Curriculum — Page 3 — Home School Support Network

Sherry Osborne April 24, 2012

Homemade Toothpaste

I recently had the book The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill recommended to me to read to my boys. A quick search at our local library turned up the book and excitement was on my 9 year old’s face as he read the title (I’m guessing the attention getter was the word “millionaire” NOT the word “toothpaste”!).

We read the book, breaking it up into smaller chunks over several days. The book is about a boy and his friend and their quest to make- and then sell- affordable toothpaste. It was refreshing to find a book with an interesting plot and no objectionable character or language. My son and I recommend this book! Note: There is an updated version of this book (of at least the cover but I don’t know about the content). We read the older version.

I did a quick Google search for “homemade toothpaste recipe” and quickly discovered we already HAD all the ingredients to make our own toothpaste. You can’t get any cheaper than that!! We did this as the culminating activity to our reading and have been using it now for weeks. I actually prefer the homemade stuff as it feels like my teeth are cleaner!

I used Tammy’s Recipes website and found the step by step pictures easy to follow. It took literally just minutes! I haven’t let my four year old use this toothpaste because he just hasn’t mastered the whole “don’t swallow” thing but my nine year old loves it. As for safety, I asked the boys’ dentist to see if the baking soda is harmful and I received an okay from that standpoint. His concern was the lack of fluoride, which neither I nor the boys, have used for about two years now without any problems.

Another concern I’ve heard is about the essential oils being “food grade”. The opinions over this go back and forth so I’ll let you decide on that. I will say that you can find food grade oils online, and maybe even at your local health food store. They are more expensive than non-food grade but many are still pretty reasonably priced.

So if you are looking for a quick summer read and activity, keep this one in mind. As a bonus, you get some “natural toothpaste” too! Happy reading!

Sherry Osborne March 22, 2012

Curriculum Types

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Our goal in this episode is to equip you with some basic knowledge of the types of curriculum with some pros and cons of each. This is so that you can identify what your educational styles are and what some curricula choices are that matches your style. This BY NO MEANS is intended to be an an all inclusive list! There’s no way to know all that is available on the market- it changes too fast!

If you learn the basic categories that most curriculum falls into then you can identify it yourself. This is especially helpful when you go to curriculum fairs, homeschool conventions, or think you might like to try your friend’s favorite curriculum.

I personally believe that the most rounded education comes from using a variety of types. EVERY product available is going to have holes or at the very least, disadvantages. My best friend watched me run in circles trying to find the “perfect” curriculum when I began home schooling. I did finally realize there was no such thing because I didn’t write it (coming up with my own thing was time consuming, exhausting and at times- expensive).

I have also learned there is a “season” for every type of curriculum to be used- by most people. For example, a workbook curriculum might be necessary in one subject or in a season of context (new baby or moving) even if it is not your preferred method. Or you might need to use a unit approach to get your reluctant learner excited about learning.

The 4 types of curriculum that we are going to compare are:
Workbook*
Textbook*
Unit Study
Literature Books

*Because of the similarities between these two, it can be difficult to define the difference because most textbooks also have a workbook component and vice versa.

Below is a chart that we mentioned in this episode of the HSSN Podcast. This chart shows the Pros, Cons, Planning, Temperament, and example notes for each homeschool curriculum type.

Also mentioned in this episode is an episode of the DaddyLife.net Podcast discussing Love Languages and HSSN Podcast Episode 10 on Temperaments.

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Hank Osborne February 22, 2012

God’s Design Science Series – Review

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One of the most difficult decisions I face in homeschooling is choosing a curriculum among the abundance of choices available. Ironically, it’s also one of the major “benefits” I see that Homeschooling offers!

It is difficult for a few reasons. One is that I personally do best being able to put my hands on it to view the curriculum in it’s entirety (rather than viewing a lesson or unit that is available to view online). Another reason is that I HATE wasting money! Finally, there are many review websites and blogs out there but I found some of the reviews to be written by the publishers of the curriculum (I didn’t want a sales pitch) and the other reviews would be all over the place. I realize that no one curriculum will be a perfect fit for everyone but reading some raving reviews right next to some obviously disgruntled reviews for the same curriculum was frustrating and confusing for me.

I am going to do my best to give a factual review of the God’s Design for Science series. First let’s start with some curriculum details.

This series is written by Debbie & Richard Lawrence and published by Answers in Genesis. It is divided into 4 theme areas: Chemistry and Ecology (3-8th), Physical World (3-8th), Heaven and Earth (1-8th), and Life (1-8th). Each of these themes has three individual books that goes into more specific content. For example the God’s Design for Life has “World of Plants”, “World of Animals”, and “Human Body”. It takes about a year to complete the three books so the whole curriculum series would be four years of science.

Advantages:

The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is that it is multi grade level in the SAME book. EACH lesson is written with a “beginner” section that fits K-2nd really well, a section for 3-8th, and some “challenge” sections designed for 6-8th but my third grader can often complete. Included are “Special Features” articles which are fun facts or biographies of scientists who have contributed to the subject.
It is creation based (meaning it is completely evolution theory free) and examples of God’s design of our world is woven throughout the curriculum.
Comprehension questions are included for every level and in every lesson (the teacher’s book has the answers).
There are added activities for each lesson like experiments, worksheets, research projects, and some charades/art. Any worksheets and tests are on the CD ROM that is included with each individual book.
MOST activities do not require much prep time or materials (and the materials they do require are ones you would have on hand or from a grocery store).
It lends well to pulling in additional picture books or activities.
The cost is pretty low and you have the option of buying per book, per theme series, or the whole series.

Disadvantages

The unit tests cover content for all the grade levels. If your child doesn’t do the “challenge” sections then there will be questions that he/she will not know on the tests. Likewise, the tests are very difficult for the K-2nd “beginner” level as much of the content would be foreign to them.
The content of each lesson is light (at least for the “World of Animals” book but that may not be the case for “Properties of Atoms and Molecules” book!)
If you want a science curriculum that is highly WORKSHEET OR EXPERIMENT based then this NOT for you!

For our family, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I realize that no curriculum is perfect. You may however, want to check God’s Design out!

Also mentioned in this episode was the Teach Them Diligently Convention for Christian homeschoolers. We highly recommend this convention if you are going to be anywhere near the upstate of South Carolina between March 15-17.

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