PICKING THE “RIGHT” HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM
There are many options when it comes to homeschooling. At times it can seem overwhelming. My advice is always to find a homeschool curriculum that fits your family’s rhythm and allows your family to thrive. However, before diving into the world of curriculum, there are a few things you should consider:
1. Find your why – A lot of parents are homeschooling for the first time and the thought of homeschooling can be daunting. I would suggest you write down the reasons you are choosing to homeschool and remind yourself of this often because although situations may change, if you are rooted in your why, then it’s easier to stay the course. There are really amazing days in our homeschooling and there are days, where I want to throw in the towel. On those difficult days, remembering WHY we were so excited to homeschool in the first place, keeps us grounded and focused on the greater goal.
Here are the reasons we chose to homeschool
2. Pray
God is ultimately in control and cares about this decision. The Bible calls us to no be anxious but with prayer to make our request known (Phill 4:6). Ask God for wisdom, clarity of thinking, and allow this to be an opportunity where you draw closer to Him as you work through your decision. As you are praying for and vetting curriculum, I will always opt for a Biblical-based curriculum that will not only educate our children but will point their eyes towards Christ. Watch out for curriculum and books that claim to be Christian and biblically sound but are not. I believe that through prayer and research, God will direct you towards the best option for your family.
3. Familiarize yourself with your homeschooling state laws
Homeschooling laws vary depending on your state so make sure you research and understand what your state requires from you. You can see what your state requires here Some states require you to submit a request to homeschool, others states don’t. For example, I live in Texas. Texas does not require you to submit a request to homeschool, nor do they require you to submit anything at the end of the year. However, when I lived in Nebraska, I was required to submit a letter of intent to homeschool as well as proof at the end of the year that we did in fact homeschool. Familiarise yourself with what your state requires of you and plan accordingly.
4. Assess your family’s needs
There are a few things to consider when it comes to curriculum.
- How many kids you will be homeschooling
- Are you going to teach all of the lessons or will you have a video lesson option?
- What grades are you taking on?
- How much time do you have to dedicate to schooling each day?
These are just some questions to ask yourself. We homeschool three kids and the best option for our family at the moment is a video lesson option from Abeka, where there is a professional educator teaching my kids their daily lessons. My kids are being taught by trained professionals and I take on the role of supervisor, timekeeper, incentive provider, etc. I also work from home and having the curriculum covered, gives me the opportunity to manage both from home. Also, English is my second language and I wanted my kids to have a strong foundation in grammar and phonics.
If your students are kindergarteners, you can probably cover the entire school year without seeking outside help. What’s important is that you are able to assess your family’s needs and choose a curriculum based on that.
5. Assess your child’s learning style
We all have our strengths and weaknesses and different ways we learn. Knowing if your family is hands-on or auditory or if they’re easily distracted will help you navigate through finding the right curriculum for your kids and save you both from a lot of frustration. Also, if your child is reading at a fourth-grade level and he’s in second grade, maybe a full-grade all-inclusive option is not the way to go. You may want to opt for a curriculum where you can pick and choose your books and adjust the grade level based on their progress or learning style.
6. Find out your own teaching style
How do you enjoy teaching? There are homeschool teachers who want to have everything written out on a calendar or on a planner. There are others who need a small checklist and just check off as they go. Do you need a big whiteboard so everyone knows what’s next? There are many teaching styles and you can also find a curriculum or piece curriculums together based on your specific style.
7. Familiarize yourself with the different styles of homeschooling and curriculum
While we enjoy having an all-inclusive video lesson option, there are a plethora of homeschooling options. We use Abeka, because of their all-inclusive option and Biblical foundation. However, I suggest you start with finding out what you want your family rhythm to look like before diving into the world of curriculum. Chances are you’ve probably already heard of a few of the popular homeschooling programs or have friends who have pieced together their own. I would encourage you that you answer some of these questions I’ve asked above and spend some time figuring out your family rhythm before committing to anything. I would also encourage you to find a curriculum that is Biblically sound and teaches through a Biblical world view.
8. Do your research
If possible, connect with parents or graduates of the programs you are considering. This will allow you to have an inside look at the ins and outs of the curriculum before diving in. Also, you can call the company, and sometimes they are willing to give you a free trial you can take advantage of. This may take a little time, but it will save you time, energy, and money in the long run.
9. Find a Community
The last thing I want to encourage you on is finding a community of like minded parents. Find a community whether that is a homeschool group, or a co-op, join a community where you can feel supported. This is key to homeschooling because you are going to build a community where your kids will have the opportunity to socialize and for presentation groups, and you will get the opportunity to talk with other parents, bounce ideas off one another, and share your experiences.
Homeschooling is a privilege and gift that we do not take for granted. My hope is that this post will help you pause and assess YOUR FAMILY’S needs before going into the rabbit hole of curriculum.
Now this is the fun part, this is where you get to dive in and really embrace homeschooling to the fullest. I know there are a lot of us that are now having to look into homeschooling because of what is happening in our country but I want to encourage you to see this as a blessing, an opportunity to pour into the lives of your children and really invest in them.
Happy homeschooling friends!
With love,
Teresa
