May 17, 2002, Newsletter Issue #76: Eclectic

Tip of the Week

Eclectic - Nuts-n-Bolts
*If your child has been in school, I recommend taking a week or two off just to be together and to spend time getting to know each other. Near the end of the week off, make a list of your child´s academic strengths and weaknesses and in-betweens. Being very honest and very careful, categorize each subject by these headings - make sure to ask your child´s opinion. Once you have categorized them, then talk about "electives" - subjects that aren´t taught in school but which your child is interested in. Looking at your list, you have your curriculum. Give priority to the weaknesses and then to the in-betweens and lastly to the strengths. I recommend the weak subjects be taught every day for a period of weeks or months. They should have top priority on the daily time schedule to bring them to at least the "in-between" level. If math is weak, teach it early in the day. The strengths simply have to be maintained and can be further developed at a slower pace.
*Hopefully, you have been stockpiling books and materials that you want to use in your homeschool. Now, remembering your list, sort them and compile a daily schedule. Each day of the first week can be a "dry run" that will give you opportunity to test your book choices and your schedule for bugs. Once you have completed the first week, take a second look at your plans and your materials. Make adjustments. Don´t be afraid of reworking everything if needed. Make a new schedule based on your first week´s experience and your list of strengths, weaknesses and in-betweens. During the second week, teach your child with the specialized plan you developed for improving strengths and weaknesses and maintaining strengths, using the curriculum and materials that you have chosen.

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