Choosing your homeschool curriculum can be the toughest part of the journey. Even year after year as your children grow it can be difficult to navigate the right choices to grow with them. I’ve put together 10 tips to help you in that process!
- Understand Your Child’s Learning Style: Consider how your child learns best—whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners. Tailor your curriculum choices to accommodate their learning style. *If you haven’t already, check out a previous post where I talk about learning styles & find the quiz to help you determine which learning style best describes your child. Read it here.
- Set Educational Goals: Determine what you want your child to achieve academically for the year. Having clear goals will help you choose a curriculum that aligns with those goals.
- Research Different Approaches: Explore various homeschooling methods such as classical, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, or unschooling. Each approach has its own philosophy and teaching style, so choose the one that resonates most with your educational values and your child’s needs. In some cases, you might even combine methods from various styles. That’s okay too, because remember, your homeschool is your own.
- Consider Your Teaching Style: Reflect on your teaching preferences and abilities. Are you more comfortable with hands-on activities, structured lesson plans, or do you prefer a more relaxed approach? Choose a curriculum that complements your teaching style.
- Evaluate Curriculum Reviews: Read reviews and seek recommendations from other homeschooling parents. Online forums, social media groups, and homeschooling communities can be a valuable resource for honest feedback and insights into different curriculums. But remember every family and child is different so make sure your choosing what’s best for you, not just what is popular.
- Assess the Content: Review the curriculum’s content to ensure it covers the subjects and topics you want your child to learn. Look for a balance between core subjects like math, science, language arts, and electives or enrichment activities.
- Check for Flexibility: Determine whether the curriculum allows flexibility for customization and adaptation to your child’s pace and interests. A flexible curriculum can accommodate diverse learning needs and cater to individual strengths and weaknesses.
- Budget Wisely: Consider your budget and weigh the cost of the curriculum against its value and effectiveness. Remember that expensive doesn’t always mean better, and there are plenty of high-quality, affordable options available.
- Sample Materials: Take advantage of free samples, demos, or trial periods offered by curriculum providers. This allows you to preview the materials and assess whether they suit your child’s needs before making a purchase.
- Seek Support and Resources: Look for curriculum providers that offer comprehensive support, including teacher guides, answer keys, online resources, and customer support. Having access to resources and assistance can ease your homeschooling journey and enhance your teaching experience.
By considering these tips and thoroughly researching your options, you can select a homeschool curriculum that meets your child’s educational needs, aligns with your teaching approach, and gives your child a rewarding learning experience.
Be sure to check out my previous blog post where I share my favorite homeschool curriculum and resources for elementary grades. I share which curriculum we started with, what we are using now and several other options that I highly recommend.