tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14145611.post5542685444801412843..comments2024-02-06T01:05:45.598-08:00Comments on Temporary Insanity, Permanent Joy: First DayMrs. Frogsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06067224159061270063noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14145611.post-88623562710066733142012-08-21T11:35:07.459-07:002012-08-21T11:35:07.459-07:00Hi, it IS exciting and completely overwhelming. L...Hi, it IS exciting and completely overwhelming. Last year, I stuck to using the A Beka Book curriculum for all subjects with my daughter. It's a little pricey but it's really laid-out nicely and easy to follow. However, after I went to a homeschool conference this summer, I started seeing that I needed to break away from a one-size-fits-all curriculum and branch out into the books and methods that would help my children the most. This was especially important since one of my kids is autistic, and he simply doesn't learn the traditional way. We are using Math-U-See for arithmetic, A Beka Book for reading and phonics, "Picture-This" for Bible class, and a variety of sources for other subjects. For history and science this year, I picked out topics that the kids wanted to study. Then we check out books from the library on those topics, research them on the internet, print out activities and worksheets to do, visit places that will help us learn about them, etc. It's more work for me but I think it just works out better for us personally.<br /><br />The important thing is to find what works for your family. Every homeschooling family will tell you that the curriculum they are using may not be the right one for you. I highly recommmend finding a homeschool conference in your area to go to. It really changed my perspective on the whole matter. I was encouraged by the speakers and got so many great ideas. Also, lots of book and curriculum vendors come to those conferences and you get a chance to explore the curriculum hands-on and see what would work for your kiddos.<br />Prayer is vital! One speaker at the conference I attended recommended praying to God specifically about what books and curriculum to choose as well as what goals to set for each of your children for the year. If He calls you to it, He will help you in ALL of it, even choosing curriculum. :) <br />To be honest, I am still a little (okay maybe a lot!) overwhelmed by it all. When I think that their education and training rests solely on my shoulders, it scares me a little! But "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it!" Mrs. Frogsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06067224159061270063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14145611.post-45167562795824807752012-08-21T07:05:00.037-07:002012-08-21T07:05:00.037-07:00Do you use a particular curriculum? We're stil...Do you use a particular curriculum? We're still thinking/praying over the decision to homeschool and thankfully I still have a year to make a decision (though we are doing preschool at home to see what it is like). I get excited thinking about doing it, but that quickly turns to feelings of being overwhelmed.Kapaldo Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02611186976627444576noreply@blogger.com