Apr. 21, 2009 - The Great Curriculum Search
The Great Curriculum Search
Homeschooling has been the greatest adventure of my life. I have learned more through the years of teaching my children than I ever thought possible. I am so thankful to the Lord that He has lead me to home school my children it has been one of biggest ways that He has worked in me. I am so blessed to have the privilege to teach my children, to hang out with them and to just be.
Through the years I have read about, researched and bought many different curriculums. The Lord has lead me down many paths and I have lead myself and my children down more than one wrong path.
My curriculum journey has been wide and varied. The goals have always remained the same. I home school so that I can have relationship with my children and keep them close to my heart. It is my desire that they learn to love the Lord with all of their hearts. I home school so that my children can learn by experiences and learn from great literature and great people. I home school only because God called us to teach our children at home.
I have used a variety of curriculum for a variety of circumstances. I believe my children have had a good education. It has not always been what I dreamed of and desired for them. Most of the time the curriculum we had was what God provide and not what I had dreamed of: The curriculum of real life and life experiences. Used book store finds or better yet yard sale finds. Sometimes I even did get to purchase the things I had longed for and sometimes those things set on the shelf.
As a home school mom I know the hours that can be spent searching for just the "right" thing. The stress over not having the money for the perfect thing you found. I know because I have been walking down that path yet again the past few weeks.
My kids are growing and we are entering a new phase. My oldest daughter has one more year until high school. I have labored over the decision making process until my brain hurt. The problem: I teach with unit studies heavily using hands on activities and living books but it requires lots of teacher planning. The curriculums that I use have things for high school but they recommend that the high school student work independently of the family. This troubles me. It has always been my desire that we do school together and we always have. I have researched for hours and driven myself batty to only find that every curriculum I can find that follows my approach sends the high school student off to be independent. I did find one option but the cost is outlandish which makes it a non-option for our family.
So where do I go from here? I like to have a plan and I usually make a plan for my plan. I have no idea at this point what the Lord has in mind for our family and for the high school years. I do know that He will provide exactly the curriculum, the experiences and the people that my children need in their life. As home school moms we have to plan it is a part of our job. In our planning though we have to remember the One who works all things together for our good. He loves these kids even more than we do. We have to take the curriculum and experiences that He does provide and use them to the best of our abilities. He desires that we walk in peace and contentment. I would encourage you to trust Him to meet your every need. If you are longing for a curriculum or an experience for your children but the money has not been there I encourage you to let it go and walk in the way God has set before you. He knows what you and your children need even before you ask.
Thank you Lord for knowing what my family needs this year. Thank you for teaching me yet again about your provision for our needs. I do trust you and I give my home school to you. You are a great and might God and Your ways are not our own. Help me to walk in Your ways today. Amen.
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