Academics
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Curriculum, Resources, and Scheduling!
So, you've decided to homeschool, or continue to, or come back to....NOW what?!
With a plethora of curricula and learning methods now available, the decision of what to use and how to do it can be daunting. I suggest that new homeschooling parents, especially, take time to do research online and attend a homeschool conference, if possible.
How should I set-up my homeschool?
Begin by researching the various teaching/learning methods and imagining what your "dream" homeschool looks like:
- Do you have a designated area for the majority of your schoolwork?
- Do you want to replicate the classroom experience or integrate outdoor and/or child-led learning?
- Will you be assigning workbook pages and drills or reading and discussing literature?
- Are you interested in memorization and recitation or hands-on learning and projects?
- Will you use computers and videos?
- Do you lean more toward a particular method - Great Books, Classical Liberal Arts, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, etc. - or a combination?
What if "life" gets in the way of our school schedule?
Prayerfully consider your family situation:
- Do you have more than one child?
- Are they close or far apart in age?
- Are they all of school age?
- Are you expecting, or hope to be in the near future?
- Do all your children rise at the same time, or do you have some wake at the crack of dawn and others in bed until noon?
- Do you have one or more special needs students?
- Do you know if your children are visual or hands-on learners, independent or dependent learners?
- Do you have health, pregnancy-related, or physical issues that could limit your own abilities? Are you comfortable "teaching from bed," if you do?
- Are you caring for another family member and are often traveling to and fro?
- Do you work from home?
None of this will stop you from homeschooling, you simply will find different ways of doing so. Some of our happiest days are doing school from bed when I'm sick. When my father was ill before he passed, the boys and I drove two hours one way, three times a week for a year, and they happily packed their books and did school in the car and at Grandma and Grandpa's. One year, my chiropractor even set up a small table at the back of her office for the boys to do their schoolwork during my weekly sessions! Anything is possible.
I wholeheartedly recommend the calendar model that Catholic Heritage Curricula devised. It's simply a four-day school week. You use the fourth day to schedule your outside appointments, catch up on work, do special projects, go on field trips, or just rest. Somehow, knowing you have an "extra" day greatly lessens the pressure you put on yourself and makes your entire week that much more productive!
Where do I begin when choosing curriculum?
Now that you've decided on or have a better idea of the type of homeschool you'd like, you're on your way to the right curriculum for your situation. The resources listed on the following pages are the most faithful and popular Catholic, Catholic-friendly Protestant, and secular resources that I can recommend. Keep checking back because the lists change periodically.
Don't forget to find yourself your own Planning Book. There are so many for free and for purchase. Again, decide if you'd like something to use on your computer, or if you prefer a hard copy - maybe with daily meditations or calming pictures!
Start choosing curricula by looking at the "big" providers - Catholic Heritage Curricula, Mother of Divine Grace, Kolbe Academy, Seton Homeschool, Thomas Aquinas, and Angelicum Academy. Read their philosophies and see which matches up best with yours, review their materials, and then begin writing down your extensive "wishlist." You needn't break your bank nor overcrowd your bookshelves right away, so once you have your list of everything you want, start pulling out what you need, and decide what you can augment with books from your local library or other homeschoolers. Whatever's left can remain on your wishlist for next semester or next year. If your children are older or in high school, remember that you can wait to purchase second semester materials until midway through your year.
If you're a new homeschooler, I do recommend purchasing a provider's Lesson Plans, at least at the beginning, to help you get going and into a routine. You may find that next year you can create your own and save some money.How can I be more efficient in our school day?
Consider any time that you can "bundle" kids and lessons. Nearly every subject, except maybe Math, can be crafted to teach the same material to various grade levels, giving more detail and depth to older students, easier concepts to younger ones. Activities, questions, and more can then be tailored for each. But, at least you only have to teach one time to everyone.
If you have older students, don't be afraid of using them! Part of learning is teaching, and if an older child is asked to help or teach a lesson to their younger sibling, you're doing everyone a favor....especially yourself.
If you have “littles,” create a box or basket or area with activities they can do themselves. This is especially useful during "gathering" time in the morning, when mommy's busy with another child, or when they've finished their work and are waiting for a new assignment. I often used the Catholic Kingdom website as a safe activity when my boys were old enough to manage a computer - with me in the room, of course. Remember to enact parental controls on your computer!
I've done all this, but I still need help!
If, after doing all this, you still have questions or are simply even more confused, I am more than happy and available to speak with you and help identify what's best for you. Plus, registered families are part of RCA's members-only chat group, so you have all their experience from which to draw as well.