Why THIS Curriculum?

Boring curriculum discussion ahead…

The reason I first considered homeschooling was for safety. When I was in high school, a girl at a primary school near a shopping center we used to frequent often, was raped by fellow pupils. I figured I’d fight anyone who would dare to want to hurt my future children.

Later, as I studied more of the Bible, I realised that only by my being with my children, would I be able to follow the injunction in the book of Deuteronomy to teach them God’s laws ‘all the time.’

So, I began with an American Christian curriculum. Then when they turned 13, I felt they had enough of a foundation. So what next? We have many Zimbabweans in our country, and they have a wonderful work ethic and think differently to us. They did a version of Cambridge. And so, that became the plan for my older children. As for my extremely delayed and special little ones, the jury is out. I don’t think my next two will cope with ANY formal, academic curriculum even with concessions like extra time. Cambridge has less information to parrot, but you need to think analytically and broadly. They wouldn’t survive the whole “apply the knowledge you learnt to real world examples.” But the curriculum of my country is heavy. It’s very academic and has too much info for my middle two. For now, I’m hoping my girl might manage to get a GED and go to a few of the colleges and vocational schools that accept it. My boy…We don’t see him getting any kind of high school certificate at all. But he may yet surprise us!

My one twin…Not yet. Besides autism, she is also delayed. And is a mover. Can’t imagine her sitting still for any length of time. On the other hand, they turn four this year. There’s still lots of time for things to change. I think her twin will manage Cambridge. But that wasn’t the point of the post!

My teenagers are busy with the last set of IGCSE exam preparations. My boy passed three he did extremely well. I don’t know about the last three he is yet to do. And my girl did well with the two she did. I don’t know how she will do with the other four. Some are looking good. (I’ve been making them do past papers which I then mark. I then give them the mark scheme so they can learn from their mistakes. That last part hadn’t reached them yet. They seem to make the same kind of mistake!) But no, truthfully, there is some improvement. Let’s hope by May, they will have done what I’m trying to get them to do.