Let’s face it. Choosing a homeschool curriculum is daunting. Where do you start? Why are there so many options? What’s best for my child? Let’s break it down.
Choosing a Curriculum
Your child’s learning style. Every child is unique. Some children learn best with workbooks, others with hands-on activities, while others are visual learners and do best with pictures. Figure out what your child’s learning style is. This may take some trial and error! Be patient. You may even need to switch curriculums (annoying and frustrating, but sometimes necessary).
Your child’s learning style may also change as they develop and grow. Be flexible!
Education goals. What are your goals with homeschooling? Are you seeking to meet a set of requirements, develop a love of learning in your child, or focusing on improving a particular academic area? Write out some goals you have in mind for your homeschool. Having goals will help guide you in selecting a curriculum that will help you achieve them.
Homeschool methods. There are tons of various homeschool methods out there. There’s Charlotte Mason, unit studies, Montessori, Waldorf, project-based-learning, unschooling, relaxed schooling, and formal schooling. While this list goes on, it is quite exhaustive. Look into a few and see what peaks your and your child’s interest. Which aligns the most with your education goals and your child’s learning style? Also consider if the method will reach your child academically how you dream it will.
Your child’s interests. The privilege of homeschooling is that you get to cater to your individual child. What are they interested in? Could this be incorporated into their curriculum? If your child loves science, look into a curriculum that is science-based. Or if they love art, a curriculum that incorporates. Including your child’s interest will help them be more interested and engaged in learning. They will love to learn!
Curriculum structure. Go over the scope and sequence for the curriculum. (What’s a scope and sequence? See: https://www.homeschooling-mom.com/homeschool-scope-and-sequence-a-guideline/). Also look at the materials it includes. Does it provide enough depth? Can you work at your child’s pace? Is it as advanced as you would like? If your state or province requires certain requirements, ensure that those are met too.
A good resource is Facebook groups. I personally mostly use Facebook for the groups. You have access to asking hundreds or thousands of other homeschool parents about a curriculum you are interested in. You can also share your child’s strengths and struggles to ask for advice on which curriculum may work best. Don’t feel embarrassed! Homeschool families support each other.
Consider your time and resources. Do you want an “open and go” type curriculum, or are you one who likes to lesson plan? Some curriculums require more time to prepare than others. Personally, I enjoy the “open and go” method because I am also working. My friend, however, loves lesson planning. Consider how much time you have to dedicate to homeschooling. You may have hopes and dreams of everything that you want to do (don’t we all?!), but consider realistically how much you can actually accomplish without feeling overwhelmed.
Consider the resources you have. Some curriculums are quite expensive! Perhaps sit down with your spouse and figure out a budget for homeschooling. It doesn’t stop at the curriculum. What other resources will you need? Does the curriculum require that you purchase other supplies? Write down everything that you need and come up with a plan and budget.
Legal requirements. First and foremost, you need to make sure that the curriculum you are choosing fits into the legal requirements of your state or province. Some states and provinces have more rules than others. Look into them first before purchasing a curriculum. You can also see if you can fit the curriculum you wish to purchase into the requirements of your area.
Check out the HSLDA for the requirements for your area:
Canada: https://hslda.org/post/canada
Trial and error. If the curriculum you choose is just not working, that’s okay! Homeschooling allows you the flexibility to change curriculums if one isn’t the best fit for your family or child. It may take several trials before settling on one that works. Don’t feel stressed. It takes a while to settle into a routine. That being said, give the curriculum you bought a chance. Don’t throw it out after a few days. It costs money, so give it a good trial to see if it will work.
Join homeschooling groups. Connecting with other homeschoolers, in-person and online, helps build community and can provide valuable insights into curriculums. Ask others what worked for them! We are all on this journey together. I mentioned Facebook groups above for connecting with other families. Use Facebook groups to find local meet-ups as well so you and your child can have socialization and input on what their homeschool routine looks like.
Flexibility. The perfect curriculum doesn’t exist. Every child is different, leaving you with the opportunity to cater the lessons to meet the needs and strengths of your individual child. Try not to force your child to fit into the curriculum; change the curriculum to match your child’s needs. You won’t find a curriculum that meets every single one of the strengths and needs of your child, so change the lessons as you see fit to ensure that your child is thriving.
Conclusion
Homeschooling can be tough. Curriculum choosing is daunting. I can’t stress enough to connect with other homeschoolers and gain their insights. Some families have been homeschooling for 15-20 years! Homeschoolers love to support and encourage each other, so take advantage of that. Pinterest and blogs can also help provide insights into curriculums. There are some blogs dedicated solely to curriculum reviews! My favourite is Cathy Duffy Reviews: https://cathyduffyreviews.com/
Enjoy your homeschooling journey!
See more blog posts: https://www.homeschooling-mom.com/blog/