Since it's been about five weeks since I started using the Orthodox Christian Morning Time curriculum, I thought I would review my own curriculum. Is it working for me? What would I do differently? Would I change anything?
Content wise, I like the information in the curriculum. It has been pretty easy for my sons to memorize the memory work and complete the copywork. However, I think I would like to see a review week every now and then if I make another version of this curriculum, or a Year 2. I think every 7 weeks, at least, I should include a review week, where any spiritual reading or lives of the saints can be read and the memory work is reviewed. However, with the current version, parents can easily just pause the curriculum and add in a week of just review. It just would have been nice if it was built in, so people (including myself) don't have to feel like they are diverting from a schedule to review.
Secondly, I didn't need to include the troparian lyrics in the curriculum since everyone will have to source the sheet music from the OCA website (or something similar) but I guess it is still helpful to have the words there also.
Lastly, I have had to rethink some things about how I use this curriculum in my own home. I have two twice-exceptional learners in my homeschool. One of my learners struggles most in the morning and was having trouble managing the focus needed for morning time memory work, and going over morning school work. (Specifically, the focus needed for taking turns, following directions, etc.) I don't think most children would struggle in this way though. We ended up moving just the memory work portion until after dinner. This seems to be working well, and it is nice to have my husband sitting there also. We are generally home in the evening, so it should work most days, especially now that the days are getting shorter and we will have more time together inside as a family.
Lastly, 32 weeks is a lot of material! We only do home school 4 days a week. I was thinking I could do 5 days for the morning time curriculum when I made it, but that is not working out for us because we are so tired after homeschool co-op. We are just going to stretch out the curriculum until it's done, so it will last quite a while.
So, all in all, my main criticism of my own curriculum is that there is just too much of it possibly to fit in one year, but I am pleased with the content.
If I were to make a Year 2, I would make 28 weeks of curriculum, with a review week after every seven weeks. I would also only have copywork for 4 days a week.
Other than that, I am pleased with the curriculum!
I hope to someday add fill in the blank worksheets to go with the Bible Memory verses, but I'm not sure when I will have time for that.
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