One of the most challenging questions for parents seeking to start a homeschooling program is: How do I choose the best homeschool curriculum for my child?
Many factors will influence your homeschooling decision, so take the time to understand them. For instance, there are numerous homeschool curriculum choices out there and each one has
its pros and cons.
It is easy to get distracted and unless you are set on a faith-based curriculum (Which helps to narrow down your options), this article offers you tips on how to choose the best homeschool curriculum for your child.
Table of contents
- Understanding How Your (Child) Student Learns
- Understanding Your Teaching Style
- Ask For Help With The Best Homeschool Curriculum
- What Is Your Budget?
- Let The Homeschooling Goals Direct You
- Allow Your Children To Help When Deciding The Best Homeschool Curriculum For Them
- How Long Do You Plan On Homeschooling?
- Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Homeschool Curriculum
Understanding How Your (Child) Student Learns
Your child’s style of learning will influence what kind of curriculum you choose. Remember that this is about them, not you. Kids have different learning styles.
Some may take a more relaxed, visual learning approach while others adopt a more hands-on approach. If your child loves taking experiments, look for something that appeals to their learning style.
Also, if you impose a homeschool curriculum that you think is best for them, you might have a hard time in your homeschooling sessions.
If your child has special needs (such as ADD or ADHD), you need to choose a curriculum that accommodates these conditions.
Understanding Your Teaching Style
There are two factors to consider here; what is your teaching style? and how much time do you have to dedicate to homeschooling? If you are a busy person, you might not have the necessary time to homeschool effectively.
Homeschooling takes a lot of your time. If you cannot invest enough time to homeschool, you may be better off considering other ways of educating your child.
Understanding your teaching style will also help you synchronize with your child’s learning style for a better homeschooling experience.
For instance, do you have the know-how to tackle difficult subjects aptly? Will you be available to provide a hands-off teaching approach to your kids whenever they need it? Will you be able to follow the homeschool curriculum religiously?
Ask For Help With The Best Homeschool Curriculum
Some people have successfully homeschooled their kids and modeled them into becoming useful citizens. These are the people you should consult if you find it challenging to choose a good homeschool curriculum for your child.
They were at that stage once, and they triumphed. There are numerous places to find motivation and inspiration for homeschooling families. You can read blogs from homeschoolers to understand how they did it.
You can also join Facebook groups or homeschooling groups on other social media platforms where they share information on how they started, what challenges they encountered, and how they succeeded.
What Is Your Budget?
Although you can easily find many homeschooling curriculums and resources on a budget such as these free homeschool printables, you may need to sit down and have a realistic understanding of what you are about to do, and the financial implications.
This is something you should speak to your spouse about. When starting out, it is easy to go over the budget. There are resources to buy books, stationery, and other learning materials that might be costly. Some curriculums are also sold at a very high price.
What you should put in mind is that you may never find a perfect curriculum for your child. You just need to tweak what you find in the market to suit your child’s needs.
Why then, would you cough up thousands of dollars for one? Look at what your child is interested in and work out your budget with those interests in mind.
You can also consider online options. The online homeschool curriculums give you the space you need to relax as many lesson plans are taught using videos. You can also decide to use a combination of both online and physical curriculum. Just make sure to read the homeschool curriculum reviews.
Let The Homeschooling Goals Direct You
Perhaps you have a specific goal you want to achieve with your homeschooling. Maybe you want to help your child graduate. Maybe you want to instill into them certain values through focused learning.
Whatever the case, you may choose a curriculum that is well-aligned to help you achieve those goals. If your goal is to help your kids graduate, you should inquire about the homeschooling requirements and regulations of your State.
While homeschooling is legal across the nation, some states have specific laws and
requirements before they can consider your child for graduation. For instance, you would have to keep an updated score sheet and schedule.
An officer from the education department would have to ascertain that the child has covered what is required of him before he/she moves on to the next grade level.
Allow Your Children To Help When Deciding The Best Homeschool Curriculum For Them
This is more helpful for older children and teens. They already know which areas and subjects they are struggling in and they may have a better idea of what kind of curriculum would assist them the most.
Teens can be choosy and small things may annoy them so much that it distracts their learning process. When you let them help you choose the curriculum, you will have an easier time because they will adopt a cooperative approach when learning.
How Long Do You Plan On Homeschooling?
In some cases, you may find that you are planning on doing this for a short while. Maybe you moved onto a new locality and are yet to find a good traditional school. Maybe you are taking some time off from your job and want to have your children with you all the time.
If you are planning on homeschooling for a short period, go for a curriculum that is close
to what your child’s school taught. This will eliminate the confusion your kids may have to go through learning about a new curriculum.
Don’t Be Afraid To Change Your Homeschool Curriculum
Many homeschoolers have used different curriculums over time, depending on the needs and requirements of that particular period. If you find that the curriculum of your choice is getting outdated, or redundant, do not be afraid to test out a new one.
The fundamental concept is making sure that your kids stay schooled and you can instill morals and values into them the right way.