I have started taking my youngest two to a co-op class. They talk non-stop about it and all they are learning there. They hardly ever talking about what they are learning at home. Is this common? I ask, because I am doubting our curriculum. We are using Heart of Dakota. And while we love all the reading and the books it just seems like such little bits and pieces everyday that they don't seem to be getting a lot from it. Does that make sense? Anyone have any insight on this? Thanks!
Something exciting a new maybe? New friends? New environment? What subjects are they covering at co-op? Hands on projects? Group projects? Is it the topic/subject that interests them? Or are they simply enjoying the excitement of their new environment and sharing what they remember from their time there?
Yes! To all your questions. I know that it is new and exciting, but they are talking about what they learn more than the new friends, teachers, and environment. I think they would both be very good and love I guess what I would call "Unit Study" learning, picking a topic they want to learn about and going from there. However, I have no clue how to do that or where to even start.:roll:
Or, maybe instead of "Unit Studies" it's called "Unschooling" and I sure know nothing about that!:roll:
I've never used Heart of Dakota, so I don't know about that. But think back -- if you were public-schooled, how often did you go on and on about what you learned there? I would think they're "used to" lessons at home, and this is new and exciting. I wouldn't worry -- I've read too many people say HoD is good and they've learned lots. So unless you have some specific reason to doubt what they're learning at home, don't borrow worries!
Don't be discouraged. Homeschool is ordinary. Imagine yourself excitedly talking to your hubby and regaling him with the details of a difficult stain that you scrubbed out of the tablecloth. Boring to discuss? Yeah and so is an ordinary day of the same old same old. I'm sure they're just enjoying the newness.
Well, one way to find out is...try it! If you try unit studies at home (Which you can do for free-so no loss there) and see if they start going on and on about them then maybe you should consider a change in approach. If not, then it's just the newness! I'm not familiar with heart of dakota, but can you adjust you schedule so that you do heart of dakota Monday-Thursday then do unit studies on Friday? Or can you take a week off from HoD and try a week long unit study? You can get free unit studies (based on books you may already have or can check out at your library) here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/levels.php Or you can buy a topic based unit study from Amanda Bennett here http://www.unitstudy.com/ (very affordable) Or you can try CurrClick for unit studies written by various people (though some of these are hit or miss as to quality) but many are free http://www.currclick.com/index.php?filters=0_0_0_0_0_24100_0_0&ql=1?affiliate_id=91301 I figure, if you try it-then you'll have your answer and can quit second guessing yourself, and you can try it for free, so you're not out anything and it'd give you piece of mind. We do a lot of unit studies based on my children's interest (how very un CM and un-unschooling of me!! LOL) in addition to the basics and these are the resources I usually use. ETA: I don't think you should question whether or not your children are learning, I'm sure they are learning fine...and I didn't read your question that way, I read your question as 'could they enjoy learning more if we used a different style'
I am teaching a class at co-op called "Primary Math Fun." It involves things like patterning, counting, graphing, logic problems, Sudoku.... I was talking to a parent yesterday. Her daughter is in my class. I guess her daughter told her that my class "really isn't math. It's just fun!" LOL!!!
