Before You Buy Curriculum | Things to consider…
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- čas přidán 11. 04. 2023
- Hey mamas! I hope you find these thoughts helpful as you think about choosing and buying homeschool curriculum!
Next week I’ll start sharing our specific picks, but I wanted to lay this groundwork first!
✨New here? Introduce yourself in the comments!
I’ll go first:
I’m Christina. I’m married to my best friend, Seth, we have 5 kids (ages 2, 4, 7, 11, & 14), and love our family, Jesus, and adventuring together.
We are passionate about being counter culture, including alternatives to traditional schooling. I have experience as a public school teacher, private school teacher, and homeschool mom!
I love the Charlotte Mason education approach, and many others, but I’d say we are more of an eclectic homeschool-mixing the different aspects of homeschool styles that we love-living books, literature-based learning, Montessori, nature study, and so much more!
Whether you are considering homeschooling, new to homeschooling, considering alternative ways to educate your child, or just looking for some encouragement and inspiration for your motherhood journey, I hope you feel welcome and encouraged here 🤍
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If it helps any families, I am a history professor and put all my lectures on CZcams as a free resource to help homeschooling families. I have been lecturing for over 25 years and have had amazing students who were homeschooled. I have a ton of content on Western Civ and the History of the Middle East.
Thank you for that David!
@@koributtorff you're welcome. Hope you find some helpful material
Wow! Thanks for this!
@theodora lizama you're welcome. Hope you find some helpful videos. Please leave comments on the lectures you watch the feedback will help me know what new content to create 🙂
Absolutely! 🙏
Seek the LORD for His plans for your homeschool! I love it! Thank you for sharing. Yes, we need our academic but, in this day and hour...we need God! The last couple years we do 'worship from 10:00 to 11:00. We incorporate sign language worship, singing, dance worship, Bible reading and Bible verse memorization. God is raising up an army within the youth right now!
Love that!
Thank you for mentioning asking the Lord what He wants your homeschooling to look like. This is my first year homeschooling, and it has been one struggle after another to find our sweet spot. But, in March, 7 months in, we FINALLY did! Watching your videos has been immensely helpful (thank you so so much), but the Lord knows our children even better than we do. I really shut the extra voices off for awhile and just sought the Lord for wisdom, and He really gave me some major insight and vision for what is best for our family. I really appreciate how you offer both the practical (what works for you) AND the spiritual wisdom. We need both! I love your channel and really appreciate all you do!
You are so very welcome! Thank you for sharing this with me!
That first year can be so so hard! Praying this coming year it’s smoother and even more blessings to come and God reveal himself even more in this coming school year in your home ❤
Great job “keeping it real” and breaking homeschool life down while reassuring us that there is no “right” way to homeschool. Each of our journeys looks different and reflects our various seasons of growth, the current needs of our children, and the current stage of our family. Thank you!
Wow. What a breath of fresh air! I am so glad I clicked on this tonight. You are a blessing
Aww thank you!
It's taking us two years to finish our math book😊
Thank you for this video! It was very inspiring for me. One thing I am going to do this year that I have never done is go on a homeschool planning retreat. I already invited my homeschooling sister to join me. We are going to go to our local state park for two nights for the purpose of getting in the Word, praying, brainstorming and just supporting each other. So excited!
This sounds incredible! Bless you! 🙏🏼☀️
That’s awesome!!
Thank you so much I’ve watched 3 of your videos already ! My husband and I are seriously considering homeschooling and I’m sitting down in my office at the moment thinking about how I’m going to let my boss now that I plan to quit a the end of my girls school year! Please keep our family in your prayers as we navigate through this homeschooling experience! We have 2 girls entering 4th and 1st grade so I’m a little scared because I really don’t know how to start, but I am grateful for you and your videos and all of the resources you have mentioned in other videos ❤ hope you have a blessed week. Sheila 😊
Praying for you and so excited for your family!
I’m in the same boat! I have 3 girls. 7,6,5 and a new baby boy. I currently work from home and in the office once a week. The opportunity has been amazing but I feel a tug in my heart from god that I need to bring my kiddos home and give them my attention. It’s interesting how the signs have been coming, it’s been so clear!!!
May the lord bless us in our decisions to learn with our children and guide us through all the changes to come ❤
This is my first year. I recently found your channel. You’ve helped resolved my doubt of “Am I called to homeschool?” and answered my question “Do finances keep one from homeschooling?” We seem to have similar preferences. Great advice! Thank you!
You’re so welcome!
I'm using resources now for the first time that I bought 10 years ago 😅
Haha love it!
I started the book you recommended “Education, does God have an opinion” and it is amazing!!!! I’m listening to it while I fold the clothes. Thank you 🙏
Yay! I’m glad you’re loving it!!
What too many homeschooling parents forget to consider is what does the student need to learn in order to get into a top University to do whatever life job they have their hearts set upon. If they don't get real science and real math and have this include Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, and programming - the programming languages that professionals use today and not just elementary Scratch or just Python. They need to learn a Foreign Language to. Most universities require a full year whereby they are at a CEFR B1 level equivalent in the USA. And if they want to go into medicine, they are really going to want to also learn about Functional Medicine because root causes matter and traditional medicine is not curing everything. I didn't get beef back into my diet until after I switch medical drs and dealt with the mold, heavy metal toxicity and yeast overgrowth in my body and the bucket overload I had going on. Traditional can't and won't do this. And for heavy metal toxicity, they'll damage the organs instead. signed one who has homeschooled herself with brain damage for years and learned a thing or two. I also watched my nephew be homeschooled and can't get into a college because his mother was crap and he was a underachiever. The combo didn't work. He also has sequencing cognitive issues, did not take schooling seriouisly. she lazily homeschooled him. There was too much he never learned. He now works a low paying job. Don't make her mistake! Thank you!
I’m sorry this happened. My oldest was testing at college level across the board at 15 🫶🏻
I’m excited for your curriculum picks video.
Thank you , this was super helpful! This video is not what I wanted but is exactly what I needed.
I needed to hear everything! Thanks so much!❤
Thanks so much for this. My little guy has special needs but he is super advanced in some curriculums. So I am careful about choosing materials. We are in first grade working on social skills from PK, writng for K, second grade math, and third grade reading. Homeschool is perfect for catering to his specific needs in learning.
This is really great!!! Such good points!! Love it! ❤😊
Thank you!!
Such great words of wisdom Christina!! Thank you so much, you’ve really put my mind at rest about the curriculum craze at this time of year! Xx
You are so welcome!! ❤️
This was so helpful! Thank you so much,so much helpful information! I am going to listen to this a couple of times I'm sure!
It’s truly my pleasure! Thanks for being here! ❤️
Awesome video! So many good tips to think about.
Glad it was helpful!
Also, I’m looking forward to your notebooking video!
I'm late to watching this but I appreciated this so much and felt so encouraged by it! Homeschooling was a dream I wasn't sure I would get to experience with my chronic illness. Open and Go Curriculum has been such a blessing and we are able to make it work.
We have a similar homeschooling style. Although on some ways I do tend to be a little overly rigorous at times and we do have “ exam week” Charlotte mason style.
Love Charlotte Mason exams! The only ones I can tolerate 🤣
Lots of great advice in this video!!!
So glad!
I always appreciate your perspective and encouragement. Thank you for sharing ❤. I use curriculum to keep me focused, but I love the flexibility of being able to adapt it for what works for us. I tend to keep a variety of things on hand because I like to change things up from time to time, or incorporate my own additions or side trails...I tend to get bored if I keep things exactly the same for too long. 😊
Me too!! And you’re so welcome!!
Wonderful video! I needed to hear slowing down- 1st asking the Lord what He wants for my kids, 2nd I need to "shop" my current stock, which is vast, before getting caught up in the curriculum hype!
Thank you for watching!
Loved this. Thank you so much for the reminder that what we are as a homeschooling family is different from how school is run. That is the reason most of us homeschool anyway, because there is something about public/private school that we don’t like.
I was just telling a friend tonight how I’m feeling overwhelmed by all the homeschool videos coming out already, all the curriculum and extracurricular options, and the future talk amongst homeschooling friends. I need to take a step back and take the steps you suggested instead. Thanks! This truly came at the perfect time!
I love your videos!
It's the reassurances for me...haha. I am a Unit Study loving momma and dislike curriculum that is 36 weeks (screams on the inside). But I kind of suffer from FOMO...lol! This video has reassured me that I am really not missing out on the things that I don't like😂. Looking forward to learning how to notebook and your curriculum picks.
Yay! It’s good to know we’re not alone!!
Just what I needed to hear. I will be homeschooling in the fall and wasn't sure if I should buy curriculum or not because I'd rather be free and simple (but english and math books I'll get for sure). I was thinking the other subjects could be done with notebooking only. Then, the Lord blessed me with your video...what a great confirmation! Can't wait to see your notebooking video!
Yay! So exciting!!
Excellent video
I found this talk just what I needed! I have been praying to find answers to all my questions on how to have joy in our homeschool with 7 children one is 4 mo.
I wanted to do CMEC but kept pushing it off since Feb but said I really wanted to for like 10 months.
Then you said you don’t really need complicated and something about boring curriculum and it clicked that I need to find me and what I fine exciting and share that with the kids! Light 🎉 bulb
Anyway your style is my style and can’t fit in a box, I have tried for the last 12 years homeschooling. Just time to be me.
Great advice, as always! I’m trying not to get distracted by all of the new shiny curriculum and to think about what really works and doesn’t work for my family. And trying to stop and listen more to what God has to say about it as well. 😊
Yes!!
Great video. ❤
I love you saying to ask God for guidance.
I need you to put some, like, "homeschool prayer prompts" on your etsy cause that was so helpful for me haha I don't know if I'm in the minority though
Random, but I'm loving your shirt! Where did you get it?
Created for Grace!
I am wanting to know if any of you mommas do round year? At what point do you make that transition for the new school year? We do year round but started doing a small summer break and then swap. Now I’m a bit stumped because we have a slower learner this school year. My daughter in first grade had some trouble and we fell behind because we took it way longer than some lessons. 😅 just curious how others do it
How does this work when thinking about college? I homesdhooled one of my children in 2nd using abeka. It was not working for us. Now, I am considering homeschooling both my children, and whether I pick a curriculum that works or mix it... my concern is getting them into college. My ides is to prep them for the work spiritually, emotionally, and academically.
Hi Vanessa! I would always recommend checking the HSLDA website for your specific state requirements, but I’m pretty sure no state requires curriculum, just that certain subjects are covered. Likewise, when you write the transcript for high school, you do not include curriculum specifics, just the “course,” and the credit assigned. So, think of it like you are the school that chooses which resources are used to cover that “course,” or subject, and then you assign the credit. This could mean no curriculum if you so choose. It could mean some, it could mean all. Colleges typically love homeschoolers. I would recommend following Sally Clarkson if you are not already. She used zero curriculum and all of her children went to college-at least two to Oxford and Cambridge. Following moms who have graduated their homeschoolers has been a huge encouragement to me!
Hi! Can you refresh me on where you get your printing and binding done?
Yes! Pure and Simple printing! You can use code ROOTED10 for 10% off!!
@@RootedHomeLife thank you!
This is my first time homeschooling. Don’t our kids need to study all subjects throughout the year?
So no and maybe is what I'll answer but others can chime in. You are going to want to know what your law for your state requires. Hslda website has them all available, free. For my state there are requirements for elementary, secondary/high. However, the requirements are for the whole time meaning math needs to be covered. But I can do math daily, weekly, monthly, yearly whatever I want. Same with science and history and English. Same with state history-we are required to cover it but the guidelines are able to be made up by me as long as the topics/subjects are addressed. Now for us, I also have 5 kids, we look at alot of reading and simple everyday maths for the first few years. I read alot of books, watch videos etc and I teach to the oldest for all the subjects. That means my littlers might hear ww2 history but they arent reading it on their own. They might narrate it back to me but not write it yet because that skill isn't as strong as their narration skills yet. So we move the subjects and such around as we need to. Hope that helps. We constantly are learning even as adults and for sure as we expose our kids to all kinds of knowledge they will naturally draw pieces in. Best part-we never stop learning as long as we've developed a love for it!
@@stefanimoore271 I was really struggling on private home schooling or virtual public homeschool through my public school. We landed on virtual public homeschool, we are a low income family we have low income housing. With the virtual home school everything is free and we can get extra help. My main reason for having them at home is because over the years I didn’t feel safe with them in school, even though we do live in a safe area we’ve had alerts about certain threats at their school. The threats were never followed through with, but there’s always a question of what if. I have five children three of them are still in school one of them going to be in his senior year, this following year and he wanted to stay in school. My last two are gonna be five and eight. I do have mom guilt because I’m not private homeschooling, but for my first time I’m choosing virtual home schooling because that’s what I feel comfortable with for now, plus we get more help at no cost. Anything can be changed in the future, nothing is set in stone.
@@stefanimoore271 I just recently decided on virtual public school through our school district, that’s what I feel the most comfortable with right now. Nothing is set in stone, the future can be changed. The whole reason I’m taking my son out of school is because, over the years I’ve felt unsafe sending them to school. We’ve all seen what have happened in some schools shootings etc. I have 5 children all together ranging from almost 20 years down to almost 5 years. We’re also a low income family so virtual public school through our school district is free, along with free assistance. I’m also feeling mom guilt because I’m not doing everything myself by doing private schooling.
I want to be a Charlotte Mason homeschooler SO BADLY! After trying for a year I have to accept that my boys are not Charlotte Mason kids. They hate reading and being read to. They despise books (and I love books)I have to admit to myself how I want them to learn isnt the same as how they need to learn. Hard pill to swallow!
Listen to Sonya Shafer discuss how to read to your children.
You may like a certain curriculum, but your children may not want it be taught to in that way. They may not tell you directly. I feel that a lot of CZcams Homeschooling moms are always trying different curriculum each year saying this didn't work or that didn't work and taking things away from curriculum leaving gaps in their children education. Maybe your children is being difficult on purpose. The younger elementary ages is important time for teaching structure. Homeschooling is not for lazy parents. Yes, you may have just had a baby, or have preschool aged child, even have a lot of other children, or work form home that's when video lessons or student led work very well. Every year I watch homeschooling videos thinking I'll get some great advice, but end up with the worst advice. Let me just say this, children, I mean younger children just want to play all day. They give us a hard time because they got used to us and they know what bugs us. I believe some homeschooling parents are super lazy and feel they use things like you stated as an excuse to be lazy. Yes, homeschooling bring flexibility when you schedule it correctly. Not putting Co-Ops, park meet up days, music lessons or etc in front of teaching our children. Yes, our children grow up fast and we want them to remain children forever just to save all the special moments. We love our children, but we have to do what best for them and not us.
Just let me give an example. I have a friend that just got a divorce last year. She couldn't homeschool anymore and placed her children in public school. Her children failed poorly. Especially her 5th grader. So all that nature walks, journaling, Charlette Mason, unschooling mess backfired on her. She cried because she believed she was doing the right thing for her children by choosing to homeschool in those methods. People come on there talking down about curriculums like Abeka. I believe it's the parent who need time management.
Our children go to bed around 7/7:30 pm. I wake up at 4 am and wake our children up at 4:30 am. We start school at 5 am.5 to 8 we are doing Bible, Math, and Language Arts with breaks in between. At 8:00 am they eat breakfast until about 8:30 am to 8:45 am. Then we start Science and Social Studies (History/Geography). We are finished homeschool about 10/10:30 am. We have the rest of the day to do whatever. We only do Science and Social Studies 2 or 3 times per week depending on the week. Needless to say, own children need that kind of structure or it felt like I was stressing and burning out a lot. 6 weeks we work hard and 1 do catch up. We homeschool year around from being of September to the end of July with August being the we take of to prepare the new year. In June we school the first 2 weeks. Then break for 4 weeks and school again the last 2 week in July. This works for our.
I believe that's why a lot of states are cracking down on people that just don't give their children enough education, which to me is a good.
Good luck! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Maybe you’re new here, so let me clarify-I did not use Abeka with my own children, I taught it when teaching in the classroom for grades 5-8. As far as your friend’s child being “behind” in comparison to public-schooled peers, that is not a priority to me. While the public school is not my benchmark, I can tell you I have had hosts of high schoolers who could not write as well as my elementary aged child. My 15 year old can read and write at a college level, my 11 year old at a high school level. I have taught in public and private school, grades 5-10, and have written curriculum resources for years, so I trust that I have my perspective and priorities in place. I was a curriculum auditor whose job was to determine that curriculum was vertically aligned across grade levels to limit learning gaps. I have a masters degree in education. I worked full-time as a teacher, part time as a hair stylist, and went to grad school part time, while pregnant, and homeschooling my children. You can find things to call me for sure, but lazy isn’t one of them 😉. I am a published author. I will be speaking at a homeschooling conference in two weeks. However, that being said, I don’t think you need any of that to teach your own children, or to defend your methods confidently to others, or that you even need to defend your methods and philosophies to anyone. I would recommend looking into mothers who have graduated homeschoolers using non/traditional methods. Thank you for sharing your schedule, as it may help another mom. That would not work for my family as my children would never see their father. Just because another mother does things differently than you does not mean they are lazy. As far as gaps, all children will have them-public schooled, private-schooled, and homeschooled. Time outside and co-ops are not void of “teaching” our children-they are another way of teaching our children. Again, just because you have a different philosophy of education doesn’t mean someone is less than you-be careful or that can become, or at least home across as self-righteousness. As homeschoolers, we need to respect that the beauty of homeschooling is that each family can do what is best for them, and if someone does it differently it doesn’t mean they are less-disciplined, behind, or lazy. It means they have different priorities, different family dynamics, etc. Lastly, a mother who is in tune with her children can clearly see their preferences and what is working vs. what is not, and should be communicating with her children about those things.