5 Days of Homeschooling Essentials- Day 4

So far I have written about:

Day 1- Hands-on Learning
Day 2- Field Trips
Day 3- Humor

Today, I am going to elaborate on another essential in our homeschool- quality, engaging curriculum

There are thousands of curriculum suppliers out there all who want to sell to homeschoolers.  It can be a very daunting and overwhelming task to choose from so many very different options.  One of the blessings of homeschooling is that I can choose a different math book for Kiddo 1 than Kiddo 3.  I believe with all of my heart that the "one size fits all" approach in American schools today is wrong and is failing.  Every child is different and thus learns differently.  Math Curriculum A might be wonderful for one type of learner, but just the wrong approach for another.  Every child should not be given the same exact book and be expected to excel.  Some math books present the material in a sequential manner, leaving one topic completely and introducing another. We use a provider that uses a spiral approach.  There are questions at the end of Chapter 17, for example, that were covered in Chapters 1 or 5.  The topics get continually reinforced throughout. That seems to work well here.  You know your child best.  And, even if a mistake was made in the purchasing of a book or materials, there is nothing wrong with admitting that it just isn't working and move on.  We have that flexibility to keep trying until something works with our children.

First and foremost is to learn the style of the learner.  Are they primarily a visual learner?  Perhaps they are an auditory learner or kinesthetic learner.  They may be a combination of several or all of them.  Knowing how they learn is critical to determing what curriculum approach would be a good fit.

We have used many different types of curricula in the Home to 4 Kiddos.  We love a literature rich approach-- hearing and learning about first hand accounts and experiences in a story, rather than dry textbook descriptions.

Lapbooks are a winner here, as they are engaging and hands-on.  Unit studies bring everything together nicely- having every subject area covering the same particular topic at the same time.

You can find good, quality material at the most interesting of venues.  We were given so many educational units and materials from our recent trip to the Farm Show.  These cover a variety of science topics and have additional resources online to correspond with them.

We have the benefit, as homeschoolers, to choose what materials will work best for our children, not be stuck with a generic choice for hundreds of children.  Get samples if you can, research the company, buy used if available and give it a try.  If not, sell it and begin again until you find what works.  Your children will be successful and happy when their own unique learning style and abilities are challenged by the materials you choose especially for them.  :-)  Works here!

Click to see:
Day 1- Hands-on Learning
Day 2- Field Trips
Day 3- Humor

Don't forget to enter the iPad Giveaway here.

Here is the link to all of the 89 bloggers who are writing and sharing this week! 

Also, here are 10 of those 89 participating in this series.  Stop by and see what they thought were their essentials.  :-)

Rebekah @ There Will Be a $5 Charge for Whining
Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun
Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
Heather @ Thrift Schooling
Joanie @ Simple Living Mama
Lisa @ Home to 4 Kiddos
Amy @ Homeschool Encouragement
Monique @ Living Life and Learning
Jenn @ Fresh Start Academy
Lori @ Special Connection Homeschool

Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Home to 4 Kiddos by Email and get our posts sent right to your inbox!