Newcomer to Catholic homeschooling?

26 Sep, 2008 Compare Curriculum, New to Homeschool

New Homeschooler Beware:

Home school organizations may try to sell families new to homeschooling only a portion of their curriculum materials. You should always ask if book you are purchasing etc., is all that you need to teach your child that subject. Find out if there are teacher’s resource material to go with it.

Most likely if those new to the whole home school thing are not sure what to buy and from whom. Beware of companies who sell their exclusive core books at a Catholic Home School educators conferences. Unaware, you may find yourself without a much needed teacher manuals or lesson planning materials that go along with these books. Whereupon after the fact, you realize that unless your signed up with their program, the necessary teachers curriculum cannot be obtained.

Over spending on Curricula:

It is believed that this is part of the cause of over buying books, or signing on with home studyl organizations that don’t meet the needs of your child the first year out. The good news is if your not ready to dive into a particular Catholic homeschool program, there are many non-exclusive teaching materials that can eventually be located and purchased through other sources.

If you have done just that, purchased books with no manuals or resources, begin a search for the publisher and name of the book. Engaging in an online search will likely produce the publishers website, as well as places like Amazon.com, half.com, and other key sites where good used teacher’s manuals can be found at discounted prices. Plus, locating the publisher site often times include teachers resources and online activities that go along with the lesson.

Another cause of buying unnecessary books and resources in the first year of home school is, experimenting with curricula to find one that works for your children while learning style and understanding their style. This isn’t a total loss if you don’t mark in the books your first quarter – you can always resell the materials and make most if not all of your money back on it. Or donate it to another homeschooler.

The KEY to making it through the first year without spending a mint is: Listen to seasoned homeschooling families when they say, hold back on spending too much in the first year until you understand the learning styles of your child. Watch for learning signs; expecting children to learn one way, yet teaching another only leaves one frustrated. There are plenty of resources and samples materials online and in bookstores that can at least get you started in on the journey through homeschooling – until you understand what is necessary, wanted and desired. Why not begin with what’s on your own bookshelves? Don’t forget the Internet as well. Their is a vast resource of free materials.

See my reference guide, a list that compares 2nd grade Catholic homeschool programs. Well not really their programs, but the curriculums they use. It shows which schools are using the same books and which schools have their own material.