In my previous post, I mentioned how we went through the process of applying to private / alternate schools for our child. During that time, I was often asked by admissions offices “what curriculum are you using to homeschool?” The answer, “my own,” seemed to take them by surprise. I would then hear “what do you mean your own” or “how is it possible to use your own?” Well, first, our district does not provide any oversight of homeschoolers and our state does not require any reporting on curriculum or student progress. Second, I have worked in education for almost twenty years and have focused on curriculum development and alignment. I used my experience to construct the framework for what we would learn throughout the year.
To start building, I needed a detailed blueprint. I looked to our school district for design ideas, but little was available. This was quite frustrating as a district is supposed to provide a comprehensive curriculum guide to homeschooling families. However, our district only shared their general Programs of Study, which were available on their website. These were not going to help me build a solid foundation. So, I started to look to other public school districts … not because I was looking to replicate what was happening in public school, but rather to gain an understanding of what topics are typically covered in each grade level. I believe in standards. I like the Common Core (remember Common Core is a set of standards NOT a specific curriculum). I wanted to set some learning goals for the year.
One local school district had detailed curriculum guides on their website. For each subject, the guides included units of study, key lessons, estimated timelines, teaching points, expected outcomes, and supplemental materials. I used these elements as the foundation for my own curriculum. Then I set about choosing my own textbooks and workbooks (for example Singapore Math Dimensions and Harcourt Social Studies). Once these arrived, I set about sketching monthly curriculum frameworks that noted the topics to be covered for each subject. Finally, I worked to design weekly and daily lesson plans, which is where I added in mentor texts, supplemental videos, inquiry projects, discussion activities, and even a few remote learning opportunities (thank you National Museum of Math and Project Oceanology).
But throughout the process I remained in control of what and how we were going to study and at what pace. I could match grade level topics to my child’s interests and go deeper. I could integrate the curriculum and connect ideas to a theme or project. I missed my college students, but realized that teaching fourth grade was pretty fun after all. I can’t wait to begin building my curriculum for 5th grade.