Revised 1/03

CURRICULUM IDEAS FOR NEWLY ENROLLED STUDENTS

It is the ESs responsibility to work with the family / student to be sure there are adequate learning materials available for the student until ordered materials arrive. Such interim materials can include texts and/or other resources.

Please remember that there is no requirement that the student be working on every subject every day. Even if you are waiting for the arrival of an order, there are many learning activities students of all ages can do which fit under this charter School's student standards. A student can concentrate on a few CORE subjects like math, literature, and history while waiting for the science materials to arrive. With a little creativity, the ES, student and parent can develop a study plan which meets the need of the individual student/family. While you are waiting the arrival of materials, here are some things the ES can do to get the student started in school.

OBTAINING TEXT-BASED MATERIALS

  • Network with other ESs in your area during group meetings, at local sites, etc. to obtain materials that can be used by the new student, temporarily or for longer term.
  • Surplus book warehouses, school districts' discarded materials, library book sales, etc. can provide free or inexpensive curriculum materials.
  • Yard sales, flea markets, used bookstores, etc. are sources for inexpensive materials.
  • Students may be directed to use the public library as a source for books, tapes, magazines, and videos. Public libraries also provide access to the internet.
  • ESs may find it helpful to keep some materials on hand that can be used for newly enrolled students. Such materials (unit study guide books, Super Workbooks, Comprehensive Curriculum, and Learning at Home, etc.) can be purchased for younger students. Interdisciplinary unit study materials and guides, skill-related workbooks, and worktexts may be may appropriate for older students. A PO can be processed to replenish those materials.
  • Some parents may wish to purchase materials for their students at local educational materials suppliers. Make sure they are aware that neither ESs or parents will be reimbursed for such purchases.
  • The table of contents for various textbooks can be used as a source of general guidelines for various courses. An ES can help to develop a study for a particular subject using using the table of contents and available materials, the library, etc. For instance, the table of contents for a U.S. history book gives ideas for appropriate topics of study for that subject. The student can pursue information contained in chapters using various methods of research:

internet research about the civil war,

videos on the subject of westward expansion

biography about Abraham Lincoln

Each of these modalities covers the subject content without requiring an official "text book". Of course, the student could follow up his/her research with an essay or report.

BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK LEARNING RESOURCES

The community is considered our school's campus. ESs, students and parents can discuss ways to use various local resources to fit the student's curriculum needs. There are many resources and learning activities readily available to our students. Learning activities may include:

Miscellaneous activities

  • Watching, discussing and/or writing about educational programming, science and nature-based programs, documentaries, movies based on the classics, history-based programs, media coverage of current events, books
  • Developing various skills through games (counting, spelling, multiplication, critical thinking, memorization, money counting / making change)
  • Using newspapers for studying many subjects (language arts, current events, economics, politics, consumer math)
  • Participating in learning activities offered through community colleges, parks and recreation departments, and local businesses (classes, information forums, exhibits)
  • Developing interdisciplinary studies using "real" books, videos, audiotapes, computer programs, the internet
  • Participating in community group learning activities (amateur radio clubs, computer interest groups, master gardeners)

Reading

  • Using various various research materials, books, videos, audiotapes, magazines, etc. obtained from the local library (Reading selections may include: novels, magazine articles, non-fiction selections, instruction manuals, newspapers, anthologies, poetry, primary and secondary resources)
  • Participating in local literature-related groups at library and/or bookstore
  • Attending / participating in poetry readings

Writing ideas:

  • Writing essays, reports, paragraphs, sentences, poetry, short stories, biographies / autobiographies, novel, letters to the editor, scripts
  • Developing personal journals (possibly including illustrations, writing entries, photographs)
  • Taking notes or writing responses to lectures, educational programs, news programs
  • Writing critiques or reviews of books, concerts, performances, or films
  • Comparing and contrasting novels to their movie versions, one author's style to another, various viewpoints/philosophies
  • Discerning fact or opinion
  • Outlining chapters
  • Writing letters, notes, memos (person and/or business)
  • Creating various lists (groceries, "to do", inventories fo insurance purposes)
  • Developing step-by-step how-to manuals
  • Dictating and illustrating stories (possibly with help from parent, older sibling, tape recorder)
  • Entering writing contests
  • Practicing and improving handwriting
  • Editing writing samples

Study skills:

  • Taking notes on lectures, television programs
  • Using various book- and computer-based research materials (dictionaries, encyclopedias, telephone books, magazines, newspapers, card catalogs, almanacs, atlases, the internet)

Life Skills

  • Learning new skills related to meal planning / preparation, cooking / baking, sewing, repair work (automobiles, bicycles, small engines, homes, etc.), animal care, gardening
  • Completing personal inventories to help discover, assess, and gain insights into abilities, learning styles, aptitudes, interests
  • Developing a resume
  • Researching requirements to attain future goals (colleges, tech schools, the military, career interests)
  • Locating available scholarships for camps, colleges
  • Reading biographies about successful people in various careers
  • Enrolling in and attending ROP courses
  • Locating mentors in field of interest
  • Attending job fairs
  • Interviewing business people, college students
  • Developing apprenticeships
  • Filling out "real life" forms such as checks, job applications, tax forms
  • Maintaining personal checking account, budget

Physical education

  • Participating in aerobics, bicycling, water and/or snow skiing, hiking, jogging, swimming, martial arts, various sports, weight lifting, horseback riding
  • Researching particular sporting events, athletes

Computer

  • Developing computer skills in such areas as keyboarding / typing, internet research, e-mailing, webdesign, programming, word processing, graphics, database, spreadsheet, multimedia presentations

Health

  • Researching importance of exercise, nutrition, healthful lifestyle choices
  • Developing a personal health and fitness program, healthful diet program

Driver's education

  • Beginning study through use of DMV manuals, AAA and/or CHP materials

Community service / outreach

  • Volunteering at food banks, canned food drives, hospitals, libraries, schools, museums or historical sites, veterinary clinics, political campaign headquarters, fund raisers

Social studies

  • Reading about /researching the stockmarket
  • Watching / discussing economics-related television programming
  • Using maps to plan routes, find destinations
  • Create scale models / maps (of room, house, neighborhood)
  • Reading /writing about historically significant people, places, and events
  • Researching current issues (origins of current ethnic conflicts, political issue conflicts
  • Arguing various sides of current issues
  • Researching your neighborhood, family tree, local events, holiday origins

Mathematics

  • Using mathematics in building / construction activities, cooking, shopping
  • Figuring out materials needed for various projects (sewing, carpentry, gardening)
  • Calculating gas mileage, tips, sales tax
  • Keeping personal finance records (budgeting, savings and checking accounts)
  • Applying math skills in business finances/ records (profit, losses, and expenses involved in lawn mowing, babysitting, egg business)
  • Researching various numeric systems
  • Developing an imaginary numeric system of own

Science

  • Nature studies may include identification of insects, birds, and plants
  • Researching pond life, tide pools
  • Researching current weather conditions, season
  • Using simple machines
  • Keeping weather records
  • Study the stars
  • Volunteer at nature center or science museum, at local creek clean up project
  • Research / identify local geological features
  • Watching / discussing / writing about nature- and science-based educational programming
  • Gardening
  • Animal care
  • Nature journaling

Special interests

  • Listening and responding to audiotapes/CDs of various types of music
  • Researching the lives of composers; Looking at and responding to various artwork
  • Researching the lives of artists
  • Entering art contests, Participating in band, choir
  • Developing / refining skills in metal working, woodworking, masonry, small engine repair, mechanical drawing, gourmet cooking, organic gardening, painting, drawing, sculpting, dancing, calligraphy
  • Actively listening to foreign language programs on radio and/or television

INTERNET RESOURCES

The Internet is a great source for educational materials. Libraries, magazines, and radio and TV programs provide information about educational websites. Some Sunday newspapers include a section, "Access", which provides information and web addresses for various websites that might be of interest.

A search using such terms as "worksheet", "fieldtrip", "education", "unit study" and "homeschool" can produce many educational web resources. Following are examples of what is out there in cyberspace:

EDUCATION-ORIENTED WEBITES:

FREE WORKSHEETS:

FREE UNIT STUDIES:

FREE LESSON PLANS: