If you’ve decided that your children will learn at home, congratulations! You’ve taken the first step to giving your children a great education that will help them for the rest of their lives. Now, you have to decide just what they’re going to learn at home.
All-in-One Curricula
There are some homeschool curricula that come as complete packages, including lesson materials and a teacher’s guide for all the various subjects your child will learn. A number of different all-in-one curricula exist, and for the beginning homeschooler, this may be ideal. With this type, you will never have to worry too much about what you will teach next, and they are often so simple that anyone could teach using them.
Get the Best of All Worlds
You may not like any one particular curriculum, in which case you can create your own by combining several different curricula. For religious families who wish to teach the theory of creation alongside evolution, you can substitute science programs from a Christian curriculum provider. Anyone else can bolster weak parts of one curriculum with a better segment from another, for instance. Combining curricula can work very well if you know what you’re doing and you’re sure you won’t allow materials to contradict each other and confuse your children.
From the Ground Up
For the more advanced or ambitious homeschooler, you can try to create your own from scratch. This often involves checking out a lot of library books, building a sizeable home library, and a lot of research into the different components of every subject you want your child to learn. As such, it involves more effort than the previous options, but if you want complete control of your child’s education, this is a good option for you.
Be Flexible
Don’t pick the first curriculum that jumps out at you, as every homeschooling family (parent and child) differ in their needs and expectations. Children have different learning styles, and parents might not like the teaching resources provided with a course. If possible, use samples from different curricula to figure out which curricula to use, as the first one you find may not be right for you.
Shop Around
A great way to figure out what’s available is to either surf the different websites online that list and review them, or visit homeschool curriculum conferences and speak with representatives in person. This also gives you a chance to meet other homeschoolers and ask them which curricula worked for them.
Consider the Law
Laws in every region vary on exactly what your children are expected to learn. If you have strict laws in your area, your choice of homeschool curricula may be limited. It’s best to figure out what regulations you have to work with (or around) before you start shopping for a curriculum that best suits you.
Choosing a homeschool curriculum is a slow process that will take time, experimentation, and tweaking. Don’t rush it, and don’t stress – children are well able to adapt if you change your mind once or twice.