The Search for the Very Best Homeschool Curricula Begins Here!

PRLog (Press Release) - May 18, 2009 -
Each year, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC (TOS) hosts the prestigious Excellence in Education Awards, a popular venue for TOS readers who are looking for the right products and finest homeschool-friendly companies for their unique homeschool environments—which is no easy task!

Spring marks the entrance of an amazing buzz of excitement as thousands of homeschoolers empty the cookie jar, rev up their motors, and head to their nearest homeschool convention. Awaiting them is an oasis of resources offered by veteran homeschoolers and a vendor hall curriculum smorgasbord too amazing to even try to describe—and the daunting task of making the best curriculum choices!

In an effort to provide encouragement and excellent resources and address the challenges of its subscribers, in their spring 2009 issue The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine announced the winners of the TOS 2008 Excellence in Education Awards. “Ultimately, we hope to provide a starting point, if you will, to begin thinking about what products are out there, what subject matter areas might be considered, and what products other homeschoolers and experts from the homeschool community believe are the best. It’s a perfect starting ground, helping parents make informed decisions,” says Dr. Heather W. Allen, TOS Senior Analytical Consultant.  

The awards are organized into five main areas and subdivided into twenty-three different categories (including friendliest), plus the Best Overall Homeschool Company (awarded to Sonlight). TOS invited homeschoolers worldwide to submit the names of their favorite companies or curricula, and 2,333 readers responded. Worldwide` to submit the names of their favorite companies or curricula. This group of parents represented a wide range of numbers of children homeschooled, levels of education, and levels of teaching experience. Since the survey asked respondents to write in their choices rather than choose from a designated (and thus limited) list, the results were not confined by the crafters of the survey.

The award-winning products and companies reflect the parents’ desire for resources that will appeal to their kids’ learning styles, help their children to develop strong character, and assist them in providing an excellent education. And here they are:

TOS 2008 Excellence in Education Awards

Foundational Products

•   Character Building
1st – Doorposts www.doorposts.com
2nd – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
3rd – A Beka Book® www.abeka.com

•   Bible Curriculum
1st – A Beka Book® www.abeka.com
2nd – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
3rd – BJU Press www.bjupress.com

•   Creation Science Curriculum
1st – Apologia www.apologia.com


Core Curriculum Products

•   History
1st – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
2nd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com
3rd – The Mystery of History www.themysteryofhistory.com

•   Geography
1st – Knowledge Quest www.knowledgequest.com
2nd – Geography Matters www.geomatters.com
3rd – Sonlight www.sonlight.com

•   Phonics
1st – A Beka Book® www.abeka.com
2nd – Explode the Code® www.explodethecode.com
3rd – Hooked on Phonics® www.hookedonphonics.com

•   Science
1st – Apologia www.apologia.com
2nd – Home Science Tools www.homesciencetools.com
3rd – Sonlight www.sonlight.com

•   Math
1st – Math-U-See www.mathusee.com
2nd – Saxon Math® saxonpublishers.harcourtachieve.com
3rd – Teaching Textbooks™ www.teachingtextbooks.com

•   Literature
1st – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
2nd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com
3rd – A Beka Book® www.abeka.com

•   Writing (Composition)
1st – Institute for Excellence in Writing www.excellenceinwriting.com
2nd – Writing Strands www.writingstrands.com
3rd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com

•   Handwriting
1st – Handwriting Without Tears® www.hwtears.com
2nd – A Reason For® Handwriting www.areasonfor.com
3rd – A Beka Book® www.abeka.com

•   Computer-Based (Complete) Curriculum
1st – Alpha Omega/Switched-On Schoolhouse® www.aop.com


Enrichment Products

•   Art
1st – How Great Thou ART www.howgreatthouart.com
2nd – ARTistic Pursuits™ www.artisticpursuits.com
3rd – Draw Write Now® www.barkercreek.com

•   Foreign Language
1st – Rosetta Stone® www.rosettastone.com

•   Music
1st – Alfred Publishing www.alfred.com
2nd – Simply Music® www.simplymusic.com
3rd – Music Ace www.harmonicvision.com


General Products

•   Friendliest
1st – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
2nd – Rainbow Resource Center www.rainbowresource.com
3rd – My Father’s World™ www.mfwbooks.com
3rd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com

•   Most Unique
1st – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
2nd – Timberdoodle www.timberdoodle.com
3rd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com

•   Best Software Product
1st – Alpha Omega/Switched-On Schoolhouse® www.aop.com
2nd – Teaching Textbooks™ www.teachingtextbooks.com
3rd – Homeschool Tracker™ www.homeschooltracker.com

•   Best Resource Book
1st – Rainbow Resource Center www.rainbowresource.com
2nd – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
3rd – Usborne Publishing www.usborne.com


Specialty Products

•   Best Unit Study
1st – In the Hands of a Child www.handsofachild.com
2nd – KONOS www.konos.com
3rd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com

•   Best Classical Resource
1st – Veritas Press www.veritaspress.com
2nd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com
3rd – Peace Hill Press www.peacehillpress.com

•   Best Special Needs Resource
1st – Timberdoodle www.timberdoodle.com
2nd – AVKO Educational Research Foundation www.avko.org
3rd – Joyce Herzog www.joyceherzog.info

•   Best Overall Homeschool Company
1st – Sonlight www.sonlight.com
2nd – Rainbow Resource Center www.rainbowresource.com
3rd – Tapestry of Grace www.tapestryofgrace.com

With this incredible lineup of homeschool products covering almost every area of study, parents are finding the hunt for enriching homeschool resources easier and more enjoyable. The recipients of the TOS 2008 Excellence in Education Awards should provide parents with an excellent starting point from which to move forward, and it’s doubtful they’ll be disappointed with any of these fine companies or their products.