I almost have next year figured out! Almost.
I almost have our method of homeschooling such that it works for our family and more precisely for the boys. Almost.
Unlike a classroom teacher we are not limited to choices or plans made for the year ahead. We are not necessarily limited by a budget process for our materials. Instead we are fortunate to have the ability to make decisions and changes specifically to our students needs. We are able to abandon, even the most thoughtful purchase, when it isn’t working for our student. We are afforded an opportunity to make changes as needed when needed. The caveat to that is that we can be overwhelmed with choices and thrust into a constant state of flux.
Realistically this doesn’t happen to everyone. And it doesn’t happen all the time. But it can happen even to the best of decision makers.
One of the many things that I have learned in these first few years of homeschooling is that *I* must battle against slipping into chaos. That I have to be aware of the reason behind the changes we’re making to make certain that they are need or warranted. That I must work to prevent myself from making changes simply for the sake of changing. I spend a lot of time evaluating what we are using and how it is working for my boys. What I don’t do is spend a lot of time thinking about what might be better. I found that if I’m focused on what MIGHT be better then I’m more likely think that the grass is greener. Pretty new curriculum can be so very tempting!
Here are some of the thing I do for myself:
1. Borrow if I can. A quick flip through will often tell me if it will work.
2. I’m sure to check out the free (sample) pages.
3. I want to be open to new ideas but I don’t forget to appreciate what I have chosen when it IS working.
4. Watch for things that I want a few years down the road. I’m working now on collecting a few resources that I know I’m going to use in a year or two. One is Hakim’s History books.
5. Sometimes you have to spend the money to know and sometimes that purchase won’t work. Build a little bit into your budget for those purchases.
So what do YOU do to keep yourself from a constant state of flux?
This year has been excessively unsettled, lots of change and growth for James. I’m hoping we’re settling into the new version of normal now. It’s seems every couple of years he becomes a whole new butterfly.
I don’t get rid of a curriculum that isn’t working too quickly; James gets bored and then circles around. Sometimes, he just needs a break, a shake up in the routine, and then he re-discovers what we were doing before. That’s my big tip to add to your already good list.
Holly´s last blog ..Things
What do I do? I think first, I had a clear picture of goals, my teaching style and the kids’ individual learning style. The only real flux I encountered was right after my oldest became a fluent reader. I see this as a constant struggle for families. and the cheaper, the better.
I hear ya baby! I need to get back into “routine” a little. We ended up being far too relaxed after 3 1/2 years.
I beg, borrow, or buy a lot of stuff from Patchfire, which means I don’t have to buy it new and unseen. That really helps! We are going to be organizing a secular coffee and curricula night (I’m calling it Curriculattes, but I think Patchfire is rolling her eyes at me) to give local secular homeschoolers a chance to look at each other’s curricula and make better decisions before buying, too!
Smrt Mama´s last blog ..Secular Thursday: Why is homeschooling controversial?