I was slightly overwhelmed by the care and support given in response to my post about us moving to a bought curriculum. You have all given me so much food for thought and I appreciate it more than you can know that you all went to such trouble to share your own choices.
This past week has been all about the children finishing off their projects for this term and me looking at curriculum for after Christmas. I will be checking out each and every curriculum you were all so kind to write about in your comments.
As it stands we are going to continue with our maths curriculum (Galore Park) and I have just ordered a writing curriculum from America which has cost $79 just to post it here!
A couple of days ago I asked the children to sit down and write a list of everything they were interested in learning come the New Year. I have been blown away by their responses which include a very eclectic mix of financial management, home making and photography as well as the expected history and biology. In total I have over 20 subjects between them to fit into our week. I’m not convinced next year is going to be any easier after all, curriculum or not!
What I have noticed is that we will be doing lots of different things each day. We have never had this type of variety in our school and it is quite exciting to imagine!
Although there is a phenomenal amount of curriculum out there, I am quite enjoying perusing through it all, particularly whilst I am looking for resources to use for their more unusual courses.
We will now have a week off before beginning our new term, which will be all about Native Americans. Thank you once again for all your help and lovely comments, the support I get from this blogging community is priceless!
I just read this post and yesterday’s (was out the whole day yesterday). As with everyone else, I just want to give you assurance that:
1) your health and well being is important too;
2) your children will thrive regardless because they have had the wonderful years of foundation that you’ve built with them.
Many homeschoolers have shared their plans and curricula for next year so there are many good suggestions out there! I’m excited for you and your family. I think the changes are good, especially when it involves better health for you and possibly more independence for the older children. 🙂 I look forward to seeing how all this unfolds.
I’m just catching up on the two recent posts. I am so glad you are sleeping. I also want to assure you that homeschooling involves many changes. We have certainly made many changes over the last 16 years. Just my two cents to add to the rest. We love the literature approach around here. Our favorite choices are FIAR and Beyond FIAR, Further up, Further In (Narnia), and literature unit studies from Homeschoolshare.com. I also admit that we do rely on the dreaded workbooks for consistency with the 3R’s. However, even when we are using the workbooks daily (which is not always), they take up less than 40 minutes of our day. What ever you decide will be fine. There are a thousand ways to homeschool. You are their mother and will find the way that fits your family the best!
Blessings, Dawn
You are GREAT and your family is GREAT! No matter what you use, with all the love, support and faith that you all have it will all work out whether they have curriculum or some chalk and slate. Don’t stress, it is in bigger hands than yours!
I started to leave you a response several times but ended up deleting my comments. I’m going through my annual “am I doing the right thing/using the right curriculum” breakdown at the moment. Every year when choosing curriculum I re-read The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. Their book is a manual on the Classical style (or New Classical actually) of education. Every year we move toward a more Literature based/Charlotte Mason approach and away from the Classical style but I still find this book very helpful.
Whatever you choose to do I know it will be just what your family needs.
I’m coming in a little late, and just catching up – but very much interested to see what you come up with, and very glad you are not going to stop blogging – though that is usually my answer for finding more time 🙂 I don’t have any advice on curriculum, but I do think what you described might be a bit of homeschool panic syndrome. I’d say, take it slow, and give yourself time to evaluate where you really are before jumping into a big curriculum commitment.
I just caught up on both these blog posts, and I’m glad you’re choosing sleep and good feelings over creativity. Curriculum is not an enemy, and it’s taken me much time to see that. I wouldn’t jump into a big curriculum purchase because these feelings might pass and then you’ll be stuck with an expensive curriculum that doesn’t work for you guys. That’s like my entire life homeschooling. I’ve bought and bought only to find that my children really only do well with more interest-led projects (even if those projects do inspire us to occasionally purchase curriculum that is much loved). That’s why I like being on the Crew so much. I only make a 6 week commitment to whatever curriculum they give me, and I find that no matter which curriculum I use, I’m still me and I can’t use curriculum properly! LOL…I’m sure you’ll figure it out, and I can’t wait to see how wonderful your year ahead is going to be 🙂
I have just seen your comment Claire about postage from the States. We are in the States at the moment. If you can cancel the order & get it delivered here we would be happy to bring them home for you. Let me know if you want the address.
Love
Pat x
Pat, thank you so much! I should have thought of that beforehand, unfortunately they have already dispatched but next time I will definitely keep you in mind.
Looking through curriculum is so much fun!
Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and supportive comments. I look forward to sharing everything I choose!