Are you thinking about using Abeka curriculum in your homeschool? Here's what you need to know before choosing this curriculum for your family.

By using a simple binding method, I have found what I believe is the easiest way to organize Abeka curriculum.

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

Ten Tips to Start Homeschooling - how to get started, how to choose curriculum, and what you REALLY need to get started.

Before purchasing the ABeka Phonics program, find out what homeschool curriculum items are needed and what are a waste of time and money.

Find the best Christian homeschool curriculum packages. Including 2023 programs for online, high school, mailable, Charlotte Mason, Classical, & free.

Free A Beka K4 lesson plans for creating a homeschooling outline that spans the entire year and perfectly compliments A Beka's curriculum.

We have had great success using this phonics program! Want to know how we use Abeka phonics in our homeschool? Check it out!

Since listing my 2013-2014 curriculum choices, I have received dozens of emails from mommas all asking the same question... Why did you switch from A Beka math to Teaching Textbooks? Followed by the next logical questions... How do you like Teaching Textbooks? And why are your younger kids still using A Beka? (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) Naturally, I wanted to give Teaching Textbooks a full year before giving my "official" review. So... Today's the day. Here's the skinny... I switched because I'm a busy momma trying to juggle four grade levels and a toddler and quite frankly, something had to give! I needed an easier workload. There, I've said it. In an attempt to lighten my load and maintain a certain level of school day sanity, I knew I needed to delegate one or two subjects to someone or something else. Although I was an "A" student in most of my math classes, it was never my favorite subject. Since, for the first four years of her education, it tended to be the subject that my daughter disliked the most also, it was the clear choice for CHANGE. The computer-based lessons of Teaching Textbooks would require little time from me freeing me up to teach something else to another child, I reasoned. I also thought that the animated lessons would be a welcome change for my daughter who obviously craved something a little more "jazzy" than the A Beka math that she had been doing up until that point. So, I plunked down the hefty amount and prayed that I wasn't making a huge mistake by potentially damaging my daughter for life! (Because isn't that what we, homeschool mommas, always think before we try something new?!) So...That's the short answer of why I made the switch. The one I tell in passing to the lady with the raised eyebrows. But, you don't want the short answer, do you? Nope. You came here hopin' for the dirt. The nitty-gritty. Well, here it is.. Why I start with A Beka Math Truthfully, if it wasn't A Beka, I would have to start with something else, because Teaching Textbooks only offers materials for third graders and beyond. But, I start with A Beka on purpose. I believe in spiral learning I know that most homeschool math curriculums advocate for a mastery approach to learning. I, on the other hand, wholeheartedly disagree with that method. I prefer the spiral approach. Although A Beka is not the only math curriculum that presents math with spiral learning in mind, it is, in my opinion, one of the best curriculums for this style. (In full disclosure, I worked for A Beka for four years in the homeschool division AND I taught A Beka Arithmetic for several more years in a traditional setting. I'm comfortable with it.) I believe in building a solid math foundation I'm a firm believer that a child should learn all four math processes (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) inside and out...forward and backward. No counting on fingers. No memory tricks. Just memorization of the facts. In my opinion, if a child has to rely on anything other than quick memory to solve a process problem, he does not really know the answer...even if he can EVENTUALLY come up with the correct answer after using "tricks." Using finger counting or memory tricks really only affirm that a child knows what "addition" (subtractions, multiplication, and division) is. It doesn't necessarily show that he actually knows the individual facts. While a child can coast through life continuing to count on his fingers, I think that puts him at a great disadvantage in higher-level math. A long division problem, which should only take a few moments to solve, ends up being a thirty-minute nightmare. A weak foundation of math processes cripples a child down the road. Having taught A Beka in both a traditional school setting and in homeschool, I have always found it to be an exceptional curriculum for building core knowledge of facts from kindergarten through third grade. By fourth grade, those foundational facts are combined to create complex, multi-step problems. I like flair Perhaps it is because math has never been my fave, I really desire to add as much flair and color to it as possible. I'm not here to name names or anything, but most spiral-learning based math programs on the homeschool market today look like an absolute snooze-fest. No color. No pictures. Just pages and pages of black numbers on stark white pages. That's enough to make a clown cry, in my opinion. A Beka, on the other hand, is a workbook based-program that offers an aesthetically pleasing page...at least in the younger grades. Yes, it is workbook based. Yes, it often over-emphasizes review. But, since I have very distinct opinions about workbooks in my homeschool, I have no problem embracing the parts about A Beka Arithmetic that I like and ignoring the rest. That being said, I have never really loved the fourth grade and beyond A Beka Math. After third grade, the work tends to be rather dry and has an over-emphasis of long division. Why I was drawn to Teaching Textbooks Once I made the decision to "farm out" math, I knew I needed to find a curriculum that would ALSO approach math from a spiral method, offer a great foundation in basic facts, and offer some flare! Teaching Textbooks immediately caught my eye. With a year of TT under my belt, here's what I've come to really appreciate about the program. The lessons are clear and easy to understand. All lessons can be repeated or played back should my kids not understand any of them the first time. The "worksheet" problems are self-grading. My child immediately knows whether he/she got an answer correct and can retry the problem or opt for a "hint" if need be. I was very impressed with the "real life" math scenarios emphasized in Math 7. Every single new concept was explained with a "how and when will you use this in everyday life" approach. (I have read through the entire Math 4 curriculum that my son will be completing this year and I have NOT found it to have a "real life" element. But, I'm assuming that is because the foundational facts need to be completely covered first before the "application" is emphasized.) The first few problems of each lesson are practice problems and do not affect the daily grade. This definitely helps with a child who demands perfection from herself. My daughter was able to have a few tries at the new concept before being graded. It is CURRENTLY not aligned with common core standards. Here's a sample of Math 7, lesson 10. Some things you should know about Teaching Textbooks The review is sometimes lacking Although it is a spiral-approach to math, there is not as much review of old concepts as other spiral-method curriculums. When looking over Math 4 for the upcoming school year, I can clearly see that I will have to do some additional drilling of multiplication facts. They are taught. And it looks like they are taught well. But, I think most kids need more daily practice of the foundational facts than TT offers. Order a la carte The full package comes with both the CD program AND a traditional textbook/workbook. While I have friends who loooooove having the workbook because their children prefer to handwrite the answers, my daughter NEVER wanted to write in the workbook. For us, it was a waste of money. So, this year, I only purchased the CD package. It is not as hands-off as you might think Because Teaching Textbooks requires very little parent involvement on a daily basis, it can sometimes be tricky to help a child when he/she becomes confused or needs additional explanation. While I know math, I'm admittedly a little rusty on some math concepts that I just don't use very often in everyday life...like finding percentages and lowest common denominators. For this reason, I tried to listen in to my daughter's lessons every now and again in order to stay current with what she was learning. If I did not take the time to keep abreast of the units, it was difficult to help her. I'd have to go back and skim a few lessons in order to get the gist and be able to explain the concept more clearly to her. The methods can vary from the norm Every now and again, TT would teach a concept in a completely different way than I ever learned it...sometimes in a more clear, much easier way...sometimes not. The grading scale is misleading I really don't like the way TT gives daily grades. A child is given two tries to get the right answer. So, even if my daughter got every single problem wrong the first time but was able to get them all correct on the second attempt, she received a 100%. That's not a clear representation of her ability, in my opinion. If she got it wrong the first time, I think she should be given a chance to re-do the problem in order to correct her mistake. But, I also think the problem should be marked as incorrect. The final grade should reflect the original error...sadly, it doesn't. The grade screen does, however, tell you how many times she attempted each problem. So, I just take that into consideration when assessing her work. (Since I don't give grades in my homeschool, this is not a huge "con" in my eyes. But, I thought it was worth mentioning for those homeschool mommas who DO give daily grades.) Here's what I mean. You can see in this picture that my daughter clearly missed problem 21, and yet, she received a score of 100. The lessons can be lengthy The audio lessons can be quite long. For this reason, many kids opt to just read the lessons out of the textbook. They can skip the sections that they have mastered and focus their attention on the unfamiliar portions. The placement tests are a MUST I STRONGLY recommend taking the free, online placement tests before ordering...especially if you are switching from a different math curriculum. In my opinion, TT tends to be a bit inaccurately leveled. What most curriculums teach in third grade, TT doesn't cover until fourth. The placement test will give you a better idea of which grade level to order. (This year my 6th grader will be doing pre-algebra which is the TT 8th grade materials.) The replacement costs are reasonable Should you lose or scratch a CD, TT will replace individual CDs in a pack for around $15. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how thrilled I was to learn this when I was faced with the thought of potentially replacing an ENTIRE $130 set when one of four CDs mysteriously vanished. (Found it weeks later...but only after I had ordered a replacement. Sigh!) In addition, TT is one of the rare CD-based curriculums that allows you to legally resell the program to someone else...and in turn, buy it used. (A word of advice...some of the older versions are not self-checking. If you decide to buy the program used, PASS on the older versions. Just my two cents!) A final word As with all curriculums, both A Beka and Teaching Textbooks receive mixed reviews. People either love them or they hate them. I hope this lengthy look at why I choose to use BOTH has given you a better understanding of whether either one of these programs will work for YOU. In case you're curious, I also switch English midstream. Here's why>>>

We have had great success using this phonics program! Want to know how we use Abeka phonics in our homeschool? Check it out!

Find the best Christian homeschool curriculum packages. Including 2023 programs for online, high school, mailable, Charlotte Mason, Classical, & free.

Is Abeka Academy A Good Homeschool Curriculum? A Christian homeschool curriculum with video lessons taught by master teachers, led by you.

Have you ever wondered how to manage all the paper the ABeka full-grade elementary curriculum creates AND stay current with grading? I ...

Homeschooling laws vary regarding where you live. There a some states that require no form, auditing, testing or review and then there are others at…

Get all the information you need about Abeka Curriculum. Find out if this text book approach is useful for families since it was designed for school use.

Help your students master and apply proper grammar mechanics to their writing assignments with Grammar and Composition I .  Review punctuation, capitalization, parts of speech, verb usage, and sentence structure to blaze the trail for writing a variety of compositions, research papers, and book reports. This work-text walks your students through the steps of writing such as being parallel in their outline, having the correct point of view, using parenthetical citations, and preparing a works cited page. Help your students be effective communicators by perfecting their writing skills.

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

Are you thinking about using Abeka curriculum in your homeschool? Here's what you need to know before choosing this curriculum for your family.

Robyn K. has been working—and homeschooling her 4 kids—for over 7 years. How does she do it? We had the pleasure of interviewing her to find out.

Find out the similarities and differences between BJU Press Distance Learning and ABeka Academy. These are two video curriculums for homeschoolers.

I am always looking for resources to use in my homeschool. I have found several free printables for the curriculum I am using. One thing I have not found is the phonics charts for special sounds for Abeka. I decided to just make some plain black and white printable phonics charts to help others. Click here (or the pinnable image) for the phonics chart printable. Some other Abeka resources I found are: Blend Ladders Addition Flashcards Alphabet Flashcards Number Concept Cards ABC Bible Memory Verses

Blog post reviewing Abeka Academy curriculum for homeschool families and how the video lessons connect with children of all ages.

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

New York State Homeschool Requirements – Be sure to look at the section labeled “e. Required Courses” which lists what must be covered in each grade. New York State is one of the …

With the advance of COVID-19, abounding faculties are actuality shut bottomward for the butt of the semester. Unsurprisingly, the anticipation of self-quarantining for the blow of the academy division has affluence of households panicking. After stocking up on rest room cardboard and all of the booze cash should purchase, mother and father with school-aged accouchement […]

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

What is a homeschool morning menu you may ask? A morning menu is a group of practices, recitations, or skills that a child will repeat each morning in printable form. A homeschool morning menu can be adapted for specific age groups and added throughout the year.

With coronavirus on the rise and the school system up in the air, I decided to go with the online abeka academy. Learn all about our experience here!

I love many things about A Beka curriculum: their colorful workbooks and activities, their readers, the thoroughness. But I also totally get when a family says that A Beka is a lot of work. As a matter of fact, even for us sometimes A Beka’s too much work. Sometimes, I have to tame it down—and trim and cut and splice—until it fits our family. I thought I’d give you a little peek at what that looks like. 2 simple changes when A Beka’s too much. 1. Choose only the workbooks you need Evaluate what you want to cover with your child using formal…Read More

There are many online homeschool programs to choose from and we have selected 8 of the best. Online homeschooling options include SchoolhouseTeachers.com, Abeka, Time 4 Learning, BJU Homeschooling, IXL Learning, Sonlight, Monarch Online, and Easy Peasy. A wide range of home education classes and curriculum are available and your sure to find a program which fits your needs.

Take a peek at the core subject curriculum I've chosen for my 8th grade homeschooler.

Considering homeschooling but aren’t sure how to begin planning for it? Read this blog for tips on how to start your homeschooling journey.

Are you thinking about using Abeka curriculum in your homeschool? Here's what you need to know before choosing this curriculum for your family.

Build’s your child’s confidence in written and verbal communication with hundreds of words that he can confidently spell correctly. Spelling and Poetry 3 gives your child 34 spelling lists with words that would reinforce the learning of different spelling rules. Each of the lists is complete with age-appropriate definitions and implementation exercises that help students connect spelling with reading, Bible, and other subjects. Eight poems are also included in this textbook to help your child appreciate the beauty of language and the literary value of poetry. Help your child recognize challenging words and appreciate language with Spelling and Poetry 3.

The Abeka Academy homeschool curriculum is a great choice for some families. This traditional curriculum is very popular today so we review it here.

With mommas diligently planning curriculum choices for next year, my inbox has been jammed with questions regarding MY particular curriculum selections. Curious readers have wanted to know WHY I have chosen certain programs over others. Without a doubt, the #1, most-asked question I have received is some version of the following... "Jamie, I'm wondering why you switch from ABeka Language to Bob Jones English in third grade?" Great question! I can see why my madness would raise questions about by method. So, in an attempt to kill several dozen birds with one stone, I'm gonna do my best to satisfy the curious, today.* (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) The Short Answer Both ABeka Language and BJU English are great programs. In many ways, they are very similar. They, both, subscribe to the spiral approach of learning the concrete rules of grammar. They, both, emphasize a traditional style (workbook/textbook) of teaching. And, they, both, were originally designed for classroom use and have been slightly modified to be used in a homeschool setting. Because of this, they, both, can get a bit redundant at times for the fast-learner, but quite helpful for the learner who needs additional review. Since I, myself, learned grammar from the ABeka program, worked in the homeschooling division of their company for nearly four years, and taught from their resources in a traditional classroom setting, I KNOW that ABeka Language works well and I KNOW how to teach it. That being said... The Long Answer I start all of my children in ABeka's K-4 phonics program because I feel that it's a comprehensive, phonetical approach to teaching reading. Having used it now for thirteen years...in various forms of teaching...I am COMPLETELY comfortable with and confident in it. That being said, the Language program that goes along with those formative grades (first and second grade), is really just an extension of the phonics lessons. It emphasizes PHONICS rather than GRAMMAR..as it should be at that level! By third grade, most quality language programs will begin to focus less on phonics and more on the grammar/mechanics of writing. While ABeka Language (third grade and beyond) does do an exceptional job of teaching grammar skills, I think that its emphasis of the BIG PICTURE of language is slightly off balance. And here's why... The Longer Answer What is the point of learning the mechanics of grammar? Is it to be able to diagram subjects and verbs correctly? Is it to be able to recognize dangling modifiers quicker than anyone else? Is it to be able to accurately identify the difference between the past tense and the past participle tense of a verb? Of course not. The point of learning grammar...the BIG PICTURE of it all...is to learn to communicate the written word more clearly, accurately, and effectively. While diagramming sentences is one TOOL that can be used to reach that goal, I believe that MORE writing experience is equally as important. Both the ABeka Language and BJU English programs teach grammar/mechanics WELL! But, ABeka approaches writing as a completely separate subject throughout the elementary grades. It does not infuse writing and grammar into one cohesive whole. In other words, their language program from third grade until around ninth grade simply lacks a suitable writing component and does not afford a child the natural practice needed to become an effective writer. BJU, on the other hand, treats grammar and writing as an extension of each other. A grammar skill is taught in one unit, reviewed for several days, and then emphasized in a week-long (or several lessons-long) writing unit that follows. In addition, students are taught many different forms and styles of writing...from technical writing such as business letters and short research papers to fictional writing such as tall tales and narrative fiction stories. The writing process is broken down into tangible, smaller increments in order to make the entire endeavor more do-able for a novice writer. As a side note, I appreciate how BJU English texts always include sample student work and a grading matrix for every type/style of writing being taught. Although I don't ever "grade" my kids' writing, I do like to provide constructive and skill-appropriate feedback. As a mom teaching only one child per grade, it is sometimes difficult to know what is age/grade appropriate for writing success because I don't have any other work to compare my child's writing to. The sample work not only gives my child a great example to pattern his/her work after, but it also provides me with some objective benchmarks with which to assess a very subjective subject. The Long Story, Short By the time my kids each reach third grade, I plan to switch them all over to the BJU English program. Because while I want them to build a firm foundation of grammar/mechanics (something that I think is seriously lacking in our spell-check/grammar-check society), I recognize that knowing a rule is only good if you ALSO know how to implement that rule in daily life. Since BJU emphasizes grammar and writing equally, I feel like my kids are getting the best of both worlds and will have a much better chance of becoming effective communicators...a skill that will be necessary for them to have no matter what vocation God calls them to. Although this did not play into my decision of purchasing one curriculum over another, it is worth noting that BJU teachers' materials are much more user-friendly than ABeka's. The BJU English Teacher's Edition is an all-inclusive resource providing both the answer key to the student book, as well as the lesson plans and teacher's notes. ABeka's program, however, is divided into two different parent books. The lesson plans and teacher's notes are included in one resource, while the answer key to the student book is found in another. I should also mention, that I do not give my children tests. So, although I utilized the ABeka Language testing materials back in my classroom days, I have never used any of those resources for homeschooling purposes and therefore have no valuable opinions of either the ABeka Language or the BJU English tests or test keys. *No birds were harmed in the making of this post. Set your homeschool day on autopilot! Thank you! Your task cards will be sent to your inbox shortly. Set your homeschool day on autopilot! No more nagging your kids to do their work. Grab my free Task Cards today. Yes, send me the Task Cards!