May 28, 2007 7:34 PM
Homeschool - my curriculum choices
Barbara,I was curious what curriculum/curricula you used when you used to homeschool your children? I’m often curious what Montessori teachers would recommend past preschool/reading age in terms of type of curriculum.
Thanks!
Agatha
Hi Agatha -
When I started homeschooling I thought over the approach I wanted to use and I chose a pretty traditional academic one. That's because that's what worked for me growing up. I felt grateful for my education, particularly the first couple years and last few years in Catholic school.
Let me say right up front that I don't think my approach is best - it's just what worked for me. My theory is that God has a plan for each child and so that's why there are all different kinds of mothers with all kinds of teaching styles. I just was comfortable with an organized academic approach so that's what I used.
The first year I homeschooled, since I didn't know much about what was available, I signed up with Calvert School and purchased curricula for the grades we needed. Later that year I went to a homeschool curriculum fair so I was able to find lots of other things to supplement. Keep in mind that this was 1990 and so there was no Internet to search, homeschool communication was at the grassroots stage and there weren't as many curriculum choices available. And I don't know if Calvert is the same as it was back then.
Rather than encouraging a lot of creative expression in the early grades, I was more in favor of teaching the principles of language, grammar, critical thinking, and math. I was always very weak on science. I figure with a good basic foundation, creativity has a greater chance of flourishing in a meaningful way.
I really think that the first three years are critical for a good grounding in reading and beginning critical thinking skills. Once your child has these he or she can pretty much teach himself or herself.
I used workbooks I still use today - Merrill Phonics and Merrill Skilltext. I used the A Beka readers, history, science and language. I especially like the very traditional language approach of A Beka. Someone once asked me how I feel about sentence diagramming - I am very pro-diagramming. I think there's nothing like it for understanding how our language works - and good writing requires a keen grasp of that. A Beka truly provides a great foundation in grammar and word usage and structure.
I used Merrill math in the early grades, then switched to Saxon. I hate math books that try to look relevant and hip with lots of colors and "cool" layouts. Math is math. It's a discipline. It doesn't need embellishment. I love the way Saxon reviews and then moves forward with each lesson. It's hard for a kid to get lost.
I also really liked Steck-Vaughan's Critical Thinking Series and used them with all my children in their respective grade levels year after year. I think they built in my kids a foundation of critical thinking skills and that makes me secure that they will never be at the mercy of the media or cultlike religious leaders. I really wanted to teach them to think for themselves.
My Bible curriculum consisted of a Betty Lukens flannel board and a curriculum that marched us straight through the Bible. while the Bible curriculum I used is no longer in print, you can use any one in conjunction with the flannels. I loved how much more vivid they made the lessons for the kids (and me - after all, having become a Christian only three years before, I was just learning some of this myself). Here are pictures of flannelboard set ups - with backgrounds and figures and accessories to create a visual of whatever you are studying (they give you a verse-by-verse key):
So that's it. All my kids were in school (California Catholic or Virginia public) by eighth grade. That was just the path our family felt led to take. But the coolest thing during those homeschooling years was how little time the curriculum actually took and how much more time we had for fun, for cleaning the house together, for field trips and recreational reading.
If any of you out there are even vaguely considering homeschool, please know that it is VERY doable. It is not rocket science. My motto used to be "The worst day of homeschool is better than the best day of school." That's because there's just so much wasted time in a class where the teacher has to teach to the lowest common denominator. It blows my mind that the school can keep our kids for six or seven hours a day, then send them home with homework.
Our lessons were always done by noon and we usually went only four days a week. We took off a month for Christians and a month when I had a baby. The result: many of my kids skipped grades going into school.
So if you're thinking at all about homeschooling, my advice is to go for it. The bond you build with your children is just something you cannot do without those early years. And teaching them to read strengthens that bond enormously.
If your child is preschool age, my books Mommy, Teach Me! and Mommy, Teach Me to Read! (see my right sidebar for more information) will give you a taste of how doable it is to teach your child yourself. Though they will work for anyone planning to send their kids on to public or private school - and give your children a better start - there's enough in them really to see your child through first grade - by which time you may have fallen in love with having them at home.
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Comments
Thank goodness for the internet and all the fabulous choices we have today. There are styles and methods for everyone, so that parents don't have to worry about homeschool not being a fit. Theres a unique fit for everyone. :)
Posted by: Summer | May 28, 2007 11:07 PM
Everything you just said was very validating for me, and I just wanted to say thank you. I worry that I am not the cool, fun, super-creative homeschooler, but I know that my kids are getting grounded in the basics. (And enjoying it.) It helps to hear someone like you say you think that matters.
Posted by: Michelle Potter | May 28, 2007 11:53 PM
Thanks for this! I've been looking for a critical thinking series for kids (not high school level). Goodness knows their current school won't teach it to them! I'll definitely check them out!
Posted by: Milehimama | May 29, 2007 8:27 AM
Great advice, Barbara. Thanks so much. I still struggle with whether or not to homeschool. I wonder if what she is getting at her $14,000.00 a year private school, (13 in a class, a grade ahead curriculum, pe, art, music, etc) is worth the other things she gets (kids saying things they shouldn't, hurt feelings, teachers not treating kids fairly, kids getting picked on). I really do struggle with this. I definitely feel I could homeschool or at least have someone help with homeschooling while I work. I just registered Jaden (2-1/2 ds) with a phenominal pre-school, and think that it will really benefit him to be in a structured environment right now. We are teaching him to read at home. The preschool plays music all day during class, 6 kids to one teacher, only 12 kids in class. Very loving, nurturing environment, he'll be the only one with DS. There is another child with DS at the school, and the director has a brother with ds, so they are super sensitive and supportive. Jaden will be there 3 days a week, 3 to 4 hours a day. Lyla, well, I don't know what I will do for next year. I just don't know. Thanks for this information. I really appreciate it!
Posted by: Noelle | May 29, 2007 9:13 AM
We homeschool (always have...thanks in part to you!), and besides the creative things in the preschool years (again, thanks to you), we have used traditional methods too. We've been using Saxon, and like it very much. We are doing the "Robinson Curriculum" approach, which starts the chlidren out at Saxon 54, after the kids have learned all their math facts. It's amazing how effective this is!!
Sometimes in the back of my mind though, I doubt our approach and think we should be doing all these creative, hands-on things with their learning. I appreciate your response, as it makes me feel better about our approach now. The kiddies are all learning VERY well...and are ahead academically. It's funny though how I can still doubt. :)
I wonder if Montessori schools (past preschool ages) take a traditional approach as well? Just curious.
Posted by: agatha | May 29, 2007 2:20 PM
