Here the VerathonED team will share best practices for getting the most out of Pod Schooling. Soon, we will invite Teachers in the Pod Schooling community to share their best ideas as well
Curriculum Suggestions
Our seasoned and talented educational team brings a wealth of experience as we prayerfully select curriculum for our families. We realize that children are unique in their learning styles and pace to master concepts. Verathon Academy offers options that work smoothly for families choosing a hybrid or full-time model. We utilize a variety of curriculum that can seamlessly transition from the classroom back to the home. Whether a family chooses a hybrid model or a full- time model, Verathon Academy offers a variety of resources for Bible, Math, Language Arts, Science, and History. The beauty of partnering with families is that a Verathon teacher has the freedom to use parents’ feedback to develop a curriculum that fits each child.
Because Small Learning Groups are formed based on parent interest, grade band groupings of children may vary year to year. This curriculum overview is separated into individual grade bands rather than into blended age groupings since the age groups may fluctuate based on enrollment. Teachers use a variety of strategies to group students into learning groups during instructional time that are appropriate for their ages.
Verathon Academy would like to offer several different curriculum options for you and the teachers of your small learning groups to consider. These come from a variety of sources and contain a wealth of choices from home schooled families, hybrid schools, and Verathon Academy.
At-A-Glance
Homeschool Hybrid and Full-time Curriculum Links Kinder – 6th Grade
VerathonED has gathered a wealth of links for families having children with a variety of learning styles.
Bible
The Beginner’s Bible This is a favorite for younger children. 90 Bible stories.
The Jesus Storybook Bible and Jesus Storybook Coloring Books
The Biggest Story – 104 Bible stories with printable pages
Old & New Testament Children’s Bible Stories (Arch Books) These picture books illustrate a single Bible story using stanzas that rhyme.
New City Catechism For Kids This resource aims to teach the core doctrines of the Christian faith to children ages 4–11. This booklet is designed to help children understand who God is and what he has done.
The Bible Project videos These short videos masterfully capture children’s (and adults’) interests as they hear and see illustrations being created that match the Biblical stories.
These videos “help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.”
Devotionals:
Roar Like A Lion 90 Devotions To A Courageous Faith
Math
Math programs either use a spiral learning method or the mastery approach. Understanding this difference is important to decipher before purchasing a math curriculum for a child. Parents may want to research the two different approaches to teaching math. This video may be helpful. Spiral Math vs. Mastery Math
Many math programs offer placement tests. Most math programs include unit/chapter assessments and manipulatives. Purchasing the teacher’s edition becomes more helpful as the math content increases in difficulty.
Math-U-See and Math-U-See Placement tool Math U See is a mastery-based curriculum. Math-U-See is known for its sequential, skill-based, multi-sensory curriculum that emphasizes conceptual understanding using manipulatives to make math visual.
Dimensions Singapore Math (grades 1-5) Dimensions Math is a mastery-based curriculum. It is primarily geared toward children of average to advanced ability.
Cathy Duffy’s Review is quite helpful when deciding whether this approach will fit the needs of your child and/or teacher. Dimensions Math Review
The Good and the Beautiful and The Good and the Beautiful Math Placement Tests
This is an Open-and-Go program where the Teacher Guide and Student Workbook are combined together for each lesson. It is recommended that the math manipulatives are purchased. It uses the spiral approach to teaching math concepts.
*Overall, the Good and the Beautiful curriculum is an inexpensive turn-key curriculum that can be good for the first year or two and helpful for aligning teachers and families in hybrid programs. A bit lightweight, in our opinion, and teachers will tend to (and should) supplement.
After Pods get into the swing of things, follow on years may require something a bit more filled out. We think best for younger ages, perhaps K-2. Concerning math in particular, Verathon Academy teachers move into a more rigorous math curriculum by grade three.
Bob Jones Math and Bob Jones Math Placement Tests provide a math spiral learning
approach while teaching step-by-step solutions to math problems. Additional exercises for struggling and advanced learners are included as well as hands-on manipulatives. Recommendation: Buy the complete Teacher’s Edition, Tests, and Keys if the teacher or parent feels a need for extra support. Bob Jones prepares students for algebra and beyond.
Horizon Math and Placements Tests “Horizons Math from Alpha Omega Publications is a spiral-method homeschool math curriculum that helps students master concepts through introduction, review, and reinforcement that guides students through progressively difficult concepts.” Math manipulatives are available to purchase. Each grade level has two workbooks to purchase.
Abeka Math offers a traditional math education through a spiral learning approach.
Some families feel Abeka has a faster pace than many popular homeschool curriculum which works well for many students. Recommendation: Buy the complete Teacher’s Edition, Tests and Keys once the teacher or parent feels a need for extra support.
Saxon Math and Saxon Math Placement Tests utilizes a spiral approach to teaching math, meaning it introduces concepts incrementally and revisits them repeatedly throughout the year to reinforce understanding. Feedback from families using Saxon Math is its strong focus on foundational skills. However, opportunities for diving into deeper understanding and problem solving are lacking, in our view, and the repetitiveness and dry presentation may not hold a student’s interest as well as other math publications. Saxon has committed to continue publishing Saxon Math through 2027.
Key To Math Series – Supplemental workbooks (Fractions, Decimals, Percents,
Metric Measurements, English Measurements, Geometry, and Algebra). These 40 page inexpensive workbooks are a treasure for many families wanting good supplemental materials using the mastery approach.
Making Math Real is a multisensory, structured methodology for students needing more than the traditional math approach. It emphasizes hands-on learning particularly beneficial for students with learning differences. Nine Lines is their signature approach using symbol imagery to support automaticity with the multiplication and division facts.
Handwriting
The following handwriting programs offer manuscript letter formations through cursive writing.
Good and Beautiful Handwriting Contains 100 pages which is 3-4 sheets per week. This program includes artwork, poetry, Bible verses and quotes; integrates spelling and grammar practice as the grades increase.
Handwriting Without Tears Clear, systematic instruction combined with guided practice to promote handwriting automaticity through capital letters and cursive.
A Reason For Handwriting Every weekly lesson is built around one carefully-selected Scripture verse. By the end of the week, most students have memorized the verse.
Language Arts and Literacy
SATPIN refers to the first six letters that some phonics programs begin with when introducing initial sounds to children. Many children benefit from learning the sounds of these six letters first rather than learning the sounds of 26 letters in alphabetical order.
University of Florida Foundations Literacy Toolbox is an explicit and systematic program that teaches students the foundational skills necessary for proficient reading. It follows a carefully developed scope and sequence designed to ensure that students systematically acquire each skill needed and learn to apply each skill with automaticity and confidence. The program is designed to be used for core instruction in the primary grades or for intervention with struggling students in any grade. The manual will need to be purchased.
All About Reading and All About Reading Placement Test This is an Open-and-Go scripted program. It offers a multisensory, phonetic approach for learners who best learn in a systematic approach.
Bob Jones Language Arts offers a comprehensive literacy program which includes
phonics, reading, writing, written and oral English language conventions, listening and speaking. Teachers and families may choose to use all or part of this curriculum.
The readers offer a variety of genres to develop reading comprehension and fluency.
Abeka Language Arts offers a comprehensive literacy program which includes phonics,
reading, writing, written and oral English language conventions, listening and speaking. Teachers and families may choose to use all or part of this curriculum.
The readers offer a variety of genres to develop reading comprehension and fluency.
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts is an Open-and-Go curriculum covering
a comprehensive range of language arts subjects, including phonics, reading, writing, spelling, grammar, usage, punctuation, vocabulary, geography, art appreciation, and instruction. The readers offer a variety of stories that engage children.
Logic of English Foundations is a complete multi-sensory Phonics, Reading,
Handwriting, and Spelling program geared for children 4 through 7 years olds.
Logic of English Essentials Reader offers high interest texts using phonograms
and spelling rules in the lessons.
First Start Reading (Cathy Duffy Review)
Orton Gillingham is one of the gold standard methods using a multi-sensory approach for teaching children who benefit from an intensive multisensory phonics approach.
Educators Publishing Service offers good supplementary materials. (see below.)
Educators Publishing Service (EPS)
Explode the Code “offers a researched-based, multisensory, Orton-Gillingham based program that builds essential literacy skills through direct, systematic, phonics instruction. Providing a comprehensive overview of phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency, and spelling, students will gain the skills they need to read words, phrases, sentences, and stories on their own.”
Decodable Readers SPIRE Decodable Readers and Primary Phonics Readers
Supercharged Readers Decodable and Controlled Text
Spelling
All About Spelling is a scripted Open-and-Go program using the Orton Gillingham approach. All About Spelling Placement Test and All About Spelling review
Spell Well Grade 1 is a structured, multi-sensory approach that uses the Look, Say, Shape, Cover, Write, Check strategy. Spellwell Grade 2 (A and AA)
Sitton Spelling and Word Skills teaches spelling within the context of a total-word skills curriculum, including decoding skills. The program provides creative instruction for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation, designed to help students become better writers. Source Books and Practice Books are required.
Integrating Reading and Writing
Institute for Excellence (IEW) Reading and Writing
*Training for the instructor who has been through the Teaching Writing: Structure and Style video course is recommended. Teaching Writing: Structure and Style video course.
Bible Heroes writing lessons designed for grades 1-2
Fables, Myths & Fairy Tales writing lessons designed for grades 3-5
Step Up To Writing Grades 3-5 and Step Up to Writing Grades 6-8 supply multisensory, structured writing strategies that develop students’ ability to create thoughtful, well-written compositions. Strategies can be integrated into any curriculum or implemented as a stand alone writing solution. This engaging, color-coded writing system teaches informative/expository, narrative, and opinion/argumentative writing processes. Adult training recommended but not required.
Grammar
Fix It! Grammar Level 1 (Nose Tree) and Level 2 (Town Mouse and Country Mouse)
“Students hunt for and correct errors in daily passages that cumulatively tell a story. Fix It! Grammar is a six-year, incremental program that encourages students to apply new grammar knowledge in every lesson while continuing to practice what they already know. Level 1 Nose Tree presumes no prior grammar knowledge and introduces basic parts of speech, end-mark punctuation, phrases, clauses, homophones, and more.”
First Language Level One and First Language Level Two
(Levels Three and Four are also available for grades 3 and higher)
Easy Grammar (recommended for grades 3 and up) Sequential grammar units.
Vocabulary
Wordly Wise Book A (grade 2), Book A (grade 3), Book C (grade 4), etc.
Wordly Wise workbooks are part of an optional workbook series for those who want to supplement “natural” language-learning approach with more vocabulary practice.
Science
Science is about inquiry and understanding the natural world. What interests the child and sparks his curiosity can drive the STEM and science experiments within a learning environment. Over time, biology, chemistry, physics, and earth science will be covered
at age appropriate levels.
Apologia Science follows the Charlotte Mason approach to discovery through narratives. The Young Explorer Series allows a teacher or parent to cover one course with multiple children as they immerse themselves in each topic.
Noeo Science uses an Open-and-Go approach. Teacher or parent determines the
the child’s reading level then chooses the topic of interest before purchasing the kit.
Master Books Supplemental videos found at MasterBooksAcademy.com
Level 1 Adventures in Creation (ages 5-7)
Level 2 Physical Science (ages 6-8)
Level 3 Earth Science (ages 7-9)
Level 4 Adventures in the Scientific Method (ages 8-10)
Bob Jones Science videos and textbooks offer a wealth of beautiful faith based curriculum. Many families and schools use this curriculum from year to year then supplement with experiments, videos, field trips, and living books.
Abeka Science Abeka also offers a wealth of faith based curriculum to use as a springboard for planning units at home as well as at school.
STEM Activities There are endless ideas for students to solve problems by designing experiments and using materials easily accessible to them.
FOSS Kits – Digital, videos and active investigations are included.
The Good and the Beautiful Little Hearts and Hands K-2nd plus audio and video
The Good and the Beautiful Science and Health 3rd-8th plus audio and video
History & Literature
Using living books, maps, and hands-on activities help to make history come alive.
Bob Jones Heritage Series Many families love to use this history curriculum. A video course and textbook kits are available but can be rather expensive unless ordering through a discounted source.
Beautiful Feet Books can easily be used for multi-grades for K-3rd and 4-8th. History, Geography, Science and Curriculum packs are offered.
The Good and the Beautiful History: Year 1 is intended for grades 3-8th grades. This family-style course is designed to be completed in a school year with two lessons per week. Visually rich and engaging lessons.
Notgrass History (grades 1st-4th)
Our 50 States (U.S. geography and literature)
Our Great Big World (world geography and literature)
Our Star-Spangled Story (U.S. history and literature)
Story of the World Recommendation: Buy the Activity Book that corresponds to each volume. One volume is an entire school year covering history and geography. Best for grades 3 and higher. Audio and tests are also available.
Kindergarten: God’s Creation from A to Z
First Grade: Learning God’s Story
2nd or 3rd Grade: Adventures in U.S. History
4th through 8th Grade: Exploring Countries and Culture
United States Map Sheets for learning the 50 states, capitals, and regions
Creation to Modern Times Timeline
Junior Achievement BizTown (Recommended for grades 4-6) This curriculum primarily focuses on social studies and economics with math skills incorporated. Financial literacy, understanding the real world, entrepreneurship and work readiness is covered. Spring Semester:
America’s Story (grades 3-6) Audios available. This offers a text heavy narrative approach to history. The information is great, but feedback from teachers is that they wanted a more engaging program that fit with the students’ reading levels.
Additional Resources-
Then and Now Heroes Complete Set 1-50
Who Is… biographies series is a collection of children’s non-fiction biographies focusing on influential people in history. Typical reading levels grades 3-7th grade.
Childhood of Famous Americans Series is a popular historical fiction series generally recommended for grades 3-7. Some books within the series, like those in the “Ready-to-Read” level, are geared towards younger readers in grades K-2.
Reading Strategies – resource book
6 + 1 Traits of Writing – resource book
Read Naturally – supplemental reading intervention
Reading Detective – critical reading, vocabulary and reading comprehension practice
Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) This site has a wealth of resources for parents and teachers. This supplements units beautifully.
Google Edu Free Coding – ages 9-14
Freckle Math Facts Self-paced exercises for math practice and mastery.
IXL “Trusted by educators and parents.” How to join IXL
This free curriculum is not faith based. It provides comprehensive, content-rich learning materials that are easy for teachers to use. The sequence flows from K-8th grade in language arts, history, geography, math, science, and the fine arts. The overarching question that is outlined is, “What do our children need to know?” Spiritual formation would need to be added to the lessons especially in science and history for many families.
Assessments
easyCBM https://www.easycbm.com
Many hybrid schools and charter schools use easyCBM for quarterly assessments and student progress monitoring.