I'm kinda going this route too. Now I am using "curriculum" for phonics and math, but other than that.... But I only have a 3 and 6 year old so I'm not sure how inspiring I can be for ya LOL
So I wanted to bump this old post because I'm "studying" and don't have time to follow every link tonight Maybe it will help someone else as well
I will try to keep this short. I will also warn any readers that I have a strong opinion on this, but only since about 2 years ago. Before that I was a "curriculum is the key, if I only had the right curriculum everything would be OK" type of person. I didn't understand people who winged it or did relaxed learning or didn't worry about algebra II or maybe even algebra I. I have read about learning and what is real learning versus textbook, take a test type of learning. I think what schools do is make learning a factory type of experience (and a fast paced one). 1. Teach a chapter. 2. Review (cram) information in the mind. 3. Give a test. 4. Move on to the next chapter. To me, many subjects are wonderful to learn about, but boring to learn about from a textbook. Plus the mere amount of new information that kids are supposed to process is just too much to remember much. My son is in high school and we are going very relaxed. A lot of times we just orally review grammar concepts. I am incorporating writing with other subjects. He is learning algebra I and he is in 10-11 grade (sort of in between). I don't care if he is "behind" in where the world would like him at in math. Actually, the only reason I am teaching him algebra is for the ASVAB test. I have told him that. OK, I will stop, because that wasn't short, but I like my soapbox.
:lol::lol: Just finished putting together our curriculum-free science plans for this year. Now that was a time hog, but it will pay off in our day to day schooling.
I totally agree here. I'll probably use more textbooks as my children approach high school. I believe they are best used when a child is already interested in a topic and I believe that interest is best generated without a textbook.
