Winter is the time of year when parents consider whether to switch to other curriculum or continue using “status quo” materials. Long winter days confined to kitchen tables and living room couches reveal whether students really like or dislike a particular brand of curriculum. And students, especially teenagers, let their feelings be known to Mom and Dad!
Fortunately, parents have access to a fantastic array of instructional materials. Unfortunately, some advertised materials are more hype than effective for home-education setting.
Students are good judges of curriculum…whether a particular format or packaging is a good fit for the students’ particular temperaments, interests, and skills. Wise parents will select instructional materials based on individual student academic needs, self-discipline, maturity, and learning style (whether teacher-dependent or independent learner). Every student has distinctive differences from siblings and peers. What works for one teenager may be inappropriate for another youth.
Parents have access to the four basic instructional formats: (1) hardback textbooks that require Mom to prepare and teach lesson plans (much like a classroom teacher), (2)computer-based software that the student completes with assistance from a virtual/distance proctor, (3) eclectic approach (a collection of books, charts, articles, field trips, experiments, projects,etc which the parent organizes and supervises), and (4) individualized curriculum designed for students who can learn with minimum dependence on parents for rapid or average completion.
Take a look at how your students are progressing this winter. Talk with your teenagers to measure how your current books and instructional format “fits”. Get with your home school support group to assess whether the time is right to switch curriculum. You may be able to trade your “status quo” books with another parent whose teenager is a good fit for your inventory of books. If you are looking for individualized curriculum, or want to download a free lesson check out www.pacworks.com or www.pacworks.biz for quality courses for grades seven through twelve.
If you need guidance and/or have questions, correspond with Dr. Johnson at Learn@pacworks.com or PH:325-649-0976.
