Curriculum

I don't like making decisions. Not even a little bit. Which means, the hardest challenge I've had to deal with in this homeschooling process is deciding on a curriculum to use. I had not realized there were so many choices! When I first started looking, I was excited! I had a good sense of the teaching style I preferred and even the learning style that Lucas seemed to be developing.

I think that a teacher is there to guide the student in his/her learning. Every human being has interests in something. Our curiosity is very strong, unless quashed. A child can learn anything and everything, if guided along the path. This is definitely true about Lucas. He isn't curious about everything but he is very curious about the things that make him think. He has an incredible memory that could take him to Mars, if he still wants, in twenty years. However, that same memory can also causes him to be lazy about topics that don't instantly latch on to his brain. See, I know myself and my child! My dislike of making decisions led me to put off making this important choice but at least I wasn't lost! Right?

Well, I was wrong. There were so many options that when I, sincerely, began the search, I was lost. Do I jump in and buy a huge curriculum? Do I pick out pieces of different ones? Do I pick nothing and just base it on what interests us at the time and find it online? On top of that, it felt as if every curriculum I encountered involved reading passages from the bible. I understand and accept that most homeschooling families are religious. The religion being included in the curriculum brought back memories of searching for private schools. I like the academics, I like the teachings, I like the people but the curriculum just isn't right for our family.

Of course, I couldn't just hide in the corner. That's the horrible side effect of being a mom. Then one night, while I braved the search again, I ran across time4learning.com. It is an online course for pre-K through 8th grade. They create lesson plans for the parent. The child follows the lesson plans on the computer. It keeps track of the student's progress. It sounded good and awful all at the same time.

So there is something else I need to note about Lucas, he LOVES doing things on the computer. He loves video games. He loves technology. Then, there is something that I probably shouldn't note about me, I'm lazy and unorganized.

That said, the best reviews I found about time4learning mentioned how their children stayed interested because it was interactive and different. Parents commented on how simple time4learning makes it for parents to keep organized. Was it really this simple? I just pick a program because it does the work for me and Lucas gets to play games??

Then I remembered, I'm the parent and the teacher. I get to choose. I get to try out anything I want. Which means, I also get to change anything I want. So, why not!? We would try it out. They have no contracts and no obligations, just a monthly charge, which is cheaper than any private school. I could take this program and supplement it based on Lucas' interests and my experience as a teacher. We would need manipulatives for math, projects or art & science, paper for handwriting, books for literature and social studies. Now, my mind is racing! Decision has been made and I'm starting to become terrified, yet excited!

Excited is a great way for a teacher to feel at the beginning of the year. Lucas has even gotten more excited as his playroom becomes a classroom.  We were also lucky enough to have a friend lend us her K12 program to help supplement! (Thank you!!) We have one last weekend before Lucas starts Kindergarten. Honestly, we don't have everything ready, but we're getting there. We do have have a mommy and a son who are ready to put on our teacher and student costumes. He is eager to learn and I am ready to guide.

Benefits

I've started this blog to force me to keep updated records of my experience with homeschooling my son, Lucas. He is five years old now and ready to start kindergarten. My husband and I have discussed our choices: public, private, and homeschooling... and at least for this year, we have decided that homeschooling is the right choice for our family. We are only planning one year at a time. If this year is absolutely perfect, then of course we will repeat. However, we're not going to trap ourselves into a situation that's terrible for any one of us.

When discussing homeschooling, we included Lucas in our discussion. He is thrilled about the idea of mommy teaching him at home. We did preschool at home (with many classes being taken at the YMCA) but that was probably more unschooling than homeschooling. I admit, a part of the reason Lucas wants to homeschool  is that he feels that he's not ready to leave my side, except with family. This is a slight concern with me but he's five. I'm going to enjoy the times he WANTS to be with be, before we reach the time that he wants NOTHING to do with me. Still, since this is a concern, however slight, Lucas will be taking karate & swim classes at the YMCA. He's very good at listening to other teachers; always has been.

When my husband and I started looking into schools for Lucas, we decided that public schools weren't right for him. He's very quick in some things and hesitant to learn in others. He excels when given just the right amount of attention. He could read the alphabet before he could talk. This wasn't because I pushed it on him or even taught it to him. He was curious about a toy, one of those leapfrog buses, and whatever questions he had, I answered. I have the utmost respect for public school teachers. I was one and plan to be again, someday. But I know that public school teachers don't have the time to tender to one child when s/he needs it most.

Then, we looked at private schools. There are two types of private schools: religious & secular. Researching the secular schools around us showed that secular schools are very expensive. They may be worth it, but not for our child, not for Kindergarten! Then there are the religious schools... The things that "sells the schools" to most families are where they lost us. We are not a religious family and we don't want any religion being taught to Lucas as if they were facts. We are the parents and we get to decide what is best for our children and in the case of our family, the answer turned out to be homeschooling.

There are many benefits to homeschooling. The best, by far, is the student to teacher ratio! We have three adults in this house (one of my brothers lives with us) and right now, one child. No school can beat those numbers! Other advantages include letting the child set the pace and choosing what and how we teach. Right now, the one benefiting us the most, we get to choose WHEN we teach! We can take a vacation while other families are sending their children off to school.

I have decided that Lucas' first day of school will be September 13th. You can never fail when 13 is involved :-) We will spend the week buying school supplies and turning sections of the house into a school (rug, desk, centers, etc...) Then on the first day, I will take pictures of Lucas like every other parent, possibly even more! Then, instead of sending him off to a place that results in a day that was "fine," I will spend the day "playing" with my child!