If you are a homeschooler and know me in real life, then I’ve probably recommended “Curriculum Advice from Victoria Botkin“. Mark and I purchased Curriculum Advice Vol. 1 and 2 a few months ago and our family has been blessed by Mrs. Botkin’s wisdom. I’ve been recommending it since as a terrific source of advice and encouragement.
One of the people I recommended the set to was Kimarie @ Cardamom’s Pod (another second generation home educator) and yesterday I received this in an email from her.
Just listened to it (Curriculum Advice, Vol.1). Wow. Inspiring and freeing. Hope to listen to the other part tomorrow morning. Gave me TONS of ideas.
Even though Mark and I have been home educating for 14 years, this set has been beneficial and encouraging. It has refreshed our focus on the goal of home education and given us some thought provoking and practical ideas about the decisions we should make to accomplish our goals.
It’s not only practical for veteran home educators, but would be especially beneficial for those just starting as it is full of encouragement and advice that will encourage and guide those who are new to home education.
In volume 1: Homeschooling ages 3-8, Mrs. Botkin encourages parents that they are capable of educating their children and reminds us of the standards and methods that are laid out in the Bible. She also talks about:
- mom’s attitude
- choosing curriculum and materials
- inspiring creativity
- creating a home environment that promotes a love of learning
- the importance of reading
- copy work and dictation
- and more
She shares practical ideas about what types of items to have available for your children, the attitude that we should have as we approach the world around us and the struggles that home educating moms face every day.
In volume 2: Homeschooling ages 8-14 you will hear from Mrs. Botkin and her 7 children, two of whom are already published authors talk about:
- guiding children into character and integrity
- teaching your children to love writing
- standards for books and curriculum
- teaching your children to be effective communicators
- giving your children a vision for the future
- seeing and encouraging your children’s specific gifts
- thinking critically and biblically
- and more
This CD is also chock full of practical ideas to incorporate education into your life and home.
While most of the advice on these CDs are principles that are applicable to all home educators, there are some practical suggestions and specific book recommendations that are wonderful, but may not be practical for every family in every situation. So as always, take what will work for you and leave that which won’t.
Buy it
You may purchase the two volume set of Curriculum Advice by Victoria Botkin on CD for $18 or via MP3 download for $11.
Win it
Western Conservatory has offered to giveaway a set of “Curriculum Advice Vol. 1 and 2″ to one Raising Olives reader.
To enter:
- Visit Western Conservatory’s product page, look around and then come back here and leave a comment about which of their other products interest you.
Additional entries: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry.)
- Share a link to this giveaway on Facebook
- ‘Like’ Raising Olives on Facebook
- Tweet about this giveaway. You may copy and paste the following: Win a set of Victoria Botkin’s Curriculum Advice CDs from @raisingolives http://raisingolives.com/?p=9999 #homeschool
- Post about this giveaway on your blog
This giveaway is open worldwide, but non-U.S. residents will receive MP3 downloads rather than physical CDs. Giveaway will end Thursday, February 24.
We purchased our set of Curriculum Advice CDs and were so impressed that we wanted to share them with you. CDs for the giveaway will be provided by Western Conservatory, I was not compensated for this review/giveaway.
You may also enjoy:
Hi, I'm Kimberly. 
I’d love to have this! I have listened to several of their resources. I own Return of the Daughters and highly recommend it. I just finished listening to She Shall Be Called Woman and it blessed me sooooo much! Can’t wait to buy Homeschool Dropouts.
I like you on FB!
I think we’d invest in the Father to Son DVD set… we have two small boys and are in the market for great wisdom in raising them!
I had never been to the Western conservatory before. I found somethings that I had seen before but something of interest that I hadn’t seen before was the Voices of the Past. We love radio drama/audio books at our house.
I facebooked the link.
I also blogged.
Homeschool dropouts and The Pill look interesting. Thanks for your review! Those CDs sound great.
She Shall Be Called Woman, by Victoria Botkin looks wonderful. So does Curriculum Advice!
Voices from the Past looks great! Not only for my children but for me as well. Thanks!
I liked your Facebook page. Thanks so much for all your encouragement!
I’d love to read the League of Grateful Sons, thanks!
I like you on Facebook
I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/KappaVelvit/status/39078569237954560
I would love to hear the “What our Father Taught Us About Boys and Girls” CD’s. I have heard Anna Sofia and Elizabeth on CD before, and found them to be very insightful and wise beyond their years.
Loved all the stuff of Western conservatory. If I had the choice, I would probably choose the “she shall be called woman”. Who couldn’t use NINE hours of practical wisdom? Food for the soul…
I would love to get the Voices From the Past set!
Posted the giveaway on facebook, Kateri S.
I like you on facebook! Kateri S.
Blogged about the giveaway here: http://hillsidecottage.blogspot.com/2011/02/curriculum-advice-from-victoria-botkin.html
The homeschool dropouts documentary definitely strikes me as very intriguing.
I also like you on facebook!
I have heard of a lot of great things about “The Return of the Daughters.” So that is what interests me most.
The ‘Teaching Children to Teach Themselves’ resource. My husband encourages me often, reminding me that our homeschool’s personal core values are three: Developing Character, Excelling in Communication Skills, and Competence in Learning. Thank you for the opportunity to win this collection. In Christ, Linda
I’m interested in Homeschool Drop Outs.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this.
I would love to have “Homeschool Dropouts” The site is great, will be going back!
As a mom of 11, ages 12-31 – I almost have first and second generation homeschoolers. The first four are doing great…I’m not quite as confident about the next 7. I’d love for us all to watch Homeschool Dropouts and see where the battle is!
Love the sight! I have seen the Father to Son DVDs and am impressed with the philosophies. Blessings!
I’m leaving a comment to try to win the Victoria Botkin giveaway. I am NEW to homeschooling–no one in my family was ever homeschooled. My husband and I will begin our first homeschooling year in the fall. I need all the advice and tips I can get! That is also one of the reasons I “followed” your blog–I love the homeschooling information you have here! Thank you so much for sharing it.
Take care and God bless,
Stacie
Thank you so much for sharing this website! I was looking for something on the family and how it should be structured, and Vision Forum was a bit pricy at this time and don’t seem to offer MP3 downloads. I would love to get the the whole Crossroads Audio Collection, but I think we will start the Father and Biblical Leadership. Thanks again for the chance to win!
I posted a link on Facebook.
I liked you on Facebook.
I have been looking for something along this lines to help me get started homeschooling my almost 4 and 5 years olds. My pastor’s wife actually recommended this to me and I had completely forgot about it. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
I liked Raising Olives on Facebook.
I always use more advice!
I would purchase the Father to Son DVD set
I’m a fan on fb
the curriculum advice sounds wonderful, the “voices from the past” also looks good!
The stories of heroines in their own words sounds wonderful, as well as the homeschooling curriculum MP3.
As we begin to pray about next year and what to do, now that will have two being schooled I have been completely overwhelmed. We am trying to stay out of “indoctrinational teaching” focus and stay focused on “Christ teaching” but the flesh shouts sometimes! I would love this just to gain knowledge and perspective from a seasoned teacher.
I love Abigail Adams and have many articles and books written on her, so the cd would be fun!
I like the “Making Allies of your siblings.” This world thinks naturally siblings should fight, but that’s not the case!!!
The Return of the Daughters is a resource that I have been very interested in, glad to see it on their website.
There are so many interesting products available, but Christian Families at the Crossroads really caught my eye!
I love their products ! Could awlays use some advice and fresh ideas ! I love “She Shall Be Called Woman” ! Thank You !
This is the first time I’ve heard of this website. I had a look and think the Father to Son Dvd’s look very interesting. Would love to hear from someone who’s listened to them. Would be glad to win anything from this site!
Beth
An English Family in the American Wilderness looks very ineresting! http://www.westernconservatory.com/products/english-family-american-wilderness-victoria-botkin-rebecca-burlend
Heather
I posted the contest to my facebook status.
I “liked” Raising Olives on Facebook.
We are praying about homeschooling. I have loved your blog even more now that we are diving prayerfully into this adventure. There is so much info out there I wonder if these CDs would help me as I research curriculum and the idea of homeschooling in general. I also love some of the historical resources on this site.
I have wanted She shall be called woman for a while, I would also be glad to get these for sure! thanks!
“Crossroads Audio Collection” looks great. With a young family, we need all the resources that we can find from like-minded families. The curriculum advice will be greatly needed here…our oldest is 4 and chomping at the bit–need some direction from those who have gone before us.
LOVE the blog! Thank you for your “real life” look at a large family. We love you all and pray for you often.
THE PILL by Geoffrey Botkin on audio. I am interested in what he has to say.
We would love to get Father to Son, as a family raising 4 young sons! It looks awesome!