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Home School CD-ROM Curriculum Frees Up Your Time and Engages Kids' Minds
Are you hoping a Home School CD-ROM Curriculum could help your child to:
- be an independent learner,
- retain more of what he or she is learning,
- and free up your time to teach the other kids?
A Home School CD-ROM Curriculum can do those things and more...if you know the pros and cons of that type of curriculum. Hi! I'm a home schooling mom of four kids, and I have seen firsthand how helpful the computer can be in helping our kids to
- work independently,
- learn while having fun,
- and give me time to help my other children.
There are, however, some drawbacks that you should know about now before you invest in any Home School CD-ROM Curriculum. Take a look at the lists of PotentialAdvantages and Disadvantages listed below. Note: Be sure that you not only want the positive things, but that you can live with the negative things as well! Also remember as you read through the lists that what I've suggested as a "drawback" may be just what you are looking for! - Complete Home School CD-ROM Curriculum:
- Includes math, science, language arts and often other subjects,
- Covers a range of subjects at a moderate level of detail,
- Usually used as the foundation of a child's curriculum.
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One factor to keep in mind if you decide to use a CD-ROM curriculum, especially if it will be as the backbone of your curriculum, is that you will want to be sure to have a computer with enough memory and speed so as to minimize potential frustration with the software!
- Supplemental Educational Software:
- May focus on only one single subject (such as math or writing), or
- May focus on a mixture of various skills from one grade level (such as Reader Rabbit, Jump Start, etc.),
- Usually used as a supplement to other curriculum. Here are some recommendations:
| Potential Advantages of a Complete CD-ROM Curriculum |
- learning is self-paced,
- encourages independent learning,
- systematic presentation and regular review helps students retain information,
- multi-sensory -- especially good for those who don't do as well with the traditional textbook approach,
- can be used for multiple students, so cost-effective over time,
- often includes games, so it may motivate students who do not otherwise enjoy school,
- allows flexibility so that students can "catch up" in their weak areas,
- especially good if the main teacher has needs which take increased time (New baby? Illness? Elderly parent? Moving? The list goes on!)
To Summarize: a Complete Home School CD-ROM Curriculum can be an excellent choice if you:- have a student who needs systematic review and the computer helps him or her stay focused and be motivated,
- have circumstances that mean that you can't devote as much time as you'd like to teaching at this point,
- are looking for something to help minimize your time spent on planning and grading and maximize the time you spend learning together in other ways.
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| Potential Disadvantages of A Complete CD-ROM Curriculum |
- unless you have multiple computers, or only one student, you need a schedule for computer time,
- less hands-on learning through experiments, projects, and books,
- may not promote strong writing skills (such as writing essays, research papers or other creative writing),
- it may not cover the subject in as much depth as you'd like or in the way you want it covered (such as if you want a specifically Christian perspective),
- used alone, it may not give as much flexibility in pursuing a special interest as other book-based home school curriculum,
- it may not hold the interest of some children who are advanced or "gifted" in some areas, or those who are avid readers.
To summarize: a home school CD-ROM curriculum may not be the best choice for you if you- want to have a more hands-on approach and learn with your child as you explore or read together,
- want to center your studies around books and writing,
- have a desire to study certain subjects in more depth or cover topics not covered in the CD-ROM curriculum.
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Let me just mention again, that advantages and disadvantages are really personal, depending on your family's needs at this time, and your child's needs at this point. What you might not have even considered using a few years ago, might be just the thing to spark new life into your home school this year! | But Can I Really Use a Home School CD-ROM Curriculum and Be A Good Home School Teacher? |
When I first thought about using a Home School CD-ROM Curriculum I couldn't let go of this idea that by letting the computer do most of the teaching I was somehow not a good teacher. But you know what? Here is what you and I as homeschoolers need to remember: |
