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 Don't Fall Into These Homeschool Curriculum Traps
When most parents set out to find a homeschool curriculum for their child, they almost always fall into these first-time traps.
Here's the bottom line. The right curriculum should be like candy to your child. When they wake up in the morning, the first thing they want to do is homeschooling! They get it done fast, they cherish their books, they laugh, they grin from ear to ear with pride as they do it and finish it. You have to slow them down because they want to do it too much. It's pure pleasure to watch your children learn. It's the ultimate parenting experience. IT IS what parenting should be.
Can it really be true?
YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES! I have done it, others have done it, others are doing it all the time. How do I know? Because I've seen both sides of the coins.
What's the other side of the coin? Boring curriculum. Curriculum that looks, smells and tastes like public school stuff. A video of some "teacher" spewing, droning away and boring your child. Boring, tooth-pulling books. Crying, resistance, boredom, frustration. You are pulling out your hair, fighting your child every step of the way.
What's the difference?
The difference is between feeding your child candy, and feeding your child hot peppers that burns their mouth and leaves a bitter, burning aftertaste. If you are feeding your child peppers, you can probably get them to eat the first one. Then you see it on their face. Now imagine the 11th day, and the 57th hot pepper. Imagine the fighting, screaming, frustration trying to get them to eat another hot pepper. Then your horror when you realize you have hundreds of more days to go and thousands of hot peppers to go.
WHY DO IT!?!
DONT DO IT!
Your child will know after the first experience. Feed them curriculum that tastes like candy!
How do I know? I've found that curriculum. Does it come from one company? No. How do I know YOU can find curriculum that tastes like candy? Becuase tens of thousands of other parents have done it too. Literally.
How do YOU do it?
1. Don't Panic. There IS no rush and nothing is permanent. You have time to find good curriculum. Take the time. It IS easy and it is ENJOYABLE.
2. Know how to identify successful homeschool parents verses "getting-by" homeschool parents. If the children come running to the table to learn, model them! Don't copy their curriculum because it won't be the same for your child, but look at HOW they choose and find curriculum.
3. Avoid these traps.
Here's the top 10, and how to avoid them:
TRAP #1: Using The Popular Homeschool Curriculum
This is probably the most common and the worst trap you can fall in. I know you are worried, you feel rushed and you think you need to find a homeschool curriculum fast, and now. So you ask around to see what's popular and what pops up in the search engines. It's easy, but it IS a mistake. Microsoft is the most popular computer software, but it's not the best. By far!
The Public School curriculum is popular, hundreds of thousands of students use it, but it's definitely not the best for YOUR child. Several homeschool curriculum companies are out marketing the others, but it's not because they are the best. It's because they are spending more money. Like Microsoft. The big names always come to the top (Bob Jones, Abeka, etc.) but believe me, they ARE NOT always the best for your child.
TRAP #2: What Do Other People Use?
This is another common mistake. Many parents ask what other homeschool parents are using, then out of panic just buy that curriculum. Your child is not their child. Therefore, what works for them may not work for your child. In fact, it may not be working for them either!
TRAP #3: Feel Like It Must Be Like Public Schools
Most of us went to public school. So we think that schooling should be like what we experienced in school. Teacher lectures. Take notes. Read boring text book. Do assignments. Quizzes, test. It DOES NOT have to be that way. In fact, it shouldn't, unless you have thirty children you have to teach at the same time. I know lots of parents homeschooling their 5, 6 and 7 children and it's not like that at all!
TRAP #4: Don't Get Pressured In A Sales Meeting
Probably the most heinous and disgusting tactic some of the bigger homeschool curriculum companies use is the high-pressure "curriculum meetings/conferences". These are sales meetings using the same high-pressure sales tactics used by the real estate ripoff people. You know what I mean. They put you in a room with a bunch of other panicked parents, serve you coffee, then spend an hour talking about THEIR curriculum. Then at the end comes the "IF you buy NOW, you get this special price..." Don't do it. If they want you to make a decision that fast, something is wrong with THEM.
TRAP #5: Feel Like It Has To Come In One Package
Curriculum DOES NOT have to come from one company. Some companies guilt you into a false loyalty and want you to buy everything from them. The best curriculum for your child will come from lots and lots of sources. You don't have to buy from ONE catalog. They don't know YOUR child, so what about the stuff that's NOT in their catalog. There are hundreds of places to buy pieces from. Find the best prices, every penny you save is more fun stuff you can do and buy for your chid.
TRAP #6: Pieces Are Better Than Wholes
Many parents think they have to keep an entire homeschool curriculum package together. You DON'T! If a company says you have to, dump them, fast! There are lots of better homeschool curriculum companies out there. You should be able to say, "My kid loves your spelling section, but the other parts bore my child, I'm send the rest back and keeping the spelling section." You can use the spelling from one company, the math from another, and so on. Use what works, dump what doesn't
TRAP #7: Once Is NOT Forever
Just because you bought a curriculum, doesn't mean you have to stick with it forever. If it looked great, but after working with it for a while, you see it's not what you thought... dump it! You are allowed to change, adjust, modify, curriculum at any time. They are YOUR children, you ARE allowed to do what's right for them at any time.
TRAP #8: Don't Forget. It IS fun!
Homeschooling harkens back to those days when every waking minute was a learning experience between you and your children. The joy of having them close to you. Watching them grow. Enjoying every moment of living. The hard times and the good times. Time is fleeting. As a parent I don't have to tell you how fast they grow. Even though there will be hard times, compare it to parents who only see their children a few hours in the evening after public school and daycare. They are missing 80% of their children's lives. You ARE lucky! Spend AS MUCH of it as possible enjoying and having fun with your children. I promise, learning is fun. You will learn just as much from them, and about life as you teach. I promise.
TRAP #9: Don't Rush
Some states and regulations make you feel rushed. Do what you need to comply with what they may require. But remember, you can modify and adjust as you go along. Nothing is permanent. Enjoy the process. After you are done complying, now you can sit back and see what works and what needs changing, or just approaching differently. Life is a process, not a goal. Enjoy the process with your children.
TRAP #10: Don't Panic
You DO NOT have to feel panicked. Find other experienced homeschooling parents. They know the ins and outs of state regulations, and the tips and tricks to get you in and out easily. Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! Enjoy! I know it feels scary, but it isn't.
So what is 3Moms?
3Moms was created by
frustrated homeschool moms...
Starting to homeschool isn't easy. What makes matters worse is that it's incredibly confusing. Which homeschool curriculum, which method? Which is best for my child? Which one can I do? Can I do it at all?
The Homeschool Curriculum Fair-In-A-Box
Why go through the hassle of dragging your family to a homeschool curriculum fair, when the fair can come to you, all from the comfort of your own home!
Find out which homeschool curriculum is best for your child.
There are so many homeschool curriculum programs and styles out there, and they aren't cheap! Your child may be bored out of their minds with one, and another may unleash your child.
The Homeschool Curriculum-Fair-In-A-Box is your private preview of new homeschool curriculum. It is designed to help you find the right program and style for you and your child.
Instead of just seeing them at a fair, we've arranged special copyright permission from the major homeschool curriculum companies to actually GIVE YOU samples of their homeschool curriculum. They include Weaver, Alpha-Omega, Oak Meadow, LIFEPAC, Horizons, KONOS and more. So each kit contains ready-to-teach samples from all the major homeschool curriculum programs and teaching styles. All laid out step-by-step.
Even if you've been homeschooling, you might discover something new.
No guessing, no wasted time, no wasted money. Plus, everything is 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
I am thinking about homeschooling,
but I'm not sure if I can do it.
This is a question all parents go through. The Homeschool Curriculum-Fair-In-A-Box will show you exactly what homeschooling is like. We've gathered ready-to-teach sample homeschool curriculum for your child's age and put them together in one kit. 
You can take an evening, or weekend morning and actually do some homeschooling. Both you and your child will be able to see exactly what it's like.
This is also your Homeschool-Fair-In-A-Box because it will include other resources for homeschooling, not just homeschool curriculum!
No guessing, no wasted time, no wasted money. Plus, everything is 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. If this kit doesn't help you and your child, we will refund 100% of your money. No questions asked.
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