Yesterday’s post focused on an unconventional idea about what education is. However, I realize a lot of people, some maybe contemplating homeschooling, and some still so unfamiliar they don’t “believe” in it, need to know about the methods homeschoolers use for the more conventional approach to education.
Just because our family is what some call a “relaxed” homeschooling family, many successful homeschoolers practice very conventional methods and I wanted to make sure I didn’t leave people thinking that the only way to homeschool is to throw off the classroom method altogether.
(To find the practical details of how our family homeschools, check out my book, Think Outside the Classroom.)
People unfamiliar with homeschooling often ask, “where do you get your curriculum?” The answer is, the homeschooler’s choices of curricula are unlimited. If you aren’t familiar with the homeschool movement, you no doubt aren’t aware of the thousands of companies that cater to that community. It is a highly commercialized industry, and where there was once a lack of resources available, the options are now overwhelming.
There are thousands of complete curricula programs already put together, just like the schools use, except the homeschooling parent gets to pick the one they like, the one that best suits their child’s learning style. There is video curriculum, computer curriculum, and do-it-yourself curriculum, where the parent draws from all the sources and incorporates a varied approach. There are private tutors as well, in the areas of harder subjects that the parents don’t want to tackle.
There are co-op classes, where homeschoolers meet and a person with a particular gift or expertise in a subject teaches a series of classes.
Standardized testing is available for the homeschooler, just like the schooled. Parents can keep rigid, careful records and reports of their child’s progress, or they are free to only keep “attendance” records.
The common misconception is that a homeschooling parent has no resources or limited resources and is not equipped to teach a child. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Without a doubt, the homeschooling parent’s greatest dilemma is trying to choose from all the options and resources without being overwhelmed.
Just wanted to throw out that general information for people who just didn’t know “how we homeschool“, or would like to homeschool and have been intimidated by the prospect of not having the resources.
Finding material will be the very least of your problems!
6 comments
I know I would be totally overwhelmed if we didn’t use the ACE curriculum. I also like Sonlight but with us having a 5th grader, a 4th grader, a 2nd grader, and a Kindergartener this year I would have been totally overwhelmed with all of the various reading assignments. With the ACE curriculum I love the fact that the children that can read do a lot of their own reading and I supervise their work. They take tests, have goals to set for themselves, and the curriculum really focuses on mastering concepts so they can’t move on to the next item until they’ve mastered their current item. We homeschool through a Christian school so if I have any questions or need something then I have someone to call. The school also takes care of report cards and standardized tests (which I really don’t care about but it’s nice to have the scores in case we’re questioned). I also get a scope and sequence from the director of the homeschool program from the school so that I can supplement their topics with extra reading and activities (they have a lot of reading and activities on their own but sometimes I like to add to it).
I didn’t intend for this comment to be so long or be interpreted to mean that I think all people should use this curriculum, but as an encouragement. If you are thinking of homeschooling and are intimidated by the choices and the thought of planning then you might want to check them out. It’s A.C.E. (Accelerated Christian Education) — also known as School of Tomorrow.
Hugs,
Carmen
Carmen,
This is the VERY curriculum I always recommend to first-time homeschoolers or overwhelmed ones.
I was a student of this curriculum in a private school I attended growing up, and I think it is a FANTASTIC method for homeschooling. I’ve used it (and am using Math and English with my oldest right now), and it has been a blessing with its easy-to-use format and grades, etc.
Might I add that I’ve bought most of the paces on E-bay at a fraction of the cost.
Thanks for bringing this one up…It gets an A+ from me.
(We’re not “relaxed” all the way 😉
That’s funny…I have so many homeschool friends who have never heard of ACE.
I have thought about buying PACEs on Ebay, too. But, the school charges a lot less than the company since they loan their score keys out and the church pays for some of the cost, too. When we move (whenever hubby gets a church) we will homeschool through the current school we’re with but if we move far enough away I may buy the PACEs and score keys on Ebay.
My husband taught for a few years at a Christian school that used the same curriculum. We fell in love with it and decided we’d use it when we started homeschooling.
Glad to hear you like it, too!
We use My Father’s World and just love it. I am able to teach three children from one level, save for math and language arts. And I so love the strong Biblical and missions focus. Two thumbs up (and a toe too).
Blessings,
~Toni~
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