There is a recipe for selecting the best possible curriculum for your child, but it may not be what you think it is.
When you first start homeschooling, the task of selecting a curriculum is overwhelming. Take a deep breath and realize that what works for one child may not work for your child - or you as a working parent.
THE RECIPE
Learning Style is a big part of finding a compatible curriculum for your child. However, you can still use curriculum that may not fit perfectly by overlapping exposure to a subject by reinforcing the topic with the child's learning style for presentation.
The child's attention span. This is where traditional school really misses the mark. Take the time to learn your child. Observe how many minutes that they can actually be engaged in focused attention for audio, visual, read, and interactive information. Then keep that number to find realistically how much time your child can focus in spurts.
Gaps in learning can stagger a students progress. Identify the learning gaps in order to find a curriculum that can fill in and reinforce those knowledge gaps.
OTHER GOT TO's
Personality Type plays heavily in learning, ability, interest and ways to communicate. Have fun and learn yours and your family's personality types to understand how best to work with one another, to understand challenges that may arise between siblings or even you and your child. It is a way to identify how best to work and encourage healthy relationships between your child and you.
Love language of your child is important. Learning how your child needs to receive affirmation from you as the parent. This is the extra topping on building a great relationship with your child.
Your availability for one-on-one time. If it is limited, you may have to find curriculum that will do most all the teaching, and you will be the follow up (sort of like helping child with homework). To do that successfully, filling in the gaps and meeting your child's learning style needs makes a big difference.
Have you taken one of the courses yet?
I love that you discuss attention span...it is so easy to teach what our children need to know if we observe when they are ready to learn.
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