I was interviewed by Kym Wright for her magazine quite awhile ago! Here is a reprint with permission from her wonderful article. Charity's children are grown up and she no longer homeschools. See the bottom of this article to order her online magazine.
by Kym Wright, Charity Lovelace and Felice Gerwitz Authors and
Homeschool Moms
This article
is based on questions we receive about planning unit studies. While The
Mother’s Heart magazine is not solely devoted to homeschooling nor the
unit study method — these are the ways we school, so we will share our wisdom.
I have invited two friends who are unit study authors to share their views,
also. Charity Lovelace (no longer pens “Useful Units”) and Felice Gerwitz authors “Media
Angels Science” units. Charity has two sons, and Felice has five children.
Sue, a
reader, wrote: “I want to start by thanking you again for such a wonderful
magazine, though I would call it a ministry! Your publication is such a
blessing. It is helping me learn what being a wife and mother is really all
about. I am a unit study maker, too, but it seems to take so much planning
ahead. I get frustrated when I get into a study or a novel and find things that
would be good to add to the study, but can’t fit in because of the schedule,
plans already made, or lack of time to get the resources in time. I am trying
to find some ways to fine-tune my system to cut down on the planning time. I
get so immersed in the planning sometimes that I don’t want to study it anymore
when I am done! So some of my many questions on planning are . . . “
How far in advance do you
plan your studies?
Kym: First,
thank you for the compliments on the magazine. I’m grateful God is using our
efforts to encourage others and to draw them closer to Him. And you are so
right, this is a precious ministry.
I have a
general course of study through the high school years, but like to plan for one
school year at a time, and give room to encourage the child’s areas of
interest. Since we have all age levels, I’ve quit doing all our unit studies
together, but will have 2 or 3 units planned in detail, with the curricula and
accessories bought for the other units for the entire year.
Charity: I
have our unit topics already selected all the way through high school
graduation. They are selected to follow the scope and sequence I have set for
our children, predominantly in the areas of science and history. The actual
planning of them I do a year at a time in the late summer while husband and the
boys are out on their yearly, lengthy camping/hunting trip. I plan in detail
the first two or three units and then rough out the rest. The remainder are
then further planned on about a quarterly basis. As needed, my husband sets up
a “teacher planning session” for me. He’ll take the boys out on extended day
trips several days in a row to enable me to have the time I need to plan.
Felice: Minimum
time: 6-8 weeks before, usually up to a year because we plan far ahead to allow
us to gather materials, unless I am using a pre-made unit study.
I usually
have a one year plan, made in the spring or summer, before the homeschool
conventions which we attend. That way we have an idea of the books we may want
to purchase or look at for purchase later in the year. For high school we had a
four year plan and constantly refined it. Took out or added subjects as the
need arose, while keeping to the basics we wanted to cover. For example, an
opportunity came along to do an in-depth Archaeology unit, which is a big
interest of my daughter’s, so we traded out her Debate Class and plugged in
Archaeology. I think flexibility is very possible if you have a basic schedule.
How much of the material do
you read in advance to make your plans?
Kym: Since
we use many resources for each unit, I read enough to know where to fit everything
in. I’m fascinated with learning, so I enjoy it. I usually go through the
selected units first, to get a feel for the outline and goals. Then I gather
the hands-on lab materials (the fun stuff!). Next are the books, which I read
through for clarity and any questionable information (evolution, bad attitudes,
etc.).
Charity: Enough
to give me foundational knowledge on the subject. I study until I am confident
that I could lecture on the subject and field questions without difficulty.
When I have an oral presentation to give the children, I study and make notes
the night before.
Felice: Skim
most of it, no in-depth reading. Part of the fun of home education for me has
been learning with my kids. I think parents feel they have to be
super-prepared and have every question answered ahead of time. In my view, that
isn’t true. Even in my experience as a school teacher we didn’t have all the
answers. If a child came up with a very good question that I didn’t have the
answer for, I’d send him to the library with a pass and ask him to research it,
then come back and tell the class! Why not use this technique for
homeschoolers? My kids loved to stump me when they were little. We’d all look
up the answers together, or they’d take questions and research and tell mom and
dad what they learned after supper. Great memories!
How do you handle the
surprise subjects that present themselves?
Kym: I
usually keep us on track, but let the children follow “rabbit trails” on their
own time. Life happens, but we are not “field trip junkies.” We use field trips
sparingly, and usually go with just our family, rather than with a homeschool
group (one advantage of having a large family!). We try to stick with the plans
and on schedule. “Winging it” doesn’t work well with seven children in school,
so I plan well.
Charity: It
is only natural and a Good Thing (to quote Martha Stewart) that our
studies will breed an interest in various side topics. We do not pursue them
together as that will result in constant chasing of bunny trails and the
assigned subject would never get covered. We encourage the boys to do
independent, self-education on subjects that interest them, but are not on the
scope and sequence. My older son (12 -year-old) is becoming quite adept at
research and spends hours reading on subjects of personal interest to him. He
is currently reading Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
(5 volumes!) as a result of an interest spawned by our group studies.
Or add something not on the
schedule?
Charity: Don’t
do this that often. We have a rigorous scope and sequence and too many
diversions means we don’t make needed progress. If kids want to pursue
something extra, that is done during their ”independent learning” hours —
meaning after group and teacher-led sessions and after all school work for the
day is completed. We do extra things on the weekend — a good video I came
across or an art project.
Felice: I
am flexible. I often add things not on our schedule, or refine by taking out
something that is not as valuable. For example, if a television special comes
up on the history station, we fit it in. Don’t think you have to do everything.
One of the wonderful things about units is that you can do them again later on
as your child gets older — perhaps a more in-depth study.
Then what do
you do with a fifth grader who wants to learn about the subject but balks at
doing the work and won’t do it on their own unless asked?
Kym:
I observe to discern if there is a learning problem or an attitude problem.
Charity: If
a child really wants to learn, they’ll do the work. A parent can enable
self-directed learning by making sure the child knows how to find resources,
that the home has a good library and that the parents themselves are
enthusiastic learners modeling a life-style of ongoing education. My husband
gives both boys a “book budget” that is to be used to purchase books on
specific topics that interest them, but are not in our lesson plans. This has
really spurred them on to independent learning. Over dinner or while riding in
the car, we discuss what they are learning during their independent learning
times. A child cannot be academically ”spoon-fed” their entire lives. At some
point they must assume initiative and responsibility for their own learning. We
noticed this occurring in our older son between the ages 10-12 and are just
starting to see signs of it occurring in our younger son, age 9.
Felice: I
don’t put up with attitudes. Long ago I learned that it is one of the #1 causes of “Mommy Burn Out.” Who has the
energy to teach if they are wrestling with their children to do the work?
We taught
our children obedience in school work... (constantly learning and refining, not
completely there yet!) — that when Mom says we are doing it, we are doing it.
One of the things I teach my little ones (4 and up) that even if they complain
about not doing some type of task, after a disciplinary action, they still had
to do the task. Nothing changed. They catch on quickly. With older children,
allowing them to help with the planning is always a good idea where feasible.
How much time do you spend
researching for resources (library, internet, catalogs, etc.)?
Kym: I
spend loads of time researching. I want more than enough information and
resources. Charity says to plan more than you can possibly do, so you can fill
in if something else isn’t working, or if you finish too quickly. I over-plan,
but don’t overdo.
Charity: Hours
and hours. Honestly. But I consider it part of my job as parent and educator. I
learn so much myself that it is actually no great burden. Sometimes I will
assign some of the research to my older son. For instance, he is extremely
knowledgable about military history, so I assign the coverage of those topics
to him.
Felice: Several
weeks off and on. The Lord is so gracious, I usually pray before researching
and things seem to come together quickly. Prayer is important when researching
to weed out the junk. You don’t have to read every child’s book or adult’s book
before you teach it. It shouldn’t take too long if you are not trying to teach
yourself the entire subject. Just gather resources, put together an outline and
schedule, then go for it!
Are you planning for
another unit while you are in the midst of the current one?
Kym: Yes,
I always have the next one planned before we’re finished. With 7 children in
school, we don’t take weeks off without schooling. I found that keeping them on
schedule is easier than entertaining them or letting them run free for a week,
then trying to regain the schedule. My early morning hours are used for
planning, as is my time after nap but before the littlies awaken. I snatch
minutes and work on one unit until I’ve studied, planned and covered it.
Charity: I
plan the first quarter at the end of the summer and the other quarters where
husband and I make the time. I like to be at least a quarter ahead of the
upcoming units. I do not do well working on the next unit while presenting the
current unit. Neither unit gets the attention it needs. I find I have to have
them prepared in advance so I can be free to simply teach.
Felice: I
keep files for good ideas in various subject areas. When ideas come along and
we are not studying them yet, I may print it out (internet web site, etc.) and
stick it in the file for another time.
Do you take a short break
between units to plan?
Charity: We
take a break to clear the air a bit before moving on to a new subject. Maybe a
week or two between units. I do my photocopying and last minute stuff during
this time.
Felice: I
never have, this doesn’t work for me. Some have used Kathleen Julicher’s One
Week Off units... but I plow through school all year long except for long
breaks at Christmas, and perhaps a spring break. We like to have our summers to
study fun stuff and have fun in general, lots of mini-trips etc.
Are your units tied into
all your subjects or do you keep them focused only on the main subject? For
instance, do you plan writing assignments, activities, research projects, math
application, vocabulary, famous people, dictations, art, music, poetry, etc.
into each unit OR do you keep it simple with just covering the objectives of
learning about the subject.
Kym: My
definition of unit studies answers this well: The basic concept of unit
studies is using one topic or literary selection to incorporate the majority of
school subjects, especially: science, history, social studies and geography,
writing, art and reading. Most times, math and grammar concepts are studied
separately from the unit, but can be practiced within its context. I don’t try
to do everything in each unit, but if a child is weak in some area, I try to
incorporate that. And I have a list of areas to cover, but do not include them
all in each study. Barb Shelton’s book HomeschoolHigh
School Form+U+La is great for setting
goals for a unit. When I set goals for each child it helps us stay on task, we
know where we’re headed and what we have left to do. The children have a grasp
of what’s important to learn and what is required of them so they can plan
their time wisely. For older students, this also helps them be able to study
independently while still making visible progress.
Charity: Our
main purpose is mastery of the topic. When possible and applicable — without
being “fluff” — we add in the things you mention. We tend to do
mostly posters, flow charts, writing assignments, research reports, oral
reports, book reports and memory work. Math is infrequently included, but
sometimes occurs. For example, during a recent study of simple machines we
calculated mechanical advantages using the appropriate algorithms.
Felice: When
they were younger we did all subjects as unit studies until grade 3 when we
introduced a math curriculum and separate spelling and grammar. Many times,
anything else is overkill with kids and parents getting burned out. Either
you’re doing a unit or not. I’ve heard of people using my units just for
science, and that is fine, but they were designed to use as an all-subject
integrated unit. The only time I could see it being used just as a science
text would be for high school with college-bound kids where they need a good
“Creation Science Apologetics” course.
Burning out on a subject
before teaching it...
Kym: I
did this with only one unit. I had studied Botany for 11 years, then had
written an outline for Chantelle to study from. That style didn’t work for her,
so I made lab sheets. That helped, but wasn’t enough. Finally, I wrote the
whole Botany Unit for her. Then we moved and started studying Botany
with everyone. Then within a few months, we moved again. By the time we were on
the final lessons, I’d been working with Botany for too long! But, that was the
exception. I love learning, so I enjoy our units.
Charity:
I haven’t experienced this. I usually find my preparatory studies extremely
interesting. We do experience burn out if we stay too long on a subject. For
example, we spent almost 4 months on Oceanography and were thoroughly tired of
the subject by unit’s end.
Felice:
Perhaps plan in the summer and teach it later in the year? Planning usually
gets me excited about teaching the subject.
And, lastly, how do you
make school fun?
Kym: I
used to hate this question, because I don’t think in terms of school having to
be fun. But, I finally realized what folks were asking - how do I incorporate
the hands-on and field trips? Where do I find the resources, how do I decide
what to use? And how do I make it come alive, so there is an interest in
studying it?
When we
first homeschooled, I was strictly a textbook mom ... except for a unit I did
with “Carly & Friends” (the name my children called my dear friend and her
kiddos). We studied plants on a first grade level learning, among other things,
the names of the different leaf shapes. My children remember to this day
— which impressed me that perhaps textbooks weren’t helping them to actually
“learn” the material, but just to pass the test. Eventually, I made my way back
to unit studies.
For science,
we experiment. We work with chemicals for chemistry, dissect for biology,
garden and work with real plants for botany (along with microscope work), catch
and display insects for entomology, work with rocks for geology, etc. I order
kits from science and homeschool catalogs. I research ways to introduce the
material on their level, in interesting ways that make it come alive.
History
becomes real when we study people, read novels, learn about the dress of the
period, understand the world and “wisdom” of the day, make timelines, discuss
relevant issues.
Other topics
follow these same ideas. I love projects, kits, FunSheetsTM (fun, interesting and informative lab
sheets).
Felice:
Stay away from using strictly textbooks and workbooks. Texts are great for
references, if you need to look up information, or perhaps to explain a
particular subject on a “kid’s” level. Yet, I have found that the kids who
”complain” about school are those who do very few hands-on activities.
For example,
if you were teaching about colors, perhaps... the primary colors mixed together
form other colors. And if I went into great detail telling the child which
colors you can mix to form other colors, he would be bored. Most parents would
never consider teaching art solely from a book. Of course, give them paint and
let them mix and experiment and write their observations.... so too with the
other subjects.
Look at
expanding upon whatever subject you are teaching by implementing a ”hands-on”
approach no matter the age. It can be on a deeper level than what they have
read or studied. Let me share some examples.
Math:
little ones’ manipulatives... many times math can be incorporated into a unit
study for younger children.
Literature:
read, draw, dramatize... older children can have literature discussion groups
(my daughter is a member of a small homeschool group that meets two evenings a
month and they have read American Lit. classics and now are reading World Lit.
classics).
Science:
experiments, dissections, nature journals, walks, etc.
History:
similar to literature... read, draw, dramatize.
Geography:
draw, make salt maps, use clay to form geologic formations. Take a field trip.
Many organizations welcome homeschoolers. Or take a virtual field trip without
leaving home. There are many great sites on the internet, but please use strict
parental supervision. You can do a keyword search on search engines to find
sites before the children spend time on the internet.
Conclusion:
Hope you can fit these ideas into your units, and that our answers have
helped you find the way that works for you. No two homeschool mommies teach the
same, schedule the same, have the same goals, children and constraints. But,
the Lord is intimately aware of our lives and wants to help us be successful in
this venture. Pray, seek, research, plan and just do it!
Unit Study Q&A
From a new
homeschooler: The idea behind doing a unit study is to save time (partially the
idea anyway) by involving different aged kids and the mom is covering one area
of study, instead of running back and forth from kids to kid. Is this correct?
I am
thinking since my daughter likes to work on her own, maybe I should use the
classical approach. But, I also think she needs to do more hands-on stuff.
Being a producer rather than a consumer, make things and write; rather than use
and read. Does this make sense? Brenda, a
newbie
Hello,
Brenda,
Welcome to the
world of unit studies. We were all newbies to begin with. What you are
asking makes perfect sense, and is one of the reasons homeschool parents turn
to unit studies as their approach to teaching their children. As a long-time
homeschooler, author of unit studies, and a believer in the approach, I’d love
to share a bit about unit studies.
First, one
of the main goals of this approach is to make learning cohesive, not fragmented
into different subjects and time periods. Another goal is to make learning memorable
(not just fun, but re-member-able), not just memorized for a test. Another
benefit of working on unit studies together is the family unity which comes
from it. Here is a link to an article I wrote many years ago for Mary Pride’s
Practical Homeschooling magazine - on just that topic. http://www.home-school.com/Articles/phs18-kymwright.html
At first,
the planning and “doing” of a unit study might be more work - just because it’s
new and you need to find your way of doing them. I could tell you many great
stories on how this method of learning helped my children remember things -
even years later - that they hadn’t learned while doing a more traditional
(textbook) approach.
My advice is
to try one or two units over the summer - things your children are interested
in. We have plenty of unit studies to choose from: Birds, Color, Turtles,
Sheep, Poultry, Goats, Microscope, Photography – just pursue the interest of
the child.
Remember,
the basic concept of unit studies is using one topic or literary selection to
incorporate the majority of school subjects, especially: science, history,
social studies and geography, writing, art and reading. Most times, math and
grammar concepts are studied separately from the unit, but can be practiced
within its context. There are primarily three ways to obtain unit studies: use
what is available on the market, heavily customize one that you find, or write
your own.
Anyway, if
you have other questions, just ask, and I’ll try to answer them. If you’d like,
you can view our unit studies at:www.learn-and-do.com Kym Wright
“This article excerpted
from Booster Shot: Energize Your Homeschool with
Unit Studies by Kym Wright. Dr. Mike Smith,
Esquire, co-founder of HSLDA comments about Booster S hot,
“Outstanding explanation
of unit studies. . . tremendously enlightening. . . Unit studies
are a great way for both parents to join in on the learning process.” You can
read more about the book and order it by clicking here: Booster Shot.”
Creation-Matters.pdf