It’s that time of year… the one where you evaluate the holes your children have, or you acknowledge the notes you have been keeping and decide what changes need to be made for next year. I went on the homeschool curriculum hunt for our family… Yes, even moms who have been homeschooling for ten years make curriculum changes.
I have a general idea what I want, but in reality, I am having to simplify somethings… I am finding that as more of my kiddos get older, I just don’t have the time to help them… Our children’s grades range from mid-highschool to baby… add in several different special needs, some places that things need quite a bit of improvement, and well… I will be making some changes…
I have LOVED our eclectic style, and am not completely ditching it, but I am finding that I need to push a bit harder in the younger years and then let my kiddos branch out in their interests once they have a solid foundation in reading and math facts… My two oldest are doing great, my youngers are ok, but I see more loop holes than I like…
Homeschool Stress Leads to Curriculum Changes
My stress of keeping up is making relationships iffy… That is the big thing… When homeschool becomes stressful, a change is needed!!
When there were just two in school, we could study the basics, and do the interests led learning in the afternoon, but as I have added more kiddos to the school day, we tried to keep that idea and well… it isn’t working as well I wanted… so… We will be changing things up a bit.
In all honestly, I think this is a BIG reason I have slacked off on blogging so much…
School wasn’t anything to share with others to help them figure things out. But, by posting about this “failure” I may be helping someone realize it is ok even after homeschooling for 10+ years to admit you don’t know it all, and that you may have to change things up.
A lot of these issues, lie in the fact I have an age gap of 3 years and 9 months from child #3 and child #6… that is we brought home 4 children from the hospital in 3 years and 9 months!!! I had several years of little to no energy, and then 3 of those four have some special needs, and not the same special need… we have major vision issues with one that we have overcome most of, but has set her behind, we have speech issues, and then baby 6 was a NICU baby, who has had some bigger issues… leg/foot pain that has yet to be solved, SPD, and vision… Now, looking at that and knowing that I am no where near a super mom and knowing that I have a 11 month old who is a busy little guy, I can see why I need to make those changes… I also have two older kiddos… One struggling, one gifted… Swimming yet? I am… I think I will take on the Dora chant now!!
So, yes, I am changing up things. I have bought the new stuff, and am getting our new year set up a little at a time.
My younger set of kiddos… those who aren’t reading on their own fluently yet, will be doing a lot more of a textbook/workbook approach. Once they are reading well and have most of the basics covered, they can branch out and do a lot more interest led learning. When children are able to be more independent in their learning, they become more motivated to get through the icky things… grammar, math, etc. So, they can get to their interest led studies. When they are younger… well, it seems they aren’t so motivated…. so… we change and adapt for seasons.
Do you see the need for a change? Let’s talk about it. Don’t let yourself feel guilty. Being able to change something is one of the awesome things about homeschooling!!
mother, christian, wife, woman, child of God. It is about my life as a farmer’s wife, as a cook, a baker, a nurse, a teacher, a woodworker, a housekeeper, a farmer (yep, I drive tractors, pick up hay bales, and other farm duties), a gardener. So, what you read here, is me, as a transparent sometimes hot headed, passionate, and opinionated person.
I have been wondering about doing the same thing. Though we have not been at it nearly as long. My Children are 8, 5, 2, and 4 months. For the last couple years it has pretty much just been the oldest at the table with younger siblings floating in and out as they pleased. This fall will be the first year that I will have two kids that I’m supposed to be working with in a more structured way. Our oldest is doing well, and can be independent, but he would prefer that I sit with him and go through things together. I feel completely lost as to how I will balance two at the table and two under it (so to speak.)? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.