Homeschooling Online - Choosing The Right Teaching Material - Part 3
In the final post of this series, we will look at the final four rules to help you choose the right homeschooling teaching material…
Rule #6:
You need to be aware that there are various schools of thought when it comes to the teaching of a specific subject. For example, in math there are programs that focus primarily on problem solving with manipulatives and there are other programs that focus primarily on problem solving with use of paper.
In reading, there are programs that focus on learning phonics before learning to read, programs that focus on learning the rules of grammar and punctuation while you are learning to read, and programs that focus on just learning to read and letting the rules come later.
Each school of thought has produced excellent mathematicians, readers, or spellers. What this all means is that you can teach to the best of your ability and not feel pressured to follow someone else’s train of thought to rule you on the particular matter.
Rule #7:
You need to realize that people’s needs change. What worked one year may not necessarily work the next. Your family’s needs and interests will always continue to change and you need to learn to go with the flow. Buy materials that meet your present needs and mold the curriculum to the child’s abilities, not the child to the curriculum.
Also, you need to be aware that not all books in a particular curriculum series are equally as good. For example, the fourth grade level of a particular program may be excellent, but this does not mean the other levels will work just as good. Be prepared to change your series of texts as needed.
Rule #8:
Remember that you were given your children because there is something in YOU that God wants you to impart to them. Teaching materials are only meant to be used as tools to help you in this role. With faith and some work on your part, you can trust that you will be lead to those materials that will help you best teach each child. Let your instincts count when it comes to homeschooling.
Rule #9:
You will want to remember that teaching materials are often the least important elements of your home school situation. Books are easy to get rid of if they don’t work for you, but attitudes and destructive family dynamics are not. Five major reasons that families fail at homeschooling include:
- Lack of conviction to continue on through the difficult times
- It is a single parent household or both parents are not in agreement
- The children are undisciplined and resist parental instruction
- The parents are undisciplined and cannot handle the added responsibilities
- The family has unrealistic expectations or goals that are too high
As you can see from these last three posts, choosing your learning materials does require some thought and work on your part, but it doesn’t have to be harder than it needs to. If you come to realize that your own instincts and abilities are your best assets, you will then know that you need no more than where they lead you.
Homeschooling Online