| The homeschool shopping season has begun. | | | | order to feel secure about covering all |
| | | | required concepts and skills. The |
| Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you | | | | Design-A-Study guides were written to provide |
| select materials. | | | | that ""security blanket"" just so parents |
| | | | could feel free to focus on educational |
| ""One-stop"" curriculum shopping can be like | | | | objectives, determining the best approach to |
| buying your groceries at a convenience | | | | achieve those objectives for their children |
| store-expensive and limited. | | | | at every stage of development. |
| | | | |
| But, if you insist on the convenience of | | | | As a teacher, I always looked for additional |
| buying a complete curriculum package from one | | | | resources and approaches, no matter what |
| company, be sure that it will suit your | | | | curriculum was handed to me. |
| child's age and learning style. The salesman | | | | |
| may say that it takes little effort or | | | | As a homeschooling mom, I found it necessary |
| planning on your part, but if the child finds | | | | to choose materials from different companies |
| it difficult, boring, or simply unappealing, | | | | for each child, and often for each subject, |
| you will find yourself expending more energy | | | | in order to make the best match of resources |
| trying to make him suit the package than you | | | | to each student. If you find that your child |
| ever would have spent on planning! Once you | | | | does well with a curriculum from one company |
| find a package you think is appropriate, | | | | year after year-continue to use it! However, |
| remember that it is the tool, not the | | | | if there comes a time when making adjustments |
| teacher, and be prepared to supplement | | | | is not enough, it would be best to consider |
| lessons with additional experiences as the | | | | looking at materials from other companies in |
| child's needs dictate. | | | | the subject areas the student is finding |
| | | | difficult. |
| Any lessons that cover objectives that the | | | | |
| student has already mastered should be | | | | Finally: Be realistic about what you can |
| completed only to the degree that it provides | | | | manage. |
| practice to keep skills polished. The | | | | |
| Design-A-Study books can be used as a | | | | If a program looks appropriate for your |
| reference both to understand the subject and | | | | child, but despite good intentions you really |
| to check the progression of objectives. This | | | | don't have the time or energy to carry it |
| allows you to target areas of need as well as | | | | out, look for ways to compromise. There may |
| to determine mastery. | | | | be a similar program with the modifications |
| | | | you need, or you may want to pull together a |
| While it may seem easy to use curriculum from | | | | curriculum by using materials from several |
| the same company for all of your children, | | | | different companies to cover the various |
| this will only work if they have the same | | | | subjects-some that require time from you |
| learning style or if you make adjustments to | | | | along with others that the student can use |
| the program to adapt it to each child. For | | | | independently. |
| example, you could read a text and the | | | | |
| accompanying workbook questions out loud, | | | | Every home school situation is unique. I |
| involving an auditory or kinesthetic learner | | | | wrote the Design-A-Study books in order to |
| in a discussion for the child that finds too | | | | help parents become effective teachers. Each |
| much seatwork difficult. You can also replace | | | | book provides tips to help you approach the |
| some of the suggested activities with those | | | | subject in a way that will encourage your |
| that cover the same objective but are more | | | | children to think as well as to use the |
| appealing to your children. | | | | concepts and skills in practical ways. |
| | | | Because each book includes objective for |
| The Design-A-Study books offer activity ideas | | | | either grades K -8 or grades K-12, you have a |
| and teaching suggestions that can prove | | | | framework that prevents fear from dictating |
| helpful here. | | | | your curriculum choices. My hope is that you |
| | | | will gain the confidence needed to pick and |
| If you want to use curriculum from the same | | | | choose from the variety of excellent |
| company from kindergarten through twelfth | | | | resources available in order to suit the |
| grade keep all of the above suggestions in | | | | curriculum to your specific home school |
| mind. Usually parents choose this avenue in | | | | needs. |