Conquering Pre-Algebra and other tough subjects

Another week of school is almost done. It has been another great one. One problem though, our Pre-Algebra curriculum is not working for my son. He is really smart. He has always gotten A’s in Math. I’ve already tried two different Pre-Algebra Math curriculums. Neither has worked for us for different reasons. One is so tedious; the other doesn’t explain things well enough. I am going to buy a third. It is called Teaching Textbooks and is supposed to be the best on the market.

Ya’ know something, it is o.k. This is one of the reasons I home school. My children have different learning styles. Some are visual learners, some auditory learners, and another is a kinetic learner. Knowing this about my children, I can purchase school books that will help them to better understand the information.

In 2nd grade my son just wanted to get the math problems done and get outside. He wanted no coloring pictures or silly games. He had forts to build, animals to tame, mountains to climb. My daughter in second grade, loved to color in her math notebook. She not only wrote her math answers, but made them with curves, hearts, and doodles. Her school work was like little pieces of art.

We need to be flexible. We need to remember that we are teaching a student, not a curriculum. Yes, I have spent a lot of money on Pre-Algebra curriculums. I would still rather buy another one and him understand it better and keep his love for learning, than save some money by keeping the one I have, and have him struggle all year and start to dread or even hate school.

I am going to try to sell the other books on-line and maybe get some of my money back. Often times, we homeschoolers purchase a curriculum and “We are going to finish every single page by golly. We paid good money for it.” I just want to encourage you that you don’t have to finish it. If it doesn’t work for you or your kids, get rid of it. Don’t waste any more time with it and get something that will work. Try to sell it on-line or at the used home school book fair in June and August, or bring it to Redeemed Books on South National for trade. There is the Sac Lending Library that is open Tuesdays 1-3pm. You can rent home school curriculum for $1.00 per book per year! Check out their website at www.sac-online.org . Chin up mom and dad. You are doing a great job.


Some great resources:

www.shemonline.org Local events and info

www.hslda.org Missouri Home School Laws

www.thehomereporter.org More local events and info

Printed August 2007