Homeschool Weekends

When homeschooling it seems hard at times to draw the line between school and the rest of life even when it comes to weekends. For my kids we are lucky that they are in a program that has set guidelines so that weekends remain family time to do with as we please. However, even using our current coursework we had one year where there just didn't seem time during the week for the music and art subjects in the curriculum.

The teacher that I correspond with suggested using these as a good Sunday activity. While that idea was a good one, it didn't work for me. I need two days off from school just as much as any student. It can also be a great thing for students to take a break and come back to their lessons with fresh eyes.

Naturally this really only pertains to homeschool families that use traditional school curriculum or a "school" schedule. For those that unschool or use other methods it may not be as much of an issue.

Some things you can do on the weekends that may enhance your homeschool experience are:

• Visit local historic sites.
• Visit local museums.
• Visit nearby state and national parks.
• Visit nearby bodies of water and study the ecosystems there while playing.
• Work on family history, kids love to know where their ancestors are from.
• Play games like Scrabble, Pictionary and Cranium that develop skills as well as let students express themselves.

There are so many things to do in a week that it is nice to have a day or two totally dedicated to fun. That doesn't mean that learning does not happen but it doesn't have to be full of text books and worksheets.

Homeschool Curriculum

Choosing a homeschool curriculum is a time consuming job. Especially if you are new to homeschooling. A few things that you will want to look for when choosing your homeschool curriculum are:

• Cost - can you afford the curriculum for each student that you are homeschooling. Some boxed curriculums can cost a fortune and some of them are worth what they charge. There are also the options of building your own curriculum or trying free homeschool curriculum using the library, Internet and other resources available to you.
• Learning style of the child - as a parent you are the expert on your child. If this is your first year of homeschooling it may take you a few tried to come up with the right homeschool curriculum for your child's needs.
• Time and schedule - Some curriculums have more rigid guidelines than others. If you build you own, you set the pace and schedule. You do have to keep in mind that your state homeschool laws may have attendance requirements that may include how many hours per day you spend doing instructional course work. Make sure you adhere to the laws in your state.
• Unschooling vs. schooling - Decide if you are unschooling your children or if you like the concept of a traditional school room in you home. Unschooling parents believe that you learn as you go and that the rigidity of school as we have come to know it needs to be taken out of the equation.
• Support - Different curriculum choices offer different levels of support. It is always a good idea to get involved in homeschool support groups. Choose a homeschool support group on your own or if you want to start your own homeschool support group. It is easy to find other parents looking for different alternatives and new support groups.

There are many things to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum. This time of year parents are frantically putting things together for the year. The important thing to keep in mind is the needs of you and your child. Homeschooling can be an ideal choice for the whole family if you will be flexible, keep your priorities in tact and if something isn't working don't be afraid to change things around.