Are you considering homeschooling your child but wondering how to choose the curriculum? Homeschooling is a great option for parents wanting to ensure their child has the best education possible.
With so many different options available, choosing the right curriculum for your child can be overwhelming, but there are some tips for selecting the right one for your needs. In this article, we will provide 15 essential questions answered to help you choose the best homeschool curriculum for your child.
1. What Are My Goals and Child’s Learning Style?
When choosing homeschool curriculum, it’s important to consider your child’s learning style and your goals for their education. Different types of homeschooling may use different approaches, so be sure to assess your child’s learning needs and desired outcomes before making a decision.
For example, classical homeschooling is based on the trivium and attempts to teach children in the same way that they were educated historically. Whereas, Charlotte Mason homeschooling is a gentler method focused on teaching through natural means such as living books and Nature Study. It’s also important to consider the ages of your children when deciding on a curriculum.
Some curriculums are better suited to younger children while others offer more content for older children. Homeschooling with multiple children of different ages can add additional complexity and require that you are able to customize across different topics and learning levels.
2. What Are My Child’s Hobbies and Interests?
When choosing the ideal homeschool curriculum for your child, it is important to factor in their interests and hobbies. This will help ensure that learning remains fun and engaging for them, rather than boring and tedious.
If your child is particularly passionate about a certain topic, you could find a curriculum tailored to their interests around that subject. The advantage of homeschooling is that you have the flexibility to tailor the curriculum to your child’s interests in order to keep them engaged and motivated. If your child is very keen on a particular subject such as sports, you could look for curriculums that incorporate physical education as well as classroom-based activities.
3. What Resources Are Available?
When choosing a homeschool curriculum, it’s important to consider the resources available to you. It’s worth researching what books, websites, or other materials may be available to help you teach the curriculum.
This could include books, worksheets, flashcards, interactive lessons, and more. It’s also important to consider the resources available online as well as local support or co-ops. You may wish to join online homeschool communities or forums to make use of their resources and advice.
Researching tutorials or reading reviews about different curriculums can also be helpful when deciding which curriculum to go for.
4. Is the Curriculum Structured or Flexible?
When researching different curriculums, you will come across both structured and flexible options. Structured curriculums are tight in their approach and often require you to work through the material in a specific order.
Whereas, flexible curriculums allow you to choose the material and customize the order in which you progress. It’s important to assess your goals for your child’s education and consider which type of curriculum will better enable you to achieve this. Do you need a great deal of structure and guidance?
Or would you prefer to have more flexibility?
5. What Is the Cost?
The cost of different homeschooling curriculums will vary significantly, from free to expensive. Some are sold as packages and include textbooks, study guides, and other resources. Others are subscription-based, requiring a regular payment for access to the curriculum material.
It’s worth researching several different options and considering the cost in relation to the quality, content, and resources available. There are also grants and other sources of funding available for homeschool curriculum, so it’s worth researching any options that may be available to you before making a decision.
6. Are There Different Levels of Difficulty?
When researching and comparing different curriculums, one of the key factors to consider is the levels of difficulty offered. The right level of difficulty is essential to ensure that your child is adequately challenged but doesn’t become overwhelmed or overstressed.
Finding a curriculum that offers different levels of difficulty is important as it will enable you to teach the curriculum to multiple children of different age groups.
7. Does the Curriculum Offer Support for Special Education Needs?
If your child has special educational needs, it’s important to look for a curriculum that can help facilitate their learning. Special needs curriculums are designed to provide an individualized approach to teaching and learning. It’s important to research special needs curriculums that are tailored to the specific needs of your child.
This could include curriculums designed for learners with autism, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. Additionally, you may be able to find support networks or online communities of other parents with similar special needs to help provide insights and advice.
8. How Much Parental Involvement Is Required?
When researching different homeschool curriculums, it’s important to consider how much parental involvement is required. The right choice for you will come down to your preferences and the amount of time you are able to spend on teaching.
Some curriculums are student-led while others require a great deal of parental guidance and support. It’s important to consider how much time you have available to devote to your child’s education and factor that into your decision. The good news is that many homeschool curriculums are designed for busy parents, with less time required to complete lessons and activities.
Online homeschooling can also be a great option for busy parents, as it requires less of your time than a traditional homeschooling set up.
9. Is the Curriculum Accredited?
For parents considering homeschooling their children, it is worth looking for, and researching, accredited curriculums. Accredited curriculums are assessed by a national or international organization such as the National Home Study Council (NHSC) and have to meet certain criteria, such as providing teachers with a qualified certificate upon successful completion of the program. Accredited curriculums are often preferred by parents, as they demonstrate that the curriculum meets a certain standard and offers a high level of education.
It’s also important to bear in mind that some states or countries may require students to complete an accredited curriculum in order to receive a high school diploma.
10. Is the Curriculum Evidence-Based?
When researching different homeschool curriculums, it is important to look for evidence-based curriculums. Evidence-based curriculums make use of scientific principles to develop the curriculum resources and focus on evidence-based teaching strategies. Evidence-based curriculums are designed to ensure that your child is receiving a quality education, with an emphasis on understanding the ‘why’ behind the content being taught.
11. What Is the Quality of the Resources?
It’s important to investigate the quality of the resources used within the curriculum. High-quality curriculum resources such as textbooks and worksheets can help ensure that your child’s learning experience is engaging and beneficial. Websites, blogs, and teacher forums can be a great resource for finding out more information about the quality of different curriculum resources.
12. Is It Fun and Engaging?
The best type of homeschool curriculum is one that is both fun and engaging for your child. The younger the child, the more important it is to make sure that the curriculum is interesting and enjoyable. Look for curriculums that use interactive activities such as online games, science experiments, and art projects to engage with the content.
Additionally, spending some time researching reviews of different homeschool curriculums can help you identify those that are most enjoyable and stimulating for your children.
13. Does the Curriculum Require Additional Learning Resources?
The best homeschool curriculums make use of a range of different learning materials, such as books, websites, audio resources, and videos. It’s worth researching whether the curriculums you are considering require any additional resources, and if so what type.
You may wish to investigate whether the additional resources are included in the price of the curriculum or whether you will have to purchase them separately.
14. Are There Support Networks Available?
Finding the right support networks can be an invaluable source of help and advice when homeschooling. It’s worth researching whether the curriculum you are considering offers any forums or support networks for parents.
Additionally, joining online homeschool communities can be a great way to connect with other parents. This can help to provide insights and advice from experienced homeschoolers and provide a sense of community.
15. Is It Comprehensive?
When researching different homeschool curriculums, it is important to consider the comprehensiveness of the curriculum. A comprehensive curriculum will follow the educational standards laid out by local or national boards and should cover all the necessary subject areas. You should also consider whether the curriculum incorporates topics such as science, social studies, mathematics, and language arts.
Conclusion
Choosing the right homeschool curriculum for your child can be an overwhelming task. When selecting a curriculum, it is important to consider your goals, the age of your child, and the resources available to you.
Additionally, it’s important to assess whether the curriculum is structured or flexible, the cost of the resources, the level of difficulty, and the quality and comprehensiveness of the curriculum. Researching tutorials, reviews, and support networks can also be helpful when deciding on the best curriculum for your child.