I've come to view October as marking the time for my "first checkup" on this year's curriculum choices. Like you, I'm sure, I try hard each spring to research curriculum, to plan for the coming year, to narrow down the things I want to look at during our annual state homeschool convention in May/June, and then to view the books in person at the vendor hall. I come away from the convention feeling ready and excited.
I don't always stay that way.
Sometimes, despite the "best laid plans," a curriculum ends up being a poor choice for us. Most of the time, I can "tweak" the weak or difficult spots to make it work. Sometimes, we choose to "limp along" with it for the semester or the year. Once in a while, it is a dismal failure, and we choose to ditch it and try something else.
Last year, we made a late "ditch and switch." Really late...it was January, and we ditched a language arts program that simply wasn't working for us. We opted for a workbook-style (not what we usually use, but the boys made that choice for themselves), and began it in late January. We just finished it 2 weeks ago, and we've vowed, "never again!"
It's alright to make mistakes. I don't beat myself up over this sort of thing any longer. But I do have a deep desire to not waste time, especially during the high school years. We want to finish, and to finish well. So, from here on out, we've decided to make early October a "curriculum check-point." How do we think things are going in each area? Does the curriculum we've chosen work with any unique learning-styles or special needs in our home? What about it would we rank as strong? What would we rank as weak? If we could change something about it, what would it be? (Note: if we have an answer for this last question, we try to implement it...this is the "tweaking" process.)
Are there things about it that are simply unacceptable, for whatever reason, and can we eliminate them? If not, we discuss if it's an option to "ditch and switch" to another curriculum. The boys have to agree to, perhaps, an extra month of work over the summer to complete a new curriculum, or to try and play "catch up" during weekends and the winter holidays in order to finish "on schedule." (See my past articles about schooling over the summer if you're worried that we are "slaves to a schedule!")
I desire, and strive to find, curriculum that will give my sons the best education that I can within the path that God has laid out for them. Most of the time, we do pretty well. But an early fall checkup is a great way to make sure that we don't have another major curriculum stumble during these final years!
May God bless you and your homeschool this week!
Lori
