By Marisa Pullan How do I know what to choose? What if my kid hates it? What if I'm not the crafty kind of person? What if I hate the mess that comes with projects? These are all questions that come up when you are trying to figure out what to choose and how to decide what your child will be doing year in and year out. Honestly, there is no "right" or "wrong" answer to choosing curriculum, but here are some tips to help you figure out your own path. Remember Your Strengths! Think about YOUR strengths as a parent and don't be afraid to outsource if and when you can. As adults, we know where our strengths lie and we need to remember to play to our strengths. Don't put the pressure on yourself to do everything and be everything for your children. If you are confident when it comes to math, you may prefer a program or textbook that doesn't require a teacher edition to complete the course. If you're not so good at science, you may live and breathe by the teacher edition happily learning alongside your child. At the same time, if you feel you are lacking in delivering the material, do some searching for tutors or local homeschool-friendly classes. Chances are that there are people in your community that would love to teach history to your child because they love it as much as you wish you did! Don't Marry Your Curriculum. Seriously. Don't devote yourself to a single curriculum because you can set yourself up for fights and struggles with your kids that aren't worth the time and effort. Just because YOU love a specific text or program, if you have to fight with your kids every single time the book is opened, consider the source of the issue. Sometimes, the struggle is a discipline problem, sometimes it's a teacher problem, sometimes it's a curriculum problem. If your child says "I hate math" and makes you cringe, listen to what they're saying. If they hate it due to, oh, I dunno, repetition as an example, it is probably the curriculum, in which case, look for something that fits them better. If they dread the time spent on it because they feel you're going to be difficult to work with, then you need to be honest with yourself and consider the possibility that it could be a teacher problem. If it's neither of these issues, then think about discipline and consistency, and re-evaluate the approach you're taking with your children. I Prefer to Keep My House Clean Here is a #momtruth if I ever heard one. We ALL would prefer to keep our houses clean, although some have it as a higher priority than others, and that's okay. There are homeschool moms that refuse to do artsy/crafty projects because they dread the glitter and glue everywhere. There are homeschool moms that under any condition, are absolutely unwilling to do science projects at home because of the mess factor. Not doing those things does NOT make you any less of a homeschool parent. If you want your children to have the experience, and you don't want to deal with the after effects, then by all means, outsource! Repeat after me: Outsourcing is okay! Reach out to your community, check out local art schools, and you will be surprised at what you might find to help you out along the way. As an example, many retired teachers love to help a homeschool parent because teaching is what they love. You're homeschooling or thinking about homeschooling because you want more for your child than what conventional education can offer. Keep that in mind as you plot your course, and be willing to make adjustments to your curriculum choices or your approach along the way. You can do it; I know you can! Happy homeschooling!
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January 2021
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