Are you ready to share your accomplishment(s) this week? We have had such fun reading each other’s posts and encouraging each other!! Please keep in mind our guidelines – this link up is definitely not to promote your about me page, but to share your accomplishments! Feel free to grab our button to let your readers know where you’re linking – and they can encourage other homeschoolers too!
This week we asked our panel one of my most favorite questions ever and I believe so incredibly important for all homeschool moms!
What are 3 signs that curriculum may not fit and/or is not working well for a child?
Daniele – There are so many curriculum choices! Many times one can be adjusted to fit by approaching it slower or faster, taking away or adding to it. When buying new, I try to be careful the approach doesn’t require too much of a skill my child is not yet confident in, such as writing. Also, that the work will not ask them to bend too far from their preferred learning style (a little is okay & needful, too much may cause problems). If we’re already on a roll with a curriculum, I really try to make it work and present it well. But, if it’s just not happening, I chalk it up to experience and move on!
Jolanthe – 1. Crying. We had a math curriculum that just was NOT working for our oldest. The further we got into the program, the more the tears began to flow {for both the child and mommy!}. 2. The “I’m not smart enough” feelings. The frustration with things not clicking, led quickly to “I’m not smart enough” words being said rather frequently. Despite encouragement from me constantly it was a vicious cycle ~ until we found a curriculum that did work. 3. Boredom…and I’m not just talking for the kids! There have been a few subjects that didn’t quite click with either the kids or me ~ and if it isn’t fun to learn {or fun to teach}, that can be a great indicator! Learning should be fun and enjoyable for everyone involved!
Carletta – If my children consistently ask to skip assignments or show frustration during assignments, those are signs that a curriculum isn’t a good fit. The third, and most important sign, is direct feedback from my children. From time to time, I will ask my 1st and 4th graders, “What do you think of this program?” or “Do you want to keep doing this?” or “How is school going for you?” 99% of the time, they have something positive to say. If they say something negative, I take the hint and start looking for something else.
Elizabeth – I just went through this, this past fall with one daughter. For us, the signs that something we were trying wasn’t working were: 1. It was causing tears. Because it wasn’t a good fit, it was not meeting her needs and was making her upset. 2. I was having her skip more and more of the assignments because they weren’t aiding her learning. 3. We both began to avoid it… her working on it and me reviewing it. I hate to give up on a curriculum, especially if it’s one I spent a lot of money one, but I always know it is the right decision when both the child and I feel nothing but relief when we finally do.
Linda – The first and most obvious sign is lack of mastery. Another is boredom. A child who is bored (under-challenged) may benefit from a change to a curriculum that better suits his learning style or level. A high level of frustration can be another tell-tale sign that the curriculum may not be a perfect fit. However, I think it’s important to remember that “jumping ship” too quickly is not always the wisest course of action. Sometimes simply applying a new approach to the same old curriculum can make a world of difference! Also, the signs above don’t always indicate a problem with the curriculum. They can be indicators of a number of other factors including heart attitudes, learning disabilities, physical issues(i.e. poor eyesight), laziness, and more. Soooo…be cautious before jumping to another curriculum!
Kimberly - Generally children enjoy learning and mastering a new subject, so a lot of resistance to a certain subject may indicate a poor curriculum choice for that child (or merely that the curriculum should be implemented differently). If a child doesn’t wish to learn, read or talk about the subject outside the formal ‘lessons’, then perhaps the curriculum isn’t challenging them to think and learn on their own. A good program will also result in steady improvement of knowledge and proficiency over time.
Jennifer - After purchasing one curriculum when I started homeschooling that we never used, I have been more careful about buying curriculum. To ensure that we are not left with curriculum that does not fit the learning styles of my children or my teaching method, I really take the time to research material before purchasing it. There is nothing worse than spending $100 or more and realizing that something does not work. That may be why we are only using prepared curriculum in our math, language arts, spelling, and phonics studies. I am still searching for material in the other subjects that I feel confident will work for us.
Kimberly - Generally children enjoy learning and mastering a new subject, so a lot of resistance to a certain subject may indicate a poor curriculum choice for that child (or merely that the curriculum should be implemented differently). If a child doesn’t wish to learn, read or talk about the subject outside the formal ‘lessons’, then perhaps the curriculum isn’t challenging them to think and learn on their own. A good program will also result in steady improvement of knowledge and proficiency over time.
Jennifer - After purchasing one curriculum when I started homeschooling that we never used, I have been more careful about buying curriculum. To ensure that we are not left with curriculum that does not fit the learning styles of my children or my teaching method, I really take the time to research material before purchasing it. There is nothing worse than spending $100 or more and realizing that something does not work. That may be why we are only using prepared curriculum in our math, language arts, spelling, and phonics studies. I am still searching for material in the other subjects that I feel confident will work for us.
