SS #127 – Curriculum as Crutch
And we’re back to kick off another fall season!
Today we are going to discuss two kinds of curriculum: scripted and non-scripted. There seems to be a misunderstanding out there – there’s an idea that an unscripted curriculum is not a curriculum.
As a long-time user of AmblesideOnline, which is a rich curriculum, but about as unscripted as one can get, Brandy just doesn’t get it. Join us as we talk about the role of curricula in our homeschools.
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Scripted Curriculum
Today’s Hosts
Brandy Vencel
homeschools the two kids left in her homeschool and has grown strong using the crutches & barbell weights of Charlotte Mason.
Mystie Winckler
homeschools the three kids left in her homeschool and has a hard time following instructions and doing what she’s told.
Abby Wahl
homeschools the three kids left in her homeschool and knows first hand the intellectual and educational recovery possible via homeschooling.
Scholé Everyday: What We’re Reading
The Divine Comedy, Dante
Mystie has read Inferno several times, but is finally finishing the trilogy with one of her local book clubs.
Rembrandt is in the Wind, Russ Ramse
Abby is being inspired to continue artist study and appreciate great art as a Christian by this author.
Range, David Epstein
Brandy is finally getting around to reading this title by assigning it to her local book club.
What is a scripted curriculum?
A curriculum is not necessarily a script, telling you exactly what to do. Instead, a curriculum is a path to take. It might be more or less laid out or prepared for us, but it’s just a plan. It’s not even a scope and sequence.
Can we even answer the question people ask, “What curriculum do you use?” What kind of answer do people even expect? How do we answer that question? Most homeschoolers do not use a single curriculum.
Also, most people don’t use curriculum exactly as laid out and directed. That’s ok!
Although it’s a basic question homeschoolers are asked, it’s not one people ask school parents. Do school parents ask this question of the schools they choose? How important is the curriculum chosen?
A curriculum is just a course of study, not methods or schedules or any other technique is specified when specifying a curriculum.
Scripted curriculum can be a crutch
Crutches help you recovery from an injury. They are necessary under certain circumstances, but it’d be weird to use them if you had healthy, strong legs. When a crutch is used permanently, rather than as a temporary therapy, it is not a crutch, it is a tool.
Mentioned in the Episode
Listen to related episodes:
SS #124 – Redeeming the 5-Paragraph Essay with Renee Shepard
SS #89: Dorothy Sayers’ Latin Lament
SS #60: History as a Center Cannot Hold (with Angelina Stanford!)
SS #57: Heroes First! (with Wendi Capehart)
