When we first started homeschooling, we picked a classical curriculum that required five days of schoolwork. Since I had just pulled my son out of a parochial school, I took the the five-day school model as an assumed standard. My son must do five full days of schoolwork to learn just as he had in school.
However, that plan didn’t work for long. I quickly discovered that my son was behind in math and couldn’t keep up with the schedule for the classical homeschool curriculum. Soon we were both frustrated.
When we switched to BookShark a few years later, I was a little bothered that BookShark had lessons planned for only four days a week because I was still clinging to the five-day-a-week brick-and-mortar school standard.
The Joys of a Four-day Schedule
However, about 10 weeks into our BookShark year, I started savoring this four-day school week. We used the fifth day at first as a catch up day or a day to run errands. Later, we used it as a field trip day. Then, when we joined a co-op, we loved having only four days of scheduled homeschool work so that the fifth day was free for co-op.
I also noticed that on that fifth day (whenever we took it during the week)—those days when formal school wasn’t scheduled—my son spent a lot of his free time reading for enjoyment. He was still learning even on our off days!
Each year I give my son a standardized test to check my progress as a homeschool parent as much as my son’s progress as a student. Each year his score has been well above grade level, but when we switched to BookShark and schooled formally for only four days each week, his score jumped even more.
A Four-day School Week Leads to More Flexibility
BookShark’s four-day curriculum freed my mind to be open to more flexibility. Now, I’m even more flexible than before.
If I haven’t completed all of my younger girls’ scheduled reading during the day, we finish our read aloud as a bedtime story. Sure, we didn’t fit the work in during traditional school hours, but I’ve finally realized that as homeschoolers, we don’t need to fit all of our work in the traditional school hours.
If my kids need to go outside and do a scavenger hunt for science, I now have my husband do it on the weekend. This is especially helpful when we’ve had a busy week and couldn’t get to some of the hands-on activities.
Homeschooling offers families amazing flexibility. We simply have to be open to embracing that flexibility. For me, BookShark’s four-day schedule was a great way to free myself from the confines of a traditional brick-and-mortar school schedule and find what works for our family.
About the Author
Melissa is a homeschool mom to three kids. BookShark is her primary curriculum, and she and her kids love it! When she’s not homeschooling, she’s either shuttling kids from one activity to another or working from home as a freelance writer. You can read more about Melissa’s homeschool journey at her blog Moms Plans.
When you purchase a package like this, you receive the necessary student books, an in-depth teacher’s guide and schedule and, frequently, any additional readers and supplies you’ll need to complete all of the lessons throughout the year.
Many parents find that the teacher’s manual included in this type of curriculum is worth its weight in gold. Typically, an instructor’s guide includes detailed lesson plans, sample schedules, support materials, suggested student responses, tips for grading assignments, extension ideas, and more.
Everything is laid out for you when you use a boxed curriculum. That makes a complete curriculum a great way to build confidence, especially if you’re new to homeschooling. But it’s not just for newbies either. A lot of veteran homeschoolers use an all-in-one curriculum because of the many benefits it provides.
Why should families consider using a boxed curriculum in their homeschool?
Boxed Curriculum Packages Save Time
Since this type of curriculum comes with everything you need to complete a year of homeschooling, you won’t have to spend your valuable time researching and purchasing separate materials for each core subject. Not only will it save you time, but buying everything together in one package can also save you money.
Many parents love the fact that you can open up the box and get started immediately. You’ll most likely want to do some preparation and research on your own; however, it will take you far less time than building your own curriculum plan.
Boxed Curriculum Packages are Seamless
With everything coming from one company, all of the subjects tie together. The writing shares a similar perspective and tone. All of this makes the lessons easier for kids to understand and for mom to implement.
Plus, since you won’t be jumping around from curriculum to curriculum, there will be less chance of having gaps in your child’s learning. The publishers work hard to make sure key points are covered for each subject.
Take a look at the packages offered by BookShark for examples of the well-planned curriculum choices a full package can bring you.
Boxed Curriculum Packages are Less Stressful
Designing your child’s entire school year can cause many tense moments for even the most seasoned homeschool parent. Wading through the wide variety of choices available for each subject can make your head spin. And after you make your decisions and purchase your books, you still have to create the lesson plans and schedules.
When you choose to go with a boxed curriculum, all of that work has already been done for you, effectively removing any additional burdens and stress.
Families who use this all-in-one option love the benefits it provides. Boxed curriculum is a straightforward and extremely effective way to complete a school year at home with your child. It’s easy to see why so many parents choose this way to homeschool.
When you shop for homeschool curriculum, you want to know that the resources you choose meet the highest standards. After all, one of your primary reasons to homeschool your child is to provide a top-notch education!
But how can you tell is a curriculum is good enough? You remember a word you hear in education circles—accreditation. Then you wonder if that homeschool curriculum you are eyeing is accredited. If it were accredited, you’d know it is a safe bet and could rest assured that you’re buying something with an official seal of approval. You could comfort the family members who raise their eyebrows at your choice to homeschool by letting them know your homeschool materials are accredited.
But, let’s take a deeper look at accreditationand see why that question (surprisingly!) doesn’t apply in the case of shopping for homeschool curriculum.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is a process and designation that applies to learning institutions—such as schools, colleges, or universities—not learning materials, so homeschool curriculum itself cannot be accredited. (Mind blown, right?!)
Although some homeschool programs advertise that they are accredited, technically, the designation applies to the institution providing the material and not to the curriculum alone.
Agencies that provide accreditation look at factors such as the education and qualifications of the faculty and staff, as well as the subjects taught and hours required for each subject. These factors aren’t relevant in analyzing course material for one particular subject to be used by a homeschool mom in a flexible home environment.
Even the curriculum that is used by accredited institutions, like public or private schools, is not considered to be accredited of itself. Again, only an institution or school can be accredited, not a curriculum.
So is BookShark accredited? No, because curriculum can’t be accredited. BookShark is a curriculum not a school. Of course, BookShark is used in dozens of charter schools that are accredited. So is it good enough? Yes! Absolutely!
What if My Kids Go Back to a Traditional School?
Maybe you’re just beginning to investigate homeschooling. You don’t know if this will be a long-term fit for your family and you want to keep all your options open. How can you know if the curriculum you choose and the work you do with your children will “count” if they go back into a more traditional school setting in the future?
Each state has its own standards of education, and each state has its own homeschool laws. It’s important to be familiar with the requirements for your state. If you are unsure, you can find more information from the Homeschool Legal Defense Association website.
In general, if you are complying with local homeschool laws and meeting the requirements for proof of progress (if any) in your state, then your years of homeschooling are considered valid academic years for your student. The process will vary depending on the school district, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
My brothers and I were homeschooled for various segments of our education but also attended public school in other years. When my brother transitioned from homeschooling to public school in middle school, the guidance counselor simply asked my mother which classes he had completed with her and then added them to his official transcript.
So as long as you are following your state and district’s rules for homeschooling, what you teach your kids will count if you enroll them in public school again.
Will BookShark Meet State Standards?
You might find this information from BookShark’s FAQ page to be helpful in answering this concern:
Due to the large variation of standards around the country, we do not specifically follow any state standards. However BookShark typically meets or exceeds state standards. In fact, we are an approved vendor with many charter schools around the country.
More than likely, you’ll be covered when it comes to state standards, but you can certainly compare BookShark’s Scope & Sequence charts with what your state requires to verify the match.
What Other Questions Should I Ask?
Since the question of accreditation is moot, what questions are relevant in choosing a homeschool curriculum?
Is it based on sound teaching practices?
Is it respectedin the greater homeschool community?
Homeschool families choose home education because of the flexibility it affords. Read reviews, ask other homeschool moms, and then pick a curriculum that works for your family even if the term accreditation is moot.
About the Author
Lynna is a former homeschooler, then classroom teacher, now homeschool mom of eight crazy (and lovable) hooligans from middle school down to bouncing baby.
She calls her blog Homeschooling without Training Wheels because she loves to encourage families to embrace the freedom and flexibility that come with homeschooling and let go of the things that are holding them back! You can read more in her free eBook 5 Myths that are Killing Your Multi-Age Homeschool
These fears can paralyze reluctant writers. That’s pretty much the case in my homeschool: while my daughter loves to read and tell stories, writing anything down tends to throw her into panic mode.
What’s a homeschool parent to do, then, when a child struggles to write? One common solution is the presentation of a traditional writing prompt: a question or intriguing statement that encourages a thoughtful response. This might work in theory. In practice, though, a traditional writing prompt can prove more problematic than triumphant.
Remember those questions I asked a minute ago?
What if I don’t know what to say?
What if no one likes what I’m saying?
What if I’m saying it wrong?
While a traditional prompt may provide ideas for writing, it’s unlikely to resolve or alleviate an anxious writer’s fears. For my daughter, rather than elicit a deluge of thoughts, a traditional writing prompt paralyzes her further, even if the prompt is on a topic she enjoys.
How to Use Writing Prompts with Anxious Writers
It’s tempting to let writing go and focus on other things like history or science. But I want my daughter to build confidence in writing. It’s not merely an important life skill; it’s a matter of learning to trust her own abilities as a thinker.
To this end, we’ve tried a variety of alternative prompts to get those creative thoughts flowing. From headlines and photos to mirrors and fairy tales, the following activities ignite the imagination and banish the writing blues.
1. Headline News
Create personal headlines about your own life events, then take turns filling in the stories behind them. We’ve had great fun writing stories for headlines like Preschooler Throws Dinner in Epic Tantrum and Toddler Creates Eggy Mess in Dairy Aisle. This exercise generates creative and engaging stories while you reminisce over family memories.
2. A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
Why not use an image to generate writing? Turn to family albums, historical documents, or photojournalism for thought-provoking images. Observe and discuss the details in the photo, then make a list of the concrete images you identify. Pay close attention to the five senses: what do you see? What do you hear? What do you smell? Taste? Feel? If the photo is particularly obscure, try writing a story to explain its origin. When you’re done, test your theory against the facts behind it.
3. The Golden Line
Choose an old piece of writing you haven’t looked at in a while. Read through it together and select your favorite golden line—favorite passage or inspiring quote. Copy that line to another piece of paper, then start the piece over using that as your introduction. This exercise will take your writing in new and unexpected directions and give the added bonus of a lesson in revision.
4. The Fractured Fairy Tale
What crazy conundrums can you devise when you think of favorite fairy tales? Maybe Sleeping Beauty was really an insomniac? Or perhaps Cinderella was allergic to dust? Did the Big Bad Wolf just want to be friends? The silly possibilities are endless, and so are the stories you can tell.
5. Mirror, Mirror
Stand in front of a mirror with your child, a pen and notepad in your hand. Ask your child to tell you what she sees. Record her responses, and as you do, point out what connections she’s making. If she says she’s a scientist, she’s imagining (or predicting). If she mentions her brown hair, she’s describing. If she asks who she looks like, she’s questioning. All of these (and more) are important skills for a writer. Talk about the skills she’s shown and use her responses to write descriptively.
Working with a reluctant or anxious writer isn’t so much about generating ideas. For the most part, I’ve found reluctant writers to be overwhelmingly creative. The goal is more about increasing a child’s comfort level, helping her see the process of writing as good and worthwhile. Relying on alternative prompts allows both parent and child to explore writing together, removing fear from the equation and replacing it with trust.
About the Author
Ginny Kochis is a former high school English teacher and adjunct professor of English turned homeschooling mom and business owner. She writes about faith, motherhood, homeschooling and family literacy at Not So Formulaic
The best way to build a reader is to read aloud early and often, to surround yourselves with print, and to delight in the written word. If your child has positive memories around reading, and if your child sees you reading regularly, you are on the path to raising a reader.
That said, not all readers are confident at reading aloud. In fact, many adults will blush and stammer when asked to read aloud! Still, this is a skill that should not be overlooked in your homeschool experience. Reading aloud builds fluency, boosts comprehension, and engages critical thinking skills.
I have three children but three very different readers. Whereas my boys read aloud with reckless abandon to anyone who would listen, my daughter was reluctant. She preferred to read quietly, often to a pet or a favorite doll. We gave her the space she needed and, in time, she grew into a confident reader who will now happily read aloud.
If you have a child who is hesitant to read aloud, don’t fret. There are ways to boost his or her confidence little by little. Continue doing what you are already doing but add in these helpful tricks.
1. Hear Your Mistakes
Let your child see you stumble over text. It is important for children to understand that everyone struggles to read aloud sometimes. Make a mistake, laugh about it if you need to, and then move happily along.
2. Read Aloud in Solitude
When my daughter was learning to read, she wanted to read in solitude. At first, I worried that she wasn’t actually reading aloud- but a quick listen at her door told me that she was. Some children need to practice and gain confidence alone and that is okay.
3. Read to a Younger Sibling or Child
It can be intimidating to read to an adult. I’ll never forget the first time I saw my daughter read aloud to her younger brother. She did not know I was watching, and her confidence was through the roof. She read with emphasis and a smile. Another time, she read to a young child during her brothers’ karate class. Each week, she would select books to read to the little girl, and every week her read alouds improved.
4. Read to a Pet
There is reason why read to pet programs are so popular! When my daughter was first starting to read, she would read to our dog. She continues to read to him daily, and it is the sweetest tradition. We always joke that he is the most well-read pooch in town. Dogs do not cast judgment or issue critiques and corrections. They love you no matter what you read, or how you read.
5. Read to a Stuffed Animal
When the thought of reading to a grown-up is just too much, why not read to a favorite doll or stuffed animal? Just as with reading to pets, there is no judgment!
6. Try Puppets
This is a trick I picked up from my counseling days. Sometimes it is easier to say things when you are not technically the one saying them. Why not let a favorite puppet read the book aloud? It might make mistakes a bit easier.
7. Read Aloud While Mom is Occupied
Sometimes it is the eye contact that bothers young readers. It is often easier to read aloud while mom is driving, cooking dinner, or engaged in some other task. Your child will feel less on the spot and may open up more.
As with many parts of homeschooling, helping your child become a confident reader is a matter of practice and trial and error. Sometimes things that were working for weeks suddenly stop working, so try a variety of techniques to see what is most effective for your children.
About the Author
Cait is a school psychologist, mom to three amazing children, and an unexpected homeschooler. She loves nature, good books, board games, strong coffee, and dancing in her kitchen. You can read about all of these things and more at My Little Poppies.
Are you thinking of taking the plunge into homeschooling your children? But you’re worried, right? You might even feel overwhelmed.
What if you fail?
I’m here to tell you we’ve all had those thoughts and feelings, but guess what? Homeschooling is not going to chew you up and spit you out, and here’s why.
Homeschooling Can Be a Year-by-Year Choice
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be a forever thing unless, of course, you discover that it works for you and your family. Try it for one year! If you go into the venture with an attitude that it’s a one-year trial, there’s no sense of failure if you switch educational methods at the end of the year. Tell everyone it’s a grand experiment and you want to see what happens. Keep your options open.
A solid program like BookShark can ease you into homeschooling because it provides a step-by-step Instructor’s Guide and a full curriculum package. In the beginning it makes sense to stick with a program that’s nearly foolproof instead of piecing together your school choices.
It’s okay to take homeschooling on a year-by-year basis. You can always send your kids back to public school if homeschooling is an utter disaster. If you do change paths mid-stream, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means homeschooling worked for a short season.
Education is woven into every part of your day because learning happens all the time!
Field trips and travel can happen anytime you like.
Library days can be any day!
School doesn’t have to start at 8 a.m. every morning. You can choose to homeschool at any time, day or night!
Your kids can progress at their own pace.
You can follow your child’s interests down rabbit trails of learning.
After your first trial year, you may discover that it works for your kids all the way through elementary school. It could continue to work through middle school. Hey, you might discover that homeschooling is the perfect fit for your high schooler!
Homeschooling Does Involve a Certain Amount of Uncertainty
“What if I fall… Oh, but my darling, but what if you fly?” – Eric Hanson
There is a certain amount of risk in anything we do in this life, and homeschooling is no different. But there is also the possibility of great reward when we step out of our comfort zones and explore new possibilities.
Think of anything hard you’ve ever done. It was scary. But it was worth it, right?
“I can’t teach a kid to read! I have no idea where to start!”
Don’t let fear cause you to avoid taking risks. It is super easy to outsource subjects that may make you feel uncomfortable—co-op classes, online classes, or tutors are all options. Plus, there are loads of quality curriculums and books to help you teach topics you feel are weak points. Teaching a child to read is not the Mr. Everest of education. I promise.
Do What Works Best for Your Family
Another big reason that you don’t need to worry about failing as a homeschooler is because you can choose your own methods—the ones that work for you!
For example, my kids would likely revolt if I attempted a strict schedule. I’m not particularly good at schedules, and my kids loathe textbooks. Give me a relaxed homeschool environment with loads of great literature, read-alouds, unit studies, art, and nature, and I can rock this homeschool gig with the best of them.
But perhaps you are more of structured schooler or prefer Charlotte Mason’s methods. The choice is yours!
Homeschooling is not going to chew you up and spit you out because you decide how homeschooling works best for you. You decide what you want it to look like and how you want to accomplish it. (That freedom in itself can be scary to a newbie, and that’s why I suggest sticking with something fully laid out and all-inclusive like BookShark’s All Subject Packages.)
The bottom line is this—do what works best for your family. Every homeschool family is different, and so are their homeschool style and methods. That’s the beauty of homeschooling! You can tailor it to fit the unique and individual needs of your family and your kids. Don’t let fear of failure hold you back. You can homeschool your children.
About the Author
I’m Erin, an introverted homeschooling mom to two intense extroverted kids. We are child led with a heavy emphasis on read alouds, games, art, nature hikes, and hands-on everything! My kids just learn better when they can use their hands. You can find me at Nourishing My Scholar.
We traded the hustle and bustle of city life for the quiet that only farm life can provide. This creates a wonderful environment for our children, complete with chickens, goats, ducks, and cows. I’m a huge fan of Harry Potter and Gilmore Girls. When we’re not homeschooling, you’ll find me curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book or possibly enjoying a random dance party in the front yard to the newest Disney soundtrack.
Do you remember writing book reports as a kid? I do.
Do you remember what books you wrote about? I don’t.
Why is that?
Let’s be perfectly honest: A book report is boring with a capital B. They are boring to write, and I can assure you from a teacher’s point of view, they are boring to read. It’s really a shame, too, because more often than not, the books are wonderful!
Because a great book deserves a great project, we need alternatives to traditional book reports.
I remember squealing with joy as a new English teacher when I discovered this idea of outside-the-box book reports. My students did, too. Each time I gave an alternative book report assignment; excitement grew in the classroom with calls of “I’m going to choose this one!” and “I can’t choose. They are all so good!”
Over the years, I ate food that represented symbols, listened to monologues, watched skits, poured over diaries, and repeatedly saw students engaging, analyzing, and enjoying literature.
Now, as a homeschooling mom, I get to experience those same experiences and joy with my own children. Each time my daughter finishes a book from her BookShark Reading with History curriculum, she completes an alternative to a book report.
These creative projects allow her to deep dive a little more deeply into the novel and continue to build on all sorts of skills — all while having a lot of fun.
Sharing and discussing projects is one of the most important aspects of these alternate book reports. So encourage your student to talk about what they created, telling why and how it’s relevant to the novel they read. This might look like an informal presentation around the kitchen table or a more formal speech. Videotaping projects can also be a lot of fun and a great way for students to practice public speaking.
I’ve also found children and teens relish being able to choosewhich project they do, so give them a list like the seven options below and let them take the lead.
1. Write a New Ending or Fan Fiction
Does the book leave you hanging or wishing things worked out differently? Does it inspire you to write your own story?
Write an alternative ending to the novel you read. Make sure to include details from the original telling and change it in a way that makes sense.
You can also use the author’s style and writing to inspire your writing. Write a retelling of the story or create a spin-off from the perspective of a particular character’s point of view.
2. Create a Game
Use the setting, conflicts, and characters to create a game. Using a favorite board or card game as inspiration, design the game board, questions, and even the game pieces to show your understanding of the novel and help others learn all about it.
3. Cook or Bake
There are many ways to go about creating a food project. Answer any of the following questions to get started.
If the main character were a food, what food would they be and why?
What do foods in the novel symbolize?
What recipes are important to the characters or culture?
You can also create an edible scene that’s integral to the story. After you present it, you can eat it.
4. Pack a Suitcase
If a character from the novel was going on a trip, what would they take with them? Collect objects from around the house and put them in a suitcase. You can also make miniature versions or draw items on slips of paper and make a small suitcase.
These items might be things someone would truly put in a suitcase, like a favorite shirt, book, or journal, or they could be more figurative like the ocean, a pet, or a particular dream.
5. Interview a Character
The main character of a book has a lot to share. Secondary characters do too.
Choose a favorite character in the novel and interview them like one might for a magazine or news show. Write out questions and answers that show your understanding of the character.
6. Create a Graphic Novel or Comic Strip
Turn an important scene, your favorite part, or the entire novel (condensed) into a graphic novel or comic strip. Use artistic license and details from the text to create the characters, setting, and important details.
7. Create a Social Media Page or Profile
If a character in your novel had a Twitter or Instagram profile…
What would they post?
What types of things would they share?
Who would be their friends or followers?
What might their profile look like and say.
What hashtags would they use?
Create a social media profile (either digitally or on paper) for your character, using details from the novel to stay true to who they are.
Use these book-based project ideas to inspire your own alternatives to book reports. I bet your children can come up with brilliant project ideas on their own. The sky’s the limit, and each book lends itself to different projects.
The books we read deserve projects that reflect the same delight we had when reading the intriguing characters, detailed settings, and twisting plot lines. You don’t have to settle for another dull book report!
About the Author
Kelly left teaching middle and high school English to homeschool her children and reclaim how she and her family spent their time. Followers of interest-led learning, her family’s days rarely look the same, but they tend to include a lot of books, art supplies, and time outside.
Kelly facilitates local writing circles for women and children and blogs about nurturing the love of learning on her blog, Curiosity Encouraged. She loves to journal, read memoirs, hike, and travel. She seeks quiet mornings and good coffee daily.
When we first considered homeschooling, we were living in a state which has charter schools that partner with homeschoolers. I thought homeschooling under the umbrella of a charter school was a great way to start our homeschool journey. I’d have someone to hold my hand through the second thoughts and doubts!
Sadly, we moved right before our oldest child’s kindergarten year and thus found ourselves on our own in a new state without charter schools.
I still wanted a program that could hold my hand, at least for the first year. Without a charter school option, I was thrilled to discover all-in-one homeschool curriculumoptions. The program I bought provided the guidance I craved as a new homeschooler. With the help of that curriculum, I started off on the right foot and had confidence I was doing it right!
Fast forward five years. I’m still homeschooling, and—surprise—I still use an all-in-one homeschool curriculum.
The Homeschool Comparison Game
With such vibrant online and local homeschool communities, it’s easy to compare ourselves with others and wonder if we’re doing enough as homeschool parents. These communities are wonderful for inspiration and making connections. However, if we’re not careful, comparing ourselves to others in our communities can cause unnecessary worry and stress.
Is an All-in-one Curriculum Cheating? Or Lazy?
After our first year of homeschooling, it felt like I was cheating by continuing to use an all-in-one curriculum. I watched many of my new homeschool friends labor over lesson plans:
spending hours putting together the perfect book list for every subject
hunting down deals for every book or resource that they couldn’t find at the library
saving YouTube playlists of supplemental videos
juggling and revising yearly, monthly, and weekly assignment schedules
I envied their attention to detail in planning their homeschool year. It sounded like something “real” homeschoolers are supposed to do.
On the other hand, it also sounded tedious and overwhelming. In fact, I absolutely did notwant to go through that much work in planning our school year.
I then realized one big difference. Using an all-in-one curriculum didn’t make me a lazy homeschool mom. It didn’t mean that I wasn’t as dedicated to homeschooling as my friends. It simply meant that I had a different vision for creating a rich experience for my family.
Our Foundation Frees Me to Plan the Extras
An all-in-one homeschool curriculum gives me a foundation on which to build. That foundation is built by people who have far more knowledge and expertise in crafting an educational program than I have. By using this foundation, I can use my time to plan the extras that create a rich homeschool experience for my kids. I have time to plan field trips, nature adventures, group classes, extracurricular activities, and so on. I have time to follow my kids’ interests and put together activities and projects for them.
Our core homeschool subjects are mapped out for us. I don’t have to spend time creating our daily, weekly, or yearly schedules for each subject and then stress if I fall behind in that work. Even though the schedule is done for me, I don’t have to strictly follow it. I use it as a guide. I am free to slow down, speed up, or alter it in a way that works best for our family. It’s there as a foundation—not as shackles.
Finding Personal Balance Between Homeschool and Life
I believe that all homeschool parents should have their own interests apart from homeschooling. By using an all-in-one curriculum, I have time and energy for other obligations and hobbies:
tending my garden
teaching gardening classes
volunteering
managing our family’s finances
writing articles for my blog
It’s important that my kids see me doing these things that are for me. They see me learning about things that I’m interested in, troubleshooting problems with my hobbies, and teaching other people. They see that Mom is a person with her own needs and purpose in life—beyond being a mother.
And they get the advantage of a happy and fulfilled mom who gets to recharge with her hobbies instead of a cranky and burned-out mom who spends every free second on homeschooling.
It’s okay for the line between homeschool and the rest of life to be blurry, but it’s important for us to occasionally step outside the homeschool parent role and pursue other activities. It’s just as important to help our kids do the same, especially as they get older and their interests become more varied and time consuming. Using an all-in-one curriculum frees up my time to help them explore their interests outside of our core subjects.
Just imagine…If you didn’t have to put together your curriculum, piece by piece each year, what would you do with the time that you save? What adventures would you go on with your kids? What crazy things might you do when following your kids’ interests?
Using an all-in-one curriculum as a veteran homeschooler isn’t cheating or being lazy. It’s simply using a foundation built by others upon which you can build your own vibrant homeschool experience.
About the Author
Terri Kurcab is a homeschool mom who lives in Nevada with her husband and their two daughters. Nature has provided the cornerstone of their homeschool journey which began in 2013. National and State park visits, mountain hikes, and outdoor-based learning adventures are what Terri and the girls can be found doing most often. When homeschool is not in session, you can find Terri in the garden or spending time with a good book and a cup of tea.
Whether he’s just taking a vacation day to catch up on a house project or has a random day off from work, I love having my husband home. Don’t even get me started on that wonderful family cocoon we cuddle up in during the slow and confusing time between Christmas and New Year’s. Having my husband home in the middle of the day is a treat equivalent to when I’d be on a field trip and realize that I’d normally be in math class but was watching a show or taking in zoo animals. It’s out of the norm and always a surprise.
Well, it was.
Like millions of others, my husband has been working from home for the last few months as a result of the coronavirus. I was excited at first. Why wouldn’t I be? All of my favorite people under one roof, all day, with nowhere to go and all of our plans cancelled. Sounds like heaven to me!
Well, it did.
Once it became clear that this global pandemic wouldn’t be allowing us to return to normal very soon, my delight and optimism began to fade. Not only did I downshift to the bare minimum in our homeschool while we devoured news and statistics all day, but I also had to figure out how to homeschool with my husband working just feet away.
Talk About It First
Assumptions threaten us all, and with the novelty of our new arrangement, the temptation to hope or assume loomed large.
With my husband home, he could help me school the kids, right?
With my husband home, I wouldn’t have to be the only one figuring out what we’d have for dinner, right? He could thaw the meat, switch the laundry over to the dryer, and even give me a much-needed break during the day. Right?
While he could do these things, in theory, I couldn’t just come up with a mental list for him and expect him to fulfill my imaginations. I had to talk with him — a lot, and often.
We had to discuss what he needed to do and what extras he could take on. We had to talk about what time the day needed to start. I even had to check with him to see if there were any subjects he wanted to take over with our kids. We had to know what was expected of us and what was protected for us, everything from what times he needed a quiet place to make calls to when we needed him to keep his nose in his computer and stay out of our lesson.
We had to talk often because it turned out that I didn’t want him to take any subjects away, and his Zoom calls didn’t happen at the same time every day.
If you are homeschooling while your spouse is working from home, make sure your’e not holding onto expectations which you’ve never clearly voiced in conversation.
Schedule It Next
I am not someone who enjoys schedules. I don’t even like packing for a trip. I want everything to be available at all times for any reason. Schedules feel limiting to me, like I’m leashed to a clock, and our homeschool reflects that.
We don’t have a start time, don’t follow any particular order for the subjects, and can spend as little as 10 minutes or as much as 3 hours on a Read-Aloud. I like flexibility, so schedules feel stifling.
My husband, however, is always aware of what time it is. Even if he’s a mile away from the nearest sundial, he can, at any moment, tell you exactly what time it is. He has some internal clock that gives him this superpower, and he uses it to create, and adhere to, schedules.
We new it wouldn’t be wise to wait until tempers flared to make a plan. We needed to schedule our days so that no one was in the other’s way. Because he had numerous virtual meetings in the mornings, I couldn’t bang around in the kitchen or play a lively (but educational) game whenever we got our day started. He couldn’t pop in to chat or ask what we were having for dinner when I was in the middle of science lessons with three kids. We set our do not disturb hours and planned accordingly.
Don’t wait until you’re annoyed, interrupted, or both in need of the one laptop you own. Schedule your days, even if only loosely, to protect precious time and silence. Be sure to set aside time to be alone, time to date your partner on the couch, and time to spend as a family. It is as important to protect and plan for personal time as it is work time.
Don’t Let Home Become the Office
I’ve worked from home for over a decade and love it. Plenty of articles stress the importance of maintaining a strict routine and getting dressed in work clothes to help your mind stay in work mode. Honestly, that just means more laundry for me later and the possibility of spilling lunch on a good top. I embrace my sweatpants while working from home because one of the benefits is not wearing office attire. I also don’t work on a strict schedule, tending to get most of my work done after midnight, when anyone who would want my attention is asleep. It’s awesome. But this won’t work while my husband is working from home.
The lines between work and play easily get blurred when you
play games and watch TV in the same rooms that were homeschool areas and business offices earlier in the day
Suddenly what was once a comfort is now a rut. You feel stuck in a day that bleeds over and resembles the next. Whether it’s putting on a nice shirt or setting a time to be done with school and work, find something that separates the time spent in your home.
Maybe go for a walk after lessons are finished so you can all walk in the front door as though you’re coming home. Encourage your partner to pack away their technology that keeps them tethered to their work when finished. Put a tie on over pajamas, open the curtains, or ring a bell.
Wriggle in at least one small gesture that signals the end of the work day and begins official family time.
When in Doubt, Step Aside
I’ve been working from home and homeschooling for years. I don’t have a schedule, but I have established a routine the works. I’m used to switching between medieval medicine texts and watercolors. My husband (and maybe your partner, too) is the newbie. They’re stepping into what is, essentially, our world.
The temptation is great to puff our chests and declare that we were here first, forcing our partners to find an unused corner to set up an office. But really, our homeschool will survive if we put off a subject for a few hours or move to a different room.
It’s our spouses who are thrown for the biggest loop, who have the harder task in learning how to suddenly do their work in a way they never have before. We’re used to the din of children, but your partner is not, especially while trying to work. We’re used to grazing on snacks or having lunch whenever we feel like it, but my husband is accustomed to a set lunch hour.
The person experiencing the greatest change is the person who should be given the most grace.
When tempers flare and you start toying with the idea of spousal distancing, remember that it’s a lot harder to change the way your job is done than it is to simply change where or when it’s done. I can step aside so my husband can use a room or computer, because our homeschool is far more flexible and I’m not getting paid to do it.
We’re all under stress, experiencing situations and thoughts and news cycles we never imagined before. Change can be scary and frustrating. But by talking about and managing expectations, creating and sticking to a schedule, and extending grace to the partner most affected, you can get through this time without sacrificing your children’s education, your partner’s job, or your relationship.
It’s one of the first phrases little ones learn as parents introduce them to the world of books.
Throughout history in cultures worldwide, stories are cherished. Myths, legends, and history are passed down from generation to generation through storytelling.
Just think about the impact stories have on our day-to-day lives. Consider how they are woven into the fabric of who we are as individuals and citizens.
We love to laugh at a funny story and encourage people to “Tell her that story you just told me.” At reunions, families share stories about growing up together, the crazy things they did when they were young, and how grandma used to let them shell black-eyed peas picked from the garden. We watch the Olympics not just for the events, but also for the stories of athletes overcoming obstacles to represent the countries they love. In their speeches, political figures inspire us with stories of heroes. Because we are drawn to stories from the time we are young children, we seem hardwired for storytelling. Narratives connect us to others. Stories are powerful.
A literature-based approach to homeschooling uses real, or living, books instead of relying on textbooks. BookShark curriculum, for example, includes both fiction and non-fiction books along with biographies and literature. Students benefit from this book-based approach in so many ways:
Shared Literature Cultivates Strong Family Relationships
History, read-aloud (literature), and science can be enjoyed by multiple ages when done through books. Discussions about literature build family relationships through shared experience. As you listen to each person’s thoughts and ideas, you learn more about one another. And often the things you learn together become a special vocabulary just for your family. For example, you may hear one child say “precision of language, please” to a sibling after reading Lois Lowrey’s The Giver in Level J.
Stories Give Context
We remember stories better than dry facts. Sure, there’s a time and place for memorizing facts like multiplication tables. But without context, facts have little meaning whether they are about history, grammar, or geography. When you use a literature-based approach, you are giving meaning to the facts.
Living Books Are Written by Actual Authors
While textbooks have multiple writers, literature is written by one person who is passionate about the story they are telling. This is true whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. Charlotte Mason (a British educator) called these living books.
Because of this feature of living books, students aren’t only learning about the information or story in the book, they are also learning how authors craft their writing. They absorb writing skills naturally from those who do it best.
No matter what your children choose to do in the future, strong communication skills are essential. And in a world where people tend to talk at others instead of communicate with them, they will stand out as thoughtful, intelligent communicators.
Literature-based Homeschool Engages Hearts and Minds
How often do your kids ask to hear “just one more chapter” of their textbook? Probably never. But when children read or hear a good story, they become emotionally invested in it as they are learning. They want to keep going! A story may give them insight into life in another time while also subtly teaching them about character. For example, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, one of the Read-Alouds in BookShark’s Level D, Johnny struggles with his pride. The price he pays for this character flaw is life changing. While students learn about the American revolution, they are also learning about the impact of character.
Books Work For A Range Of Ages
With a literature-based homeschool like BookShark, you can teach multiple kids at the same time. For those subjects that require grade level lessons, like math, you can set aside time for each child to work at their own level.
Many subjects, though, can be done together. Your expectations for length and depth of work may vary according to the age of the child, but the subject matter can be the same.
BookShark is designed for this type of learning. Instead of grades, the curriculum is organized in levels that cover a range of ages, allowing students to learn at their own unique pace as well as possibly joining siblings in the same material for some subjects.
Literature Provides Connected Learning
If you grew up going to a public or private school, you probably learned subjects separately. You would go from language arts class to math class to science class to history class, and there was nothing in common with any of them. Language arts was broken up into even more separate subjects: grammar, writing, reading, vocabulary, spelling, etc. Many homeschool programs follow the same model. But in the real world, topics don’t fit in tidy boxes. Learning is connected and entwined. The literature-based homeschool is the same. Students can read and write about what they are learning in history, science, or geography.
Bonus: It’s actually more efficient to learn with a literature-based approach because you cover multiple disciplines with one book, discussion, or activity.
Literature-based Homeschooling is a Natural Education
A literature-rich approach also takes advantage of children’s natural learning abilities. For example, language arts uses copy work dictation, narration, and discussion so kids can learn how to write and communicate from real writers and in a way they’ve been learning since the day they were born.
Common Objections to a Literature-based Curriculum
You may have heard some of these objections to a literature-based curriculum, or wondered about them yourself:
Children will have gaps in their education. No matter which curriculum you use, students will never learn everything there is to learn about every subject. But the emphasis of a literature-based curriculum isn’t about teaching everything. It’s about quality. It’s about depth, not breadth. And it’s about teaching kids how to learn and think critically so they will continue their education long after they leave your homeschool.
Students won’t be prepared for college since they haven’t used textbooks. Actually a literature-based approach prepares students for college better than textbooks. Children growing up with this approach have learned from experts in their fields. They’ve read and discussed and analyzed the works of great thinkers. They’ve studied cultures and people from around the world. With this solid foundation, they will have the skills to adapt to different teaching methods.
Literature-based Homeschool
A literature-based homeschool takes advantage of those things that are hardwired into us since birth—the love of stories, how we acquire communications skills, and how we make connections across the subjects.
It’s a natural, common-sense approach that is both engaging and memorable. And with BookShark as your guide, you won’t have to look for the best books to teach your children. Instead, you can enjoy learning right alongside them.
