Who Controls the Textbooks??

I think in theory most of us know that we are in charge of our home education.  We make plans, we decide what to study, and we tell the textbook what to do.  Well. . most of the time.  Sometimes I think we let the textbook decide what is best for our students.  We let the text decide how many problems our students need to do for mastery of a math concept, we let the text decide what stories are good to read, how much grammar should be included, and when our students should take a test.  In a way we give the text book authority in our lives, and it comes with enough stuff to keep us all busy.

Back in my Reading Masters program  I remember having this discussion with one my professors in our class.  He said that most of us will trust the text book over our ability to teach our students.  We will listen to what it says without questioning.  I was fascinated with that.  I am a rule follower and it is easy for me to follow the rules of the text book.

Knowing this about myself so  I try to modify how I deal with my math texts, and some other ones.

1. In Math if there are too many problems I  have my student do just the even numbered ones or just the odd numbered ones.  Some kids need a great deal of practice in some areas and less in others.  The textbook is just a resource.

2.  I remember that I do not have to do every question, activity, or suggestion in the book.  There is no textbook police.

3.  I do not have to finish the text book.  I remember my first year teaching I thought I did have to finish the Social Studies textbook.  I made sure we covered all 50 states in the text.  If the students wanted to work more on a state I said no . . we must finish all 50.  We trudged through.  I remember telling one of the other 4th grade teachers and she said.  "Wow, really??  We have never finished a text. "  I remember thinking, really??  I appreciated her for her wisdom. 

4. Textbooks and books can be wrong. I can disagree with them.  

5.  If a students knows the materiel I can have them take an end of the unit test and if they do well skip that section of the text.  Or we can just decide to. 

6.  I try to remember that I know my students' needs better than the text.   So do you!  


Do you feel the need to follow the text?    Let me know.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

A couple of notes. . .

Next week is the Midwest Homeschool Convention!  It is not too late to sign up.  I am looking forward to seeing curriculum and ordering books for next year. 

The year is wrapping up!  (OK there is still a couple of months left, but I have started the count-down here)  What do you want to make sure you complete in the home stretch?  For me I want to make sure we finish up well with math, decide what we are do to review math over the summer, and set some goals for next year.  I feel like we have made good progress here this year.  

Lastly, I found this site that talks about your state called ONLY IN YOUR STATE.  ( I would look at it first without your kids to evaluate it.)    There was one post I felt was funny called "15 Signs You Have Spent Way To Much Time In Ohio! "  That made me laugh. . . let me know if you too scan the woods. 

 Happy Easter!

Review of Playing the Part by Jen Turano

Spring is here!!  If you are looking for a great read. . . here is one . . . .

Lucetta Plum is an actress on the rise in New York City, but must abandon her starring role when a fan's interest turns threatening. Lucetta's widowed friend, Abigail Hart, seizes the opportunity to meddle in Lucetta's life and promptly whisks her away to safety at her eligible grandson's estate. 

At first glance, Bram Haverstein appears to be a gentleman of means--albeit an eccentric one--but a mysterious career and a secret fascination with a certain actress mean there's much more to him than society knows. 

While Lucetta has no interest in Abigail's matchmaking machinations, she can't ignore the strange things going on in Bram's house and the secrets he hides. As the hijinks and hilarity that Bram, Lucetta, and their friends are swept into take a more dangerous turn, can they accept who they are behind the parts they play in time to save the day?

I was privileged to review Jen Turano's new book,Playing the Part. Jen Turano is one of my favorite authors and I have been anxiously awaiting the third book in her series A Class of Her Own.  Playing the Part did not disappoint as I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. 

 Playing the Part is part romance, part mystery, part adventure and filled with comic moments.  I laughed out loud throughout the book. Playing The Part has rich interesting characters who were extremely fun to read about.  Lucretta Plum, the main character, is a lovable character.  I imagine her being someone whose hair is never out place even in the most crazy of situations which there were many in this book.  In Playing the Part we learn more of Lucretta and her interesting past.  I felt like I was learning more about a friend I had only known on the surface from the other books in this series. 

It is the third in the Class of Her Own series, but you do not need to have read the first two books to enjoy it.  I highly recommend Playing the Part.

I was given this book by Bethany House to post an honest review.  

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And the Winner is. . . .

I am excited to announce the winner of the $32 Amazon Card. It is Lori J.  Congratulations to Lori!
She is very excited and I wish her happy shopping!

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to enter the 100,000 hits give-away.  I appreciate all your kind comments and support! Here's to another 100,000 hits! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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