101 Top Curriculum Picks!

With our curriculum booklists, parents have options. For example, you choose your own math curriculum. As a parent, you know best what fits your child's need and your family's budget. Old Fashioned Education will list our pick with a short review and the price per page (below). This list will grow over time.

How to Save Money

Before we get started, let's chat about saving money!  ​​We believe books should be sold based on actual value of printing (price per page) to meet consumer need, not producer want for profit. 

​So, when we list Our Picks, you will see the price per page for current retail price. You can do the same comparison when shopping for curriculum anywhere. Also, be aware of expensive packages. Often, you only need the text.

More ideas on saving include:

• Buy new on sale or discount bundles
• Buy used at places like thriftbooks.com
• Get free shipping if possible
• Borrow from the library
• Free online reading

​

PreK - K

1. Bible Stories to Read by Martha Rohrer ($.06/page)

Bible Stories to Read is a Bible storybook for preschool, corresponding to the lesson numbers of the child's coloring book Bible Pictures to Color. Each story is intended to be read by the parent to the child before the corresponding picture is colored by the child. Each story includes several questions and answers as well as a short Bible memory selection. 

2. Bible Pictures to Color by Martha Rohrer ($.07/page)

Bible Pictures to Color has 60 pictures to color, illustrating the 60 stories in Bible Stories to Read. A few pictures provide color-by-number practice. This is basically a coloring book with very little cutting and pasting.

3. A Child's First Book of Letters ($.07/page)

With A Child's First Book of Letters, a child learns the alphabet, both letter and phonic sound, using a systematic approach with frequent reviews. Includes large and distinct type, old fashioned illustrations to represent beginning sounds, phonic sounds, reviews, letter formation, and optional slate work. 

4. Brain Quest Preschool Workbook ($.04/page)

Brain Quest Preschool Workbook includes ABCs, 123s, tracing letters, mazes, shapes, colors, beginning sounds, sorting and matching, "what's wrong with this picture" games, and much more. A child that is progressing well in handwriting can use this as their handwriting workbook. Printed in full color with a very good price.

5. Handwriting Without Tears ($.21/page)

Handwriting Without Tears teaches handwriting, colors, numbers, and shapes in an easy-to-use format and is recommended for any student (especially for those who struggle with handwriting). The program does not go in alphabetical order, but rather by stroke. If you choose this program, we suggest jumping around to still go in alphabetical order. This was our second pick because of the higher cost per page.

Mathematics

6. Everyday Arithmetic ($0 - free online except personal printing cost)

This free old fashioned math series is beautifully designed and can be used starting in grade 1 and continued through grade 8.  These books are included in our Individual Study guide along with answer keys and each book can be used for two years or according to your child's learning pace.

Our suggested sequence is:

• Grade 1 - Primer, Part 1
• Grade 2 - Primer, Part 2
• Grade 3 - Book 1, Part 1
• Grade 4 - Book 1, Part 2
• Grade 5 - Book 2, Part 1
• Grade 6 - Book 2, Part 2
• Grade 7 - Book 1, Part 1
• Grade 8 - Book 1, Part 2

7. Ray's Arithmetic Series ($0 - free online printable and teaching videos)

This series is rigorous and was used in America's one-room schoolhouses and taught alongside the McGuffey Readers. This free online math series can be started in Grade 1 and continued through Grade 8 and beyond. These books are included in our Individual Study guide and each book can be used for two years or according to your child's pace. Printed books are available.

Our suggested sequence is:

• Grade 1 and 2 - Ray’s New Primary Arithmetic
• Grade 3 and 4 - Ray’s New Intellectual Arithmetic and Answer Key
• Grade 5 and 6 - Ray’s New Practical Arithmetic and Answer Key
• Grade 7 and 8 - Ray’s New Higher Arithmetic and Answer Key

Highschool options include:

• Grade 9 - Ray’s New Geometry and Trigonometry
• Grade 10 - Ray's New Elementary Algebra (Algebra 1)
• Grade 11 - Ray’s New Higher Algebra (Algebra 2)

8. Teaching Textbooks - ($70+ per year)

For those needing complete math support, we recommend Teaching Textbooks.  They show students how to do every problem. However, due to lack of verbal interaction, we think you shouldn't start this program until late middle school or high school. Younger children need to talk about math and interact with a parent or teacher.  Consider the higher cost as you plan your math curriculum.

Our suggested sequence is:

• Grade 8 - Pre-Algebra (optional)
• Grade 9 - Algebra 1
• Grade 10 - Geometry
• Grade 11 - Algebra 2
• Grade 12 - Pre-Calculus