We all know that buying curriculum is an exciting experience. You get new books delivered to your doorstep and begin to dream about the perfect homeschool experience you’re about to give your kids. And then reality sets in. The overwhelming feeling of “wait a second, how do I even teach my kids this subject?” Don’t worry! Here are some helpful tips and frequently asked questions!
#1 Breathe
Breathe and get excited again! We’ve created the teacher guide to help you experience joy while you teach your children. We've spent hundreds of hours researching and reading the available books, forming questions, writing notes, finding related websites and videos, and dreaming up assignments so that you don't have to! Using a teacher guide alongside our curriculum gives you confidence and step-by-step guidance to teach each course.
#2 Flip through it
This is a very easy way to get accustomed to what’s inside a teacher guide. As you flip through the pages before you begin, you’ll discover all the planning, prep-work, and book selection has already been done for you! *exhale*
#3 Go at your own pace
While we have a suggested pace for completing each study (i.e. three lessons per week for a year-long course),we believe it’s so important to find the right pace for your family. The teacher guide is the greatest tool in finding your family’s pace!
Inside each guide you’ll find:
Comprehension questions and discussion prompts to engage your child
Hands-on activities like copywork, coloring, and map-making
Vocabulary words to define and build a glossary
Website and video links for further study
Supplemental book recommendations
Answer keys for more advanced studies
Can I still do my own thing while using the teacher guide?
Absolutely! As you get into your homeschool rhythm you may find that you’re wanting to add to the study or do a variation. This is totally okay, and we encourage you to do so! The teacher guide is there to help you, not box you in.
Do I have to do everything in the teacher guide?
Each lesson we build is aimed at helping you get the most academic value possible. That being said, each family is unique and our studies are not designed to be a list of boxes to be checked. Checking off the right boxes doesn’t equal success. What’s most important is using our guides to match your family’s learning style, to connect with your kids, and to see them love learning.
How long do the lessons take to complete?
Lesson length is dependent on many factors such as your children's ages, whether you are reading the books aloud, how many assignments you want to complete, etc. The times below offer a good rule of thumb.
Primary age - 45 minutes per lesson
Intermediate age - 1 hour per lesson
High School age - 1.5-2 hours per lesson
Well, there you have it. Remember to breathe, flip through it, and go at your own pace! We are here not just to provide you with excellent books and curriculum but we’re alongside for your whole journey. Call us anytime!
