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So Many Curriculums,How do I Choose?

Jun16

Whether you have been home schooling for a long time or this is just the beginning of your journey, you may have realized that many home school families have a large number of children. I don’t; I only have two sons. At times I wish I had more, but my two sons were a whirlwind of non-stop activity and I really couldn’t see myself chasing more little ones. Call me a whimp, that’s okay; I probably am. With all that said, I only got two shots at trying out all the amazing curriculum that I saw at the home school convention and in the catalogs that I received.

“Where do I begin?” was my first thought and may be yours as well. First of all, decide what philosophy of education best meets what you want to accomplish with your family and best matches your ideals. Not sure of your philosophy? A great resource to help you decide what books and ideas you would like to pursue with your children is a website called Home School Curriculum Advisor and you can read the article entitled, Creating a Home Schooling Philosophy of Education Simply and Easily. Be aware that if this is the first time you are considering what your home education philosophy, it may take more time than you originally thought. It is well worth it though, and will save you countless hours of looking at curriculum and spending hard-earned cash needlessly.

Another component that is worth investigating is what type of learning style best fits your child(ren) and you. There are a variety of ways in which people learn: audio, visual, kinesthetic, or a combination of the aforementioned. Let’s face it, no two people are alike and some curriculum works better than others depending upon each individual. Here are some resources on learning styles to help you determine your scholar’s style: They Way They Learn, by Cynthia Tobias and The Big What Now Book of Learning, by Carol Barnier.

Will you be able to tailor each individual subject to meet each of your children’s needs? Probably not unless you have one student (obviously!), but you can be aware of the type of learners your children are and pay attention to the style of learning that best fits you too since you are teaching. You can love a program that uses workbooks as its mode of teaching and be enthusiastic about it, but if you have a kinesthetic learner who needs to be involved in projects and being able to move, your best laid plans will be hard to implement and will not be all that successful. I have found that unit studies and lap books provide a great balance for those who need hands-on activities and those who excel with workbooks and worksheets.

After you have decided what type of philosophy of education and the types of learners you have in your school, THEN begin to look at curriculum. 🙂 Even within the area of curriculum for a certain type of philosophy you will find different approaches and products. For instance, if you like Unit Studies you have a choice of making your own or using one already prepared. You can choose to do something general as in the history of Ohio or be specific and choose to concentrate just on local history. Be a little bit of detective and a little bit of hound dog. There are a wide variety of choices and products to choose from and if you hear or see something that no one else has tried, don’t be afraid to investigate, dig in, and go down a different path than everyone else if that is what you need to do for your family. I did and I was happy with the choices I made.

I have listed two resources to help you with curriculum choices. Take your time in reading through these.

Choosing a Home Schooling Method: Which One is Right for You? I like how the author has given you a brief overview of a particular philosophy of education and characteristics of the various programs.

Cathy Duffy’s 100 Top Picks for Home School Curriculum is a great resource book to purchase. She gives you a short inventory of the style of learners too and curriculum that would fit with your scholar’s style.

You have chosen a curriculum that you would like to order? Great! Here are some of my recommendations for home schooling products; they have a wide variety of books and also fun activities to enhance your curriculum.

Catalogs for Home Schooling Curriculum and Products You can request a catalog, but I have links to the websites listed below. Personally, I prefer a paper catalog,

“Why a paper catalog instead of the online version?” you may ask. Here are some of the reasons I like a paper catalog, although I do refer to the online versions too. You can mark in it with notes (if it can be found at the library, or be borrowed, etc.), you can take it anywhere, (even the bathroom while relaxing in the tub),sometimes you don’t always have internet connections (good reading while waiting out a storm in your basement 🙂 ), it is easily navigable-I can turn the pages, sticky note particular pages, etc.,and you can show other enthusiastic home school friends and ask veterans their opinions about products. I also keep catalogs close by my couch so when home school moms come to see me we can look at several curriculum options and products while they are meeting with me.

I just received my Rainbow Resource catalog in the mail and I love pouring over it. Oh Happy Day! There is just something about picking up that big catalog and holding it in my hands that makes me feel happy. (Be honest, many of you feel the same way when looking at home school products!) Beware! If you are new to home schooling, then do not let the size of the catalog deter you. It is easily 6 inches thick, but remember that it would be like putting all the products AND reviews of a small store into print.

Christian Book Distributors is another great resource, especially if you are looking for specific Christian titles.

Sonlight catalog has lists of books that are tried and true. I have used a large majority of the library books (also known as “living books”) they recommend in their programs as they can stand alone without using their particular program if you choose.

Veritas Press A classical education products catalog

Beautiful Feet Books I love the book selections and the literature guides,especially for middle schol students and older.

I hope that this helps you clarify your vision for your family and their education and helps eliminate the stress that you may feel in picking curriculum.

To Assess or Not- that is the Question

May24

Spring is finally here and that means we as home school parents in Ohio must have some type of academic evaluation done for each of our children.

“Should I have my student assessed or have him take a standardized test?” is a question I hear quite often from home school mothers. There are many advantages to a portfolio review (also known as a narrative assessment). Here are some reasons to consider:

This is a terrific way of reflecting on all the work you and your student did over the course of the academic year. It causes you to evaluate your curriculum and your schedule and decide what worked well and what needs to be changed for the upcoming year.

  • It is a marvelous option for younger and older students alike. Younger students may not be reading at an independent level that is required for testing, while older students just don’t want to take one-more-test!
  • You may have used a curriculum that would not be covered on the standardized test such as in the area of history. It may have concentrated on ancient history instead of doing American history like all the rest of the children on your block. That is the beauty of home schooling!
  • You did not use traditional curriculum and would like to discuss your year with a fellow home school mom and certified teacher.
  • Your child is an individual. Nationally normed tests do not allow for any differences. Questions may be interpreted differently by your child and because they did not know what was being asked they get it wrong. It’s difficult to watch your student ask you about a test question and knowing you could clarify their misinterpretation of it, but not being allowed to do so under the testing conditions.
  • Test results only confirm what you know are strengths and weaknesses of your student. Narrative assessments can provide you with an opportunity to ask a teacher for ideas and resources to help your student. Feedback can be given on how your child is doing in school.
  • If you are a resident of Ohio this fulfills the requirement in order to continue to school your children for the upcoming year.

I believe in you and your role as a teacher. I  believe in home schooling and the opportunities we each have to teach our children according to their unique abilities and giftings. If I may be of assistance with your portfolio review please email me. schoolmarm@cinci.rr.com

For Princesses Only!

May24

No, I do not have a sign like this, but I loved this sign when I saw it on the internet for a couple of reasons: the content and the play on words. So, I must ask you-how do you see yourself- a princess or a toad? I can tell you how God sees you. He sees you as beautiful, as His beloved, as His princess. Just rest in knowing that you are in His care.

Psalm 127

1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early,
To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.

So, my dear frieds, get your beauty rest. Princesses are to be treated well so they can rule their kingdom(your home school). Take the summer to pamper and refresh yourself. Read a novel, get out and garden, go on a date with Prince Charming, or hang out with some other princesses. You deserve the royal treatment!

Love, Hate, and Nothing in between

May16

I teach a terrific group of home school students- 7th and 8th graders to be exact. I love junior high students and here are just a few reasons:

  • They are passionate and not afraid to express it.
  • They have no middle ground- they either love it or they hate it. (whatever it is!)
  • They are excited about life.
  • They are exploring friendships and maker stronger connections with peers.
  • They think I am funny. (That endears them to me like nothing else!)

So, how can we take this exuberance for life and use it to help our junior high student with school, family relationships, and helping around the house? I think the biggest way to encourage young teens is to listen to them and to affirm them. Find some areas of their life where they are excelling and pump them up to the point where their egos are going to explode.
Maybe you think your child is already there when it comes to ego. Our kids put on a great front, but underneath they are longing to hear you say they are terrific. I remember my mom saying, “This too shall pass.” I thought she was talking to me, but in retrospect I think she was talking to herself as I went through puberty. I can recall being skinny, lanky, and clumsy and my dad commenting on how nice I looked when I got a new outfit. It made me know he loved me and I knew I could tackle the day.
Stop for just a moment and think about one thing your child does well- no, not pestering his brother and sisters! Let him know how much it means to you when he helps his little brother. Compliment her on her new hair cut or the friendship she is working so hard to establish. Your child needs to know that you love them- freckles, pimples, body odor and all! You have a rare opportunity to share your life with them and be there for them in these junior high years. It goes by all too quickly; remember, “This too shall pass.”

Ideas to encourage your junior high student:

  • Decorate their door with their name and write one quality or adjective for each letter. Example: Sensational Awesome Magnificent.
  • What is the meaning of their name? Write that on a card or type it on the computer in a fancy font. When I found out that my name meant “Consecrated to God” it made me think I was pretty special. I also thought that I should become a nun. (That is until I started to notice boys in junior high!)
  • Take them out for a date, just the two of you. If you can’t afford to go somewhere then fix their favorite snack and spend some alone time with them. I still do this with my sons. I know it is an awful saying, but I think it is true for teenage boys… “A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”
  • Play video games with your sons. Guys love to beat their opponents and what an easy way for them to do it by you playing with them! I am lousy at games, but will attempt to play something just so the guys can see that I am willing to do something they like. They also gloat when they win. Oh, well!
  • Go window shopping with your daughter. I didn’t say you had to buy anything 🙂 Just looking is fun and gives you insight into your daughter. It is also a good bonding time. You could get a treat while you are there for some extra girl time.
  • How about a book store or the library? If you have a child who likes to read this is a great place to browse and connect.
  • Find a scripture or encouraging word they can reflect upon. My mom gave me a scripture one night at the dinner table. She had made name cards and had written down a scripture for each of us. I am sure she didn’t know the impact that would make on me, but I have used this as a guide throughout the years.
  • Work on a project together. Let your child pick something that you both can work on and schedule time to do it. Spending time with them lets them know you love them, you care, and you can show by example what it means to do your best. Perhaps you don’t have much time for a long term project- what about something that you can do in a couple of hours and you divide it up over a period of weeks? Clearing your schedule says more to them than anything else.
  • Help with chores. What?! I know the point of chores is so you get some help and teach responsibility, but don’t you ever wish someone would come to your rescue and help you? Don’t do it for them, but work alongside of them. Conversation will take place and by doing the work together you can set an example of how you want it done without lecturing. I bet your relationship would improve too 🙂
  • Make coupons to give to your child. Ideas to consider would be: a home movie night with popcorn, a back rub, one batch of brownies, have a friend over for a sleepover, one pedicure (or manicure), one game night- most importantly- spend time with your son/daughter and have fun!

The Race

May13

Did you know you are a marathon runner? Yep! You are running a long race, need I say a loooong race in home educating your children. I am not a runner in the physical sense, but I do like to walk and I have entered a few 5k run/walk races for different causes. My first was two years ago when I forced my teenage sons to go on the Matthew 25 Ministries 5k Run/Walk. My second 5k was a year ago when my sweet, wonderful neighbor asked me to go with her at the last minute because her husband had to drop out.There is one important detail that you need to know. She is 4’11” and I am 5’9” and her waist probably comes to my mid thigh. Well, we passed a ton of people and my dear friend did a fabulous job in keeping up with me and even suggested we sprint at the end! I think we completed the race in 44 minutes. Not too shabby for the two of us.

The next race I walked in was a few weeks ago and I guilted my wonderful hubby into coming because my son who was going to go with me had to work and I sure didn’t want to do it alone! The weather was cool and it was misting (Cincinnati has 50 definitions of various types of precipitation- misting, spitting, light showers, torrential downpours, etc.). We had just passed the 1.5 mile marker when it started sprinkling (see, another term). “Not too bad, we can do it, right?” That’s what Dale and I said to each other as we passed the people holding cups of water who looked so happy to see us and cheered us on. Well, the last .75 mile was very difficult as my shoe had started bruising my heel and it was raining (definition-drops of water coming down at a good pace) by this time. There were only a few things kept me going: 1. I wanted to beat my 5k’s time from last year 2. I didn’t want to quit because I am in a 5k walk for goodness’ sake! 3. I wanted the bragging rights to say I had done it.

As we came near the finish we had to climb a steep hill and I was really starting to wonder how much looooonger since my heel was really hurting by this time. Just as I was thinking that maybe I’d have to slow down and quit pumping my arms like a chicken, I heard two young men say, “Come on, you can do it! You’re almost there!” I went from thinking this is never going to end to standing up taller, stretching out my legs a little more, and picking up the pace because they were cheering us on. As we rounded the corner we could see the running track and we knew we were close to the finish. There were several people along the track saying, “Go!Go! Go!” and I knew I was going to make it. I even ran as fast as I could at the end because some other lady was right on my heels and I wasn’t going to let her beat me! Up until then I really didn’t think I was all that competitive. I am sure you wonder what my time was- a little over 40 minutes!  I am looking forward to competing, oh I mean walking, in the Hunger Walk that Cincinnati has on Memorial Day Weekend. It’s funny, but my neighbor hasn’t called me to see if I want to go with her again this year. I wonder why…..

I want to encourage you to keep on going, to keep on running, to not quit, to pass the baton on to your children. The finish line is almost in sight for this year, you can do it. “Go! Go Go!” I believe in you and want you to know you are a runner, a marathoner, and next year will be even better than this year!