Falling in and out of love with homeschool curriculum is a rite of passage for us. But after pitching my curriculum, many years I wished I would have done something differently besides just purchase more homeschool curriculum.
And of course, any solution has to be easy because by the time you hit a road block, another time zapping and energy draining fix just adds unwanted stress.
Look at these 3 things to do and to not do when you’ve pitched the homeschool curriculum.
One// – Do not use that low time of feeling frustrated to make another mistake, like quitting homeschool or worse yet, joining a confining homeschool co-op.
A co-op may be the solution, but until you identify the problem, something else added to what you’re doing can be taxing.
Two// – Do embrace your teaching personality and style.
We can’t deny who we are. And when we try to fit our style of school into another homeschool teacher’s school, our children could be disappointed.
Before I started homeschooling, I read a lot about not just learning styles for my kids, but about my personality, which is my teaching style. Two of the best books that helped me the most to understand my personality, which helped me to pinpoint my aggravation with curriculum are Discover Your Child’s Learning Style and 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum.
Though Discover Your Child’s Learning Style was written with understanding your child’s learning style, you can also take the personality test alongside your child. The results are eye-opening because some of the things you may have been doing unintentionally because you learn best in a certain way can actually be irritating your children.
And the curriculum you chose may or may not be based on the way you need to teach.
For example, I know that one of my strengths is organization, but it can easily go from organizing to onerous if I don’t rein in my personality.
On the one hand, many homeschoolers told me that I would never use a homeschool room, I did. And I used it for a long time.
On the other hand, because I know I have a tendency to be more severe than I like to be, I started doing lapbooks and unit studies with my boys because I didn’t want to make learning comfortable for me.
This may sound opposite of what I’m telling you, but in the beginning I found unit studies that were laid out so that it would fit my personality style of being organized and routine-oriented.
Gradually, as I gained more experience, I created my own unit studies. This was the balance to my personality that wanted to be demanding. I gave my planning, organized itchy self an important task to do like planning my children’s education.
The point is you can’t abandon your personality. And your dynamic personality should come through with any curriculum you choose to bring into your homeschool.
List three things you like and don’t like about the curriculum you pitched and then do the same for your children. As you take the learning style test in the book, a picture will emerge.
I would love to know what you found out if you do the personality test in Discover Your Child’s Learning Style .
Relax Without Regret
Three// – Do rest, step back and relax.
Relaxing is not something a lot of homeschoolers do well. Dare I say we probably downright stink at it? I admit, I do too. Stepping back helps you to look at the bigger picture.
Being a can’t see the forest for the trees person, I have to always pull up and back away from my school when everything seems like a hurdle.
Another reason we don’t have the art of relaxing down is because like me, you also probably have many ideas or projects that you want to accomplish. That comes from a love of learning and teaching.
Some homeschoolers feel they need a certain type of curriculum for guidance, but a curriculum could be sucking the breath of creativity out of your day.
I know, I have heard people say they are not creative, but that’s just not true.
There are many ways to be creative, whether it’s art, history, science, crafts, cooking or the art of conversation.
Instead of purchasing another homeschool curriculum so quickly, take time to rest, discover your strengths and not jump into another stressful situation. You don’t know, you might not need to buy anymore homeschool curriculum.
What has been your experience?
Also, I have a whole lot to say about how to choose homeschool curriculum. Look at these other tips:
45 Ways to Define Homeschool Curriculum – Is Your Definition Holding You Back, Mixing It Up: How to Combine Homeschool Approaches (Without Losing Your Mind) and 10 Signs. Know When to Walk Away from “Perfect” Curriculum.
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I, too, have a more organized, rigid approach and know I need to lighten up with my fun-loving, free-spirited son. Unit Studies and lapbooks appeal to me. Would you be able to give examples of some of the first unit studies that you found helpful?
Hi Paula,
I certainly can relate because my strength with this son became my struggle. As far as recommendations, I used my strength to dig my heels in and make my own that I share here. But if you want one laid out, I like the way Homeschool Legacy lays out the unit study.
“Embrace your teaching personality and style.” This is vital to actually enjoying your homescooling!
Susan Evans recently posted…Elementary Physics Series
Yep. It’s like setting up our school and home. We can’t deny what we like or don’t like. Plants or not? Bright colors or not? Wide open spaces or not? School is not different. We all like things in our house that please us, why not our school?