building your own curriculum from table of contents?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by boomerang, Mar 12, 2014.

  1. boomerang

    boomerang Member

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    So we have been homeschooling for 4 years now and the further we get into it the more I want to build my own curriculum using scope and sequences or table of contents out of textbooks. For example lots of the curriculum samples have the table of contents, I want to use that to teach from and make/find worksheets to go with it for free instead of buying the curriculum. Anyone ever done this successfully? Any tips?
     
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  3. NYCitymomx3

    NYCitymomx3 Member

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    I did this for years when the kids were younger. I used the Typical Course of Study from worldbook. It was a nice, general outline for each major subject. It was great and gave us the freedom to use a huge variety of resources (websites, library books, field trips, art projects, nature walks, etc) to learn about a topic. We did all sorts of fun things and the kids learned so much.

    One tip I would suggest is to jot down things the kids did during the day to keep as a record of their learning (in a Word document, calendar, or notepad). Maybe even break it into subjects. Think of it as their "curriculum in retrospect". After a few days you'll be amazed at the amount of learning happening. And it's great to have as proof what you're doing is really working.

    Good luck and let us know how it goes!
     
  4. boomerang

    boomerang Member

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    Thank you for your input! At what grade did you stop doing this?
     
  5. NYCitymomx3

    NYCitymomx3 Member

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    With dd, it was around age 12 (we started when she first came out of school at age 8. Ds used the worldbook list from ages 5 to 8). That was when she thought of maybe going to a performing arts high school. So, at her request, we got a couple of formal programs/workbooks for her to work with - for things like math, grammar, and test prep (and ds followed suit). We still did our own things (using the worldbook outline) for science, history, geography, and reading - plus we went on tons of field trips.
     
  6. kbabe1968

    kbabe1968 New Member

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    I sort of do that.

    Well, I buy the textbook and then ADD to it. I usually wrap as many subjects as I can around our History curricula. Finding historical fiction, science from that time period, etc. Build their L/A and stuff around it, too. The only subject is Math, I just use TT for that.

    But it CAN be done, especially with all the great stuff out there!
     
  7. Monackie

    Monackie New Member

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    No experience here - I just wanted to chime in on the idea. I plan to do this with the worldbook standards, as mentioned above, for science and social studies at least. My state is very loose with requirements, and I want to put the most focus on the three R's anyway. I'm planning to teach what is on the guideline by finding library books on the subjects, gathering pinterest ideas, visiting museums, coming up with appropriate crafts/projects/experiments, etc. I think it sounds like a lot more fun!
     
  8. CrazyMom

    CrazyMom Banned

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    I never used a curriculum. My kid never did worksheets, never wrote a test. We worked on school a couple hours a day, and spent the rest of the day applying school concepts to our day to day life.

    I taught her to read very very well. But she read mostly books of her own choosing.

    I taught her to do basic math very very well. Five problems at a time. I made them up as I went. No pressure.

    She devoured science on her own every chance she could get. Science is sort of a staple at our house. No need to teach what we live and breath. LOL.

    I never bothered much with history. We watched some American history films, and read the Little House books and did puzzles of the US.

    Writing was always creative. Letters, stories, poetry, journals, observations. We talked about writing a good sentence. And then about writing a good paragraph. We did a little bit of talking about different types of words, how they work, and diagramming sentences. Nothing too in depth.

    When she started eighth grade in public school...I was really concerned she was unprepared. She made all A's her first semester...and has been extremely solid academically ever since.

    Either because of me, or in spite of me. LOL. I'm not sure which!
     
  9. vantage

    vantage Active Member

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    I have always thought this was a great way to get started. YOu can use a variety of materials and try different approaches but not get lost along the way.

    I have used various things as this road map, but pick one and stick with it, and change the materials as needed. This way you have the assurance you are not missing too much.
     

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