SOS Homeschool Software: Tips For Using Switched On Schoolhouse Curriculum

Homeschooling is not a one size fits all process, much of why many families choose this solution for their family's educational needs. SOS Homeschool Software is one of my favorite tools for meeting certain curriculum needs for my children, and I have some favorite Switched on Schoolhouse subjects, as well as some means of making this work in a household with limited computers and many students. There are certain subjects available in the SOS software selection that work very well for us, and others that I do not like. This hub will highlight my preferences, as well as my strategies for alternative scheduling in order to accomplish our family's learning goals in a given year.

As a former public school teacher, I have experienced first hand the frustration of teaching to a wide range of learning styles with a single lesson, and while a talented teacher can make that lesson accessible to that range, it is difficult to assure optimal understanding on the part of all students. Further, I picked up a great realization from a Clinton Anderson Horsemanship show, of all places, in which he referred to business in terms of being hollow if it wasn't something you loved. I have to say that this is also true of education. If you don't enjoy it, it's quite hollow, something that has severely impeded the learning in public institutions. The homeschool allows one to pursue the things they love, and tools such as Switched on Schoolhouse make it possible to approach some of the basics pragmatically, while leaving ample room in the schedule to focus on the things that make one's education more meaningful and interesting.

My first tip is that SOS is a great PART of a homeschooling curriculum.  I don't suggest it as your only approach.  It's not very interesting to spend entire days at one's lessons in front of a screen, and Switched On Schoolhouse involves a great deal of reading from the computer screen.  I find it preferable to select one or two subjects that lend themselves well to computer work, as opposed to assigning one of my children an entire 5 subject program.  In our household experience, over multiple years, with 4 children having used this curriculum, I have found that my preference is to use the Bible, History, and Language subjects, as well as foreign language.

I do not care for the mathematics, as I had the Algebra curriculum at one point, and struggled to enter the answers exactly as expected.  As a math teacher, I know that in some cases, order can be altered without values or significances being changed, and I want to allow for my kids to see that there are different means to express something.  Hence, my first tries at the Algebra curriculum were frustrating, and I did not proceed to assign this material to my children.  While the math software does meet the needs of some households, I prefer to relegate this to other methods.

Another reason for restricting our number of SOS software selections in our homeschool curriculum is the number of students using computers.  With two computers available, and three students currently using Switched On Schoolhouse materials, it is not possible for me to have all students doing all subjects.  I select those subjects best suited to my students, and work scheduling out so that each student is working on a certain subject set and computer on a given day. 

Many alternative scheduling strategies, such as block learning, are tossed about in educational circles.  In the homeschool setting, it is easy to try these strategies.  Block scheduling works well for some of my children, and when they express an interest in it, I let them have the freedom to explore the option.  Block scheduling simply entails the idea of completing only a couple of subjects over a short period, as opposed to studying all subjects every day.  Last year, my son wanted to complete his History curriculum first.  He concentrated on that for several weeks, and upon finishing it, moved on to his next subject of interest.

Another approach is to have certain subjects be the focus of certain days.  For example, one daughter did language and history on one computer Mondays and Wednesdays.  She did her Spanish 1 work on a different computer Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Meanwhile, the alternating days opened up the use of those computers to other children.

Switched on Schoolhouse software is available from grades 3 and up. However, I don't care to use it until my youngsters are in middle school, at which point I will do a trial run to see how well they handle the approach. The younger students will do more hands on study, which isn't particularly compatible with the computer subjects. Further, developmentally, the younger children don't have as great an attention span, and lengthy time at a computer is impractical. Whereas it is a nice tool for older kids to work on certain subjects, with a great asset in grading and evaluation, for younger kids, it's important to have more personal interaction.

Skill building software for spelling, math facts, and reading are great for younger kids, where time on the computer is fun and educational.  However, lengthier reading assignments, and typing, are not my preferred instructional approach.  For the middle schooler, this is more attainable, but still, not a good way to spend hours on end.  Even for the high school student, I prefer to balance computer studies with interactive material.

Alpha Omega Publications also publishes Life Pac Curriculum, similar in content to SOS, but in a series of consumable workbooks.  These are a nice alternative if computer availability is not sufficient, or if it is limited.  Prepared curricula are nice from a management standpoint, allowing for easier grading and monitoring of your child in certain respects.  Again, my preference is not to strictly use a packaged curriculum, as I want to leave room for my children to pursue the things that interest them.  A balance is nice, so that basic skills are not neglected, but so that the pursuit of an education is not hollow.

Tailor your curriculum to your needs.  It is helpful to start with something you feel comfortable with, and to build and adjust from that point.  Consider your child's age and interests as you plan.  If you desire the management assistance that Switched on Schoolhouse offers, it's nice to start with a single subject, and to see how your child does with it.  Move on from there, based on your computer resources and educational needs.