Selecting a curriculum can be a truly overwhelming task each year for homeschooling mothers. So many times I have said to myself, “if I could see that book, I’d know if I want it!” Right? Then you hop online look through blogs of perfect homes, with perfect mom teachers, that have the perfect school rooms, and then there is Pinterest…then you are headed to Confession, jealousy is a lousy sin. No seriously, is it not just frustrating? 😀 How do these women just *KNOW* that’s the right Math book? Why did it not work for *MY* child? 🙂 Well, here’s why: There IS NOT one set curriculum that is perfect for everyone. There I said it. So here’s another secret that lady that introduced you to homeschool forgot to mention, the beauty of homeschooling is that you are able to create a custom curriculum that is beneficial to *YOUR* family. What works for another family may not be the best fit for another, or *gasp* what works for one of your children may not work for another. Okay, so now lets take a deep breath and investigate how these ladies on their blogs look so with it. I confess many times I have said, “when I grow up I want to be just like Jessica from Shower of Roses.” Don’t laugh, I have said it..even to her. 😀
Over the years our family has tried a variety of things – ranging from being an eclectic homeschooler, to using a complete curriculum package to creating things to use, and it has morphed into a combination of pieces that we now use together as a family and components that we use individually to round out the various subject areas. So how do you decide what is the right fit for your family/homeschool?
10 Steps to Selecting a {Catholic} Homeschool Curriculum:
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Think about your educational philosophy or teaching style. There are several methods of teaching, depending on the method that both you and your children are comfortable will also determine which books you will select for your homeschool. There are several homeschooling methods to pick from, if you haven’t you might want to look back at our previous articles in this series.
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Consider your children’s learning styles. Every child is different in their learning approach and may process information differently. Some pieces of curriculum are tailored to meet the needs of various learners, so this is very helpful to know. Some children will need a particular style of curriculum to help them succeed. Again, weighing in what homeschooling method you have selected would be helpful.
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Write down and decide on the educational goals have you set for your children and family. This is another area that is important to look at because you want to have a long range plan in each subject so that you feel confident that you are meeting these goals.
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Do you have a spending budget? This is really important and I strongly advise setting a budget and knowing your spending limits. Start off by making a list of the books you select and then finding out what their retail rate is. It is important to think long term within your budget. If the book fits your needs and you can reuse it with subsequent children, it’s a long term savings!
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What subjects can your children work together in? Some families focus on specific grade levels and books while other families work on certain subject areas together as a family. Subjects like Science and History are great examples of working as a family on a particular topic with varying expectations depending on the child’s abilities. This will help you save money as well.
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What works for your current life situation? There are some programs that are more labor-intensive than others, searching for living books when you are about to give birth to baby number six and all your children are eight and under might not be a realistic goal. Do not set yourself up to fail by doing this. Also, if you cannot afford certain programs do not put so much pressure on yourself. I have seen families with financial burdens homeschool for almost nothing.
- Do you have access to a good library system? Before you start spending money, check your local library. A lot of times they carry those wonderful books and you can reserve them ahead of time and even have them delivered to your local library. Sometimes you can go to the children’s section and make suggestions on certain books. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of times they are willing to purchase these recommendations.
- Have you asked others for their opinions? Warning. This is a great thing with this day and age of technology BUT the warning comes in not becoming overwhelmed with so many suggestions. There are groups on Yahoo and Facebook that can be gem or a burden, if you ask a curriculum question in a group, take the good from what others suggest. Do not be afraid to ask questions you will find other homeschooling mothers who have become experts at certain curriculums and can be very helpful. You can also visit a homeschooling conference near you to listen to speakers and also get to see the books first hand.
- Did you check your own bookshelf? Starting with what you already have saves you time and money. Sometimes we homeshcooling moms might pick up a book that was on sale, or someone gave us and forgot about. {I know it never happens to you, but it does me.} You should also make a list of the books you own and keep this list handy so that you do not purchase duplicates of books you already own.
- Have you checked out SWAP groups or thought of borrowing? Once you have selected a product you like, it is much easier to buy things used or online. Yahoo Groups has a group and so does Facebook Groups where you can post WTB (Want to Buy) and ISO (In Search Of) threads looking for a used book to avoid paying retail. You help another homeschooling mom and she helps you save money. Oh, also, if you have books you don’t use anymore, SELL THEM! They don’t need to be collecting dust on your shelves. Sometimes, you can even borrow books from other families. There is a family at my church that has a son in 11th and 9th, I have a son in 10th, I give her my books for her 9th grader, she gives me her books from her 11th grader. We both win! 🙂
With all that said, there are times that you find out part way through the year that something you thought would be perfect just isn’t. Sometimes you discover that curriculum is just not working. The tweaking involved in the process, and while it’s frustrating – it’s ok, and good. The first bit of homeschooling involves a learning curve where you are discovering your areas of comfort in teaching and your children’s learning grooves.
So with all that said, I have spent the last six weeks in the arduous task of getting my children’s curriculum together. As we enter our fifth year of home education, I am finally feeling pretty good about all of our curriculum selections for our children. We will have a kindergartner, second grader, third grader, and a tenth grader, oh yes, and of course our little tag along three year old toddler. I don’t promise this won’t change one more time, because it might, and it’s okay. But as of now, this is our 2013-2014 curriculum selection:
Frequency: Daily
- Kindergarten ~ This year we are using three great books: Chats with God’s Little Ones, Leading the Little Ones to Mary, New Catholic Picture Bible (Fr. Lovasik)
- Second
~ Core: Living in God’s Law Text (Lepanto Press),
~ Living Books: My First Holy Communion, Ten Commandments (Fr. Lovasik), Seven Sacraments (Fr. Lovasik), Leading the Little Ones to Mary, I Believe in God (Fr. Lovasik), Come to Mass Coloring Book (Lepanto Press), Let’s Follow Jesus Coloring Book (Use during Lent) - Third
~ Core: Living in God’s Grace (Lepanto Press)
~ Living Books: Book of Saints Part 1 (Fr. Lovasik), Picture Book of Saints (Fr. Lovasik), - Tenth ~ Our Quest for Happiness: Ark & the Dove Text (Lepanto Press), Baltimore Catechism #3: The Sacraments and Prayer
- ALL ~ Going to Mass, daily Rosary, daily prayers such as Morning Offering, Evening Offering. Also, getting our third grader ready to serve the Latin Mass by learning all of the responses needed.
Grammar {Daily}
- Second ~ God Gave Me the Gift of Language #2 (Lepanto Press),
- Third ~ God Gave Me the Gift of Language #3 (Lepanto Press), Lepanto Grammar/Voyages in English 3 (Lepanto Press)
- Tenth ~ Easy Grammar Ultimate Series: Grade 10 (Easy Grammar Series)
Spelling {Bi-Weekly}
- Second ~ Spelling 2 for Young Catholics (Seton)
- Third ~ Spelling 3 for Young Catholics (Seton)
Writing {Daily}
- Kindergarten, Second & Third~ Incorporated throughout the curriculum with learning journals. Also, Primary Arts of Language: Writing Complete Package (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
- Tenth ~ The Elegant Essays Writing Lessons (Institute for Excellence in Writing)
Reading ~ {Daily}
- Kindergarten ~ Little Angel Reader A
- Second ~ Little Angel Reader D, Angels (Fr. Lovasik), Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Fr. Lovasik), Catholic National Reader #2 (Lepanto Press), Mary My Mother (Fr. Lovasik), St. Peter the Apostle(Fr. Lovasik), Stations of the Cross (Fr. Lovasik)
- Third
~ Core: National Catholic Reader #3 (Lepanto Press),
~ Living Books: Book of Saints Part 2 (Fr. Lovasik), Just Stories (Lepanto Press), Saints of the Eucharist Coloring & Story Book (Fr. Francis), More Saints of the Eucharist Coloring & Story Book (Fr. Francis), Mother of God Coloring & Story Book (Holy Imitation Series), Our Lady of Fatima (Fr. Lovasik), Parables of Jesus (Fr. Lovasik), Promises of the Sacred Heart (Fr. Lovasik), St. Francis of Assisi (Fr. Lovasik), St. Paul the Apostle (Fr. Lovasik) - Tenth ~ D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths Text & Student Guide, Julius Caesar (Shakespeare, Ignatius Critical Editions), Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare), Aesop’s Fables, World Literature (Seton)
Kindergarten Core
For the bulk of our year we will be using 26 Letters to Heaven by Sarah Park as our core. Technically Noah is kindergarten this year, although he is academically ahead in a few areas, so we are adjusting things accordingly.
Phonics ~ {Daily}
- Kindergarten ~ Spectrum Phonics K
- Second ~ Phonics is Fun 3
- Third ~ Phonics Word Study D
Handwriting {Daily}
- PreKinder ~ My First School Book (Handwriting Without Tears)
- Kindergarten ~ Letters and Numbers for Me – K (Handwriting Without Tears)
- Second ~ Printing Power Plus – 2 (Handwriting Without Tears)
- Third ~ Cursive Handwriting – 3 (Handwriting Without Tears)
Frequency: Daily
- Kindergarten ~ Earlybird Kindergarten Math A & B (Singapore Math), Kindergarten Math READERS (these readers are my absolute favorite! They use traditional Nursery Rhymes and have added the Math Components being taught in the text)
- Second & Third ~ Strayer/Upton Practical Arithmetics Book 1
- Tenth ~ Geometry (Teaching Textbooks)
Frequency: Twice a Week
- Kindergarten ~ Listen in on 3rd grader’s history
- Second ~ Maps, Charts & Graphs – B & C, Listen in on 3rd grader’s history
- Third ~ Developing Map Skills Book 1, How Our Nation Began (Lepanto Press) {Although this history text is directed at my third grader, my other smaller children also sit in and discuss these lessons as a group}
- Tenth ~ A Brief History of Ancient Times, Bible History: A Textbook of the Old and New Testaments for Catholic Schools (Johnson), Hammond Historical World Atlas, St. Paul the Apostle (Windeatt)
Frequency: Twice a Week
- Kindergarten ~ Science & Living in God’s World Kindergarten Text (Lepanto Press)
- Second ~ Science & Living in God’s World 2 (Lepanto Press), Nature Stories for Young Readers, Book Two: Animal Life, & Science Journal
- Third ~ Science & Living in God’s World 3 (Lepanto Press)
{The eight topics to be covered this year will include: everyday science used in the design and building of a modern home; helping with the garden; establishing an aquarium; experimenting with electricity; studying the moon; enjoying life in the spring, how things around us work; and visiting a state park.},
~ Nature Stories for Young Readers, Seaside & Wayside, Book 3 (Lepanto Press) , & Science Journal - Tenth ~ Exploring Creation with Biology (Apologia)
Art {Once a Week}
- All grades ~ Discovering Great Artists (MaryAnn Kohl), Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists (Children’s Press)
- Third Grade ~ Art-Lit Reader Primer & Book One (Lepanto Press), Draw Write Now ~ I use these to correlate with either our Science or History Lessons, Various Coloring Books for Free time: Our Lady of La Salette Coloring Book (Windeatt), Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book (Holy Imitation Series), St. Frances Cabrini Coloring & Story Book (Windeatt), 7 Sacraments & Works of Mercy Coloring & Information Book (Lepanto Press)
Music {Bi-Weekly}:
- All grades: How to Introduce Your Child to Classical Music in Fifty-two Easy Lessons (Leslie & Robert Spencer), Music Theory Class, and learn about the lives of Musicians by using Stories of Great Musicians
- Additional resources (liturgical reasons) ~ Songs For God & Country Book, Songs For God & Country CD, and 24 Catholic Songs For Children CD
- Music Lessons: Grade 10 student will continue with voice lessons and singing with our Church’s Schola. He will also continue taking accordion lessons. Grade 2 & 3 students will continue to take piano lessons.
Latin {Bi-Weekly}:
- Second & Third Grades ~ Minimus: Starting out in Latin & Support Sheets
- Tenth Grade ~ Latin I & II Text (Henle 1st Year Text)
- Grades K, 2 & 3: Coquito Clasico (Zapata-Santillana), Coquito Integrado (Zapata-Santillana)
Electives for our High Schooler (in addition to Latin, Art & Music):
- Logic ~ Traditional Logic I, An Introduction to Formal Logic (Martin Cothran)
- Computer Programming ~ WebDesign for Kids (Kid Coders)