Home School Book Fair is COMING!!!
Okay, I'll be honest. The first time I went to a home school book fair, I spent as much time studying people as I did curriculum choices. Talk about literally ALL sorts of people from the long-hair/long-dress/no make-up types to the tattooed/pierced mommas, the families that bring EVERYONE, and the moms that come to "get away", to everything in-between! Seriously, the people watching alone can be reason enough to go! (I'm not being mean, really. People sincerely intrigue me.) Anyway, the book fair can be COMPLETELY overwhelming! Yet, it's an INCREDIBLE resource that can help make some critical home schooling decisions! There are a FEW things, however to keep in mind before attending . . .
First, carpool, it's way more fun with others. Second, DOWNLOAD A VENDOR MAP!!! Third, peruse vendor websites PRIOR to attending, and here's why: If you're not 100% sure what curriculum you'll be using, you're BOUND to have questions (even questions you haven't fully articulate yet) By previewing vendor websites, you can narrow down those you wish to speak to in person. Many questions can be answered at the website. Finally, PRIORITIZE!!!! Upon walking in the doors, you WILL be overwhelmed. Having a list of vendors you'd like to visit prioritized can help you ensure that you're questions will all get answered AND your shopping needs will be attended to. If you are interested in any of the guest speakers (and I highly recommend checking into the speakers and their topics) you'll want to be sure to incorporate that as well. The only way to successfully accomplish ALL of this, is to PRIORITIZE!!
Now, surely there's MUCH more to a successful home school book fair attendance, but these are THE key things, a place to begin, if you will . . . I'll be at the book fair in Arlington, Texas this May, hope to see you there!
First, carpool, it's way more fun with others. Second, DOWNLOAD A VENDOR MAP!!! Third, peruse vendor websites PRIOR to attending, and here's why: If you're not 100% sure what curriculum you'll be using, you're BOUND to have questions (even questions you haven't fully articulate yet) By previewing vendor websites, you can narrow down those you wish to speak to in person. Many questions can be answered at the website. Finally, PRIORITIZE!!!! Upon walking in the doors, you WILL be overwhelmed. Having a list of vendors you'd like to visit prioritized can help you ensure that you're questions will all get answered AND your shopping needs will be attended to. If you are interested in any of the guest speakers (and I highly recommend checking into the speakers and their topics) you'll want to be sure to incorporate that as well. The only way to successfully accomplish ALL of this, is to PRIORITIZE!!
Now, surely there's MUCH more to a successful home school book fair attendance, but these are THE key things, a place to begin, if you will . . . I'll be at the book fair in Arlington, Texas this May, hope to see you there!
Curriculum choices??
Well, I am by NO means an expert in home schooling. In fact, a friend of mine coined a term I often use, it's the "head-in-the-oven" feeling we home school moms experience. You know, those moments (and they can happen more than once a day) where you get so frustrated that you feel the overwhelming desire to go stick your head in the oven!!!! I find comfort in knowing that others in my situation feel this way at times, reinforcing the hope that I must be doing something right!
I am currently VERY eclectic in my curriculum approach, using a variety of publishers depending upon the child and the subject. In some cases, I've even been known to set the curriculum aside and use whatever means available to enforce a learning concept. I've found a variety of math worksheets, for example that are free to print off that help cover the concept of regrouping for my littlest one. I'm finding that the search for the "right" curriculum is ongoing, at least at this point in our home schooling "career".
Prior to moving to Texas, we were strictly a public school family. The community we called home had, in my opinion, an excellent elementary system that I was comfortable with, leaving me with no valid "excuse" to consider home schooling (although, God had put it on my heart when my oldest was still in diapers). Once we moved to Texas, however, that all changed.
I do not wish to be negative towards our local school system, I'm sure it has many wonderful qualities. Our experience, however, led us to investigate the idea of home school. To make a looooong story short, after much trial and error, prayer and searching, we've found that home school is the best "fit" for our family. There are pro's and con's to every educational approach and it is not my intent to promote any one of those over another. Every aspect of parenting, including educational choices, is highly individual and unique to each family. None of these aspects should be approached blindly, but rather through prayerful consideration. This page is where I'll share my journey as a home school mom. The high's will shared as well as the low's. It is my hope and prayer that you will be blessed through my transparency!
I am currently VERY eclectic in my curriculum approach, using a variety of publishers depending upon the child and the subject. In some cases, I've even been known to set the curriculum aside and use whatever means available to enforce a learning concept. I've found a variety of math worksheets, for example that are free to print off that help cover the concept of regrouping for my littlest one. I'm finding that the search for the "right" curriculum is ongoing, at least at this point in our home schooling "career".
Prior to moving to Texas, we were strictly a public school family. The community we called home had, in my opinion, an excellent elementary system that I was comfortable with, leaving me with no valid "excuse" to consider home schooling (although, God had put it on my heart when my oldest was still in diapers). Once we moved to Texas, however, that all changed.
I do not wish to be negative towards our local school system, I'm sure it has many wonderful qualities. Our experience, however, led us to investigate the idea of home school. To make a looooong story short, after much trial and error, prayer and searching, we've found that home school is the best "fit" for our family. There are pro's and con's to every educational approach and it is not my intent to promote any one of those over another. Every aspect of parenting, including educational choices, is highly individual and unique to each family. None of these aspects should be approached blindly, but rather through prayerful consideration. This page is where I'll share my journey as a home school mom. The high's will shared as well as the low's. It is my hope and prayer that you will be blessed through my transparency!