Home School Program Choices

By Marcie Ciampi

The task of establishing a home school program can be daunting, especially if a parent attempts to tackle the curriculum decision all at once.

Whether you are brand new to teaching and home schooling, a grandparent researching for a loved one, or someone who has been teaching a long time, I suggest paving the foundation of your home school program step-by-step, and then taking some time to reflect about your needs and your child’s needs.

Check out the tutorial guide at Route 66 for numerous strategies for taking steps towards a successful home school.

One of the main reasons a family will home school is to meet a need not fulfilled in the traditional public schools.

So, in many ways, having loads of home school programs is a blessing.

But in other ways, let's be honest, an abundance of choices can cause a huge headache.

Imagine if your child wanted to choose a new book to read.

Would you send your child to a website which lists every available literature book, online bookstore, and author?

Would you ask her to search the website links, and read reviews and articles evaluating the merits of quality books?

Would you expect her to fill out a survey about her genre preferences?

Probably not.

If you do, you might want to reconsider the whole home school thing.

What would you really do if your child wanted a new book to read?

Maybe you might take your child to the local library and ask the librarian for suggestions.

Perhaps you would ask your child's friends what they like to read.

Maybe offer your daughter a novel you already have at home, a book an older sibling or you enjoyed.

Think of homeschool curriculum the same way.

How do you find good books? Start with what you know.

Go to the library.

Ask friends.

Go to the used bookstore.

Go to garage sales.

Go to teachers' classrooms.
(Visit a Catholic or Christian private school for non-secular curriculum ideas.)

Go online to your favorite vendor.

You don't have to reinvent the wheel and start on a new track.

Start basic.

Start with familiarity.

And build up from there.

They'll be ample time to search the Internet stores and support group' opinions later.

Home schooling can be scary enough without having to become an expert in curriculum in a few days.

I bet some mighty fine potential home schooling parents have shied away from teaching at home to avoid the curriculum jungle!

Don't go there...

Just go where you know.

And while you're at it, try to have a little fun. Return to Curriculum Main Page
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