Questions About Abeka Homeschool Curriculum and My Father's World

by Renee Young
(Savannah, TN USA)

New homeschooling mom wants to know the difference between Abeka homeschool curriculum and My Father's World. Can you help?

I am brand new to homeschooling. I have a seven year old in private Christian school in first grade and a four year old who is still home with me. I am going to homeschool this coming school year, and I am quickly learning that it will not be easy to pick a curriculum. I thought I may go with Abeka homeschool curriculum, but now I am leaning toward My Fathers World. HELP!!! Thanks!

Hi Renee!
Welcome to the wonderful world of homeschooling, and choosing homeschool curriculum! :)

Abeka homeschool curriculum is traditional curriculum, much like the curriculum you used when you were in school. My daughter used Abeka curriculum when she was in private school for kindergarten and part of first grade.

Abeka moves along quite quickly in subjects like Math. Typically schools cover a topic for a couple weeks and move on to a new one (whether the student has learned it or not). This method of teaching can be good, or it can be a problem depending on the student. With homeschooling it shouldn't be much of a problem because you can spend extra time on areas where your child needs more attention.

With curriculum like Abeka, your core subjects usually aren't related to each other. In other words, the social studies or history courses have nothing to do with the language arts or science curriculum. Each subject can be studied independently from another.

My Father's World, on the other hand, is a unit study curriculum that can be used for multiple ages or grades and all subjects are interrelated. It also uses a mix of the Charlotte Mason and classical learning approach, which is quite different from Abeka.

Both Abeka homeschool curriculum and My Father's World are biblically based.

Although I have never used My Father's World, I personally would choose it over Abeka because of the teaching method. Unit studies are a great way for children to learn, especially when all subjects relate to each other. Hands-on learning also allows children to experience what they are learning instead of just reading and memorizing facts or information.

As a mother of multiple children, I like unit study curriculum (especially for younger children) because it best utilizes my time. I can teach all or most of my children together, instead of teaching one child at a time. With family learning, little ones can join in and learn along side older children, even though they may be too young to do all of the "work".

I started homeschooling when my girls were eight and four. The four year old would listen to everything I did with her older sister. Sometimes she would join in and do the different activities, other times she would play quietly in the room where we were. She always knew exactly what her sister was learning though; I would often hear her at night telling her dad everything her sister learned that day. :)

For new homeschoolers with young children, I always recommend curriculum that is relaxing, fun and easy-to-use.

Hope this helps! Maybe others will post their insight as well.
Blessings,
Heather

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