Category: Curriculum

Homeschool: Custom VS Pre-Packaged Curriculum (How to Choose Which is Right for Your Child)

1/23/2016

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © IllinoisLibrary; Flickr.com

When you make the decision to homeschool your child, your first decision following that will be the decision of what curriculum to use. There are many on the market and choosing which is right for your child can be daunting. The first part of that process will be deciding whether you'll go with a customized curriculum or a pre-packaged one. First, you'll need to know what each curriculum type is. A definition has been provided for each, followed by suggestions that will help you determine what your child's needs might be.

Custom Curriculum Defined

A custom curriculum is one that is designed to specifically to meet the needs of the individual who will be learning. This can mean anything from being hand-picked by a professional to being researched and written by the one who is schooling the child. Basically, if the curriculum is tailored around the student's needs, versus coming in a generalized plan for a specific grade level, it is a custom curriculum.

Pre-Packaged Curriculum Defined

A pre-packaged curriculum is one that is designed to meet the needs of a specific grade level and subject. These can come as one whole grade level package containing all materials needed or can be sold as individual subjects. They will most often be catered to a specific age, grade level, or subject. These generally cannot be modified, hence the label "pre-packaged". This could be anything from an online plan to one with textbooks and materials.

Which Is Best?

There is no one answer to that question. Every child is different. While one child might thrive on a pre-packaged curriculum, yet another may do better with a custom plan.

Here are some things you can do to figure out what works best.

Look at how your child has performed in school in the past, be it home school, public school, or otherwise. Has your child been able to keep up with lessons fairly well or does your child lag behind or push ahead? A child who is progressing at the expected rate for his or her grade level may do well on a pre-packaged curriculum. One who has areas that are ahead or behind the standards will likely benefit more from a customized curriculum.
If the child hasn’t been to school yet (traditional or homeschool), think about the things he or she has learned at home. Does the child consistently measure up as planned or does the child seem to go full speed ahead or need additional reinforcing? A child who is consistently ahead or behind will benefit well from a customized curriculum that will cater to his or her abilities, as well as work on inabilities.
Also consider your child's studying habits. Does your child understand what is being studied? Is it enough or too much, according to your child's actions? Watch to see if your child is comprehending his or lessons well. He or she does not need to always be spot on, but lagging too far behind can be a sign that a child needs a customized plan, as can surging too far ahead. Both are signs that a generalized plan may not be in the child's best interest. However, if the child is thriving well in comprehending the lessons and only gets frustrated every now and then, a pre-packaged curriculum could be the best fit.
Does your child often wish for more schoolwork or ask you for a large amount of extra information to delve deeper into the subjects being learned? On the other end of the scope, does your child get overly frustrated daily or consistently receive low grades and test scores? If your child experiences either of those situations or something similar, he or she may benefit more from a customized curriculum.
Is your child thriving and content with school? Does your child consistently score good on tests and receive mostly B's or above? Does your child need only a small amount of assistance when completing schoolwork? If any or all of these sound like your child, a pre-packaged curriculum may be the best option.

Advantages and Disadvantages to Pre-Packaged Curriculum

One advantage to a pre-packaged curriculum is that the child will always be performing at the required standards, providing the work is completed well and on schedule. A disadvantage to this could be the fact that if a child needs extra help, there really isn't extra work included in a pre-planned or pre-packaged curriculum, so you may have to purchase extra workbooks or materials. Some families get frustrated with this aspect, as pre-packaged curricula often carry a hefty price as it is. If you don't mind supplementing with other materials as needed, a pre-packaged curriculum could work for your family.

Another disadvantage to a pre-packaged curriculum is that if the child excels quickly, the parent may end up buying three or four grade levels worth of curriculum per year, which can get pretty expensive. If your child excels quickly already, you may need to consider this. Homeschooled children are often known to complete more than one grade level of work in a school year or to perform one or more grade level higher than their age requirement.

Advantages and Disadvantages to Custom Curriculum

An advantage to a customized curriculum is the fact that the child can get extra practice where needed and more challenge in another area both at the same time. For instance, if a child in 3rd grade is at a grade 10 reading level, but is still at a grade 3 math level, that child can have both levels be appropriate to their situation. A pre-packaged curriculum may only contain materials for one grade level. However, that isn't always the case, as some curricula contain materials for all grade levels. Also keep in mind that a pre-packaged curriculum plan can be used as part of an overall customized plan.

Making the Final Choice Between Pre-Packaged and Custom Curriculum Plans

There are many ways to choose or form a curriculum for your child. The main thing to keep in mind is that whatever plan is chosen, the child's skills and learning abilities should be considered when making that choice. Carefully think about which option may better suit your child and go with that plan. If the plan you have chosen is not working, it can always be changed. So, don't stress yourself out too much over making the decision. That is one of the many benefits to homeschooling. Your child does not have to stick to a plan that isn't working for him or her.

Benefits of Adding Web Writing to Homeschool Curriculum

1/30/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Looking for something new and innovative to add to your child's homeschool curriculum? Need something more challenging or just something different? Try adding web writing. If you are already an online freelance writer, this should be simple for you. If not, study up and teach the kids what you learn. Web writing is a valuable skill for the workforce.

How Does Web Writing Differ?

Web writing varies from print writing, in that it needs to appeal to an audience with a shorter attention span. It needs to be more concise. It also needs to be easily found by the search engines. If no one can find it, there is no point in writing it. You can't just go to the magazine stand and pick up a copy. Search engines are generally the way people find works published online.

Because of that, it needs to be written in a way that is not only understandable to readers, but to the search engines as well. Catchy titles should be substituted for more to-the-point titles so that readers and the search engines will understand what you are discussing. Those are just some of the notable differences. The Yahoo! Style Guide is a great resource when learning about web writing.

Why Add Web Writing to Homeschool Curriculum

Web writing skills can be beneficial to many different career paths. In the digital age, it may even be safe to say that web writing is a vital skill. Unless a business is very small or is just starting out, chances are, they have a website or at least a blog or Twitter page. Companies are finding out more and more how important it is to have an online presence.

Adding this to your child's homeschool curriculum can help give him or her a head start in life. Even if your child is not planning on being a writer, she may need to maintain a company website for her business. Knowing how to write for a web audience and search engines will help that website (and in turn, the business) get noticed easier.

Ways to Add Web Writing to Homeschool Curriculum

If your child is old enough, he can sign up for content sites and submit work for publication. Just be sure to check guidelines. Some sites allow 13-year-olds plus to join. While others only allow those 18 and over to write for them. Also, not all sites will pay for your child's work. If she is just doing this to learn or for fun, the payment part may not be that big of a deal.

Another option is to have your child maintain a blog or even his own website. It all depends on what your child is interested in and what you think she can handle. Don't put too much pressure on your child. Allowing freedom is important when it comes to creative endeavors, such as writing.

What Should My Child Publish?

School research papers are a great way to get started with article writing. Writing an article is similar to doing a research paper in some aspects. This makes it easy for you to transition your child into writing articles. Start with one or two things at a time, such as making wording more simple or using SEO.

Your child may also want to publish poetry and short stories. Keep in mind that these don't generally do well online, as far as getting views without an existing audience. You can explain this to your child. Poetry and short stories can be optimized for the web. But it's much harder with stories because web readers don't generally stay on the same article or story long enough to read past a page or two. Non-fiction articles generally have the best success online. But allow your child to be creative and publish what he feels in his heart to publish.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

How to Homeschool: Will Public Schools Provide You with the Curriculum?

1/12/2015

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

When you choose to homeschool your child, you may be wondering if the public schools will help you with curriculum. Can they give or sell you you textbooks and study guides? If you are pulling them out of the public school, will they give you the books and learning materials where your child left off? Will public schools provide homeschoolers with a curriculum?

Will public schools give you a curriculum?

It depends on the rules in your area, as well as each situation. If you have registered as the homeschool teacher, most states do not allow the public schools to administer tests or curriculum to your students. They can only do this if the students are enrolled with them. Some public schools offer homeschooling programs, in which they provide the materials. However, in this case, you are not the one who makes the final rules and your children will still be technically in the public school program. If you prefer it that way, then go ahead and register in this type of program. But if you'd rather be responsible for all aspects of your child's education, you will need to seek the curriculum elsewhere or create it yourself.

Should the public schools give your child curriculum if you homeschool?

No. Unless your child is registered in a program with the public schools, they should not be involved in the educational aspects of your homeschool. Laws change all the time, so keep up to date with your local laws on homeschool. However, in most cases, public schools cannot and should not be distributing you any learning materials unless your children are registered as their students.

Why wouldn't I want to accept curriculum from the public schools?

t's not really a matter of whether you have the desire to accept the materials. But as the homeschool teacher, it is also your responsibility to abide by the law. By allowing teaching from someone not authorized as the homeschool teacher, you could be getting yourself and the school into trouble. If you would prefer they provide the curriculum, you need to either enroll your child in the public schools or in a home-based program with them. This ensures that you and the school are both abiding by the appropriate laws regarding the education. If you would like more control over your child's education, you need to take charge of the curriculum yourself.

Why won't the public schools give me the unused materials where my child left off?

In some states, it is actually against the rules for them to help you, unless you are registered in a homeschooling program through the public schools. As the parent and homeschool teacher, all the responsibility is on you, unless your child is enrolled in a program that relieves that responsibility. The decision to homeschool is not one that should be taken lightly. By choosing to homeschool your children, you are choosing the responsibility of anything involved in their education. As such, you must make a decision on curriculum and many other things. In homeschool, no one does that for you - or anything else for that matter. That's right. It's all up to you and the public schools will likely not help much or at all.

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

How to Homeschool: Integrate Field Trips Into Homeschool Lessons

12/25/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Field trips are a very important part of learning. They teach hands-on learning and learning through experience and observation. As a homeschooling mother, I have planned many lessons that also involved utilizing trips outside the home. Learning how to integrate field trips into homeschool lessons gets easier as you go.

Consider the lesson topic. Look up places in your area that center around that Subject. For instance, if your child is learning about the heart, find out what museums in your area have coordinating exhibits. Some museums also have IMAX theater showings on various educational themes. Keep up to date on the listings so you can incorporate field trips for those into appropriate lessons. See if local hospitals have any related tours or classes they offer to students. If none of those work out, there's always the library. Every lesson has an extra place you can go to in order to learn more.

Be inventive. Think of hands-on things that require leaving the house, but may not necessarily be a formal field trip destination. This could be area parks and trails, the beach, an animal shelter, and more. Any place that can involve hands-on learning and is related to a recent lesson can be considered field trip. Be creative and versatile with your choices. Plan trips to these locations in accordance with the lessons or curriculum.

Research museum, library, and community classes in your area. These are the perfect destinations for field trips. While some may be just like a classroom setting, it is a chance for your students to do something different. Sign the kids up for classes and be sure to teach related lessons in the same timeframe. This may require some shifting around.

Check event schedules, local listings, and local organizations. Most communities have festivals, expos, free days, and other events that would be useful in teaching kids various things. For instance, zoos and museums often host free days. Libraries often have classes and story time. They also might hold book sales. Animal shelters may host fun events with the animals or have free classes on animal care. Kids can even volunteer if they are the right age. The same is true for some nursing home and rehabilitation facilities. Check calendars and other local listings to see what is going going on in your area. Some of these will be repetitive or ongoing and can be worked into the lesson schedule as needed.

Pulling it all together. When looking over the classes and events scheduled, you may see that some don't align well. If you're teaching your child about the brain, one museum has a related lecture, and another has a hands-on lesson, but they are not scheduled together, this can be an inconvenience. It's ideal to keep as many related lessons together as possible. But don't miss out on good lessons if they are available. Any opportunity to learn should be taken advantage of.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Homeschool Tips: Teaching Academics Without Bias

12/9/2014

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Is it Possible to Teach Your Own Kids Without Showing Bias?

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

When educating your kids yourself, is it possible to teach academics without bias? Should you do so? How can you go about that and why might it be a good idea? As a seasoned homeschool teacher and parent, I can say with experience that's it's definitely possible.

Isn't the Point of Homeschool to Teach the Kids Your Beliefs?

Well, yes and no. Your family's belief system can and should be instilled. But it should not take the place of important educational facts and lessons. As with any other schooling method, the point of homeschooling is to teach the children. This means giving them honest facts and letting them have the freedom to form their own opinions. Sure, their opinions may closely resemble yours. But then again, they may not - and that's normal and perfectly fine.

How Can I Teach the Kids About Life Without Showing Bias?

When teaching the kids about events, politics, and science, it may be easy to inject your own opinions. That's OK. But, to teach without bias, you should present your thoughts, as well as ideas from an opposing viewpoint. Leave it up to the kids to decide what they think. Yes, we all want our children to live by our belief system. But, in order to do that with a whole heart, they need to be able to make that choice themselves. If they choose another path, it does not mean they don't respect you as a parent. Not everyone thinks in the same way.

Why Shouldn't I Teach the Kids Solely What I Believe?

There is no reason you shouldn't interject your beliefs into teachings. However, you should not teach the kids that your way is the only way. As mentioned above, you can and should teach your beliefs. But, if your children go in another direction, as a parent, it is your role to love and respect them regardless. It's just a fact of life that not all children will follow the same path as their parents. If they do, that's great. But if they don't, that's great as well.

If Not to Teach My Beliefs, What is My Role as a Parent?

As parents, it is definitely our duty to teach the children. But, the goal is not to create clones of ourselves. It is to raise healthy, happy, well-balanced human beings who can stand on their own two feet when the time is right. If we teach them with bias, it may cripple them by causing them to be followers, instead of taking responsibility for their own actions and decisions.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Homeschool Tips & Advice For When Kids Won't Focus

12/4/2014

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How Can I Help My Homeschooled Child Stay Focused on Schoolwork?

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

What can you do when your homeschooled child won't focus on schoolwork? Staying on task is important during school time, regardless of whether a child attends home school or traditional school. In my years of experience as a parent and homeschool teacher, kids always like variety in education. The idea of doing schoolwork all day isn't exactly appealing to many of them when done the traditional way. But there are several things parents and homeschool teachers can do when kids aren't focusing. Here are some homeschool tips and advice for when kids won't focus.

Provide Variety

Books are a necessary and amazing source of knowledge for kids, but a well-rounded curriculum will include variety. Utilize books, worksheets, the computer, videos, manipulatives, board games, outdoor activities, outside classes, field trips, experiments, and more to create a varied curriculum. Doing the same thing day after day can create a lack of interest in studying and learning. If a child is disinterested and unfocused, he or she is not going to learn anything, no matter how many times someone tells them.

Take a Break

Sometimes a few minutes of downtime can help an unfocused child regain some interest and composure. Children in homeschool have the advantage of being able to attend school at any time of the day. If your kid just is not cooperating at all, wait until later. Find that perfect moment when your child is interested in something and use that as learning time instead. This flexibility in homeschool can help avoid parent (or teacher) and child frustration.

Understand Transition

If the kid without focus has recently transitioned to homeschool from traditional school, respect that. Perhaps your child has moved on to the next level or you've changed the schedule. Because the environment has changed, the child's mind may need some time to adjust. Ease the child into the transition by starting with smaller lessons and increasing study time to the ideal amount as needed. Because you are homeschooling, you can always add extra lessons to catch the child up later, if needed.

Add Some Fun

Does your homeschool day consists of all books and paper? Add some fun to the curriculum. This is not to say that books can't be fun, but they shouldn't be the only source of lessons. This falls in line with adding variety. But it also means you can use games and things the kids enjoy to enhance their interest, as well as their educational experiences. One example of that is in an article I wrote recently entitled “Use Basketball to Enhance Study Time." In that instance, I explained how parents can use the game of basketball to help their kids study and learn.

Get Some Exercise

Fitness has long been a proven method to get that brain working. As mentioned above, certain sports can be used to enhance study skills. Fitness can be used during any time of the day. Start off the day with some brain power yoga, like what I mentioned in the previous article "Using Yoga for Concentration and Focus in the Homeschool Classroom." Anytime anyone is frustrated or unfocused, take a fitness break. Go for a nature walk, head to the park, play a family sport, do some yoga, go for a bike ride - whatever your family enjoys. Remember to rotate between activities to keep it interesting.

Boost that Brain Power with Puzzles and Games

Brain boosting activities are a fun and exciting way to keep kids focused. Did you know that solving puzzles and playing memory skill games can help increase focus skills and even your kid's IQ? Reading is the only activity that causes new brain cells to grow. Combine that with puzzle solving and (such as with crossword puzzles, logic games, and word searches) you not only are increasing study skills and focus, but actually causing new brain cells to grow. Since these puzzles are fun for the kids, why not integrate them into the curriculum. That's part of the homeschool advantage. You have the ability to use innovative learning methods. Use them to boost your child's brain power and ability to focus.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Should I Design My Child's Homeschool Curriculum Myself?

12/3/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

If you have recently made the decision to homeschool, you may be pondering the best curriculum choices. There are so many options, such as pre-packaged curriculum, online curriculum, virtual school, co-ops, and more. You may even be thinking "Should I design my child's homeschool curriculum myself?" Our family has tried many, many options, including me writing out every single lesson by hand.

What is your lifestyle? This is the very first thing you need to ask yourself. Your family's lifestyle will have a great deal to do with which choices may be best. If you like to be on the go, certain curriculum choices will not work with that. For instance, if the materials are not very portable, you're going to have a big problem. If you choose an online curriculum, you need to have Internet access at all times, even when you leave the house. An active family might benefit from free schooling or unschooling. Designing the curriculum yourself can be beneficial with many lifestyles, as it's customizable. However, some people may not have the time needed to fully commit to this. Be sure to consider your family's lifestyle and habits when you make your decision.

Can you commit to this plan all year long? Unless you are an experienced writer, you probably cannot write your child's entire curriculum at the beginning of the year. You'll probably need to do it in segments year-round. Can you commit to this? Will you? You may be feeling ambitious at the moment. But if you have a habit of starting major projects that don't get finished, this may not be the best method for you. However, if you're known to plow ahead even through tough projects, writing your child's own curriculum might work for you.

Do you know the state standards? This is extremely important when writing your child's lessons yourself. You should know what the standards are for the area you live in. You can find those out by by checking with the Department of Education in your state and also by checking to see if your state has adopted the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) does not support having a national system like this. However, since it has been adopted, it is wise to follow at least the core standards. Depending on your state, it could also be the law to follow them. The HSLDA has a handy list to help you figure out what the legalities of homeschooling are in your state.

Is there a better option? When choosing between writing your child's curriculum or other methods, be sure you are making the correct decision. In some cases, a curriculum customized and written by the parent may be the best choice. In other cases, the child may learn more effectively another way. Weigh all your options and make the choice based both on your child's needs, as well as your ability to effectively teach your child using that option. There are ways to customize your child's education (such as combining materials) without having to develop an entire curriculum yourself.

Does this actually work? As someone who has used this method before, I know firsthand that it can definitely work for the right family. However, be prepared to be fully committed and very busy. If weighing all the options doesn't scare you away and it sounds like something that will fit your family's lifestyle, then go for it. If it doesn't work out, you can always move on to the next method. While writing the curriculum myself was a great option, because I also write for a living, I found that in order to have more time with my kids, it wasn't the best option for us. I would be spending entirely too much time writing. While I still write lessons and design games for them on occasion, I no longer do it full time.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Homeschool: Custom VS Pre-Packaged Curriculum (How to Choose Which is Right for Your Child)

Benefits of Adding Web Writing to Homeschool Curriculum

How to Homeschool: Will Public Schools Provide You with the Curriculum?

How to Homeschool: Integrate Field Trips Into Homeschool Lessons

Homeschool Tips: Teaching Academics Without Bias

Is it Possible to Teach Your Own Kids Without Showing Bias?

Homeschool Tips & Advice For When Kids Won't Focus

How Can I Help My Homeschooled Child Stay Focused on Schoolwork?

Should I Design My Child's Homeschool Curriculum Myself?

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