Writing Our Own Curriculum
Schools generally have carefully planned courses of study that
carefully avoid teaching things over and over again. If dinosaurs are
studied in first grade, then they won't be taught again in second
grade, long division won't be introduced before simple division, and
so on. Schools need to make careful plans so that the many teachers
can work together. These careful, orderly plans are the school's
"curriculum." Parents who teach their own children don't share the
same difficulty. They know what their children know and what they
have already done (unless of course the children had attended school
for awhile!). While many homeschoolers use a correspondence school
or "package" curriculum which sets out just such an orderly course of
study, others, like us, follow their interests and their children's
interests and flexibly build a curriculum as they go along.foot
We don't know exactly what we will be doing in six months, so, when we
describe our curriculum to outsiders we tell where we have been.
If you need to seek approval for homeschooling from your school
district, be prepared to do a good bit of writing. You'll most likely
be asked for a "curriculum outline" or "planned course of study" for
your children, which basically just means your overall plans and goals
and possible resources you'll use in every subject area. It does NOT
mean they want you to detail every moment of the next 180 days you
spend with your child. It also does NOT mean that you have to
PURCHASE a curriculum, though if you do, this of course makes your
communication job much easier. You may then merely share with the
district what you've bought, and it will in all likelihood look very
official and get you approval. You can write up your own plans,
though, and that is what this chapter is mainly about. And although
the job can seem overwhelming at first, it can indeed be valuable to
you in really sorting out your ideas, helping you realize what a good
environment you are providing for your children at home. Here are
some thoughts and ideas on how you might go about this work.
First of all, it means you will say SOMETHING about all of the required
subject areas. In Pennsylvania, for example, for elementary school
education, you need to say something about English (to include
spelling, reading and writing); arithmetic; science; social studies
(geography, history of the United States and PA, civics); safety
education; health & physiology; physical education; music; and art.
THERE IS NO OFFICIAL "STATE CURRICULUM" OTHER THAN JUST SUCH A LIST OF
SUBJECT AREAS -- it is up to each district to interpret these areas as
they see fit. And so it should be up to YOU also to interpret them as
YOU see fit. BUT say something about each subject. Don't leave
anything out or you're setting yourself up for them to say your
program is incomplete or not well-rounded.
To this I'd add another, purely optional heading -- social education of
your child. Say something positive about your child's social
opportunities -- family values orientation, sibling relationships,
"peer" experience in outside classes or clubs, participation in any
organized homeschooling events (fairs, potluck suppers, homeschooling
weekend, field trips), family visits, service work in community,
"team" participation, access to wide age range of friends, church
activities, evidence of social responsibility, etc. Many school
districts will hit you with questions about this -- be ready to answer
with specifics.
Do feel free to stress that your program is INTERDISCIPLINARY, meaning
that although you have written each subject up separately, that in
reality, you try to INTEGRATE as many subjects areas as possible.
(This just means do several things at once -- i.e. study fractions while
doubling a recipe or learning musical note values, or use mathematics
to help set up a history time-line or measure wood for a building
project.)
Also it would be very appropriate to say something about your child --
his learning style, interests, hobbies, strengths, developmental
"weaknesses" if any. Don't be afraid of making your child seem not
quite perfect in every area -- Kathy Terleski found that her district
really appreciated her honesty and insight in problem areas. You can
use your description of your child in defending your particular plans,
saying that you have tailor-made your curriculum to fit his/her
special needs.
If your child has never been in school, you might want to describe
what you HAVE ALREADY done, and then indicate that you plan to
continue in the same way this upcoming school year. Use any good past
successes as further proof of your qualifications to teach.
Make LISTS of everything that could possibly be listed that might have
an impact on what you do with your kids. Later organize it all into
subject areas where possible. You may decide not to actually include
everything in your final write-up, but you'll feel better about having
some "extra evidence" to pull out if needed.
Count books and periodicals in your home, perhaps in each subject
area. Mention if you frequently go to bookstores with your child, or
the library, or library book sales, or swap books with other
homeschooling families, or give books as gifts to your children. Let
them know you are LITERATE -- they won't necessarily assume you are.
Unfortunately in dealing with most school people, you will have to
prove your worth every step of the way. They may already have a
mental image of homeschoolers as "abusive," totally uneducated
parents, who can barely read or write, until you prove yourself
otherwise.
List any "resource materials" you own or have borrowed from
libraries -- tapes, records, films, videos, games, posters, science
equipment (telescope, microscope, magnifying glasses, measuring cups,
rulers, thermometer, etc.), globes and maps, sports equipment, art
supplies, musical instruments. Don't worry too much if your child
has not yet used these materials -- say you PLAN to use them, and list
that they are available, that you always seek to provide your child
with a wide variety of resources in all subject areas.
List any TRIPS you've taken in the past year, or plan to take in the coming
year, and how you will INTEGRATE these into your "program" (make book
about, scrap book, do experiments or art work as follow-up, tie in
with history study, part of music appreciation program). Think not
only of museums, and other "official" trips, but also of informal
visits to friends' homes where your children might have been exposed
to new ideas or "educational" toys or art or music, or to a new
environment such as a farm, home-made house, or home business. Think of
discussion ideas these visits generated, and list THEM.
List any family hobbies -- gardening (there's biology for you),
cooking (math, chemistry, history, safety), pets (biology,
responsibility, math -- how much does it cost to feed a goldfish for a
year?), hiking (nature study, phys. ed.), going to concerts (music
appreciation, social ability), stamp collecting (history, civics, art
appreciation).
List any official textbook materials that you own, stating clearly
that you purchased these materials yourself (this often impresses).
Also list any "teacher"-type resource books you own or have read. Let
them know that YOU know you can find the books you need to help plan a
good program. After all, the textbooks that teachers use in college
are not locked up in colleges -- they are often in your local library,
second hand book store or library sale.
List any RESOURCE PEOPLE you are involved with, however
sporadically. Good titles to use for these people might be
"educational consultant," "curriculum advisor," "(specific subject
area) specialist," or "private tutor," where appropriate. Think of
librarians, private instructors, friends who happen to be certified
teachers, friends who are enthusiastic about their fields or hobbies
whom your kids might come in contact with (builders, friends from
different countries, collectors, craftspeople, piano tuners, plumbers,
etc.).
TYPE TYPE TYPE your final draft of your plan -- even if you have to
barter services to get someone else to do it. Any format that makes
your plan look more FORMAL, WELL-THOUGHT OUT, and ACADEMIC is useful
with a tough district. You indeed want them to feel that you have
gone to a lot of trouble to come up with your plan, and that you want
it treated with respect. Typing is sort of like having your plan wear
a coat and tie. Also keep in mind that the school people may not even
read your document AT ALL, but they will look at its format and
general headings.
Your philosophy and purpose CAN BE to have your children involved in
choosing and planning and evaluating their own specific work, with
your "parental guidance" of course. Don't feel you necessarily have
to spell out EXACTLY what you plan to do in each area -- what specific
books you'll read, etc.. You could instead state that your child will
help in choosing and discussing books from a wide variety of types -- fiction,
non-fiction, biography, historical fiction, mystery, folk-tales, drama, science, etc. Again, a goal you could write into your
plan is that you want your child to realize the wide variety of books
and resources available in all subject areas -- AND that is WHY you do
not want to be limited to one textbook (such as the school
district's). Just DON'T let the school people get the impression
that you "don't do anything," just because you are not following some
"canned curriculum" (or using their textbooks).
Do feel free to dress up your language a bit to make it seem more
"educationese," but don't get caught in the trap of not knowing what
you're saying (just like the school people...). Simple, clear writing
is always good -- and appreciated. Here are a few terms that might be
useful to you, though:
Provide for some means of evaluation -- especially if you want to
argue out of the yearly standardized test routine (not easy). Offer
something ELSE -- you will share yearly a portfolio of your child's
work in all subject areas, you will write up progress statements
quarterly describing your child's work in all areas, you will have a
private evaluator do a regular evaluation of your program, etc.. If
you feel a strong point of your program is your history or science
work, you may find that many standardized test do not measure ANYTHING
about those areas. You may want to offer some extra documentation to
the district about these areas if that's the case. In fact, do ask
WHAT areas are tested yearly, what test they use, what the purpose of
the testing program is (they usually have to say it is "diagnostic,"
that it is designed to help the teachers know strengths and
weaknesses so they can teach better -- NOT so that they can "flunk"
kids, OR so they can say you can no longer homeschool...). Even if
you do agree to yearly testing, I'd still recommend you also try to
meet regularly with school people to share concretely what you're
doing -- you don't want them to ONLY have test scores to evaluate your
child by, especially if your child doesn't happen to test well.
Ask to see the school's textbooks (teacher's copies if possible) and
their curriculum write-up to "help" you in writing up your own plan.
You can often borrow general goal and philosophy statements from
these books -- and how can they refute them? Many of the schools'
goals are fine -- for example, "All children will receive reading
instruction based on their individual needs and appropriate to their
potential for learning. It is essential every child develop a
positive self-concept recognizing their unique abilities, but
simultaneously an understanding of their weaknesses..."
In general, you don't have to change the way you're teaching in order
to write up your own curriculum. You just have to learn how to put
what you are already doing in the best light.
When faced with writing an "official" educational plan this past year
for Jesse, age 9 and considered by the district a 4th grader, I
realized I had to come up with a touch (at least) of fancy language to
describe what we do about reading. I knew I couldn't just say, "Oh,
we just let Jesse read whatever he wants to and he reads a lot." So
here is the admittedly somewhat overblown prose I finally chose. Mind
you, it's not the way I'd talk about our reading at home to friends,
but it seemed appropriate for the school folks, and apparently did the
trick. They asked no questions.
Jesse will be involved in a literature based, sustained silent
reading program, reading daily from self-chosen material for at least
45 minutes. He will try reading from many different genres: fiction,
biography, plays, non-fiction in all subject areas, poetry, magazines,
newspapers, etc. Length of readings will vary from short articles and
selections to long childrens' novels (ie. Caddie Woodlawn, and other
Newberry Award Winner books). He will keep his own record of books
completed, and will discuss his reading daily with parent tutor.
Attention will be given to noting the author's voice, appreciating
style differences among different authors, comparing and contrasting
similar books. He will focus on an author of choice and read several
works by that author, comparing how the works are similar or
different, how the author changed his approach or developed a
consistent style. We will discuss tone, plot structure,
characterization, recurring themes, use of language, and our own
reactions and responses to the piece read.
We will not use a basal reader textbook, as our program is
literature-based, and our goal is to allow Jesse access to the finest
in children's literature and let him find his own reading level. We
own at least 1200 children's books in our home, in all subject areas
and levels of difficulty, and also use books borrowed from various
libraries and homeschooling friends. We find that owning our own
books gives a great love of reading, a sense of ownership of the whole
process of reading, and we give great priority to buying books as
gifts for the children.
Communicating with a school district is not the time to be as concise
as possible -- if you can string something out, do so. (This may
remind you a bit of the "padding" you may have done with term papers
as a high school or college student. After all, in a sense you are
dealing here with the same people once again.) But at the same time,
do know what you are talking about and don't close yourself into
corners of verbiage. Where ever possible give yourself options,
outlets, other choices. I liked it that I did not lock us into saying
we would read any specific books (an impossible thing for us to plan
in advance), and I did not commit us to using ANY workbook or textbook
type materials -- no comprehension drills, no vocabulary drills, no
"five questions at the end of the story" stuff. Just committed us to
real reading and talking about what we read. Just what we do best
around here.
Some parents we've talked with wonder if they can feel confident in
putting down in a plan or curriculum or evaluation that they just TALK
about books and ideas with their kids. This on-going discussion with
our kids, this conversation, may seem so natural to us perhaps that it
doesn't seem important or worth mentioning, doesn't seem as concrete
as saying our child has completed so many workbook pages or so many
"skill" worksheets. But when we really start looking at what the real
EXPERTS in the reading and language field say, I think we can gain
more confidence in our folksy home approaches. After all, the schools
would love to have as much discussion time as we have at home
throughout our days -- they just don't have the time. I remember very
well when I was a teacher that it became a distraction if kids wanted
to jump in with a comment about a book I was reading aloud to a group.
It was a tangent that got us off track, and would soon have 20 other
kids jumping in with their thoughts and reminicences and anecdotes.
But at home how different -- with just a few "students" we can explore
all these tangents and let them become new roads to related learning.
School teachers might love to be able to have book discussions during
lunch time with their students (a common occurence around here), but
school cafeterias just aren't conducive to it.
We should feel confident and comfortable emphasizing the entire
"literate environment" of our homes. Just look at what noted expert
in the field Morton Botel wrote in the 1979 Pennsylvania
Comprehensive Reading Communication Arts Plan, published by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education itself:
Before school and systematic instruction begin, the earliest means by
which young children learn to read are by listening and responding to
literature at home. In fact, a literate environment at home usually
produces children who read early and maintain their competence
throughout school. Such an environment has several characteristics.
Family members have a general commitment to the benefits and pleasures
of oral and written language. There is a home library and writing
materials. Family members read silently, read aloud to their children
and to one another, and talk about what they read with each other....
The school should also provide a literate environment rich in language
experiences that excite and challenge thinking and imagination, touch
values and feelings, and improve reading and writing competence. For
these purposes nothing is more effective than being exposed to
literature by hearing and reading it and responding to its ideas,
images and sounds.1
He continues to lambast (gently!) the schools for overusing "quickie"
types of questioning and testing methods, urging instead the types of
discussion and involvement common at home in families that love to
read:
Begin (Quotation)
Research shows that elementary and secondary teachers seem to overuse
questions that call for short answers rather than those that generate
discussion and involvement. Unfortunately they seem to be encouraged
in this biased emphasis by the suggestions in many teacher's guides of
basal reading and literature programs. The effect of this is to
discourage and dampen student interest and involvement and thereby to
limit the flow and quality of thought....
We propose a variety of productive activities to tap all the four
comprehension perspectives....
So this expert, very well known and respected in the field of reading,
is advocating just the sort of thing most homeschooling families do
with reading already -- and if this is advocated from such an expert,
then we should feel proud of what we do and very confident to relate
such things on our plans.
Translating this concretely, around here we read aloud a lot ("oral
reading and rereadings"), and we talk about what we read
("discussions"), each of us getting a chance to share responses and
ideas and questions. When Jesse and Jacob spent many happy hours
building a pretend "Borrower's set-up" while we were reading the
wonderful Borrowers series of books (all about imagined little people
who lives inside the walls of houses and who "borrow" all the little
things WE lose all the time...), they were involved in both a
"simulation" and an "art interpretation." For months any little
throw-away was quickly grabbed by the boys and turned into a Borrower
stool or chair, a Borrower bed. A leftover spice can became a
miniature stove, scraps of woods were glued and nailed into tables and
benches, crocheted doilies became fancy tablecloths and rugs. This
was of course all self-chosen play to them, not an exercise in
"comprehension" that I had cleverly devised -- I just gave them the
space and the permission and let them know I was interested in their
ideas. When they got all excited about imagining what would happen if
the Borrower characters were living here, or trying to imagine future
possibilities for them, they were engaging in "retelling by changing
characters, actions, or setting."
Or what about when Jesse tells me during lunch about the wonderful
book he's just been reading, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a Newberry
Award Winner about a young woman accused falsely of being a witch in
colonial Connecticut. He lets me know how he feels about the actions
of the characters -- many of them clearly unfair or narrow minded to
us. He's responding to the book personally and figuring out what the
book means to him. And when I ask him to retell parts of the story to
me (it has been 12 years since I last read the book myself, and I'm
fuzzy on some parts), then he's retelling with a real purpose -- he's
communicating with me because I really want to know about the book
too. I'm not just quizzing him or trying to check up on his
"comprehension skills." We are all responding to the book and it's
ideas. Our "just talking" is really talk and discussion of the
highest sort, and it's even largely initiated by Jesse.
You might even list it as a goal in any curriculum plan you need to
write that your child will "initiate discussion about responses to
literature through devising his own questions and retelling parts he
was particularly moved by." What homeschooing parent hasn't been
interrupted while reading aloud to answer a question a child has about
the goings-on in the story, or what parent hasn't used a car ride to
sometimes talk over favorite parts of books with their kids? Not in
any "official" way that marks off this talking as a "lesson," but just
as part of the conversation. I remember Jesse coming out with, "Hey,
Mom, wasn't it funny when Peter Pan fooled the pirates that time on
Marooner's rock?" on a car ride maybe a month after finishing reading
the book together. Our discussions don't have to be planned in
advance as our kids feel that books just naturally are a good
topic of conversation. 1M. Botel, A Comprehensive Reading
Communication Plan (Working Edition), Spring 1979, p.3.
2Ibid, p. 5.
Click here to go to the next chapter
Click here to go return to the Table of Contents
Cover All Subjects
List Resources
Put a Coat and Tie on it
Specify Evaluation Measures
Jesse's Fourth Grade Curriculum