3.5 Physical Curriculum Options (Washington)

As one of the benefits of participating in OpenEd's remote ALE program, you have the opportunity to choose from one of two physical curriculum materials sets which we'll mail straight to you.

You can decide how and to what extent you'll use these self-guided, self-paced options - it's totally up to you.

Your two options are Savvas and Bookshark.

Here's a comparison between the two:

	Savvas	Bookshark
Included vs. uses points	Does not use any of your program points	Will use some points from your OpenEd marketplace allotment
Overall approach	Traditional, structured academics	Literature-based, homeschool-centered
Primary experience	Physical and online textbooks/workbooks + teacher resources	Books + Instructor's Guides + activities
Parent's role	Teacher who uses the provided curriculum	Facilitator who follows the prepared plan
Planning	Some parent planning/interpretation may be needed	Very little planning; highly scheduled
Student experience	Read/learn → practice → complete assignments → assess	Read → discuss → explore → connect
Online component	Useful addition to the physical curriculum	Not included
Best for	Families wanting a traditional, academically structured experience	Families wanting a flexible, literature-rich homeschool experience

🏫 SAVVAS — “School at Home”

Parents tend to appreciate:

Substantial physical textbooks, workbooks, and teacher resources
Clear academic structure and grade-level expectations
Explicit instruction, practice, and assessment
A curriculum that feels academically rigorous and familiar
Standards-oriented content
Online resources that enhance the physical curriculum with additional activities, videos, assessments, and support

Potential challenges:

Can feel more like traditional school than a typical homeschool curriculum
More parent involvement may be needed to determine how to best use the materials
Some families may find the content less engaging or more textbook-driven

Student who may thrive:
A student who likes structure, clear assignments, textbooks, practice, and knowing exactly what is expected.

📚 BOOKSHARK — “Homeschool by Design”

Parents tend to appreciate:

A very clear, ready-to-use schedule
Minimal lesson planning and preparation
Engaging children's literature at the center of learning
Flexibility and a distinctly homeschool feel
Opportunities for discussion, family learning, and making connections across subjects
Strong support for parents who are new to homeschooling

Potential challenges:

Very reading-heavy, which may not suit every student
Some families want more explicit instruction or depth in certain subjects
Less ideal for students who strongly prefer independent, textbook-style work

Student who may thrive:
A student who loves books, discussion, stories, and learning through connections rather than primarily through textbooks and worksheets.