Choosing the "Right" Curriculum for Your Homeschool

Why it’s Healthy, Beneficial, & Necessary to Experiment

Is there a “right” curriculum for your child? There could be, but many of us get so caught up in worrying about the possibility of selecting the “wrong”, we lose the joy and excitement we found when we first committed to the idea of homeschooling in the first place.

There are many methods and approaches to homeschooling, making the task of actually committing to something a bit overwhelming. Throw in the added pressure of trying to please your parents and prove the benefits of your decision to your friends, and you might find yourself a real basket case if you’re not too careful.

Homeschooling experts typically recommend that you start the process by considering your child’s learning style. Problem is, if you’re just starting out, there’s a good chance you won’t know what that is. So, what are you to do? Couple that initial frustration with the enormity of options offered by publishers along with the countless online resources available and you have the potential for a few sleepless nights. Before you grab the Tylenol PM, let’s look at this issue in a clear light.

The Time Factor: If you’re in the early years of homeschooling, don’t fail to consider the length of the journey that awaits you. You have plenty of time to experiment with various teaching methods and styles and as you do, nothing horrible is going to happen. You’re bound to discover that some books and activities are far more interesting to your children than are others. Take note. You may find that your child isn’t grasping a basic concept as it’s being explained in a particular format… so you seek out another. You may try a pre-packaged curriculum one year, only to ditch it for an online resource the following school year. The next year you might decide to take various components of several programs and create your own mix. Whatever works, works… so long as their learning, that’s really all that matters.

The Teacher Factor: Another important factor to consider is this… we often look at the curriculum as the most important feature of the homeschooling classroom, when quite frankly it has much more to do with you… the parent-teacher. If you find yourself in that not-so-unique position of not knowing what will best suit your child, go with the program, method, or style that best suits you. If you like the books and are comfortable with the methods, you’ll be more enthusiastic when teaching your children. If you dread the lesson, it likely won’t get taught at all.

The Learning Factor: Finding what motivates and excites your children and understanding what keeps their minds in motion will make your choices easier in the coming years. Realizing that the first couple of years will be every bit a learn-as-you-go type of process is essential to your success. Getting your feet wet can be a bit uncomfortable, but you are on an expedition after all, and explorers aren’t worth much if they’re not willing to take a chance. Go ahead and jump in! Surround yourself with everything you can get your hands on and have fun with it.

Finally, consider not committing to any one method. Sure it might be easier to please family and friends by saying you’re using a certain curriculum… one they’ve heard of or know a private school uses, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with taking what you like from a variety of sources to create your own customized curriculum. You can find gently used curriculum in part or in whole at online auction sites, through your local newspaper, and often times local homeschooling organizations will have used curriculum sales. You can also find an enormous amount of online homeschooling tools and resources that will fit nicely into your lesson plans. This is the perfect way to build an eclectic type of classroom or to experiment with a variety of methods and teaching styles without spending a fortune.