Kurriculum Korner

It is Convention season again and time for me to pass on a little motherly, old sage advice. Conventions are a wonderful time away for renewal and refreshment.  Often you come away with a strong sense of purpose and renewed appreciation of all the options and freedoms you have in this country.

Often you come away with all kinds of curriculum you never thought you needed.  Salesman are really good at their job, that’s why they have them and why they send them to conventions.  No doubt about it, new things are wonderful!  Someone created something you have dreamed about as the healer of all the problems, the resolver of differences, the stopper of tears, the be all end all.  Well, hopefully, whatever you purchase meets those expectations. If not, don’t be too disappointed. One thing will not work for every child.

Every child is unique, your family is unique, your situation is unique, your homeschool is unique.  Embrace it and press onward.  You may need to tweak the curriculum a little to fit your needs. Or, you may need to replace it.  Chalk it up to taking a chance and move on without regret.

Ready?

1.Go to Convention with friends or acquaintances that will become friends.

2. Divide up the sessions, take notes, collect giveaways

3. Have a “show and tell” at dinner over a glass of wine or coffee.

That way, everyone hears all the news, the pitches and gets to feel like they really learned a lot by being there.

Convention can be a really wonderful bonding time.  We as home school families are perpetual learners, always searching for optimum things for our families.  Every attending is there because they love their children and they love the learning process.

Have fun, be careful, pray over choices before making an impulse purchase and enjoy the camaraderie of like minded people.

Probably see you there..

Karen at the Kurriculum Korner

How do you respond to friends, relatives, neighbors when they question you about your homeschool?

How do you answer the homeschool critics in your life?

Critics will question your choice to homeschool. After all, we have one of the best schools in town right here. They will question your ability to teach your child. “Do you have a teaching degree or are you smart enough?” They will question your child being out with you in the middle of the day. Homeschool children do not go to school for 6 hours so if you need groceries, they go with you. They will question your choice of curriculum. “Why are you not using …. it’s the best?” They will question all the little details of your day. They question your choices because your choices cause them to question their own choices and more importantly their own answers. Sometimes it is as simple as “friendly conversation”, sometimes it is way more than that. So how are you going to answer the “nosey” cashier? How are you going to answer your neighbors bragging about winning the school science fair? How will your child answer “what grade are you in?” Everyone will have a different answer. Talk with your family and come up with some answers so that you are prepared for that day- it will happen one of these days.

You are the Principal and Lead Teacher, your husband is the Superintendent of Schools. You decide what time of the day you homeschool, what materials you will use, whether you have a designated school space. You even decide if you are going to do every single redundant grammar sentence or just some because you know the child knows the answers and does not need to beat it into the ground. It is something to think about ahead of time. Someone at some point, is going to question you about little or big things.  Be prepared.

Love,

Karen

P.S.

Here are a few books to encourage you in your  homeschool journey

1. Things We Wish We’d Known 

2. But What About Socialization? Answering the Perpetual Home Schooling Question

3. the Homeschooling Father 

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