APACHE Lessons Learned

I had the privilege to meet many new homeschool parents at the Peoria conference last weekend.  A couple of points came up repeatedly in conversation there.

Before you buy any curriculum, make sure that it is a good fit for both you and your child(ren).  This means learning style, teaching style, format and content.  (If you don't know learning and teaching styles at your house, now is a good time to find out!)  Also, does it meet your educational goals and fit your educational philosophy? If you need help discovering these, I can help.

If you are having a hard time deciding the best curriculum for your family, you are not ready to buy anything.  One of the biggest mistakes new homeschool parents make is buying a full curriculum because the vendor was persuasive and the books were new/shiny/exciting.  There is no hurry to buy your curriculum and no huge benefit to buying at conventions (most vendors just order it online for you and pay shipping).  Many (if not most or all) curricula offer at least one week of their material free as a trial.  I suggest that you take advantage of their offer.  :)  Download the samples and try them at home one week in the summer.  See which is the better fit for your family before you spend lots of money.

If a curriculum works well for your family, don't feel the need to search for a new one.  The old saying "Don't fit it if it ain't broke" comes to mind.  There will always be new books, but you will leave gaps and breed frustration if you switch textbooks or programs too often.  (I have known people to switch multiple time in a single semester.)  When the curriculum stops being effective, then you can go on a search again.

You own the curriculum, and NOT vice versa.  If there are too many math problems on a page and it frustrates your child, you can skip some (or do just odd or even problems).  If it says to read 20 pages today and you have hundreds of errands, it is allowable  to occasionally skip or postpone sections.  The general rule is that if you finish 3/4 of a textbook, it is completed.  I like to finish workbooks and mark things off my to-do list, but sometimes that only tortures my family.

Your homeschool will not look like anyone else's homeschool, even if you both do the same curriculum.  God gave you the children in your family for a reason.  There is something they need only you can give.  You know your child best.  If working upside down on the couch helps your child enjoy phonics lessons, don't let the pictures of the children sitting at the table with mom make you feel like a failure.  If your child built a working volcano in the house today, don't be discouraged by the moms who keep a spotless house (your day in Good Housekeeping may have to wait until graduation!)  I remember talking with a friend when we were both new homeschoolers joining a co-op.  We were in awe of the veteran moms who seemed to have it all together.  One day we realized that people looked at us that way, and we learned the truth... it just looked like they had it all together; they also had struggles, just different ones from us.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!  It bears repeating.  You are NOT alone.  You are not the first person to have a struggling reader, a special needs child, a gifted learner, a crisis at home, or a really bad homeschool day that makes you want to quit.  Others are out there, and many want to help.  Don't despair!

What is your time worth?

I have thought long and hard about pricing for Azimuth. After much prayer, I am publishing these prices:
first 20 minutes: FREE (this gives me time to find out your struggles and discover how I can help)
$20/ hour (most issues should be resolved in the first hour)
$100/ flat fee to produce a transcript (this assumes that you have all classes and grades written down as well as a school name and student information)
$50/ flat fee for diploma
$125 / transcript and diploma combination
There are special circumstances that can lower these prices, but I will handle those on a case by case basis.

Business Cards

Nothing worth having comes easily, right? Today was a comedy of errors as I tried to get business cards made. I am proud to present:

New Beginnings

As a veteran homeschool mom with 11 years under my belt, I have a deep desire to help other homeschoolers navigate through the maze and jumble of misinformation/misconception, curriculum choice and transcript preparation. It saddens me to see many of the pioneers and veterans of homeschooling leave the homeschool arena and desert those following behind them. I learned from several truly gifted women at the start of my homeschool journey. Their knowledge, determination, and excellence in education are sorely missed. My time as a homeschool mom is quickly coming to an end as my youngest is a freshman this year, but I am determined to support and encourage the parents still making their journey. To this end, I have created an educational consulting business named Azimuth. This name was chosen, with much help from my husband, because it means an exact trajectory or location based not just on the compass points, but also on the relation to celestial bodies. In other words, azimuth is like a 3D map or path that uses the heavens as part of the calculation. My goal is to equip homeschool parents with a direction and plan for their school, especially in light of how God has created their children. I am unapologetic about my faith, but I have no intention of forcing it upon others. If you are interested in meeting with me to discuss your educational needs, please email me at azimuthsolution@gmail.com .