Hello, Sweet Homeschool Mommas!
We are heading into our 16th year of homeschooling (technically our 17th year as I began teaching my oldest at age 3, but traditionally a lot of families do Pre-K at age 4 so we will count from there). I wanted to give a little insight to choosing homeschool curriculum, especially for those who may be new at homeschooling or those who are looking for new resources. I have known that I would be a homeschool mother since I was in 4th grade at age 9. I came home from school one day and told my mom "When I have kids, I am going to homeschool them!" God rooted that desire in my heart, and from that early age, I truly always dreamed of being a homeschool mom. Thankfully, my husband was also on board from the beginning of our marriage ( I never had to ask him, just told him when we were dating that I hoped to homeschool my children one day, and he was fine with that from the beginning). I share this because I went into homeschooling our first child with years of thought and preparation behind me. I knew what curriculum I wanted to use, had been to several homeschool meetings in our area, browsed through different curriculum fairs, and had already joined a local homeschool group. I had time to prepare, but more often than not, that is not the case for many homeschoolers. A lot of new homeschooling families are finding themselves, rather quickly, thrown into preparing for home education (thank you, 2020) and are feeling the "stress" of what and how they are going to teach their children. And others who have been doing this "thing" for awhile, may be stuck in a rut and looking for some new resources or ready to switch over their current curriculum completely. So...my first piece of advise: *Don't get overwhelmed. There are so many choices out there. So many things to consider. How much will it cost? Does the curriculum teach our faith and values? How easy is it for me to teach? Are the lessons planned out? Can I use this for multiple children? And many more questions will arise, but don't let it overtake you. Get a game plan. Ask yourself these simple questions before going on your curriculum hunt. What is my budget? Do we want to use a faith-based curriculum that reflects our Christian values? Do I want to use all online resources or book curriculum as well? Do I want the lessons to be planned for me or do I want more flexibility to do my own planning? Once you have these questions answered, you have narrowed down your choices, just a bit, and know what you are looking for. Research the curriculums that meet your requirements. Second: *Ask your trusted homeschooling friends what they use? If you know a homeschool mom, ask her what she uses and why she likes it. First hand experience is a great way to weed out some resources. Now, this doesn't mean you have to use the same curriculum just because your friend uses it, but you want to know why they like it. Her answer will tell you all about the resource she loves, in those details she gives, you will know if those items meet your criteria or not. Then you can decide if you want to look at those resources or cross them off your list. If your friend uses a curriculum that peaks your interest, ask if you can look at it. On the flip side of this, if you don't know a homeschool family personally, ask around. I promise, we homeschoolers are everywhere! Ha! Ha! Ask around church, your family and friends and see if they know a homeschooler you could talk to. If not, there are many homeschool groups online that you can find with just a click! Look for a group in your local area. This is also a great way to get to know other homeschoolers. You can also leave a comment here and I will be happy to help you if I can! Third: *Don't go overboard! Yes, unboxing new curriculum is thrilling. There is just something special about the smell of new books! But....be realistic. Especially if you are new at homeschooling. Home education is different than traditional education in that you don't have to fill 8 hours a day with something in order to keep 20 different kids on task (unless of course you have 20 children of your own;) ). Teach your basics and get grounded in those subjects and then add in your extra subjects as you learn what your daily schedule will allow. Sometimes, that means the fundamental subjects are every day classes and your extra classes such as art, music, etc, may be a couple of times a week. Figure out what works best for your teaching style and your children's learning capabilities, and then run with it! Fourth, and what I consider most important: *Jesus first. Your children absolutely must learn to read, write and be able to do basic math, of course. But if our children don't have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Savior, then NO amount of academic accomplishment really matters. In the big scheme of things, our future is only going to depend on one thing...Do we know Jesus personally? So take the time, Sweet Mama, every day, many times a day to teach your children about Jesus. Teach them God's Word. Pray with them and over them. Thank God out loud for His blessings. Read the Bible together. Answer their questions and steer them towards God. That will be your greatest accomplishment: leading your children to Christ! "I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth." ~3 John 4 Don't worry, Mama! You got this! Pray each day for God to guide your teaching. He will. And He will bless your family abundantly. I hope these tips are a help to both new and veteran homeschoolers. I am praying for you as you continue on this journey! Keep reading God's Word. It is such a treasure! Joyfully His, Andrea
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For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " AuthorHi! I'm Andrea, wife to my handsome hubby, homeschooling mama to my 7 amazing blessings, and daughter of the King of kings. I am so glad you have stopped by my little piece of the web. My prayer is that the Lord will use this blog to encourage you in your personal, daily walk with Christ. Archives
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