Are You a Curriculum Junkie?

[mama25angels]

Always looking out of curiousity. Sometimes I buy.

 

:iagree: I seldom buy though, I have been gifted some curriculum and I keep it for just in case it works with one of my younger ones.

[RanchGirl]

I voted junkie, but I only buy things that either we will be using in the future or that I considering using in the future. I have the next six years tentatively planned out for all subjects for both kids. I don't switch midstream, or at least I haven't since the Sonlight pre-K incident several years ago (and thankfully I discovered it wasn't for us within their money back guarantee time limit!).

 

I love seeing things to evaluate them in person, I love getting things in the mail, and I love having the next several years planned out and ready on the shelf. Oh and I try to buy used to get good deals! That's what I think of when I say curriculum junkie. But hopping around to the next latest and greatest and dumping programs mid-stream - nope. Now that I've been homeschooling for several years I know my style and the kids' styles and what is working best for us so that is not an issue for us. (It did take several years for us to get to this place though!)

[Dina in Oklahoma]

Hi!

 

I am also an "other." I LOVE to research and I buy (after alot of thought and research) if I believe it will be better. I have committed to curriculum choices that really work, but . . . I must admit, I do love to hear the postmen coming up the walk and unwrapping the new purchase!!!! :drool:

:hurray:

:hurray: :party::party: :hurray:

[Homemama2]

junkie here

:leaving:

 

HOWEVER!! :D After my 1st yr. of hs, I do NOT buy 'ahead' since I change my mind. And although I LOVE researching I only buy what I need and use. ;)

[JenniferB]

I'm reformed. I use K12 now, through my state VA. I use the summer time to supplement, and satisfy my curriculum fix. :tongue_smilie:

[jenL]

:lol: I chose other. I drool over it all, but it's not often that actually change what we're doing. So, I could be a junkie, but I'm not... if that makes ANY sense at all.

 

This is me too!!! I LOVE curriculum... I find it fascinating, but I haven't really ventured from where we are since ds and I really love what we have.

 

Now, if we're talking about supplementary items to the actual curriculum (ie. living books, resources, primary sources, etc)... well, then I have a problem! :lol:

[Spy Car]

Thinking back on it, I was the student representative on the "Curriculum Committee" in High School. How geeky is THAT? :tongue_smilie:

 

Anyway, I'd say no. Others might look at the 6 math programs I have for kindergarten and say: Who you trying to fool?

 

But I look long and hard, I haven't yet purchased something I don't use. We'll see if the luck holds.

 

Bill

[sassenach]

I'm always looking, but I don't tend to switch around a lot. Well, maybe it would be a lot for some people. I have only once made a change mid year and I don't change things that are clearly working for us.

[Joyful]

I voted "other".

I think I am somewhere in between....

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

I am a junkie, but I am able to refrain from buying in most cases:tongue_smilie: I do like looking though;)

[Guest Cindie2dds]

Thinking back on it, I was the student representative on the "Curriculum Committee" in High School. How geeky is THAT? :tongue_smilie:

 

 

:lol: Why am I not surprised?

[Mommyfaithe]

I am an extremely reformed curr. junkie..

 

I still look at new things, but I am happy with my choices and I plan to stick with them...for now anyway. :lol:

 

~~Faithe

[cin]

I'm sorta a reformed junkie, but I wasn't really a junkie, just trying to figure out my oldest daughter's learning styles. FINALLY got a handle on her, and now think I'm reformed.

 

Science has been a thorn in our side. I tried several different curriculums and finally resigned myself to a TEXTBOOK format for her. She has alot of realtively minor sensory issues. So we're not going to dig in the dirt, touch the worms, or play with the goop we create. >sigh< My younger one though. Well, she'll probably get to use the 'failed' curriculums. :D

[patchfire]

I just spent a good 30-45 minutes poking around on my high school's website, looking at their curriculum guide and book list both. I'm a systems-of-education and goals of curriculum, as well as the actual curricula to achieve those goals, junkie. I don't buy that much, but I spend a lot of time reading theory, scope & sequence, and researching various approaches and materials. In another world, I would have gotten an Ed.D. and become the curriculum director or similar for a school or school system.

[MerryAtHope]

Hm, I'm probably inbetween, LOL! I usually only *seriously* look if something isn't working. But I have been known to follow a link just to see what something is, even if I'm not looking.

 

Merry :-)

[coffeefreak]

I'm reformed

 

:D

 

Now that I know what works for my family, I don't fix it unless it's broken.

 

Blessings!

Dorinda

[lollie010]

I love to look and research, but I can use restraint when its time to hit the "pay now" button.

[Annie Laurie]

I have been in some ways- I research and buy too much and I'm trying to stop that. I've had a problem with buying too much stuff to look at, because it's hard for me to get a handle on it unless it's in my hands, and then I'm afraid to sell it even if it isn't what I want, "just in case." So I have curriculum in three different closets, bins and bins full, which makes it too easy to drag one of those things out when I'm feeling down about our school day. Then I end up still not liking it, but hanging on to it still.

 

I've been consistent with my eldest (15), he has always used the same history and math and so on, I haven't been very tempted to try different things for him. I think my other kids being younger, it was just harder for me to figure out what worked for them, (I didn't start hsing my eldest until 4th grade), and so I kept buying and trying everything under the sun. Not to have the latest and greatest, but the best fit for them and me.

 

Anyway, I almost bought MCT, Classical Writing, and Writing Tales in the last month, so I could take a look through those too. But so far I've managed to resist and we're still plugging away with what we already own- WWE and IEW, and I'm hopeful that I'm on my way to being a recovered addict. Hopefully I'll be able to let go of my "crutches" soon too and will have emptier closets. :D

[Hathersage]

Depends on the subject. I think I've finally settled on handwriting, so there won't be anyone more switching there.

And if something is going Out Of Print, LOL. Maybe I shouldn't have jumped on the Singapore CWP bandwagon. I'm going to have to get a better feel for what is a good fit for us, since I have phobia of selling what I can't use.

[Laura W.]

Other: Besides changing if something isn't working, I also look at other things when I'm planning for a new school year, even if that particular program has been working for us. I don't consider myself a junkie, though I enjoy the process of exploring/planning for the future.

 

Blessings,

 

Laura

[Melenie]

Other - I am always looking, but seldom buy.

I like what we are using now and only look to add for later years, not to change.

[Another Lynn]

No, I'm a Home Education Research Specialist (HERS) :D

[gemrae]

Definite junkie here :001_smile:

[delaney]

Curriculum is more addictive, but less expensive then the clothes I used to buy for the girls!! I am a sure junkie for any type of books!

[Dinsfamily]

I love to research and am always looking for good choices for my ds (and the littles), but I only buy what I'm going to use. I don't have enough $$ to buy everything and I have to use what I buy. If something were a flop, I'd have to sell it before buying the next thing.

[TKDmom]

No, I'm a Home Education Research Specialist (HERS) :D

 

Oh! I love this definition! I love to know about everything that's out there. I've purchased 3 different LA curricula in the last year trying to figure out our styles. But I haven't switched anything else mid-stream. I told DH last night that I don't purchase everything I see. He raised his eyebrows and said, "That's hard to believe." :lol: He has no idea how much there is out there....

 

I will say, it's awfully fun when I have friends who are considering hs'ing and I can tell them what's out there and get them moving in the right direction. So Research Specialist it is. :D

[Dina in Oklahoma]

No, I'm a Home Education Research Specialist (HERS) :D

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Well Said!!! May I borrow the title?

 

My family laughed at me when I told them I put "other!" I quess the fact that I want to spend all my freetime "RESEARCHING" should be my first clue! :scared: Actually "RESEARCHING" would be my dream job!!!:001_unsure:

 

OK -- I'm a junkie! Is this the first step toward recovery?:blink:

 

Dina

[Another Lynn]

Oh! I love this definition! So Research Specialist it is. :D

 

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Well Said!!! May I borrow the title?

 

 

Dina

 

Yes, please use the title. I knew no one appreciate it as much as friends here! (Do you think it would look nice on a desk nameplate?) :D

[Dina in Oklahoma]

Yes, please use the title. I knew no one appreciate it as much as friends here! (Do you think it would look nice on a desk nameplate?) :D

 

:iagree:

Nameplate orders:

 

Lynn

Dina

[TXMary2]

I chose "obligaory other" because while I love reading about and researching curriculum, I tend to stick with the same things usually. Sometimes I rotate curriculum by using it every other year and I do tend to over buy at times. I definitely consider myself a junkie, but I would say I more of a recovering junkie these days. My first few years was BAD and I spent thousands and thousands of dollars! Thank God I am past that stage.

[Guest]

I picked other. I am trying to reform.

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

I am a total curriculum junkie... :thumbup: I cant stop. The rainbow resource catalog is my fix, along with my huge and growing stacks of others! My poor husband gets to read all my finds!

[mcconnellboys]

I guess I have to say other. I'm always shopping for books for school, and I'm always buying books, but most of those are not actual "texts" or "curriculums". I tend to stay with the same old, tried and true texts over the years - the living books give us our color and are ever changing!

[Mommy7]

I'm in denial. :D :lol: :lol: :lol:

[susankenny]

I picked "other". I buy things like crazy, but I'm not into fads, so the newest, latest, greatest isn't of importance in my obsession to collect and purchase. It can be a book from 1971 at the thrift store - I'm equally excited!!!:lol:

[Night Elf]

OTHER: I used to a curriculum junkie but this past year DH decided a certain course that I'm not allowed to change. He let me add Growing With Grammar because dd12 needed grammar practice, and Rosetta Stone because both she and I want to learn French.

 

However, in my days of buying lots of curriculum, I didn't search for NEW and best, I simply wanted more and different. I pretty much purchased every program mentioned on the K-8 curriculum board at one time or another. :) I rather miss the excitement of the UPS truck coming down the driveway.

[Momof1plustwins]

I voted "other". I l-o-v-e to look at curriculum and I am a reforming junkie.

 

After bingeing on curriculum for our first 2 years, I saw how this could quickly run us into the poor house. Although I do have over $1000 of merchandise in my Christianbook.com wish list, I ask myself if this is really something we NEED right NOW, or if I'm just having a "grass is greener" moment, before I click that "confirm order" button.

 

It's hard not to be a junkie when you first start hsing. You really don't know anything about how your children learn best or how you teach best. You have to get wet in order to test the temperature of the water. I will say that I am incredibly thankful for used curriculum message boards and ebay :tongue_smilie:.

[mama2cntrykids]

I voted "no". I'm pretty set with MFW and Singapore Math (for my oldest) but I like to see what other's are using.

[Shelly in the Country]

I voted yes...but I actually don't switch very often. I only click the "Order" button if something is not working well. I like to read about the newest, best so that if we do run into an issue, I know what is out there. I read these boards to keep current. It also helps for future planning.

[FordFamily]

Junkie is such a harsh word.;)

I'd rather think of myself as...oh, perhaps the

resource queen or maybe this is my ministry

to my friends who call and ask me questions! :lol:

[lovemykids]

No, I'm a Home Education Research Specialist (HERS)

 

Oh yes, so am I!

 

 

Junkie is such a harsh word.

I'd rather think of myself as...oh, perhaps the

resource queen or maybe this is my ministry

to my friends who call and ask me questions!

 

Yeah, I’d rather not be described as a junkie. But truthfully, yes and no, so I chose other. I am all about what works for each child at any given time. That can be a mountainous amount of curricula during a year, especially when we don’t finish everything due to being partially “relaxedâ€.

 

I also have an intense love hate relationship with various religious curricula. So one year I can be found diligently throwing it all out the window, to reform and stick with secular materials forever thereafter. But slowly, the religious stuff comes creeping back in. So you see my insane dilemma. :tongue_smilie:

Also, because of having so many kids, I have tired quite a few things. (it sounds like a good excuse, doesn’t it?)

 

I will say that I am very resourceful and I do not ever break the bank with my purchases. I have a certain limit and even then, I try to cut costs. If things don’t work, I resell them to recoup most of the money.

I try to make use of the sale boards as much as possible and the library. I don’t want my family to suffer because of my...illness? Ahem, I mean our very important educational endeavors. :D LOL.

[cjbeach]

I think I'm more of a "curricula research junkie" than one who purchase a lot. Primarily, because I am frugral, but also I have a child on the Spectrum who does not transition well.

[nukeswife]

I'm a junkie but I'm not always searching for the newest or best....just what works!!

 

:iagree: This is me. Now that we've got 4 years under our belt, I think I may have found most of what works for us, but there are still a few areas that may require a change. I still have to figure out middle grade science because our favorite grammar stage one doesn't have any logic stage stuff yet, but I'm told it's coming out with something next year.

[hsmom2girls]

The first couple years I started homeschooling I bought everything I saw that I thought would help. LeapFrog Pads, Videos, Books, you name it. It was really pricey.

 

I know amazon.com loves me as I buy books more than I buy anything else. I have books we have never even gone through.

 

I look at different curriculum, etc. just to see if I am missing something or want to try something new. But I have come realize I have a problem so I have slowly learned to curtain my desire for more books, etc. I also avoid visiting amazon.com so much so I won't spend, spend, spend. :w00t:

 

Oh a good note I do buy used so that I am saving $$$ but I have so many books I have not place to put them.

 

I am sooo very happy to hear I am not alone. I thought it was just me.

[Cindyg]

Though I am a curriculum junkie, I have stuck with one single spine (packaged curriculum for all subjects) for six years. I customize, I tweak, I shop, I research, I enrich. But I haven't wavered. :)

[TammyB]

No, I can't afford to be one!

[ElizabethB]

Nevermind, I already replied and forgot about it, I didn't realize this was an old thread!

Edited May 3, 2010 by ElizabethB

[melissel]

It's hard not to be a junkie when you first start hsing. You really don't know anything about how your children learn best or how you teach best. You have to get wet in order to test the temperature of the water. I will say that I am incredibly thankful for used curriculum message boards and ebay :tongue_smilie:.

 

:iagree: So, SO true!

[hsmom2girls]

Momof1plustwins][/b]

It's hard not to be a junkie when you first start hsing. You really don't know anything about how your children learn best or how you teach best. You have to get wet in order to test the temperature of the water. I will say that I am incredibly thankful for used curriculum message boards and ebay :tongue_smilie:.

 

Lol. I feel so much better reading your post. The first year is where you are learning how to do hs. I too love the used book arena and ebay when I can find a bargain

[WTMindy]

I put "other"- for reformed junkie. I do like to know what is out there, because in my job I work with families who are homeschooling and so I like to know what is out there. But, I have found what works for us, and I'm sticking with it rather than being drawn to other things.