Curriculum Fail

I’ve been in full planning mode for the last few weeks.  Plans were actually in place, but I’ve been fleshing them out a bit more: books on hold, supplies ordered (new playdoh for the toddler!), ink in the printer + a 1,000 copies made.  In the midst of this productive activity, I bumped up against our first real curriculum fail.

I don’t know if it’s because our kids are still young or because we don’t use much in the way of purchased materials, but this is the first time I had researched and purchased curriculum that just wasn’t right.  It seemed like it was right. A grammar curriculum based on picture books?  Yes please!  But when I really started digging in, I found out that it was not going to be a good fit for us right now.

I’m not telling you the name of the grammar curriculum on purpose.  I think in another season, it very well might be a very good curriculum.   But it’s just far enough outside of my 8 year old’s skill set that it would take a great deal of modification to be workable.  Between designing a history program from scratch, wrangling a toddler, and working from home, my energies are limited.  I didn’t have it in me to modify the curriculum so that my girl could use it.

So we choose something else.  Something simple to supplement the extensive read-alouds, (newly) independent reading, and cursive practice.  That sounds so straightforward.  But this little bump in the road was enough to undermine my confidence and make me feel like I was in over my head.  And of course I am.  This educate-your-children-yourself gig is kinda a big deal.  Maybe that’s what I needed?  To acknowledge my limits, to know where I need help.