Oak Meadow Pros and Cons?

**Amnesty Hadley** · 04-30-2012, 06:41 PM

HI, I'm new to this site and very happy to have found it

I am homeschooling my 3 kids, ages 8, 5, and 3. So far, we've mainly been doing DIY curriculum using all kinds of different resources, since I did have a teaching certificate and taught lower grades for a bit. BUT, my oldest will be starting 5th grade next year, and I am looking for a "full package" curriculum for a change. I imagine we will supplement with other resources as well, but I really want to have a core curriculum.
I'm looking at Oak Meadow and want to know what other people think of it?
Thanks!

**Airen** · 04-30-2012, 08:47 PM

I am not a fan. It's too "boxy."

And before you roll your eyes and say "duh"... IMO it's too much of the same.

DS learns different subjects differently. Also, in the boxes I bought when I first started out, I ended up skimming and not using a lot for one reason or another.

FWIW, I never used Oak Meadow, and I"m not sure the more active people here do , either.

But a lot of the advice of box vs. piece leans heavily in the freedom piecing together gives. You've been there...

I wish I could be more help, but that's my penny worth...

**dragonfly** · 04-30-2012, 09:10 PM

I use some subjects, but for high school, so I'm not sure how helpful I'd be.

However, there is an Oak Meadow yahoo group that is fairly active. I'm sure they would be happy to share experiences with you.

FWIW, I used a boxed curriculum (Calvert) from pre-K through 8, and was very happy with it. I liked having everything all laid out for me, and I think it worked very well for us on the whole. When something didn't work, it was easy to modify. Piecing your own curriculum together is great, but not for everyone, just like a boxed curriculum isn't for everyone.

**Jackielyn** · 05-01-2012, 12:48 AM

Hi Amnesty

I know your name from the MBB board on FB. Rayven (she is on MBB too) is going to be using Oak Meadow this coming year, I don't know if she has it yet but she is going to be using 1st and 5th grade.

**Mum** · 05-01-2012, 08:57 AM

I have no experience with Oak Meadow. I can highly recommend Calvert for boxy curriculum.

**Amnesty Hadley** · 05-02-2012, 11:40 PM

Calvert is way, way out of our price range. Really, anything is out of our price range, but I'm trying to scrape some $$ together.
I'll check out the Yahoo group and see what people are saying. Thanks

**mom2samtheman** · 05-03-2012, 06:49 AM

I am on a tight budget (and by tight I mean nearly nonexistant) also. Check ebay. There are a lot of homeschooling curriculum options being sold daily for a small fraction of the cost. We used oak meadow on and off (always bought used). It was ok. My honest opinion is that it is very boring. Very dry. I say this as the mom of a very busy special needs child who didn't tolerate it at all.

**farrarwilliams** · 05-03-2012, 07:51 AM

I'm not a Waldorf fan, so the philosophy (while apparently only Waldorf inspired) would be a problem for me. Also, the reputation is that it's extremely light and not very academic.

**CatInTheSun** · 06-18-2012, 09:37 AM

This is an older thread, but for when it comes up on searches.... Ihave been using OM for several months. I like it. I have always cobbled my curric and am a very academics type person with very academics type kids, but I added OM as a way to "keep me honest" and not skip the crafty fun stuff when time got tight (which happens a lot with 3 kids: 8,6,3). They love it. I like that the schedule is weekly. we all do it together and then each kid has their own stuff, too. Even my visiting 9th grade niece loved circle time and drawing/writing in her Main Lesson Book.

As to it having a reputation for being "light" -- that's the rep for Waldorf in general. Among Waldorf OM gets ripped because it aligned with state standards many years ago. Basically, it is most Waldorfy in the K-2 (mainly in gentler intro of reading/writing, but there is still plenty by end of 1st grade, just not punctuation type focus), then a shift in 3/4 to more traditional academics. Math becomes separate around then and many use different programs. OM still keeps the arts/crafts/beauty feel after that, but more typical in substance than traditional Waldorf. My niece did several HS classes while she was here and I would consider them quite rigorous.

Not for everyone, but it has added a lot to our homeschool life. Definitely fills the gaps for me. Much cheaper to buy it used and resell when you are done, which should keep the cost negligible to zero.