We are headed up to the Cincinnati Convention tomorrow, just for the day, to look at and buy curriculum. We did Abeka this year, with la Clase Divertida, but I am looking to change it up next time. I am interested in ACE and CLE for Math and LA, but not sure about Science and History and the extras. I wish I had a better idea of what I was going to buy... I am nervous! I want to mix and match but it scares me, especially since I have no idea what direction to go. I am hoping to leave feeling great about the curriculum we bought and excited about the new year. I am worried I'll leave feeling unsure and scared... LOL. This was our 1st year homeschooling, and while it was good, it was stressful at times and I don't want to end up there again, feeling completely overwhelmed in October. One question I still had is: Do you keep curriculum the same for all students? Next year I will have a 5th grader, a 1st grader, and a 1yr old. I think they enjoy different things and they seem to be motivated differently, but going with 2 different curriculum scares me too. Any advice/encouragement here? Thanks!
I am not going to keep all the same curriculum. I think my 2nd would benefit from somethings done a little differently. We'll keep the same math and socials though. But I may add a couple of new things. I am hoping our themes can be the same, but different assignments when it comes to LA and science. For those subjects I make my own curriculum. I'm always nervous this time of year. I'm never sure I'm making the right choices, but it all seems to work out in the end. I've only had a total flop once, thankfully it wasn't too expensive!! I think I know the kids better now though. Hopefully!
This is my first year too and there were changes along the way too and I think that's okay. We learn about ourselves and our kids along the way! =) But along the way I made changes that we will likely stay with- my kids are doing different math programs- I thought I should switch my younger one over next year because I will have the materials- but really she does well with the spiral approach and why fix what's not broke?? So they will do different math programs. I don't think you have to be nervous about doing different curr. for the kids- just keep what worked and try something you think will work for one of them- perhaps choose one area to try differently this next year and see how it goes if you're too nervous! =) Also if going to the convention is not your only time to buy stuff just look, study, ask questions and leave with nothing! I did this last year as I was so overwhelmed with everything I thought I can't buy it all now- wait and see. It helped some- no pressure! Good luck and have fun! =)
Thanks guys! Both my kids are great at math but my DD (1st grader) has a lot more issues with reading than my DS ever did. I am actually starting to wonder if she is dyslexic? Anyway, she also LOVES colorful, fun, game-type things and he's more of the traditional, by-the-book type of kid. So maybe I can settle on something that's the same for math, science, and history, but then go separate ways in English/LA... Thanks for pointing it out Sea--I don't HAVE to order stuff tomorrow. I just want to.
Meggo, I'm a firm believer in "whatever works", and if that means tossing something out midyear or only two weeks in, so be it. If it means one kid in "x-grade" uses textbooks and another one in the same grade uses workbooks, so be it. It can make for "lots of complicated" but...
