Aug. 1, 2009 - Curriculum My Way
We are starting our fifth year of home schooling, (4th grade “officially”), and I have yet to purchase a complete curriculum.
My husband is amazed at my frugality and my ability to put together a coherent curriculum from pieces purchased here and there, and freebies found online.
My dd just took her state required, end of 3rd year standardized test, and I must say, her results were outstanding. Even I had my doubts that a pieced together curriculum could work… but it has become “what I do”, and I had never really given any other options much thought, until the end of this year. (curiosity killed the cat!!)
I began reading lots and lots of online home school curriculum reviews. Not really looking for anything, just seeing what is available, and I found several that although they were pricey, seemed to be well rounded and possibly even worth those steep price tags.
However, I remain resolute in my decision to continue this next year with something from this, and something from that.
Not so much because I am truly a frugal natured being (albeit, I truly am), but because I know that I can, and that, so far, it is working beautifully for us.
Perhaps it would be easier to let someone else do all the planning and putting together, and I am very certain that many, many home school moms do not have the luxury of time I am afforded because I only have one child to teach.
But I have found after four years, that I enjoy hand picking each and every resource that we will use in our school year. I enjoy the hours of research and the time I spend ferreting out interesting and challenging options for us to learn.
I have gotten a small taste of various curriculum by ordering study guides, and workbooks from different companies, then supplementing with books of my own choosing, obtained on Amazon and E-bay(at greatly reduced prices than I would find them elsewhere, I might add).
Granted, we go through a LOT of paper and printer ink, but somehow I believe we would do that anyway.
A terrific online resource that has become invaluable, is
UnitedStreaming
We have watched countless educational videos, many of which have tests, quizzes and teachers notes or study guides to go along with them.
No one should feel pressured to purchase a set curriculum. With a little effort and dedication to finding the right mix that is totally tailored to your child, you will save money, have more of yourself invested into what you are teaching, and it allows for the freedom of input from your child, to boot.
Can’t beat that!
Some excellent resources I have used:
EnchantedLearning ~There are plenty of freebies, but I have subscribed to this one (it‘s only $20 for a year)
Learning Page
homeschooling.gomilpitas ~(EVERYTHING is here!)
Squidoo (jimmiehomeschoolmom especially!) ~Thanks Jimmie~
Annies Home Page
TLS Books~tons, and I mean TONS of worksheets-which we’re not doing so much anymore, but if you need them, this is THE place!
Homeschool Share
These are a great place to start if you are new at putting together curriculum. I just started winging it a few years ago, and now, I just don’t want to stop!
School is so much fun when YOU decide when, what, where, when and why!
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May. 29, 2009 - The Terrible Tweens?
Let me preface the following, with the statement that I've
never been one to buy into the long suffering media myth that teenagers want to be left alone, and are always one heartbeat away from total hatred of their parents. I believe that although there will be an attempt to break away from parental control, in striving for some semblance of independence, it is not necessarily a reason for strife and broken parent/child relationships, with constant conflict of the wills, and one winning the battle, while both end up losing the war.
Having said that, it is becoming more and more apparent, that the issue with teens/pre-teens and now I'm seeing even with tweens, is a lack of understanding.
Not so much on the parent’s part. We have all been where they are now. Whatever trials and tribulations they are facing, we have already, in some form or fashion, been through it. We have walked in their shoes.
The lack of understanding, is on THEIR part. They have no idea how the rolling eyes, exasperated sighs, and short answers tear at our hearts. They have no idea how badly the back talking and sarcasm cuts into us and makes us cry, usually just on the inside, because we’re way too tough to let it show.
They haven't walked in our shoes.
Therefore, the burden of proof, lies upon us. We are the ones required to be unimaginably patient. We are the ones that can no longer roll our eyes, and give exasperated sighs. They lack our life experience, and are UNABLE at this point to grasp the reasoning behind our guidance. We must understand this.
It is irrelevant that the lack is on their part, it simply means that we,
as the parents, must FURTHER our understanding.
When we are stretched to the breaking point, it is US who must go the extra mile, and SHOW how much we really do love these (no longer tiny) little bundles of joy.
How soon we forget.
How soon we forget OUR own childhoods, and how soon we forget that trip home from the hospital with our brand new, totally dependent, miracle of life.
Terrible tweens?? Nah. Neither were the twos, and neither shall be the teen years.
Whatever my daughter may face, whether she is 9 or 19, I want to be able to face it with her, an unwavering strength to guide her, that she may lean on whenever she feels the need.
Whether she rolls her eyes at me or not.
