Master Books Curriculum
Workbooks in Homeschooling: A Misunderstood Resource? Our CEB team has met a fair amount of homeschoolers who recoil a little at the thought of using workbooks in their homeschool. We get it—who wants to replicate the schools with their repetitive worksheets when we have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give our children a rich, engaging, and living education? But what if workbooks are exactly what you need? What if we told you that workbooks could be the exact tool you’re looking for to help you provide an engaging education for your children? Introducing Master Books They are a workbook-based curriculum that should not be overlooked as you plan your homeschool year. What makes Master Books special? Their workbooks are: graded colourful Christian open and go cover a variety of subjects But are they rigorous? They are not highly academic, but they cover the basics. Some might even say they are, well, mediocre—meaning, “of moderate academic quality.” But doesn’t life sometimes call for mediocrity? We’ve all experienced seasons where mediocre meals, housework, or family time is the only option. Don’t be ashamed! We’ve all been there—or will be there. Is this a test of endurance… or contentment? Ask yourself this question when you find yourself in “that season”: Is the Lord testing you on how fast you can recover and get back to healthy eating, tip-top housework, and the most memorable family time? Consider that maybe it’s your contentment that’s being challenged. How are you responding? What’s your attitude when life doesn’t allow for “the best”? Who Are These Resources For? This resource is going to appeal to families who: need something simple as they transition from a school setting to a homeschool setting, especially families who are not ready to abandon a typical way of doing school are expecting a new baby, experiencing illness, traveling, or tackling a big move and need a resource that can be used fairly independently have a child who needs to just “get through” some language arts (or other subject) so they can indulge in delight-driven learning are accountable to authorities and need some quick box checking want to be assured they are covering the basics but want room in their week to: have extensive and enriching family-centred morning times, read through booklists, go on field trips, dive down educational bunny trails, and pursue passion projects Read number 5 again! Did you notice it? Yes, workbooks can actually give you peace of mind and freedom to pursue all the other amazing educational opportunities that are afforded to homeschool families. Do What Works for You You need something that will work for YOUR family, in YOUR situation. Maybe this year it’s Master Books. By Adrianne Curwen Adrianne is a wife to a public-school educator/administrator and a homeschooling Mama to seven children, ranging in age from 8 to 24. In 2021, the family added a son-in-law to the bunch. She believes that we have a unique opportunity as homeschoolers to design individualized education that suits giftings, interests, and passions. She and her husband have used a blend of registered homeschooling, enrolment with independent DL schools, and participation in public trade school programs to design individualized programs for their children. She is passionate about using as many read-alouds, picture books, novels, and conversations to educate her children but also gets excited by the amazing homeschool-designed curriculum that’s out there. Adrianne is thrilled by her new role as Creative Director and is grateful to have an opportunity to learn something new. She is grateful, every day, for her saviour, Jesus Christ, and has no greater joy than when she sees her most important mission field walk with Him.
Quick Tips for New Homeschoolers
Getting Started: Tips for New Homeschoolers Making the decision to homeschool is often the most difficult part of the entire process. Once you’re in, you’ll want to set a firm foundation with these highly recommended books. It can be challenging to see beyond the traditional school model, but these books will help you cast a vision and give you the courage you need. If you are a beginner in the homeschooling journey, below are some quick but effective tips for new homeschoolers. Teaching from Rest Awaking Wonder For The Children’s Sake Homeschool Community New homeschool families often wonder who will make up their community. You might need to do some research, ask around, or maybe just go and hang out at a local educational attraction during school hours. Also, consider bringing grandparents into your support system. If they are unsure about their new role as a grandparent of homeschoolers, let them know about this blog post. Want more tips for new homeschoolers? Continue reading. Deschooling Deschooling, also called unschooling, is simply a process of untangling beliefs about education and decompressing from the pressure of traditional school. The best way to do that is through field trips, library visits, conversations, nature walks/study, reading aloud to your children, and doing school work while in your pajamas. New homeschooling families need time to evaluate their beliefs about education, discover how their children learn best, and even how their child’s day should look. Deschooling includes coming together and learning as a family, discovering your child’s interests, and embracing a new lifestyle. Take weeks or even months to move through this stage. Once you are ready to introduce the curriculum, Beautiful Feet Books has incredible resources that are perfect for that delicate stage of transitioning from a traditional school mindset to a homeschooling one. Ease Into Homeschooling Some families prefer to ease into homeschooling by using a traditional workbook approach. Master Books resources are ideal for new homeschool families who are feeling wobbly about completely abandoning the structure and set-up of traditional schools. The workbooks are straightforward, easy to use, and cover a variety of subjects and grade levels. Still Overwhelmed? Start with books and specifically reading aloud! Yes, even to your readers. This is actually one of our favorite tips for new homeschoolers. Reading aloud is a relationship builder. Check out our free read-aloud booklist and get started right away. We also have a free read-aloud planner. Need more convincing and help getting started with read-aloud? Grab any of these books and you’ll be well on your way. Give Your Child the World Honey for a Child’s Heart The Read-Aloud Family Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook Need a one-on-one consultation? Contact the office and book a Curriculum Consultation with Hester. Phone: 604-505-2194 or Email
