes to 8th grade and there are no high school programs as nice as Calvert School. We ended up using Sonlight, Saxon and the local Community College for high school.
The biggest negative is a few years ago Calvert added Verticy for children with Dyslexia. We used this program for one year and it was the worst experience I had with Calvert. There are several lesson manuals that the parent needs to keep track in. The lesson manuals refers to the home teacher as the learning guide. Verticy is a different as night and day with the Calvert program.
I highly recommend ordering Calvert's program. I can not recommend the Verticy program.
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