Newby Thoughts on Preschool Homeschool Materials

I've spent countless hours - way too many hours really - poring over homeschool materials.  I think we've figured out what we want to do for now, which is really not that much.  Well, not structured learning anyway.  Kids learn whether you want them to or not.  Any materials we choose to purchase or utilize at this time will be for our benefit as the parents and used mostly to keep us moving forward.  We will not require Baby Bird to do seatwork or set curriculum until such time as we deem it appropriate.

Below are some of my thoughts on three popular choices for PRESCHOOL homeschool curricula.  If you are interested in purchasing any of these materials, please note that the prices I've listed are for NEW materials.  I don't get any kick-back or anything, this is just information for sharing :).  Some materials (such as the Five in a Row Volumes) are available USED for more reasonable prices.
 

Sonlight (P3/4 or P4/5 - includes ALL the books needed) - $285 - $425

• can buy just the teaching guides OR find the reading list free online
• don't waste the money on materials available for free (or a few late fees) at your local library
• instead invest some time and a little cash in great hands-on long-term materials such as moveable alphabets, map puzzles, learning games, paper, binoculars, all-weather clothes, good shoes

Five in a Row (Teaching Guides Vol. 1-3) - $35 ea, total $105

• almost all the books are available at the library (a few are apparently hard to find because they're out of print)
• buy a good world map
• unless you love spending time and money laminating things, just buy the premade story disks
• go ahead and spend the money for the manuals.  they're full of great extension ideas for each recommended children's book.  no sense in reinventing the wheel!
• kids at this age really aren't ready for seatwork anyway.  let them get dirty. if they don't want to finish a book, fine - go have a tea party instead.  they'll learn more from interacting with you than they will from any book or curriculum.

Catholic Heritage Curricula - $79.75 (Preschool Core Kit)

• pick and choose certain pieces for now
• will use as our core starting in K (but using grade 1)
• most interested in their lesson plans - look like easiest and most flexible on the market!  again, why reinvent the wheel?