How to Choose the Best Homeschool Curriculum
“What curriculum do you use?”
This is the most common question I get from moms who want to homeschool. My answer is always, “the curriculum that actually gets used is the best.” You can spend thousands of dollars on the number one homeschool curriculum. If you never open it, it is useless.
Choosing curriculum can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are three factors you should consider:
- Do I like this?
- Will this be a good fit for my child?
- Will this fit our family lifestyle/needs/goals?
If you answer these three questions honestly, the choice will be much easier.
Do I like this?
First, decide if you like the curriculum. It may seem odd that you should like the curriculum. It’s your child that is homeschooling not you, right??? There are several things to consider. Yes, it is your child’s education, but you will be learning along side him as well. Do you want to read 10 boring books this school year? Or would you rather read 10 adventurous books that leave you planning a trip to the Blue Grotto or snorkeling in the ocean?
If you enjoy what you are teaching, it will be easier to get up in the morning. You will be excited for the day of learning ahead. The saying “if Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is a true thing when it comes to homeschool curriculum. If you are engaged and learning along side your children, your attitude will be contagious. They will soon be enjoying lessons and asking questions.
The opposite is true too. If you do not like what you are teaching, it will show in your attitude. Soon you will start skipping parts because you don’t like it. Then a year will pass with no learning done in that subject, your kids will say they hate whatever said subject is, and you’re left feeling like a homeschool drop out.
Isn’t it easier to learn when you are having fun and enjoying the topic?
Sometimes it is not always the topic. Maybe it’s the format of how it is written on a page- too many math problems on one side of the sheet, too many distractions on a page, not enough teacher instruction for you to follow. Making sure that you like what you will be teaching your children is important.
Will this be a good fit for my child?
Next, write down the things that interest your child. Make a list of ways he learns already. Does he spend hours building lego sets? Does he read all his library books the day after a library visit? A child who loves to read and be read to will thrive in a literature rich curriculum where as your hands on child may need something else. This is one of the many benefits of homeschooling. You get to tailor your child’s education to fit them, instead of fitting them into the education box.
If your child is coming into homeschooling from a public or private school setting, you may need to take time to assess what they actually like to do. Just because they are good at worksheets and make good grades, does not mean that is what drives them. Ask them what their favorite things are. Take some time to get to know what they actually like doing.
Will this fit our family lifestyle/needs/goals?
Finally, decide what things are important to your family. Write down one or two things you hope to accomplish through homeschooling. Write down activities and commitments that are priorities to your family. There are no right or wrong answers. Each family is unique.
This list will help you decide what kinds of learning opportunities or curriculum that you can realistically bring into your home.
Here are a few examples. Online curriculum is an option, but do you have reliable internet? Does your family own a computer? If not then this isn’t the best option for you.
Your neighbors speak fluent Spanish, and you decide to learn Spanish as a family. You need a family friendly Spanish curriculum. Your neighbors agreed to tutor your family. This commitment needs to be added to your calendar.
This list of examples could go on and on. There are many variables to consider. The main point is this: do NOT pick a curriculum based on the fact that your cousin’s friend who homeschools loves it. Your curriculum choice should fit your family.
How do I pick the best curriculum?
After 13 years I still use these simple practices when choosing our curriculum for the year. Learning should be interesting and (gasp) fun.
Sometimes even with following these simple steps, I get it wrong or something I’ve chosen just doesn’t work the way it should. It’s okay to stop something mid-year and go a different route. There are times I’ve purchased new math curriculum in the middle of our year, times I’ve put a book down and stopped reading a few chapters in because it wasn’t working, and times when a child has just needed a break from said subject so we’ve closed the book for another time. The best curriculum really is the one that gets used.