Simplifying Homeschool

March 17, 2025

Contents of This Post

• Simplifying Science: Moving Away from Compiling My Own Science Curriculum

  
  

• Simplifying Language Arts: Moving Away from Wanda Sanseri’s Spell to Write and Read program as an “All In One” Language Arts package

  
  

• Simplifying Instructional Time and Strengthening My Child’s Independence: Embracing Educationally-Appropriate Worksheets

  
  

• Practical Takeaways

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“I am a poor way-faring stranger…”

These words come back to me from an orchestra piece I played in high school. In many ways, I feel like I have wandered around in the desert when it comes to picking curriculum and designing our homeschool setting and resources. Yet, despite the wanderings, I do not in any way regret the lessons I have learned along the road of homeschooling.

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Yes, it would have been easier to use the curriculum that I grew up with (and still highly respect), but I desired a change and honestly, a little bit different outcome for my children. Even as I look back on posts I wrote several years ago about homeschooling, I’ve grown in wisdom and don’t even fully agree with everything I wrote. But I leave the posts up perhaps to stir the mind and encourage someone with a morsel of truth…

Please know that I whole-heartedly believe in the unique and individualized nature of homeschooling, and every homeschooling family has their own special culture of growth. No two families are the same. Even within a family, parents may choose to educate younger children differently than the older children. All this to say, I have become far more gracious in my attitudes about homeschooling, particularly with those who may have different ideas than I do.

Anything I share today is not designed as a criticism of a certain style of learning or a specific curriculum. I’m simply sharing some ideas of what has worked for me and what just simply did not “click” for our family. Even the curriculums that I have chosen not to use at this time I still highly respect (and may even come back to at some point).

This post will be a bit long. Yes, this is a nerdy, academic post, but for parents or guardians who are really seeking some opinions on specific curricula, I want to share honest feedback.

Simplifying Science

I adore any books written by Karen Andreola (such as her Pocketful of Pinecones and Lessons at Blackberry Inn) and have featured her books many times on my blog. Mrs. Andreola is a strong supporter of the Charlotte Mason philosophy, and she and her husband are the ones responsible for making Miss Mason’s ideas accessible here in the United States through their publications.

Inspired by Miss Andreola’s interpretations of Charlotte Mason philosophy, I attempted this schoolyear to curate my own science curriculum following Miss Mason’s ideals. I tried to find “living books” to go along with the themes I mapped out for the year. I had my oldest write in her nature notebook about our discoveries in nature.

While I highly respect the Charlotte Mason ideals and want to create a sense of wonder in learning for my own children, I found “fleshing out” Miss Mason’s ideas in a school day difficult and time-intensive. Supporters of the Charlotte Mason philosophy purport that specific curriculum is unnecessary and that living books are the key to engaged learning, yet the practicality of such a method was quite difficult to apply in my opinion.

I ran into several insurmountable difficulties with the Charlotte Mason method (specifically applied to science) which prompted me to change my approach and curriculum. First, I could not find enough “living books” written from a creation-based perspective to patch a curriculum together. Second, the time required to curate a piecemealed science curriculum was not worth my valuable time nor do I have the advanced knowledge in science to design my own curriculum.

Changes I made this year

After coming to a screeching halt with my “homemade” curriculum attempt, I wanted an immediate solution to my science “problem.” At the suggestion of a kind friend, I bought Patterns of Nature by Rod and Staff Publishers from a local homeschool distributor (Lifelong Learning Resources—an amazing place!), and this book immediately met my expectations for a simple-to-use science curriculum from a Christian, creation-based perspective. Even though I did not use all the tests or activities, this book actually strengthened my child’s reading comprehension, too.

Next year, I plan to dive into Apologia’s beautiful science curriculum written by Jeannie Fulbright. Ironically, Mrs. Fulbright writes in an engaging, “Charlotte-Mason style” which I have no problem with because she did all the hard work of writing, compiling, and presenting. Sigh of relief.

Simplifying Language Arts

I began using Wanda Sanseri’s Spell to Write and Read program under the promise that through learning proper spelling, my child would naturally learn to read. Under this program, additional easy readers are deemed almost unnecessary. I as the teacher should simply focus on reading “living books” and my child would naturally grasp reading concepts by connecting phonograms together. Mrs. Sanseri also touts that her program can suffice as grammar instruction, particularly for the younger grades.

What I found with my oldest was that learning proper spelling was not enough specific instruction in phonics-based reading. My child was not moving quickly into confident reading, and she desperately needed practice with basal-type readers that some respected educators consider dull and boring (I think they are just right for kids learning to read!).

 

Also, the spelling lessons in Spell to Write and Read are very time-intensive, especially on the teacher’s part. Because I was spending so much time teaching this program, I was not spending the time that I needed to with my next child down.

Regarding language, we needed much more instruction on grammar than what was offered in the program. The “Learning Logs” did not provide enough specific language practice for my child, not to mention the logs are not very exciting looking (no color or pictures).

Sidenote: I do love Wanda Sanseri's phonogram flashcards and am still using them with all my children. My oldest also loves Mrs. Sanseri's Spelling Rule cards.

Changes I made this year

For language arts (grammar and spelling), I decided to move to Abeka. For language, I chose Phonics and Language 2, and for Spelling I ordered Spelling 2. In a way, I felt like I was cheating by buying this curriculum because it’s so easy to use! Using these books with my oldest has been such a breath of fresh air that we both needed. Honestly, I didn’t buy the teacher editions for either books, and we have been plugging away just fine.

When I explained to my oldest that we were making some changes in curriculum, she looked at me and said, “So you mean I’ll be doing more work by myself?”

“Yes. Mommy will be talking a lot less,” I answered.

A cheeky grin spread across her face, and instantly I knew we were on the road to success. My oldest is highly creative and visually-stimulated, and I knew the colorful Abeka books would appeal to her. She needed less auditory instruction and more for her to visually see and engage with on her own.

Simplifying Instructional Time

A few years ago, I wrote a critique on using too many worksheets. While I still think some teachers overuse worksheets as “crowd control” for their classrooms, I’m coming around to see the merit of worksheets.

As my husband said, “Worksheets are a way for kids to practice what they have learned.” Children need a way to actively engage with and “handle” what they are learning. Worksheets give me as the teacher a glimpse into my student’s understanding and help me know if the child is “getting” the concepts.

With both my “homemade” science curriculum and Mrs. Sanseri’s language program, my oldest just didn’t have enough practice with what she was learning. She had very few ways to engage with the content and demonstrate to me that she understood. I tried to create worksheets and activities for my child, but I simply didn’t have the time to constantly create worksheets and activities for her.

I also noticed that my child was developing an unhealthy dependence on me for her learning. Because so much of our work was dependent on me, my child was not gaining confidence in reading instructions for herself and then following through in practicing the concepts.

All this to say, I now see the value of well-written worksheets, carefully designed by professionals. My child has made leaps and bounds in her learning independence, even in three weeks, by using the Abeka Spelling and Language workbooks. Her focus is strengthening, and perhaps more importantly, her confidence is much stronger. I also now have the time to work with my next child down while my oldest works at the kitchen table independently.

Takeaways for Simplifying Homeschooling

All this to say, don’t be afraid to change something in your homeschool. Consider your child’s learning style. Does a highly auditory program work for a child who is primarily a visual and/or tactile learner?

To mamas out there (or papas, guardians, grandparents, etc.) who fear that choosing a “school in a box” method is a cop out, take heart. To those who find security and comfort in the “school in a box” ideology, take pride in your wise choice! There is no shame in trusting someone’s educational wisdom and just running with their suggestions. You probably won’t wander around in the desert like I did.

Homeschooling is about constantly evaluating and re-evaluating to see what works and what does not work. There is no shame in admitting that something just doesn’t work, and in fact, only insanity continues to follow a certain path, all while expecting different results.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to daily teach my children. I love seeing the lightbulbs of understanding going off in their brains, and though the days are sometimes long, there is nothing else in this world that I would rather be doing!

If you are a homeschooler, take heart. Take it one step at a time. Pray for wisdom. God will give grace and the wisdom to walk down this exciting path of homeschooling. Your investment is worth it.

-Ashley

Related Posts

Balance in Teaching Reading

Encouraging Reluctant Readers

Homeschooling | Do Worksheets Really Work?

Homeschooling | Teaching Beyond the Worksheet

Encouragement for the Homeschool Heart

What You Really Need for Homeschooling

Homeschooling a 5 Year Old: Handwriting, Science, and History

Homeschooling a 5 Year Old: Math and Reading Ideas

Homeschooling a 5 Year Old

Homeschooling a 3 Year Old, Part 1

Homeschooling a 3 Year Old, Part 2

Homeschooling a 4 Year Old

Personal Disclosure

As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.

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