A Jumpstart Curriculum For First Time Home Educators

 

For Parents who are still thinking of homeschooling your children this year:

I have been an educator since 1974, having taught in public schools, private Christian schools, a missionary teacher overseas, one of the founders of a small Christian school, and a home educator of our children. I am currently serving alongside my husband at a seminary overseas. 

Though I am on the other side of the world, I have been keeping track of the educational crisis that has resulted from the pandemic, the political elections, and racial protests and riots.  Many of you have been left to wonder what to do about school this fall and are forced into making difficult decisions about your children’s education and their safety.  I am here to tell you that this crisis is an opportunity to set a new course for our children’s education.  

Right now many of you are considering homeschooling in light of all the uncertainty and the political wrangling with teacher unions, re-opening, impossible health guidelines for wearing masks and social distancing, concerns for the content of the curriculum, and having your child spend unhealthy hours of virtual learning in front of a computer screen. It’s late August and your decision to homeschool should have been made a few weeks ago. But, it’s not too late to get the ball rolling.  

Here are some curriculum suggestions you can order to jumpstart your year.  Many can be ordered on Amazon. Stay away from complicated, expensive textbooks by keeping your curriculum basic, and manageable with these user-friendly, affordable, and comprehensive resources. 

Bible: The Child's Story Bible by Catherine F. Vos  In addition to having their own Bible, this story bible is carefully written over years by a loving godly mother and it is a joy to read.  

Bible Doctrine: Comforting Hearts Teaching Faith by Starr Meade - yes, Bible Doctrine - Just as our skeleton provides structure for our bodies, basic bible doctrines provide a spiritual foundation and structure for our child's faith.  This book is a family devotional based on the Heidelberg Catechism. Bring back the family mealtime and enjoy this devotional together.

Core Knowledge Series Grades Preschool-Grade 8: Covers all academic subjects for each grade all in one book! Modern education teaches you how to access information without having to know or learn it.  This series emphasizes the need to know something - to have a basic core knowledge of language, literature, world and American history, geography, art, music, science, and math - all in sequential form and age appropriate activities from grade to grade.  You can get on the core knowledge website for additional materials or access all kinds of supplemental material online.  But this one book is great to start with. It is not written from a Christian perspective so there is some history content that you will need to adjust. But for now, just remember, All Truth is God's Truth and this resource offers a solid comprehensive foundation of truthful knowledge.  

Math Drills: Learn the math concepts in the core knowledge series and then practice for speed and accuracy.  Your children cannot rely on a calculator; they need to be able to memorize facts and do the mental arithmetic.  These are fun because your child can experience the mastery of moving from one level of competency to another. And there is even a Bible verse to learn on every level.

Readers: McGuffey Readers and Spelling Book: I know we are way past living in the Little House on the Prairie days but our public schools have dumbed down literacy to such a low level that it is time to have a literacy revival.  Our oldest learned how to read from the McGuffey primer at four years old.  The 6th grade reader is way beyond college level.  The stories are full of Christian virtue and faith. You can download and print the books yourself but they are a treasured collection to keep.

Learning how to read: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons  Our second son didn't do well with the McGuffey Primer, so we switched to this slower and multi-sensory approach.  It proved to be very successful and was easy to use.

Grammar & Writing: Editor In Chief Forget all the expensive workbooks and texts. Learn language and grammar concepts from the core knowledge series and put them into practice by editing a variety of short essays and stories. Covers grammar skills all the way through high school.  And it's fun!

Your core knowledge text and website has tons of suggestions for activities and supplemental resources.  So you don't have to spend hours surfing online or spend a lot of money.  Keep it simple.  The biggest challenge if you are a first time home educator is establishing a disciplined daily routine.  Concentrate on mastering the routine before overloading in the homeschool candy store.  

More posts to come...but here's a hint that will help you get started on your routine: Everybody make your bed and... don't homeschool in your pajamas. Get dressed.