By Leah Courtney
I will be the first to admit that I know very little about economics. I don’t know much about personal economics—except how much money we do (or don’t) have in the bank. And I know almost nothing about corporate economics. It is definitely one of those topics I was dreading covering as my children reached high school. But for our state, there is a required 1/2 credit for economics. I’ve found hope and help with a homeschool economics curriculum from Compass Classroom- Economics for Everybody.
Economics has always seemed rather dry to me. But when I watched the trailer for Economics for Everybody, I was intrigued. This actually made economics look fun! And it was.
The course has twelve videos lasting 15–30 minutes each. It is taught by R. C. Sproul Jr. The homeschool set of the course contains the videos, which can come on DVD or via download or streaming, a study guide that goes along with the videos, and an economics textbook, Basic Economics. The study guide has an overview, an outline, and comprehension questions for each lesson.
The videos are attention-catching and often funny, but they are filled with plenty of information. This course is a Christian-based course, so Sproul begins with the concept that God owns everything. He constantly looks at economics in light of God’s Word and God’s plan. Using that foundational principle—that God owns everything—he looks at individual and corporate economics. My dad is a financial adviser so I was very curious to know what he thought of this course. He hadn’t watched this particular series, but he was quite informed about R.C. Sproul Jr. and his teaching on finances. He was quick to recommend this and very enthusiastic about Sproul’s knowledge and philosophy of finance.
Reasons to Like this Homeschool Economics Curriculum
My two high school students are using Economics for Everybody for a high school credit this year. We’re finding many reasons to really like this homeschool economics curriculum. The videos are entertaining, making a potentially dry subject engaging. I’m not sure my high schoolers would say that they love economics, but I do think that the style of the videos makes the subject more enjoyable than it would otherwise be. I like that the homeschool set has everything laid out and ready to use. There is even a scope and sequence that can be printed for free on the site. It lays out the way to use the curriculum if you’re using it for a high school credit.
I’m also pleased that this homeschool economics course is cost effective. When you are using the curriculum with multiple students, all you’ll really need to purchase again is the study guide. The videos and the textbook can be used with subsequent students. If, like me, you’re a little concerned about the subject of economics and how your high schoolers will learn it, check out Economics for Everybody. It’s been a good choice for us.
Leah Courtney is a homeschooling mom of four. Her days are filled with being a mom, homemaker, and teacher. In her (very rare) free time, she enjoys blogging, reading, and reviewing books and curricula. These days she’s learning the joys of being a mom of teens. You can read about her family and homeschooling life at As We Walk Along the Road.