Curriculum
Here we are at the curriculum section of the website, and you are expecting to find out where to send the check, right???
Quess again. Finding curriculum is going to take more time than teaching. If you have not read the topic of learning styles , do that now, especially if your child has never been to school. Finding your child's learning style will help you make the best choices in curriculum.
Keep in mind that curriculum is a learning tool and not the rule. If you and your child find that you don't like a choice, discard it and move on. (Save it for the used curriculum sale in the spring).
When I wrote Home Schooling 101, I chose five curriculum styles that were prevelant and are still widely used. This is what I found.
- Publisher's complete grade level curriculum--Purchasing complete curriculum can be a good idea for those parents who really want to homeschool, but might be very insecure about their ability to teach. Some include teacher's editions, and other helpful information. (very expensive)
- Correspondance Schools--This is a good choice for families who have a hard time with organization and scheduling. These types of programs allow the correspondance school to perform all the jobs of the teacher. Testing, grading, directing the needs of the child, even the end of year evaluation. (very expensive)
- Unit Studies--Great for elementary age children and families with lots of children close in age. Unit studies do take a little time on the parents part to gather the needed materials. But this is a good way for you to cover a lot of subjects at one time as well as covering different learning levels. Materials usually can be found at the library, so there is minimal costs.
- Eclectic -- This is most common amongst homeschoolers. You take a little of this and a little of that and you have a curriculum. And were does a parent find these ingrediences for an eclectic program--library, thrift stores, garage sales, book stores, the county book depository, the internet, just about anywhere. To be successful as an eclectic homeschooler, you must be willing to change horses in mid-stream. Cost to homeschool eclectically will vary. (inexpensive)
- Unschooling -- Child lead learning in it's highest form. Children learn at their own speed different things. Unschooling is never forced learning. It is relaxed and fun for both parents and children.
All in all, remember that a child learns all the time. What he or she learns doesn't have to come from a book. It can come from a game or from the lens of a camera, or looking into the night sky.
Have a question about homeschooling?
sent it to our mail turtle or you can call us at 561-493-3679
Copyright 1995-2000-Shelley Costantino
