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The Resource Bug is Biting – Part 3

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AFTER the CONVENTION:
1. If you’ve held off your purchases and not bought at the convention, PRAY (and research more if needed) until you feel sure, then ORDER. If you were unable to see something at the convention, but you still feel it may be best, order it. Don’t choose what you feel is going to be second best just because you haven’t seen what you really wanted to try. Most companies have return policies, on curriculum type things anyhow, and it is better to look and pay a return fee if it isn’t going to work, than to keep trying other things, and always wondering if this other would have been better.

2. Realize that mistakes WILL be made! It is part of learning and growing – and learning and growing involve COSTS. Don’t throw out an *apparent* mistake at the first sign of difficulty. Pray about how (if) it can be adapted to fit your goals/methods, or if it is indeed what God wants but is going to require you to STRETCH and GROW. Give it some time, and really try to utilize it, especially if it fits into your “guidelines”.

3. If you truly make a mistake, repent, spend more time – prayer and research – finding the replacement. Sell the old on a curriclum swap e-list or local used book fair. Chalk it up to experience. But be careful not to get in the rut of always jumping from one thing to another, and never truly implementing ANYTHING, always jumping to the newer, better resource, in looking for THE answer. If this is happening, go back to the beginning and spend more time Renewing Your Mind and getting God’s direction.

4. Also realize that as you grow, the *PERFECT RESOURCE* that is perfect this year, may not be *PERFECT* NEXT YEAR or 5 years from now. You will be growing and continually renewing and adapting. Start where you’re at and grow from there. Sell, give or throw away, whatever no longer fits into your philosophy and goals and move on. But try to purchase things you won’t “outgrow”, like the Real Resources/ Living Books things the guidelines below suggest.
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As I said above, Renewing our Mind to God’s purposes and plans for our family’s education is the primary factor in determining what resources will work for us. Having a well developed personal Philosophy of Education – which is just another way of saying, knowing how God wants you to teach your children – will keep you from making mistakes more than anything else. We have developed a set of guidelines that help us stay within our philosophy. There are so many tempting things out there that sound SOOOOO GOOD, we can easily get distracted and buy things that don’t “fit” our family.

We try to follow each of these resource qualifications for every learning resource purchase, although #3 and #4 don’t always apply, #1, 2, and 5 are musts! We use almost all Real Resources – Living Books (great literature) as well as Skills Resources for teaching “how to” (whether that be math, sewing, phonics, cooking, writing, car repair, etc.) Only resources that fit these guidelines are worth spending our hard earned, many times hard-to-come-by, dollars on. Other things – such as an occasional “fluff” or extra resource/book “just for fun” must come out of extra money (a rare thing) or from the library. I really don’t like spending money on something that isn’t worth keeping in our own family library. They aren’t worth the money or space they take up, let alone the time wasted on them. We do all really need to be watchful that we Redeem that Time that the Lord has given us, and not waste it on vanity.

Here’s the qualifications I think through when deciding what resources to buy. They are a part (the *5th* principle) of the “8 Principles of L.E.D.” (which you can receive on tape from us). They should be applicable for anyone following a Lifestyle Education through Discipleship.
5 Qualifications for L.E.D. Resources:

1. Relational & Relative – (individualized vs. canned) It must be something that speaks into OUR lives, not just the “latest, greatest everyone is raving about it” resource. Does it further the goals God has given us for OUR family’s education? (not just what someone else says we should be learning.) Is it based on premises we believe in? (Biblical worldview.) Does it follow the way WE believe teaching and learning are best accomplished? (not textbooks/
workbooks.) Does it promote adaptation to individual circumstances? (or is it written to be used in a lock-step way – daily, scripted lessons, etc.?) Does it fit OUR LIFESTYLE?

2. Multi-level – Is it something that can be used by many different ages? (or is it “grade leveled”?) Most Living Books fit into this. A timeless, living book can be enjoyed by EVERYONE in the family, but even Skills Resources should cover all aspects of the topic, not just 1st grade, 2nd grade. We don’t use grade levels in our family’s education and don’t like resources that are written as such. Some resources may contain only “Introductory” level information, etc. but this isn’t the same as “grade level” resources.

3. Multi-disciplinary – Is it something that crosses the “subject” lines? (or does it only cover one “subject”?) Many Real Resources are TOPICAL, they only cover one topic, but that doesn’t mean they only cover one “school SUBJECT”. Obviously all “Living Books” fit into this category. Even resources like dictionaries and such will be used in all of learning. Most non-textbook resources don’t have to be pegged into a “subject” hole. But, just as obvious, things like a Math book will only cover Math.

4. Multi-sensory – Does it teach through more than one sense? If it’s a Skill-learning Resource or teaching guide, does it give ideas for presenting material in more than one way, to reach learners of various types?

5. Re-usable – Will it be able to be re-used by others, as well as the original student? (or will it be consumed and
thrown away when done with?) Real resources are ones that will be used over and over and are worth saving and using again. Even better yet, they will promote the student producing something worth saving. Recently, I heard a quote, from ages gone by, that any book worth reading once is worth reading 3 times. And, that we need to read them (or listen, if it’s a tape – in these modern times) at least 3 times before we really “get” it. I really believe it. I don’t think a resource is a good one, if it’s something I’m going to turn around and get rid of as soon as we’ve “gone
through it”. It should be worth saving for future reading and reference.

 

The Resource Bug is Biting – Part 2

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Conventions Shopping Tips
Here are my tips for buying resources at a Convention.

BEFORE the Convention:
1. THROUGH PRAYER – make a list of the TYPES of things you think you’ll need. i.e. “History resources covering _____ time periods. A hands on way to teach math, covering all levels. A mom’s “how-to” guide for teaching _____ in a relaxed way. A few interesting read-alouds on ______. A drawing program for _____. …..” This will help keep you from looking at things that you don’t need this year/ yet. If you’ve already got somewhat of a plan down, through prayer, AND have talked to your children about some interests they’d like to pursue, you’ll know things like ” there’s no use looking at _____ this year, because I KNOW that isn’t the direction we’re going and we won’t get to it. It will sit on the shelf and I’ll feel guilty for spending the money and for not using it.”

2. Get as many catalogs and visit as many websites as you can, so you will have an idea of what you particularly want to check out. Make a list under those “types of things” needed, of possible resources to fulfill that need. There will be plenty of other things at the convention that you haven’t heard of before to choose from, that you may also want to look at, but this pre-looking will at least narrow it down some. You will have, through the catalogs and websites, eliminated many choices. You can walk right past those booths with no condemnation or questioning for ignoring them.

AT the convention:
1. Go only to those booths that have your predetermined resource possibilities. WOULDN’T it be great if we could stop there? NO, DON’T DO THIS! There will be other good things to check out. But DO go to those pre-determined booths FIRST – and do some more eliminating.

2. DON’T buy anything on your first round. Make it a “skimming” tour. Make note of any other resources (or booths) that fit into your “types of things needed” that you’d like to further check out.

3. If something looks REALLY interesting, TALK to the vendor about it. Go to WORKSHOPS by that vendor that cover that resource (if possible) or at least give you an idea of that vendor’s philosophy (it determines the philosophy behind the books that vendor carries). This is more true of the smaller specialized vendors than those that carry a little of everything (who usually don’t do workshops, and may not even know much about their books. In fact they may just be a local “hired hand” to help “ring up” customers. Small vendors and especially those that have authored the resources are USUALLY the most helpful.

4. Buy ONLY when you have God’s Peace about a resource. If you still aren’t sure as the convention nears completion, DON’T rush or be pressured into buying ANYTHING. It will well be worth any extra you have to pay in shipping to get the right thing. Spend the time you need praying about it and getting God’s direction and peace. Don’t let a vendor (or others there) talk you into something that doesn’t fit your “litmus test” (see our guidelines below) unless you really sense God leading in that new direction. Perhaps it IS HIM giving clearer revelation, but PERHAPS it’s an expensive (in money AND TIME) rabbit trail.

5. This is personal opinion – as in what *I* do, and therefore carries emotional sentiment and may not fit as “good advise” :- ) IF you have been hs-ing a long time and you know the direction you’re going, and you already have all your basic resources – buy what you find that will fill-in for the future, even if you may not use it THIS year. I really don’t NEED anything for “THIS YEAR” anymore, but I do know what I plan for the future AND I ENJOY filling in and buying when I find a resource that is just right for what I know is upcoming, when it is something I really feel God’s Peace about.

There have been years that I haven’t been able to go to convention OR order any resources and I have been grateful for God’s advance promptings that have led me to purchase ahead and provide for future (at the time, but now current) needs. It’s a good feeling when Mark says, “Sorry I don’t see how we can squeeze anything out right now,” and I can reply, “We’re OK. We already have all we need for now.” This is especially true because we use “Real Resources” such as timeless Living Books.

We may not be studying Early America this year, BUT I know it’s coming up and I know we want to read Charles Coffin’s “Sweet Land of Liberty” and William Bradford’s “Plymouth Plantation” when we get there. I know they are living resources that won’t be not applicable/ out of our philosophy when I get there. OR, perhaps we are collecting G.A. Henty books, or those character classics reprinted by “Lamplighter”, we have the ones we’re going to read this year, but I find others to add to our collection. These are timeless resources that I’d like to have, just to have in our library and read ANYTIME!, not just the year we “study” their topic. If I find them at the convention, and I have the money to buy them, after getting anything I need for this year, I get them.

This could get me on a whole other rabbit trail of building a good and timeless library. I want to have books on our shelves that tempt our kids to “read ahead”, meaning they see these books as being valuable to our family, and are intrigued to just pull them off and start reading at anytime, not just because they were “assigned”. That is part of creating a Love for Learning. And, I will save the rest of this rabbit trail for the Environment of Excellence article in our forthcoming “Lifesytle Curriculum” book.

6. Another good question to add for us book junkies that are deviating from “this year’s needs” list is: Do I already have something that teaches/covers this in a way that is do-able for us? Does this NEW resource do that much BETTER of a job, and fit our QUALIFICATIONS that much better, that I am willing to REPLACE the other one? It’s easy for me to duplicate things, because there’s MORE than ONE good thing out there. BUT since we already have a library of thousands of books, we don’t need to keep adding, just for the sake of adding. A verse that “speaks” to me is “Of the making of books, there is no end.” from Ecclesiastes. AND I DON’T NEED TO OWN *ALL* OF THEM!!!!!

Continued in Part 3

 

The Resource Bug is Biting

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This is the time of year when Home Education Conventions, Conferences, Retreats, Seminars, Workshops and Curriculum Fairs begin. Everyone is beginning to focus on what we “need” for “next year”. Even if you believe, as we do, that learning is a lifestyle that continues year-round, if you have any state requirements for academics, those probably “come due” at the beginning of the government (so-called, public) school year, and it is time to start planning and ordering.

Making choices as to what resources to buy isn’t near as limited as it was when we began teaching our children at home 15 years ago, and only knew of the traditional curriculum/ subjects viewpoint we had grown up with. As those choices expand yearly – DAILY! – it can get easy to be tossed about by every wind of new and great things out there that EVERYBODY’S using.

Although Home Education Conventions/Curriculum Fairs are REALLY TEMPTING places, and CAN BE VERY OVERWHELMING, I DON’T believe we should stay away from them. They are where we can best get the information we need to make right resource choices, as well as help deepen our philosophy of education. In fact, I think every mom (and dad too, if possible) needs to go EVERY YEAR to some type of hs mom’s (parent’s) retreat, convention, etc. for her (their) own renewal and refreshment. We all need encouragement and support. Sometimes we can seem so isolated in our own world of home educating. We need to get out and see the “big picture” just for a better perspective. God has given us such great mentors to help us along, we need to utilize the resources He’s provided for us. No homeschool home is an island. Don’t try to make yours one.

IF you already have a solid “philosophy”, the specialized retreats/conferences can be the best place for you to go, for it encourages you in YOUR way. But general conventions are good too, as they open the doors for greater thought, and different perspectives. I’d love to encourage you all to attend/ host an L.E.D. seminar, but our baby’s due next week, so we aren’t planning on doing any this year. :- ( I love to do them and miss them greatly when I’m not able, but this list will have to suffice for this year for those of you who aren’t local. I do still plan to do some things locally this year. But there are many things L.E.D. can glean from other philosophies. If you’ve attended our workshop or listened to the tape “Introduction to Lifestyle Education through Discipleship”, you know how our philosophy compares with some of those others. Your own personal philosophy may glean more or less from each of the others. If your philosophy is quite similar to Charlotte Mason’s then a CM Conference would be great for you to go to. If you are more enthralled by the Principal Approach, go there. If Sally Clarkson’s “Wholehearted Child”, or Cindy Rushton’s “Easy Way” really interests you, go to one of their mom’s retreats. Many of us don’t have that many options near us, and a general “state convention” is our only choice. Perhaps, we have the blessing of at least MORE THAN ONE to choose from. For these, search out the vendors and workshops that are closest to YOUR “philosophy” and pick and choose that convention – or those workshops and booths at your only choice.

If you are new to looking at education through any perspective other than the world’s view that we grew up with, DO – DO -DO, AT LEAST go through (or at least begin) your season of Renewing Your Mind BEFORE going to a Convention. The more we have developed our personal Philosophy of Education (found God’s direction for our family’s education) – the easier it becomes to make those choices in a place where endless resources are calling “Buy Me!” When we sit at the Lord’s feet and get His direction for our family we will find that many things “out there” just don’t fit US. This makes them much easier to pass up when they (and all your friends) are calling “NEW, GREAT, THE BEST, WOW, JUST WHAT YOU NEED!” It is SOOOO TRUE that we should NOT BUY until AFTER we’ve gotten direction from the Lord.

IF you don’t take (have) time before the convention to Renew Your Mind, and you’re only “looking into this”, determine to NOT BUY at the convention. Just soak up information, that will help you make your decision later. But I warn you, it may be confusing. There are many conflicting voices out there calling for our attention. If you’ve read our website and this L.E.D. e-list’s posts, and you know that your philosophy is akin to ours, I recommend that you order our “Introduction to Lifestyle Education through Discipleship” workshop audio and syllabus to see how L.E.D. compares to other philosophies so you will know which ones may be compatible with your thoughts, and not just add contrary confusing advise.

See part 2