Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

I'm sharing some thoughts on curriculum for the next few weeks. This week: choosing curriculum. I'm going to focus on choosing pre-made curriculum in today’s post, because I think more parents go this route, but if you're interested in a DIY approach, I'll be talking about that in a few weeks.

In no particular order of importance, here are a few things to consider before purchasing any programs.

Budget

Can you afford it? If it's expensive, are you willing to sacrifice in other ways to buy it?

For instance, we probably splurge more in the area of audiobooks than most families do. But, I am someone who has a history of vocal health issues, so it is worth it to me to have audiobooks on hand to help with read-alouds. On the flip side, we don't buy expensive all-inclusive programs, but that might be worth it to you if you're looking for detailed lesson plans.

Time Required

How much time does it require from the student every day/week/month? How much time does it require from the parent? Are you willing to spend the amount of time needed?

When I was considering math programs for my eldest, I immediately disregarded one commonly used program simply because it required a daily practice that I knew I wouldn't spend time doing every day.

I haven't always been so conscientious about the time factor, though. My biggest curriculum regrets are programs that I bought that required more time than I was willing to give them. Don't repeat my mistake!

Educational Philosophy

Does your family have a preferred educational philosophy?

You may have heard these terms thrown around in the homeschooling community: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Literature-Based, Unit Studies, etc. It's okay if your family does not adhere to one specific method (mine doesn't!), but if you do, make sure it aligns with your preference.

Learning Styles

Does the program fit your child's learning style?

I once tried to use a very hands-on math curriculum for my kiddo who hates manipulatives and "playing" with math. Big mistake. After trying to make it work for five months, I simply couldn't take any more math fights. We switched programs and I did a better job of finding a a curriculum to match her learning style.

Reusability

Will multiple children use this program?

If you have a large family, this may be especially important to you. Curriculum isn't cheap, and you may benefit from finding programs that can be used with multiple children.

Children's Ages, Maturity, and Ability

Is the level of difficulty appropriate? Does it discuss topics your child is developmentally ready to tackle?

Don't assume you should buy a program's grade level for your child's corresponding school grade. (If your state requires things to align with common core standards, or you're concerned about state testing, then you might ask your local school district or a homeschool group to advise you.) Some programs are intended to be advanced, while others may be tailored to students with learning challenges. You can often find a sample and see if it matches your child's ability. IT’S OKAY if you buy a second grade book for your third grader. The goal is to make sure they are learning and progressing from their current level. Avoid advanced programs if your child isn't ready for them - it will only cause frustration for everyone! Likewise, make sure the curriculum isn’t too easy lest your child become bored, which often leads to misbehavior and disillusionment about learning.

Group Learning

Can the program be used to teach children of different ages at once?

I highly recommend combining your children when covering content subjects. These are the subjects that are more topical in nature and don't require mastery to move on to another topic. Examples include history, science, religion, art history, etc.

My family uses history and science programs that allow both my kids to learn together even though they are years apart in school. Not only is this a huge time saver, but it also creates common experiences for us to discuss.

Worldview

Is it important for the program to align with your family's religious and political beliefs?

Maybe this will be a factor for you, maybe it won't. If it is, make sure the program won't be in conflict with your family's belief system OR be prepared to discuss those differences when the situation arises. (Being presented with a different point of view can be a great way to educate your kids about your family's beliefs, but this style of education is not for everyone - which itself is a worldview choice!)

Notice that I did NOT say to choose your friend's curriculum.

Getting recommendations from others can be a great way to find about programs. Having said that, just because your best friend loves Shiny Curriculum X does not mean that it's a great fit for you. In fact, every homeschooler could rave about how awesome Shiny Curriculum X is, but if it doesn't align with your family's situation and preferences, it won't be a great program for you.

If you ask others for recommendations, you'll get the most help if you can be very specific about your preferences. If someone makes a suggestion, ask them WHY they like the program they use.

For example, saying, "I need a unit study on astronomy that will work for 3 kids ranging in age from 8-13" is much more useful than saying, "What science program do you use?"

Whew! We covered a lot. Thanks for sticking with me to the end. I hope you found it helpful! Next week, I'll talk about customizing curriculum to work for you.