To buy or not to buy - curriculum for next year

[Cathy in IL]

I have my ideals, the goals I aim for in ly lesson plans each year. Then there is real life. The fact is, a lot of the art and music just doesn't get done as often as I plan. I want to be more disciplined and actually accomplish these goals next year. I have curriculum picked out, but now I am hesitant to spend the money. If I use it, the investment is worth it. I just look at our schedule now and wonder how much of it I will actually use - especially the music. Maybe I will revise my plans and just use resources the library has and save some money.

What do you all do regarding purchases when your ideals and your reality don't always match?

[Elisabeth in IL]

I used to buy a lot but then not use it. I can't keep doing that so if it is something that I can find at the library or a reasonable substitute, I use the library instead of buying it. If it was music that you might enjoy having anyway and not just use for school then it would be worth purchasing it. If money isn't a concern, then take a chance. We all waste our money on something so you can choose to possiblely waste yours on curriculum. Wow... all that is clear as mud, isn't it! :rolleyes:

[Dayle in Guatemala]

Time = money

If you don't have a lot of money, you need to spend time looking up resources and coming up with your own stuff and visa-versa.

I would suggest thinking about how important those subjects are priority-wise and either

A) spend the money on curriculum or even lessons throughout the year
B) go in with someone else or a group of friends and buy a good curriculum
for maybe art and co-op it not only for time and money, but, also
accountability in getting it done
C) Or, if you have time (which I strongly suspect you are a busy hsing mom!), come up with your own stuff using the library and other free resources

You can assign a composer/artist every 2 weeks or so and have your dc go to the library to do research and also check out music and art books on that particular person. It would be very little effort on your part, but, they would still be learning.:001_smile:

[CalicoKat]

If it's on hand you will get some of it done. If you don't buy it then you won't do it at all.

I'm a catch-as-catch-can with music and art too. But if I don't have the supplies here then it really won't get done. A little is still a blessing to your family/kids (a FlyLady concept).

When my life is busy and our schedule is unpredictable I like to have a full pantry and a full, hopefully organized, cupboard of curriculum & required supplies. Then my attention and energy can be focused on catching the little arrows life is flinging my way instead of wondering where my shoes are, so to speak. :)

Buy it. :001_smile:

[gandpsmommy]

I'm much the same when it comes to art and music, so my advice would be to sign your children up for music lessons and art classes, if you can afford to do so. And then let art history and music appreciation just happen as a family interest or fun activity, not a scheduled school subject. This is going to be our plan for next year. We will hopefully be doing private piano lessons in our home and homeschool art classes at a local art center. Then, we will continue to listen to classical music just for enjoyment, using our Themes to Remember, Vol. 1 book & cd from this year just as a starting point. We like to take whatever composer is introduced and find other works on cd at the library to listen to at home while we are playing, cleaning, baking, etc. And we will use picture books that we find at the library to enjoy looking at famous works of art.

My kids have responded very well to field trips. It seems that a novel experience, such as going to a concert or visiting a special exhibit at an art museum, can spark an interest and enthusiasm in them that simply checking out a work from the library in isolation could not have. For example, we had the opportunity to go to a Mozart concert a few months ago in which a soprano sang one of the arias from The Magic Flute. She did such an amazing job that we were all astounded and went around the house (weakly) imitating her for days. Chances are that if we had tried to listen to The Magic Flute before the concert, the kids would have endured it, but not remembered much about it or really found it enjoyable. Now, however, with their interest piqued, I was able to introduce a picture book which retold the story of The Magic Flute and listen to the accompanying cd, and the children became very excited to listen for the aria they now knew and loved.

Similarly, we were able to go see a Monet exhibit at an art museum recently, which then left the children open to reading more about Monet and his painting style. Dd eagerly accepted the opportunity to read us several books about Monet in the week following our museum trip, whereas normally she wouldn't have cared.

So, my advice would be to schedule the classes to ensure your kids will get instruction and then just enjoy art and music informally through library resources and field trips.

[strider]

If it's on hand you will get some of it done. If you don't buy it then you won't do it at all.

I'm a catch-as-catch-can with music and art too. But if I don't have the supplies here then it really won't get done. A little is still a blessing to your family/kids (a FlyLady concept).

When my life is busy and our schedule is unpredictable I like to have a full pantry and a full, hopefully organized, cupboard of curriculum & required supplies. Then my attention and energy can be focused on catching the little arrows life is flinging my way instead of wondering where my shoes are, so to speak. :)

Buy it. :001_smile:

I too find that if the curriculum is not in my house, I am not real likely to use it.