Unboxing BJU Press Homeschool Curriculum

[@aimeejohannes6713]

I would love a more detailed video about the 7th/8th grade literature curriculum from BJU! Maybe what a week of lessons would look like?

[@missygarrett5078]

My son is in 5th grade now but Reading 3 DLO has been his favorite course so far! This course changed him from a reluctant reader to an avid reader! I hope your son enjoys it.

[@JanelleKnutson]

That is awesome!

[@amytoren3357]

I may have to take the plunge with BJU one of these years! Unfortunately, the price point is what always gets me. Glad to see that you were feeling well enough for this!

[@JanelleKnutson]

Yes, the price is the hurdle for most families and there are some years we just can't make it work. We set aside money each month throughout the year so we have enough when it is time to order curriculum. Of course, we did this even before we started using BJU curriculum but now the amount we have to set aside has increased. Ha! It's been worth it for me. The ease of the video lessons, biblical worldview, critical thinking, excellent academics, and now the Homeschool Hub make it worth the price for me. And I have been feeling better so that is a huge praise! Still not back to full energy or strength but I'm enjoying the little bit of energy I do have and making videos is a wonderful creative outlet and stress reliever for me. :)

[@pearlsandmanna]

Hi, Janelle! Thank you for this video. I might have to add some BJU Press resources this year, at least for ELA. I can hardly believe it but my oldest boy is heading into Grade 6 in the fall, my daughters are going into Grades 1 and 4, and my youngest son is officially joining us in Kindergarten! My KZbin handle has changed a few times over the years but I have been watching your videos since my oldest boy was just in preschool or Kindergarten! I hope you and everyone in your family is doing well! Love from Steinbach, Canada ❤ (Your sister in Christ, Myah)

[@amandamendoza4181]

Would love to see in these. Considering BJU Press for next school year.

[@theresagardner416]

Even my public school, teacher husband, tells me, I do not have to cover every page in the book! Even "professional" teachers skip around. I would love to see a flip through or your opinion on the BJU 2nd grade curriculum.

[@sldesantis33]

I’d love to see all the English grades you have, but also the updated English. I’ve watched all your old videos on them. Also, the book links. We have never used BJU press. I have 3 kids, 10th, 8th, 7th and I’m thinking a video teacher for better guidance on writing and grammar may be the way to go for next year. Thanks!

[@cullencasa7217]

Janelle it's our 8th year of homeschooling and I STILL reference back to you- we are so thankful! Question for ya- any high school/ middle school geography resources you recommend? Tysm!❤

[@JanelleKnutson]

We've used three different geography courses for the upper grades. One of them I did a video review of which I will link to. One was from BJU Press which we enjoyed (but forgot to do a review). Currently using Notgrass but today is our first day so we haven't used it long enough to say whether we like it or not. Ha! I'm linking to everything below (and links are affiliate links if you'd like to support my channel). World Geography from Memoria Press tinyurl.com/ym6dutxr Video review: tinyurl.com/5n8cvtry BJU Press Cultural Geography tinyurl.com/3wx97fz4 Notgrass Exploring World Geography tinyurl.com/3fjevk6x

[@cullencasa7217]

@@JanelleKnutson thank you SO much! We really appreciate it and hope Notgrass is awesome- usually is 😉. God bless!

[@whitneydeloera3878]

I would really appreciate a look inside Reading 2 and Reading 3. Trying to decide which level to put my daughter in. Her reading level is very high but she struggles a bit with comprehension.

[@charissebaca1150]

Thank you for this video. How do you organize the math manipulative?

[@JanelleKnutson]

Here is a video on how I organized the math curriculum with manipulatives... kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIXCmJtsm7h-pbcsi=o-SH75W4lJmYDomG

[@ashleysmoak]

Can you a do a walk though with one of the booklinks? And maybe the reading 2 or 3?

[@JanelleKnutson]

I’ll try! They are added to my list. 😊

[@claire_bellington]

What is the purpose of the student handouts Janelle?

[@JanelleKnutson]

Student handouts go with the video lesson courses. They are extra worksheets that the instructor has them do that go along with the teaching on the video. Depending on the particular lesson, I may have my child skip the handouts and/or the worktext/workbook page.

[@Homeschooling_Realtor]

The former edition of BJU Press Heritage Studies 2 contained several chapters of American History, the colonies through the Revolutionary War.

[@JanelleKnutson]

Thank you! I knew a fellow BJU mom would know the answer. 😊

[@milaalvarez4629]

Thinking about BJU online videos for next year, 5th grade. I’ve watched your older videos, anything new? How has using the online videos helped your homeschool and your life as a busy mom? I can’t find a video about how it has helped the students and provide any ease to the homeschool parent.

[@JanelleKnutson]

Great question! Several years ago, I was ready to throw in the towel with homeschooling because I was so overwhelmed and feeling like I was failing my kids on every level. BJU video lessons were what allowed us to continue homeschooling without me burning out. It also allowed me to focus my time and energy on what was most important.... discipling my kids and addressing their spiritual needs. I share more about that in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpCUdGCbiZhoiMUsi=UwQtTRt0rNP3L4Fn Now with lots of health issues for me, BJU video lessons allow my kids to get excellent academic instruction from a Biblical worldview all at home for a fraction of the cost of private Christian school. I am still in control of what they learn (and what we skip). I still choose when and how we do school. And I still get to be a part of their education even though I am struggling with health issues. My kids have benefited from instruction from teachers who are more knowledgable than me in certain areas AND more passionate about topics than me. Also, the new Homeschool Hub (from BJU Press) makes planning and grading so much easier! BJU video lessons are definitely pricey (compared to other homeschool curriculum) and not for everyone but they have been a huge blessing to my family!

[@JanelleKnutson]

One more video that might be helpful... kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqKpgJKDj6xgnassi=iJfpWPtqaS79RY1r

[@milaalvarez4629]

@@JanelleKnutson thank you for sharing. I actually watched the last video! Praying for your health and continual recovery 🙏 Your health update video came up after watching the first you recommended. Using BJU and purchasing the extra lab kit is less than one month at the private school we are considering. I just can’t do it all, it’s either this or private because I want a solid education for my daughter. If we try to do it all we are definitely neglecting something somewhere! I am incredibly hopeful that the video lessons will take some off my plate and allow us to continue to enjoy home education.💗

[@MLC.43]

Have you ever used Abeka math? I’m curious how it would compare to BJU math.

[@JanelleKnutson]

I used Abeka math years ago in the early elementary years and don't remember it well enough to compare it to BJU Press. Sorry!

[@homeschoolteenswithjenny]

I'm considering using DLO English/Lit 9 for my daughter next school year (we already had this year planned). I really wish they would update the videos in the meantime bc they are OLD!

[@JanelleKnutson]

I believe they are updating several courses a year so hopefully some new high school English courses are in the works. I agree that the current ones are are way too outdated.

[@homeschoolteenswithjenny]

@@JanelleKnutson I may do what you did if they don't update the English 9 videos and use English 8 - LOL. They just released the new Eng 9 edition in print, so maybe that means they are working on the videos???

[@JanelleKnutson]

@@homeschoolteenswithjenny it seems like new videos come out a year or two behind the new editions so maybe there’s some hope! 😉

[@even.wildflowers.grow.]

What do you use for math?

[@JanelleKnutson]

Some of my kids use BJU Press math and some of them use Math U See.

[@inkyangel]

Do you get the logos kit for the Life Science? I can't decide if we need it or not.

[@JanelleKnutson]

I usually only purchase lab kits for my high school kids. So I haven’t purchased the Life Science kit. We do the labs that we can with what we already have at home or can easily get and skip the rest. The few times I’ve purchased lab kits for middle school years, I found it made doing the labs a lot easier but then I realized it wasn’t necessary to do all the labs (just too much for my kids) so it wasn’t the best use of our finances. That being said, a high schooler using a middle school course would need to do the labs (in my opinion). This year, lab kits were not in the budget even for high schoolers so it will take extra work on my part to make sure we gather supplies throughout the year.

[@candice3174]

Hi, thanks for sharing.Question, Would it be repetitive to do IEW structure and style and BJU grammar and writing. (Do they cover the same topics) Second, what type of learners you think do well with Math U See. (Visual, kinesthetic eg )

[@JanelleKnutson]

Yes, it would be way too much work to do BJU and IEW. I have a MUS vs BJU math comparison video which might be helpful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKmonWSbjc5sbck

[@candice3174]

@@JanelleKnutson thank you for the reply 🙏🏽

[@Mila-s2c]

Do you know what deferens in Video lessons between Abeka and BJU? Looking to buy video lessons for my 4th grade son.

[@JanelleKnutson]

I did a video review several years ago comparing BJU and Abeka video based curriculum. Here is the link to the video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3WWm6SCpMuoj68si=qhgjIp0Ex99tU81R

[@zmylygirl]

9th grade items.

[@lovinlife6630]

Off topic, but that hairstyle looks great on you. You don't look old enough to have kids in high school.

[@JanelleKnutson]

Oh thank you!