Every inquiring Homeschool Mom wants to know:  Which Curriculum do I need to have in order to teach...(fill in the blank.)

As much as I LOVE "stuff" ie, curriculum, books, workbooks, field guides, reference books, yada, yada, ad nauseum, (hope that is spelled right) I need to tell you something:  You don't need curriculum or curriculi, or curricula, whatever.  Remember what Psalm 23 says? 

The Lord Is My Shepherd.  I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT.

Maybe I am taking that a bit out of context, but seriously, what do you need?  A pencil, a piece of paper, and a brain!  If you are reading this blog, you have a brain.  And you know how to use it! 

So Homeschool Mom, you can do whatever you want, seriously.  It is no skin off my nose if you go out and buy a $300 pre-packaged program.  But I bet you could put that money to better use.  If you are selling a $300 program, I'm not trying to put you out of business.  I just know that we can MORE than "get-by" with a few tools that we already have, than "get-into-debt" with the latest and greatest falderal out there just to keep up with the Joneses or whatever other rationalization you have irrationally swirling around in your Mommy brain.

You know my philosophy is "we are learning all the time."  And yet I do believe that time can be squandered, and once it is gone you can't get it back.  But we can redeem it wisely while we have it.  So don't fret, just start doing something.  Seriously, just do SOMETHING with your kids today!  The will learn, you will have accomplished something and it will add up line upon line, even if you didn't just go into hock to put it on the dining room table. 

Are you paralyzed with your homeschooling?  Do you feel like you can't do anything, because everything is too intensive to even try?  But you know you NEED to do more than you are doing?  But you want to be a relaxed homeschooler?  LOL!  I'm not laughing at you, but with you.  Here are some ideas for some things you can do RIGHT NOW with your kids. 

 Just do it, ok?

So here are those ideas:

Cook something together.  Even if it is simple, like instant oatmeal---just do it!  Enjoy being together and talk about what you are doing.  In a natural way, you aren't giving a lecture.

Do the dishes as a team.  Practice a poem, Bible Verse or song together while you work.  Whistle while you work!

Get some colored pencils and a plain white sheet of paper.  Have your kids, no matter what ages they are, write their name.  (Homeschoolers often miss this step! ) 

Next, write their phone number, address and age.

If they can't spell it, don't tell them to "look it up."  Tell them what it is!

Ask them to write the abbreviation for the state they live in. Then, the country they live in.  Then the continent they live on. 

Have them put their age down in numerals, then spell the word.  Remember, if they don't know it, how can they "look it up?"  That skill will come with time.

Ok, so there you go.  That was today's lesson.  It's pretty much time for lunch now, right?

Here are some other things to do with your kids.  Remember, learning happens all the time!

Sorting and doing laundry, that is home education.

Watering the plants inside and out, taking care of pets, daily chores.  That is learning.

Know anyone with a birthday coming up?  Make them a card.  If the child is too little to do the writing, have them dictate it and then you write in it for them.  Have them attempt their name!  They will do just fine. Don't correct it, just let it be.  :)

Draw pictures for Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles, etc.  Then send them!  Let the little kids decorate the envelope, put on the labels and stamps.  Have the older kids address them.  Teach them how to keep an address book!  (This teaches organization, alphabetization, etc.)

Take your kids to the library.  Get a library card.  Look for books on favorite subjects. Then sit and READ to them.

Get old magazines and cut them up!  Make scrapbooks of favorite pictures.  Let the little kids cut, glue and staple!  Hands on.  Hands on.  Hands on.  Did I mention hands on?  Kids NEED to use their hands to learn.  They also need LESS time sitting.  That will drive your kids crazy.  Seriously!

Hmmm....well, just a few things off the top of the old noggin.  Please add your own to this list, ok?  I'd love to hear from you! Please leave me a comment with some of your own ideas. 

One last thing.  We all have rules we have to abide by, our state statutes etc., but I know from all the Moms I talk to that there are some who are just flailing about and need to be encouraged to do something.  Just do ONE thing, and see how good it makes you feel.  You CAN do it! 

Blessings!

Homeschooling Is Life!

Nancy

Copyright © 2009 Nancy K. Baetz