A Moment with The Homeschool Minute ~ Diana Waring – Relational Homeschooling

Dear Friends,

Do you ever wish that someone would just wave a magic wand and, POOF, the perfect curriculum would suddenly be sitting on your table????

I know I did.

Why? Well, frankly, because it is time-consuming and frustrating (and expensive!) to keep trying curriculums that promise the moon and give you the trash.

So, here are my thoughts about how to find curriculum (whether spelling or math or history or science or literature or foreign language or . . . 🙂

First, look at your kids.

I know you have done that a million times since the day they were born, but I mean look at them like a birdwatcher looks at a bird. Pay attention andstudy their unique habits and habitats. Do they like to curl up with books? Do they like to tinker in the garage? Do they constantly play piano or play Legos or play ball? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

Notice what causes their eyes to light up and what causes them to grow dim. Do they love when you sit

Second, look at your options.

Is the curriculum you are considering from the 1800s? Is it the hottest new item in the market? Is it somewhere in between? Did your sister loan it to you, your friend recommend it, or the speaker rave about it? Is it free, cheap, expensive or outrageous? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

Does it invite your kids into the process of learning–welcoming them with dignity and respect–or does it make them feel stupid and inept? Does it appeal to you or to them (or both)? Is it based on good educational theory or is it someone’s idea of how kids should learn? Find out. Consider and journal what you discover.

Finally, ask your kids.

By now, you should have been able to narrow down your search to a couple of choices. So, invite your kids to look to look at one, try it, and take it for a spin around the block. And then ask them what they think. After all, they are the ones who are getting the education.

And, remember, stay relational!

Diana