Do you think you "under use" the materials you have?

[Alana in Canada]

I've been thinking about this. For example, I have the McGuffey readers. We use then for oral reading. I could use them for copywork, spelling, dictation, and possibly grammar. With a better teacher, we might even be able to squeeze a writing program out of it, in the style of IW or CW.

But, we also have the Wise Guide for spelling--with which we could also do grammar and dictation. Maybe even copywork as the dictation sentences for the spelling words are first rate.

Then, too, there is Latin. Definitely learning about grammar there.

History, in some form, is essential for it's own sake: but it too is fodder for the Language Arts.

And science--if we ever got around to it!

Math and art and music are somewhat self contained--unless the Art accompanies your history studies and requires essays. Ditto music.

So why do I have a stand-alone grammar program?
(I am very insecure about grammar. Never learned it)

Why do I have a "semi-stand alone" program just for writing?

Am I failing to make good use of the resources I already have?
Am I curriculum junkie?

Or--is it a good thing to use everything you have in multiple ways so the kids get grammar, spelling, and writing coming at them from all directions?

What do you think?

[kdeno]

I def under-use curriculum. I actually joke with friends "you think I am going to *use* all this?"

I am thinking about not buying anything for next year except consumables and use what I have.

K

[godpoetry]

Well I am famous for buying things and putting them on the shelve and then forgetting about them. I also keep some things for my younger daughter to use.

[Rhondabee]

mostly in regards to Sonlight, and how there is so much there that *can* be done in any given core; and how I really didn't make "full" use of it all. :(

And, I haven't been able to excuse myself for not taking advantage of everything we had in SL last year. But, then, hey - I just returned at least ***7*** library books that coordinated with our history lessons in the last two weeks that NOBODY read. (I read smidgens, and older ds looked at a few pictures, but....ya know, why do I even bother *going* to the library?)

It all comes down to time, and that there is just never enough of it. :rolleyes: And, as much as I think your ideas about using fewer curriculum for more subjects is what my *ideal* homeschool would look like, without a template or a planned daily lesson guide, I don't have the time to plan it (or even the knowledge, really!).

But, OTOH, I *like* when our Latin reinforces our stand-alone grammar program. It's neat to see their eyes light up when they realize that something they learned in science happened during the part of history we're reading about. Or that their math can be applied to science. When they have those moments of interconnectedness in spite of the fact that our homeschool is rather compartmentalized.

So, ideals are great. But, reality is pretty good, too!

;)

[Cadam]

My thought is that to really use something like the McGuffey readers for all of that you have to be confident in the subjects you are pulling out of it. I know I rely more heavily on curriculum than I would if I was confident in my subject. There is a lot of grammar in my Latin program but I have realized that I didn't get a good enough grammar education to only use the Latin. It is sad and I am working on my education but I think that will benefit my younger children more than my oldest.

[Rhondabee]

first off, I would get more bang from each curriculum buck....

and, doesn't it just make you mad that one day you'll be this really smart cookie ~ and have no outlet for all that smartness? Like, who's gonna care?

If only I could have more dc without having to tell my mother! (When she was my age, both her kids were out of the house....)

:p

[chiguirre]

I'm sure I underuse curriculum. Sometimes we don't even finish what we start:(. But, we're still getting the feel of what works. Last year was a parade of math curricula for ds and although we finished 3 of them, none of them was a good fit and I wasn't at all confident about moving on to 1st grade math. Long story short, we found a curriculum that fits ds's learning style and my teaching style so now I have no temptation to curriculum hop. In this case all that experimentation and underutilization has made me confident in my final choice. We're going through this same process with reading this year, but I think I've finally got the hang of what ds needs. It turned out to be several things used in combination (none of them to their last drop) but it does work.

Sometimes less is more, but when you're getting your act together you have to test run a bunch of stuff before you find your groove. You'd have to be VERY sure of your choices to be able to pull so much out of one resource. I wish I could be that teacher, but I'm not. IMHO, not many hsers are because we're pretty new at teaching the levels are children are at.

[Shari]

I definitely have under-used curriculum. I bought all four years of Tapestry of Grace when my oldest dc was in 1st grade, and then just scratched the surface of what the program offers! LOL I also used to buy buy buy, then sell sell sell on the curriculum boards.

As I've become a more seasoned homeschooler, however, I've learned which programs work for us and which don't. I've settled into some routines and made some choices for year-over-year use (particularly Math). I've become familiar with how my programs of choice work, how best to use them in our family, and what we really need. Most importantly, I have learned to resist the newest, "grass is greener", Greatest Program Ever hoopla that sometimes reigns on the boards. :)

[Beth in Central TX]

I try not to under use the curriculum that I purchase; that's why I'm so resistant to changing without good cause. It's also the reason that I don't use TOG or SL. I doubt I would use the program as designed, and therefore, I can't justify paying the large purchase price for them.

[Daisy]

I definitely tend to under-use the curriculum I have. I think part of it is that we crave variety. It is a balance. I use the curriculum enough that we cover the necessary material but I add other things to mix it up a bit. I could use Rod and Staff readers and workbooks for reading, Bible, map skills, vocabulary, etc. But we enjoy reading the Pathway readers and living books also. KWIM??

That said, I don't add a single thing to our R&S English. We do it and we do ALL of it and any other writing is either history-related notebooking or it's their own desire to write a fun story.

[SandraDumas]

amazing example of this. Back in the olden days they used them, really used them! Students were not considered to have mastered a reading selection until he or she could read the selection with beautiful diction, and inflection, clearly and loudly to a roomful of people, and be able to explain what it means, define all the words, and be able to spell most if not all of the words therein. THEN they could move on to the next story. Talk about motivational factor. They were stuck sitting in their desk reading and studying that same story over and over until they learned it. That would motivate *me* to learn it *well* so I could move on, I think.

[Alana in Canada]

Excellent points, thanks for the input. I'm not feeling quite so guilty.

1) I would have to be more confident.
2) I would have to take the time to do the lesson plans to squeeze out every drop.

But--and this is so true for me: I love variety. I get antsy doing the same thing even two days in a row. Well, that's an exageration, but truly, when we start to hit a groove--I usually start looking around for something else. Hardly fair to the kids, that.

[Plaid Dad]

I think I'm an exception here. We need to get as much bang for our buck as possible since we have so few bucks. ;) I also have an aversion to clutter, both physical and mental, so I've made a virtue of necessity by being very selective of what curriculum I buy. That's not to say I don't make mistakes, but I try not to buy ahead too much or duplicate materials. I did a lot of that when my dd was small and I was still researching various homeschooling methods, but I ended up selling so much of it at a loss that my dw finally put her foot down. Now that I've settled on an approach, it's a lot easier to say no to curricula that don't fit our needs - which means that I make full use of what we do buy.

[St. Theophan Academy]

first off, I would get more bang from each curriculum buck....

and, doesn't it just make you mad that one day you'll be this really smart cookie ~ and have no outlet for all that smartness? Like, who's gonna care?

If only I could have more dc without having to tell my mother! (When she was my age, both her kids were out of the house....)

:p

Hmmm, maybe that is what I need to tell my husband who says we are done having children! But, honey, think of all that curriculum going to waste :)

Anne Marie who is content with four but would have more :)

[WendyK]

I just like to buy stuff! :D

[St. Theophan Academy]

INow that I've settled on an approach, it's a lot easier to say no to curricula that don't fit our needs - which means that I make full use of what we do buy.

This is the key, settling on an approach. Once you really understand what you want to accomplish, and how, you are better able to make choices that fit, and less likely to be influenced by the latest thing. I am guilty of buying just to see something, and fortunate to have a husband who allows me to spend too much money on school, but as I begin to feel more confident in my direction, I find that I buy fewer things that I will not use, and spend more time researching what I will buy before I buy it. Anne Marie

[St. Theophan Academy]

Me too! That is where the internet is so dangerous. You see people talking about something, you click and suddenly there it is for you to buy :) I have really had to learn to restrain myself, as I already have at least 2 boxes per month from Amazon that arrive at my home :) I am a book junkie - Anne Marie

[HappyGrace]

I have SO much curriculum that I get overwhelmed and use none effectively. I often think I would almost be better off to just have a couple quality items (like McGuffey and the Bible) so I wouldn't lose my focus. After I read LCC last year, it was a big light bulb to streamline, prioritize, but I'm still trying to figure out what that looks like for our family. I also love Marva Collins, who had hardly ANY resources and gave her students a wonderful classical education from just making most efficient use of what she had, pulling all the juicy pieces out of it all. I don't necessarily think it takes a gifted teacher to do this either, just a thoughtful one. Our best days seem to be our "sick" days, when we sit on the couch and just meander through a readaloud, picking it apart, talking about the vocab, characters, etc., rather than racing through it because there are ten more behind that lined up to read. The "less is more" thread recently really struck a chord with me, and ties in to what we're discussing here.

As someone else mentioned, I do think when you're new to hs'ing, it takes awhile to find what types of curriculum work for you, so there is some major trial and error, and maybe overbuying (guilty party raising hand here!) until you hit your stride.

I'm in the streamlining mode with everything just now; prioritizing, slowing down, weeding out the useless, and that includes our schoolwork. I'm starting to feel more comfortable with doing less, but doing it well. It's a journey.

[Aletheia Academy]

At this stage, we are using a variety of math manipulatives, e.g., cubes, pattern blocks, geoboard, abacus, counters, etc. I actually schedule them in. For example, Monday is always cubes day. If I miss a day, it's no big deal, but over time, I am rotating in a variety of resources.

I'm sure it becomes more difficult later on...

[Rhondabee]

But--and this is so true for me: I love variety. I get antsy doing the same thing even two days in a row. Well, that's an exageration, but truly, when we start to hit a groove--I usually start looking around for something else. Hardly fair to the kids, that.


Boy, that is me to a T! I am definitely a "project" person. I hate to "get in a rut" in *anything*.

BUT.....I am finding that if I take some advice here (Pam SFSOM?) and look at some things as "brushing one's teeth" academically ~ not fun, but necessary ~ then I actually have more energy to pour into other areas of my life. I don't want school to be the be-all, end-all of who I am (and unfortunately, for a while it has been!).

I am hoping that now that I have found a bit of a groove, and my kids are adjusting to a homeschooling attitude, that I will expand myself into other non-school-related things. (which, of course, means limiting school)

Just ramblin' now~
Rhonda

[Alana in Canada]

Rhonda--that's what I'm finding too.

We didn't do any school this year, practically speaking, until January. And in getting us up to speed, I had to drop everything and focus and concentrate on school. Makes sense, right?

Things are going OK: I still need to plan weekly and tweak, but still I'm spending a ton of time thinking about school--more than it needs. It's kind of becoming my hobby, by default. And that's nuts.

Still, I dream of using just a few materials and using them to their max. Sort of like the "simple" movement applied to HS!

But I do love looking at curriculum too much!
(And I really hate brushing my teeth!)

I need a life. :)

[periwinklemommy]

I have been given so many things by so many different people that there is no way I could use them all! And while I truly count it as a blessing that I haven't had to pay for all of it, I feel a bit guilty when I see it sitting there on my shelf. That is probably why I am using some things that are not my favorite - just because I can't justify spending the money on the program I want or because we have it, so we might as well use it. And I also don't want to get rid of anything until we're done with all four kids which sounds silly, I know, but there is that chance that something that worked for the first one or two might not for the other one or two, right? Oh well. . .

Lisa

[Kathie in VA]

Yes, I do under use what I have. However sometimes I think that it's a good thing. I think that some subjects may need to be taught in a way that is best for that specific subject to be taught (by you to that dc at this stage in your lives .... ).

Take spelling for instance. Sometimes just going over misspelled words is enough. Othertimes you need to do a systematic study (of phonograms/rules or patterns etc) for your dc to learn how to spell. In these cases, a separate program really makes sense.

Perhaps its the same for handwriting. You can teach it with tracing and copywork but for some a program is better so they learn how to form each letter.

I tend to prefer to do dictation from our spelling program while doing copywork from FLL or CW.... at least until their spelling starts to take off. I keep thinking I should do it daily with our memory work or history but never seem to have the time or want to raise the priority of it to make more time then what arrives with our writing programs.


But I also get confused on whether I'm under-using or over-using! For this year I got CW Homer for my 7th grader but I also got Lightening Lit 7 and
Vocabulary from Classical Roots A and allowed her to take a creative writing class. LL and VfCR tends to not get done but then again I am getting some vocab and lit. analysis from CW... so perhaps I didn't need the other two??

[Trivium Academy]

Yes! I don't use the free stuff like I should, like the world outside our house.

[gardenschooler]

This post has really gotten me thinking. I have been trying to incorporate more within a subject (most writing coming from history, which has been combined with literature - that sort of thing), but I never stopped to think about how very little we actually use each resource.

What's that saying about an inch deep and a mile wide? That's how I feel sometimes, having our 8 or 9 different books, for different things. We use so many different things for English/Lit/LA, I'm almost embarrassed to list it.

Jessica, I have found it very encouraging that you like PLL! I almost bought this, but chickened out. How could one book have so much in it? I was suspicious :D, even though I loved the looks of it. I'm going to ponder ILL for next year (4th).

One thing I have done this year with my 3rd grader is to choose a fairly longish poem for her to memorize, use it for spelling words, copywork, dictation, and cursive practice. I've even used it for a jumping-off point for her to write a story or a poem of her own, and we have read some library books about a few different poets. It feels good knowing that the biggest chunk of her LA subjects (besides actual reading/lit) is condensed down to one poem. It helps me feel less 'frazzled' and pulled in different directions.

I suppose I could develop more art and writing things to do with Literature, tie that into history, add some art, vocabulary, and science.....

I'd be happy if I could have 2 or 3 main 'threads' or areas of focus, then we'd just take each one and run with it.

We've also done a little geography on the side, to tie in with our stories from BJU Math (3rd grade is traveling around the U.S to visit all of the state parks). We get library books, drum up some science (marine life, forests, etc.), and do a little Kids Learn America. It's made her tolerate math a whole lot better, lol.

Thanks for getting me thinking more! I still have a long way to go before I'm truly 'simplified', though.

[Kayaking Mom]

This is a great thread. I have been thinking about this subject as I plan out our summer and fall. My plan for the summer is to continue with math as scheduled and then use up some of the stuff I've bought, but haven't gotten to yet. There is so much great stuff on my shelves (and not all bought new, but some used or handed down) and I want to use it. Sure, there will still be some things that I have underutilized - but like leftovers - the same meal, however delicious the first time, loses it's taste on the third time around.


my blog - Deuteronomy 6 (http://deuteronomy6.blogspot.com/)

[elegantlion]

I was just thinking this today. I just purchased a small workbook and sat thinking of all the assignment I COULD get from it.

My challenge is would I? I consider myself to be very frugal. I also know what subjects I can teach without a plan or the subjects in which I need lessons outlined.

Great question!