I failed too. When I struggled with homeschooling it was because I hyper focused on breezing through the curriculum instead of focusing on my family.
Family Focused Instead of Curriculum Driven
I just knew that if I finished a lesson, a book or an assignment, then my children were “properly taught.”
When I completed a curriculum, I felt we were making progress and learning.
That is a false sense of accomplishment.
Public school is curriculum focused. What makes homeschoolers different?
Let me make clear that I am not advocating unfinished lesson plans or half-hearted days of teaching.
What I am advocating is that at times during our journey it can take one or two days to get a point.
At one point in my journey, it took one of my sons a year and half to learn one level of math.
Am I to feel that if my child completed 5 lessons in one day or one book in two years that I wasted ANY of my time?
Family focused goals don’t keep pace to the time table in a curriculum.
Switching from a Public School Mindset to Family Focused Goals. Big Difference.
You probably have heard before that curriculum is a tool. It’s true. But what does it mean exactly?
■ Well a tool can serve a very useful purpose.
A paintbrush, a pen, a drill, a saw, a hoe, a shovel, a hammer have all been used to create the most exquisite pieces of art like the Mona Lisa, beautiful poetry or the most breathtaking pieces of landscape or architecture.
■ What was more important, the tool or the skilled craftsman?
It was the attitude, patience, devotion and skill of the craftsman to shape the masterpiece, not the tool.
When we realize that curriculum doesn’t teach anything, but our attitude and time spent with children in productive learning does, then we are TRUE TEACHERS.
We are then not curriculum driven but family driven.
We are goal oriented, not lesson oriented.
Curriculum is a must-have tool and we have to have it.
For example, if three teacher’s manuals make you feel more equipped to teach and you glean from each one what you need, then GET ALL THREE. Don’t worry about what anybody else thinks.
However, don’t purchase them because you are afraid.
You have been equipped with what you need to do this assigned work.
Focus on improving yourself as a teacher, your skill, your devotion and then you will have a true masterpiece – YOUR CHILDREN!
Hugs from me to you today,
Also read:
6 Things I Won’t Regret After Homeschooling 16+ Years
Second Chance Homeschooling – We Can Have Do-Overs
Lindsey says
Tina, I love this. Such an important reminder for us. I teeter back and forth. xoxo
Lindsey
Lindsey recently posted…Why You Can Teach Your Child THE BEST!
Melanie @ Tree Valley Academy says
Great reminders. I’m very goal oriented in our homeschool. However, sometimes it’s tough leaving pages unfinished in a curriculum when I know my daughter has already grasped the skill and is ready to move on. And sometimes the curriculum doesn’t cover a topic very well, so we resort to other means. It is a challenge tho for me to be ok with incomplete workbooks 😛
Melanie @ Tree Valley Academy recently posted…The Hundred Dresses Activity – Paper Doll Chain Card
Tina Robertson says
Lol I hear ya about incomplete workbooks.
It took me a while on that one too because somehow we are suppose to think that if they complete it, it’s mastered.
Great having you here!
Linda S says
Great post, Tina 🙂 I do try to focus on the HOME(and family) in our homeschool – and when we do, I find the SCHOOL part takes care of itself. Thanks for the tips and reminders!
Tina Robertson says
Thank you Linda. Well said. The school does take care of itself. Thanks for being here!