I was reading an advertisement for a Unit Study curriculum in a homeschooling magazine it said something like this "No more boring textbooks." I get a little irked with the whole 'boring' textbook thing. I know they are trying to sell unit studies but I thought I would share some on textbooks.

We use Rod & Staff for Social Studied/History and Science. The other day we were out playing in an open space near our neighborhood that we named The Island of the Blue Dawn. Annette commented that the wind was air that moved. Something simple but she never thought of it that way until she read this in her science book. She'll look at something and say, "That's a solid, gas, liquid." depending on what she is looking at. Again I know they seem so simple but it's things that I didn't get to before because we would skip science. It would always end up on the back burner and therefore we didn't do it.

Today Joshua gave me a mini History lesson. I asked him where he got this information and he replied, "From my history book." He does this all the time with both History & Science. Telling me things he has learned.

When we here how boring textbooks are, I think of when I was in school. Yes, to me they were boring, but who would be interested if the instructor/teacher isn't even interested in what he is teaching. If you are homeschooling I don't think they are as boring as people think. We as parents get to school our children and instill a love for learning. I believe  even "dry, boring" textbooks can be exciting when you as a parent are excited about it to. My children don't think of them as boring. To them it's something new to learn everyday. In fact I like reading them.

But what about the tidbits of information they are only getting a little scope of that era. In a way yes, but it also sparks their interest and they want to learn more and if they don't then at least they touched on that time. Textbooks also have pictures and vocabulary words.

More than once when I am reading a read aloud book, Josh or Annette will say, "I know what that word means, I learned it in my history book."

With all the curriculum packages out there it's so easy to buy a package of books from SL, WP, MFW, BF etc. This is what we do. I look to see what era they will be studying and collect books from companies above, put them were the children love to read and the rest it history. They devour them.

Another reason I like textbooks is because I'm not very creative. I wish I was one of those mom's that can weave school into everyday life, but I'm not. Textbooks fill that void for me. Today I was reading to Caleb about parts of a tree and when we were done we went out in the 40 degree weather with 22mph winds, to look at the tree parts and the leaves that were falling. Normally we wouldn't have done this. It's so cold that I would have let them play outside without me but because we read about trees and leaves I thought it would be good for us to go and look at them.

Textbooks aren't for everyone, just like unit studies and literature based curriculum's aren't either, isn't it great to choose?

I'm not anti CM, Classical or anything. In fact right now I'm reading 'A Pocketful of Pinecones' about a mom who teaching her two children via CM and how she is keeping a Nature Notebook. Maybe next year I'll incorporate a nature notebook into our school. There is so much to see of God's creation. I'll probably have to read this book again in the late spring to get me going.

Also  a homeschooling mom using textbooks can make a timeline. We have some Sonlight Timeline books that I want to get out and start using again. We might use Bob Jones American History next year and I think it comes with a timeline too. Again so many choices.

In Him,

Linda<><

Email me at Homeschooling6[At]hotmail[Dot]com.