Are you considering homeschooling? One of the first questions a new homeschooling mom or dad will ask after deciding to take the leap into homeschooling is, now what? What curriculum am I supposed to use? In this article, I will explore how to find the right curriculum for your family.
One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling today is the array of options we have at our fingertips. There are so many options. These options include free, boxed, eclectic, family style, online learning, and for every subject imaginable.
Although this is a huge advantage for homeschoolers, it can also be very overwhelming for new families. Before you take the leap into the first shiny new curriculum you see, take a look at these steps that can help you figure out how to find the right curriculum for your family.
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How to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Family
Like most homeschool moms, I love the curriculum. I am attracted to the array of options available. But of course, I cannot just buy every shiny one my eye sees. That’s not realistic for our budget or our family.
We have used a wide range of curricula for my four kids. Throughout the last nine years, I have learned how to piece together the best options for my family and you can too. With these questions and steps, you can figure out exactly what type of curriculum will work best for your family.
Figure Out Your Child’s Learning Style
One of the first things you can do is figure out how your child learns best. Take some time and study their learning habits. Do they pick up on information when they are fully engaged with hands-on learning?
Do they learn best in an auditory atmosphere? Sometimes a child learns best in more than one way as well. When you know how they best learn then you can figure out which type of curriculum would be the best fit for them.
Figure Out Your Teaching Style
The next step is figuring out what your teaching style is. Do you need a hands-off approach where your child can learn from someone else (say an online curriculum) because you need to work? Do you want to be completely involved as the main teacher? These are questions to ask yourself before you go on this journey.
While these are good questions to ask, it’s important to remember life changes. What may work for your family now may change later on.
What Are Your Goals?
Ask yourself, what are your goals with homeschooling? Do you want to be more in charge of what your children are learning? Is it to take them out of a bullying atmosphere? Would you like your students to get more nature time and time outside?
What exactly are your goals and why? Write these goals down and keep them somewhere to remind yourself during those difficult homeschool days.
Do You Want A Complete Curriculum?
Boxed curricula like My Father’s World, Abeka, or Timberdoodle can be an excellent way to get started with homeschooling. This is because they give you everything you need, including a teacher’s guide. You do not have to piece all of your curriculum together because they will literally send everything you need in one box.
This is an appealing option to families who do not have the time or desire to piece together their own curriculum.
Piecing it All Together
On the flip side, piecing together your curriculum can be a good option for families who are on a budget, or like some aspects of one curriculum but no other parts.
For example, when my kids were younger I loved using Masterbooks. I quickly fell in love with the math curriculum however, the LA books were not a great fit. So, we ditched the LA curriculum and went with Logic of English instead.
If this is an appealing option for your family, then what you could do is make a list of the subjects your child will be taking. Then research the curriculum for each of those topics.
Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the best things about homeschooling is that you don’t have to stay on the same level for each subject. Is your student efficient in one subject but possibly needs a little more help in another? Then you can move up in grades or go down a level or two if you need to.
Additionally, take a look at your own strengths and weaknesses. Are you great at teaching English but need some help in math? You can use online resources, tutors, or even an enrichment center to teach subjects you aren’t well-versed in. Homeschool doesn’t have to mean that you teach all the subjects. You can outsource whatever you choose to outsource.
Trial and Error
Additionally, one way to figure out what works for your family is by trial and error. Sometimes you may think one curriculum will work great for your family but then find out that it doesn’t. Or maybe one works for one kid and not another.
For example, when we pulled our son out of public school, we used Abeka Academy. However, I learned quickly that he needed more hands-on involvement form me (he has special needs.) But I know if I were to have one of my girls use Abeka, they would be able to. It’s all about being a student of your child.
Open Mind, Trying New Things
When you are buying a curriculum be sure to keep an open mind. It’s okay to try anything. But don’t tie yourself down to one if it’s not working. Be flexible and open to trying a new curriculum if you need to.
Talk to Other Homeschool Families
We have found our favorite curriculum through the years by talking to other homeschooling families. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who has been homeschooling for a while. Ask them what curriculum they use, what worked best for learning hurdles, etc.
Group Learning or Individual Learning
Lastly, if you have a large family, you will need to think about what type of learning environment you want. Do you want your students to have more individualized learning plans? Where they are working on their own things throughout the day?
Would you rather teach your students all together, even if they are in different age groups? There are many curriculum choices that are laid out specifically for this endeavor.
One Last Note
Starting out with homeschooling can be a fun but overwhelming experience. But it doesn’t have to be! With the steps laid out in this article, you can find the right curriculum that works for your family!
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