Adapting Your Curriculum

If you ask a young child what the Christmas season is all about, you probably won’t hear them say spelling or history or extra homework. Most kids would be happy to skip schoolwork altogether once December rolls around. According to my kids, any and all “school” has a way of crushing the Christmas spirit. How can we have any fun if we have to do math?? But even if you do put your formal lessons aside, that doesn’t mean there still isn’t learning going on, even if it looks different from your usual routine. 

Some homeschool parents respond with enthusiasm when given an opportunity to teach art. They pull up artist biographies, look up famous works of art, and find ways to practice the techniques of art masters with their children. These parents may or may not be using an art curriculum. If they are, they may be making lesson modifications based on their students’ ages, availability of art supplies, and time. But this isn’t all homeschool parents, is it?

Now that we have separate catalogs for Curriculum and Enrichment at Rainbow Resource Center, it's easier than ever to see the differences between the two functions. If you're making a sandwich, curriculum is like the turkey and sourdough bread - it's the main substance. Enrichment is like what you add to the sandwich to make it even better, such as the lettuce, tomato, aioli, and avocado. You might love most of what your curriculum offers, but you may also notice some gaps. Enriching your homeschool curriculum through supplemental resources helps perfect it by closing those gaps!

The term “classical education” is one you hear frequently in home school circles. There are some well-known publishers who specialize in products following a classical education model. These products have a lot of appeal because they are structured, academically rigorous, and often, user-friendly. On the other hand, the whole approach can seem a bit intimidating and overwhelming with all that is offered. One is left wondering if you can do “a little bit” of classical education rather than embrace the whole thing. The short answer is: You can!

As homeschooling has become more popular, there are seemingly endless programs available in every color, shape, and style. You’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed by all of the choices! Fortunately, a wide array of curriculum options also means that with a little bit of effort, you can find what will be the perfect fit for your family. In this article, we will walk through 6 important factors to consider when looking for the right homeschool curriculum!

It happens, often catching us off guard. Typically, it arises in the middle grades: high school looms in the distance and we still can’t get past fractions, decimals, and percents. Or perhaps our student is struggling to read a novel and write an essay. It’s that “Oh no!” moment that sneaks up on us while we are busy with other children and life in general. Every situation is different, but the situation is not abnormal, and it’s okay to ask for help!

How does a parent go from hands-on, exploratory, interest-driven learning in the early grades to the super-structured, credit-driven, academic standards content of high school? The middle grades (about 5-8) are a time to prepare students for the expectation of high school. It might not be around the corner, but it is down the street!

As homeschooling has exploded, the available educational resources have grown as well. The options are overwhelming, but the real question is which option is better? Do I use the tried and true, that beloved program successfully used for a generation, or will the newer curricula options provide my child with a better education?

Gaps, holes, chasms — call them what you will, but they are a real fear for some parents and something they will avoid if possible. Gaps typically happen when you make a big change. It can be from one math program to another, or it could be from attending school to homeschooling. How do you fill these gaps in understanding?

If you are following a traditional school year or have a schedule unique to your family, the half-way mark is a fair time to look at your curriculum choices. What do we like? What is not working for us?  If you feel that you are missing something, supplemental materials might be helpful to plug those gaps!