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Resource Description
BJU Press offers both curriculum for purchase and a distance learning solution. The texts cover all core subjects with a Christian worldview, critical thinking, and hands-on learning.
Website: BJU Press
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(41 Reviews)
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Contributor Reviews
Reviews are solely the opinions of the contributor.
Cons: Expense
Grades Used: K - 3
BJU Press has worked very well for our family. I initially chose BJ's curriculum because, having gone to school there for two years myself, I knew their academic standards are high, and that when they do something they do it well. I was not disappointed! I've gone to our state's DoE website a few times to check the SOL's for my kids' grade levels, and every time I look I'm amazed that we've covered everything and then some with BJU's curricula. We have used the DVD program the last two years, which is pricey, but I think we may switch to just the books next year as the DVD's can get long and it makes for a long day.
Cons: Long school days
Grades Used: 3 and 8
We really enjoy the ease that on line schooling has to offer. Although we do tend to modify some of the assignments (as they are heavy on writing), we find their curriculum to be a near perfect fit for our family!
Cons: Can get tedious
Grades Used: k,1,working on 2nd, and 4th, some in 5th
BJU Press produces good quality curriculum. But it is not for every student. My daughter went to a Christian school through 2nd grade before we started homeschooling. I think she learned to read with BJU. She is a very good reader and loves to read. That being said, I did not use BJU with her our first year at home. The second year we used the BJU hard drive for 4th grade. I realized that she was not the kind to just use the computer for all of her lessons. She needed to have an actual person for some or alot of her work. So I proceeded to use some of their products with me teaching. She did better, but things still needed to be tweaked. This, her 6th grade year, I don't think we are using any BJU.
Now my son, on the other hand, has used BJU hard drive from k-working on 2nd. He has done pretty well. I can not say enough about their reading. It was a scary thought for me about him learning to read. But they did an excellent job. BJU hard drive for the first at least two years really gives an excellent foundation. I'm not for sure how it works, but I know that it does. He does not like to read for a fun thing, but I know that he can read. That makes me happy!!!!!
Having said all of this, I may eventually switch my son to other things. I think that BJU hard drive can get too in depth, tedious. I think it did this for both of mine. So I may move on to something else with my son to. I don't know for sure yet. But if you are looking for something that is a good foundation and teaches one to read well, BJU hard drives does the job. (k-1)
Cons: Expensive, sometimes too thorough
Grades Used: 3,6
We used English without the videos. It is easy to use but without the videos requires a lot of parent time, and for one of my sons likely would have still required a lot of my time even with the videos. The grade 6 level had a ridiculous amount of grammar, too much in my opinion. I have a masters degree & have published a thesis & never needed to know 90% of the grammar being taught at this level! We will be making a change next year.
Cons: having to return dvds
Grades Used: up to 9
excellent customer service!
Cons: teacher guide for the classroom teacher
Grades Used: 2-5
We used the BJU history for a few years. My children liked the text books, but the notebook/workbooks at that time were in black and white and my children didn't always like doing them. (Example: an activity might include coloring a picture of the type of clothing of a period.) The notebook did incorporate geography into the course. The quizzes were pretty easy, as were the unit tests. The tests were designed to be consumable back then, and the replacement cost was more than I felt it should have been, especially considering the notebooks and quizzes were consumable as well. The history is not cover with the depth that some curricula offer, however, it has been 10 years since we used it. It is not difficult to keep up with the lessons. Teachers' guides were written for the classroom teacher, not the home school mom back then. Sometimes I needed to adapt the materials and activities to fit for one student.
Grades Used: 1-6
We started using BJU handwriting when my oldest daughter was in 1st grade. She had started out with Zaner-Bloser(ball and stick) handwriting and it had become a fight to do handwriting each day. Reversals and mixups were common. I decided we needed to try something new. BJU's handwriting was a blessing. It starts with Precursive, which is built on one-stroke letters. It easily transistions into cursive in later grades. The letter formation is logical and simple, which translates into fewer headaches for child and mom!
Cons: no tests
Grades Used: English 3,5,8
parts of speech divided into chapters
(not the same old stuff each day)
interesting information in the practice sentences
clearly explained, logically laid out
Cons: not at reader level at first
Grades Used: history: 1-6
interesting and well laid out chronologically
subjects clearly separated into chapters
companion work text
tests available
Cons: not at reader level at first
Grades Used: science: 1-6
easy to complete/read book
concepts/subjects clearly separated into chapters
companion work text
tests available
Grades Used: K4-12
We have used the BJU Press materials for most subjects, for all grades, with multiple children who have different learning styles. The first few years, we used the books alone (with my first child, a visual learner). Then when my second came along, an auditory learner, we decided to start using the DVD program. Both of them loved it. Now my 3rd, a hands-on learner, enjoys the DVD program as well. The DVD program really works for all types of learning styles.
Lesson plans are carefully laid out, so that the parent just has to follow along, if that works, or modify the lessons if a child needs extra or less work in a particular area.
For a working mom, the DVD program has been a godsend. The kids can watch the lessons on their own, and I only need to get involved in the teaching if they don't understand something after watching the teacher's presentation (which doesn't happen very often).
Lastly, I appreciate that every subject is taught from a Biblical perspective. I know my kids are not being indoctrinated with secular worldviews.
Grades Used: 1, 2, and 3rd
This is our 3rd year using BJUPress on dvd's. My son absolutely loves them. Very good Christian curriculum. It puts the Bible into every subject. My son loves doing school everyday, and he is never, ever bored. The dvd's are great to use. Very easy to use for the parents. My son tested off the charts on his standardized test this year. I plan on using BJUPress for many years to come.
Cons: hard to find supplies for science experiments
Grades Used: 1st
I used BJU science for 1st grade and enjoyed it, although I did end up switching to a different science curriculum because I found it hard to find many of the supplies needed for the experiments since this curriculum was originally written for Christian schools. I loved how they laid out the teacher's manual in a very easy-to-use format. My child learned so much from this curriculum the year we used it. I just wish the experiments had been easier to do.
Grades Used: K5, 1
BJUP Math is incredibly thorough. There are three major portions to each lesson: 1) Review of previous skills 2)Introduction of new skills 3)Workbook. There is a manipulatives packet that comes with the curriculum, as well as a CD Rom with lots of reproducibles that accompany the lessons. Every part of the lesson is scripted so parents will know precisely what to say to teach the child, and things are laid out in an easy-to-use fashion.
The lessons include hands on activities which make learning fun, in addition to two pages per lesson of workbook activities. The workbook is colorful and interesting for young children, and incorporates many biblical themes (such as pictures of Jesus' disciples). There are also lessons from scripture that accompany many of the lessons (i.e. the story of Ananias and Sapphira accompanies a lesson on money). The curriculum also includes fun characters, such as Digit the clown and his pet seal. These characters are found in the manipulatives, and are used throughout the curriculum to introduce concepts.
The curriculum does an excellent job of covering Math concepts in a complete manner, so that children learn them well. If there were a con (which it is not to me), it would be that this is not a "quick" curriculum - each lesson can easily take a minimum of 30 minutes. On the pro side, this means that kids really learn their Math! The lessons review past concepts repeatedly, and children are kept engaged through the bright graphics, hands on activities, variety of learning methods, and fun characters.
All in all I have been extremely pleased with BJUP Math, and highly recommend it for young children. My daughter, who completed K5 at 4 and is working on 1st grade at 5 (therefore still has a young child's issues with attention and retention), enjoys doing her Math and looks forward to it every day. And the concepts that she learned in K5, once we review them now in 1st grade, she knows cold. If you want a complete, thorough program with a Christian worldview, which lays out exactly what the parent needs to do and say, this is it!
I bought this curriculum package when I first started homeschool. The science books have gotten the most use from our family. It's been a great boon to have science materials that actually reinforce Christianity rather than preaching secular humanism!
Grades Used: K-12
My family has used Bob Jones materials for every grade level and almost every subject available. The textbooks completely cover standard skills. Every subject area is written from a Christian perspective.