We are all on the hunt for the perfect curriculum. Does it exist? Is it out there? Does everyone know about it and are keeping it a secret from you?



There are literally hundreds of different curriculums to choose from. But how do you know what is best for you and your family?



When I started out (a whole whopping 3 years ago) the first thing I did was order a curriculum kit. I wanted to make sure I covered every subject at my son’s grade level. After all, what if I had to put him back in public school? The last thing I wanted was for anybody to be able to say he fell behind while I was home schooling him! Luckily, an experienced home school mom told me to cancel that order! It was all workbooks. Some thing she advised boys weren’t very keen on. Also, there was very little hands on activities in that particular brand name. So, it wasn’t very well suited for us. That doesn’t mean it isn’t the perfect curriculum for some one else though!



What I’m going the long way around to say is that in order to know what curriculum is best for your family you need to know both your teaching style and your children’s learning style. Each of your children may learn completely differently from each other.



If you are unsure of your child’s learning styles you might want to use something like this chart on learning styles to aid you. Chart on Learning Styles:



http://www.chaminade.org/inspire/learnstl.htm.


The following is a brief run down of the main Teaching Styles:



Charlotte Mason Method - The Charlotte Mason Method a unique approach to education focusing on literature and nature. You can find more information about this method at:


http://www.charlottemason.com/



http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/methods/CharlotteMason.htm



Classical Education Method - You can find more about this style at the following links:



http://www.classicalhomeschooling.org/


http://www.welltrainedmind.com/


http://www.gbt.org/clasced.html




Distance Learning or Umbrella Schools- These are courses your child can take through the internet or via mail. There are many different such schools. These schools provide all your curriculum and often do all the recording keeping for you.



Montessori Method - This method introduced by Dr. Montessori, is based on the idea that learning is a natural, self-directed process which follows certain fundamental laws of nature. You can find out more about this method of education at:



http://www.montessori.edu/method.html


Traditional homeschooling - This form of homeschooling is set up basically like public schools with a complete curriculum, traditional grading system, and record keeping.





Unit Studies Approach - The Unit Studies approach handles all subjects together into one theme or topic. They are usually very hands on. To learn more about unit studies try:



http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/unitstud.html



http://www.konos.com/



Unschooling Method - Unschooling or child-led learning is well child led. You take the opportunity to educate your child as they show interest in things. To learn more about unschooling check out:

http://home-educate.com/unschooling/



http://www.unschooling.com/



Eclectic Home schooling Method - An eclectic homeschooler uses bits and pieces of the all the methods to fit their needs. In the end I think this is the method most end up with. This is what I personally prefer.

Remember, to think about your special skills and your short comings.



I have a friend that just simply didn’t believe she could teach. So, she uses ABEKA with the disks that play on the computer each day. Her children go to a virtual classroom and she grades their papers.



We like to read books for our history because we find history text books boring! Also, I’m good at crafty stuff and use that in our lessons, but I know I’m too lazy for the Unit Study approach.

Take all these things into consideration when choosing you curriculum and you might just have a chance. However, sometimes you’ll think you’ve chosen the perfect curriculum and then a few weeks into it you’ll discover it just doesn’t work for you. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a hundred times. Don’t use it if it doesn’t work! Toss it aside and find something that does.



To end on a bright note....



I think it’s only fair to warn you that in my humble opinion most of picking a curriculum is really trial and error.



So, what do you use?

Wow, how do you ever get any schooling done with all that socialization?

That’s the question non-home schoolers would ask if they knew any better!



Let’s see I did get some educating done on Monday.



Then, Tuesday we had Story Time at the public Library in the morning. Afterwards we went to lunch with some home schooling friends. After lunch the kids decided they still hadn’t had enough play time together. So, we went back to their house for a long visit. When my husband got off work we went to vote and came home to eat supper and go to bed.



Wednesday we did school! Hooray!!!!!



My home school support group is having an picnic at Camp Ford w/a performance by our local Civil War reenactment group on March 17th! So, Thursday, we spent the whole day with my co-leader’s family again planning and shopping for the big event.



Friday is our group’s weekly park day. So, we headed out at 9:30 am. We went to meet another home school group at 12:00 for a picnic at another park. Then 2:30-4:30 we had soccer. After soccer the kids went home with some of the home schooling friends to stay the night, and I crawled home to rest after a long week!



Today I'll try to get all the cleaning done that I didn't do Monday thru Friday.



Tomorrow wee have Sunday school class, morning services, RA's, Mission Friends and evening service.



Then..... it starts all over...



I hope I can get in more than two days of book learning next week....



Now that I think of it. Next week is Spring Break and my birthday. So, on top of Story Time, preparing for the Civil War Picnic, having the Civil War Picnic, soccer, and spending time with our public school family and friends....

Well I guess school's out for us next week... LOL



Sigh… too bad home schoolers don’t get any socialization….



If they did.... I don't think I'd be able to hold up!

I heard somewhere that a housewife works the equivalent of two full time jobs. This fact stuck in my head because I often encounter "career" women who feel I must be bored or have no ambition. Now ponder this, if being a house wife counts as two jobs then deciding to Home school adds so much more...teacher, principle, administrator, field trip coordinator, on and on it goes.

It's no wonder that when I did a search on Home school burn out the list was miles long! Now, we all know what a got it all together gal I am... So, this is not about me, but for your sake I thought we'd take a moment to look into home school burn out.

Burn Out Symptoms

Henry Neils President of Assessment.com
describes burn out as:

1. Chronic fatigue - exhaustion, tiredness, a sense of being
physically run down
2. Anger at those making demands
3. Self-criticism for putting up with the demands
4. Cynicism, negativity, and irritability
5. A sense of being besieged
6. Exploding easily at seemingly inconsequential things
7. Frequent headaches and gastrointestinal disturbances
8. Weight loss or gain
9. Sleeplessness and depression
10. Shortness of breath
11. Suspiciousness
12. Feelings of helplessness
13. Increased degree of risk taking

As a result of this list I have officially asked Mr. Neils to remove the hidden camera's from my home. I would also like to add that all the articles written by women also listed Crying Easily. Duh...

Now, there are as many causes of burn out as symptoms. Some are completely out of your control. Things like moving, illness, etc. Then there are the controllable causes of stress. Let's face it these are the only things we can do something about! So, let's address them.

My list of causes for stress often looks something like this:

Spouse
kids
pets
house work
home school group responsibilities
church responsibilities

However, this is incredibly flawed thinking. If I truthfully want to come to the bottom of my stress most of the time I need to go no farther than the bathroom mirror. How I respond to things is controllable. I can't control everything in my life but I can control how I respond to them. So, what can I do?

Oh dear we're supposed to be talking about you aren't we....

OK, here is a list of suggestions you can use to help reduce your stress, as we all know I don't stress...

1. Train your kids- Kids disobey it's a fact of life, but if you take
the time to be consistent in training your kids it'll pay off in the
long run. This greatly reduces stress.

2. Delegate- a family is not a one woman show.

3. Make Time For Yourself- If you fall apart you are of no use
to your family

4. Get Support- Gee... I don't know may be you could join
a support group like hmmm.... I don't know ... may be
CAHE. OK I admit that is just a shameless plug for my group.

5. Worry- Give those worries to the Lord let Him handle them.
I once heard a great speaker talk about what she called
"alter burn". That is the phrase she used for when you hand
a problem over to the Lord to handle and then yank it back
and continue to worry about it. Do you trust God? Do you
want to alter burn your Family?

6. Lower Your Expectations- Your not perfect, you never will
be, get over it.

7. Be Flexible- I don't care how much it cost or how much time
you took to plan it... if it don't work ... dump it!
And try some thing different.

8. Teach Your Kids to Work Independently- If your kids are
old enough you should not have to sit none stop and tell them
what to do next in every subject.

9. Vary Your Activities- If your simply in a rut then change
things up, do something different.

10. Limit Your Activities- Many families have something
or multiple things to go to each and every day. If you
are that family and your burnt out.....well no wonder
your stressed.

11. Take A Day Off- Your a home schooler!
You control the schedule!


12. Remember Why You Started Home Schooling-
I found this quote that sums this up for me. "You have
to have been on fire at one time in order to burn out!"
~Holly Richardson

When Bran was little Cec used to sing a song to him when he was trying to break him from sleeping in our bed. It was a remake of Ten Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed. Cec would say, " Daddy called the Dr. and the Dr. said NO More Brandons in Momma's bed!"





Yes, we are those parents that forever have their children in their bed. Last night as things were winding down I laid in bed with a book. Cec was trying to doze off. Sure enough here came little Em with a book. She crawled up the middle of the bed and took up her normal space between us. She opened her book up and took up "reading" it. Dicovering that he was the only family member not in our room, Bran drags in his blankets and pillows to take up his post on the floor at the foot of the bed. (He has long since outgrown fitting in the bed with us.)



When my eyes got heavy I flipped off the bedside lamp and laid my book on the table. Em smiled up at me and laid her book down too. I thought to myself may be there is a bit of me in there after all. I had often wondered if she wasn't her Dad through and through. She snuggled in closer to my side and almost the very second I wrapped my arms around her dropped right off to sleep. As I laid there listening to my family's breathing take on the regular pattern of sleep I sent up a prayer of thanks for my many blessings.



Then I shoved my husband's dog off my back, kicked my dog off my legs, removed my daughters elbow from my ear and attempted to stake my self firmly to the mattress to insure I could keep my portion of the bed. Sometime during the night while stumbling to the rest room I'm almost sure I stepped on Bran's head. . .



Ahhhh... these are those precious moments you hope to always remember...

I am blessed with a strapping young son 10 years of age and a beautiful 4 year old daughter. I simply adore these two precious gifts from God. However, (of course there was a but) they are driving me batty!!!!!



Let me go back to the beginning….



Once a upon a time a little boy was thrilled to find out that Momma was going to have a new baby with which he could play. Then the baby was born and it couldn’t play yet and not only that but it was ….a GIRL!



As time went on the two children played separately like two strangers living in the same house. This greatly sadden their mother. She wanted the strong bond between the two that she shared with her own big brother. She also hoped for that close family unit that she had seen happen in other home schooling families.



Then the girl started to notice things her big brother was doing and wanted to be included. For the most part he ignored her but allowed her to watch or hang out in his general area.



Slowly but surely the sweet young man loosened up and attempted to play with his tiny sister. His clumsy attempts at play usually ended up with her hurt and him being in trouble.



So, the clever little girl picked up on the pattern ….

I scream…. Bubba gets in trouble.



Do you see where this is going yet?



Once upon a time is over…



Now we’re at my house today.



Em follows Bran around the house constantly picking and whinning, picking and whining until Bubba responds. Then WAAAAAAAAAA!!! Her siren goes off! He begins screaming he didn’t do anything….She begins screaming he did and adding extra sins along with any actual sins he might have committed! Then there are the outbursts from Bubba (even when Sissy isn’t really doing anything wrong) and his constant complaints of her constant picking……….



OK I have officially vented.



So, if any one can tell me when the you scream, I scream, we all scream stage ends don’t hesitate to let me know…



Is that one of my marbles rolling by? ...‘Cause I don’t have many left and I just can’t spare one....

So why did you decide to home school?

Oh How many times have I been asked that before by someone who had already decided I was a fanatical nut before I even finished explaining reason number one of many?

Every home school parent has their own reason for homeschooling. Many I run across have the same reasons, but just for kicks (and the sake of blogging) I'll tell you my reasons.

My reasons oddly enough have changed a little in the three short years I've been homeschooling. But in no particular order here they are:

For one, in public schools the teachers are spread way to thin! With anywhere between 15 to 25 five kids in a room the teacher can't see everything that happens. She can't always know when a child needs help. A kid that finishes work early becomes a problem. My son went to PS for K and 1st grade and he was always in trouble for talking. He'd finish his work and start talking.

Another thing is that everyone has some subjects they are great at and subjects they are not so good at. In a home school setting a subject that is a struggle can be worked at the child's pace with one on one guidance until they "get it." A subject that a child excels in is the sky is the limits! No waiting around for the rest of the class to get it!

Then there is the fact that everyone learns differently. Home school curriculum can be tailor made to fit each child's needs and learning styles.

There also is the fact that we can school whenever we want. We can school early in the day. We can school late at night. We can school in a house with a mouse or in a box with a fox. We can school all year around, just during the PS "school year" and take a vacation any time we please!

Then next couple may sound a little selfish.

First I love being there when they "get it." I love to watch them learn. I love that they love it. I love that I am learning too. I love being with my kids!

Next I love CONTROL! I control what my children learn, when they learn it and who they learn it from! Little Johnny on the school bus is not going to explain the birds and the bees to my kids! Mrs. Jones in room 1A is not going to tell one of my children the humans came from a single celled animal that for no reason whatsoever started to change over millions of years until TA-DA humans came to be!

And I guess finally if I haven't given myself away already.... I home school because that's what I think God wants me to do. He gave me these special little creatures to raise for Him. I'm going to do the best I know how to raise them to be what He would have them to become. I don't believe the PS system can provide that. I think that only I can. I said in the beginning my reasons have changed a little over the past few years. The change would be that this last final reason has become more and more important to me.

So there you have it...that's why I home school. I could probably add more but even the blogg reader must get tired of reading my ramblings eventually! LOL

As I said before ... my son went to public school for K and 1st grade. My husband thought I should home school and I didn't think I was smart enough, or had enough patience. I also was under the illusion that my son wouldn't listen to me because kids always seem to listen to other adults better than their parents. (I'm not the only one that thinks that, right?)

After many unpleasant experiences with the PS system I decided to trust my hubby, myself, and my Lord and at least attempt to home school. I started a few weeks before Bran's 2nd grade school year in case I ended up putting him in PS after all.

I joined a couple of home school support groups, hunted down other home school moms to question them, and went to the library to check out books.

My first homeschooling experiment was with a little book on dragon flies. We read the book and then went outside to look for them. We talked about the difference between damsel flies and dragon flies. When we were through my son asked if he could make a dragon fly. He gathered up stuff around the house.... Paper towel roll, hair spray lid, tennis ball, glue straw, construction paper. Then he made a dragon fly model and labeled it Head, Thorax, and abdomen!


After that I was sold! I would just figure it out. So, off we went down the yellow brick road on our home school adventure. It's so funny that when I started I thought... we'll try it. If it doesn't work I'll just put him back in school. I tried to make sure I covered everything that he would in "real" school in case he had to go back. ROFLOL My kids go to PS? No Way!!!! They are MY kids and I'm going to raise, love, protect, and teach them!

Go April, Go April, Teach your children, you can do it!

What was going on before I came here?

Find out at my old Homeschoolblogger Blog