Homeschooling your child isn’t the same as attending a traditional school. This isn’t to say one form of education is better than the other, but it does highlight the fact that different approaches require a different mindset when it comes to creating a homeschool curriculum for a child.
Choosing a traditional homeschool curriculum is a big decision that requires careful thought and consideration. Parents should take into account their child’s academic achievements, learning styles and interests, budget, and desired outcomes when selecting a curriculum.
What Is a Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
A traditional homeschool curriculum is the type of home-based education model that closely mirrors traditional schooling. It typically relies on approved textbooks that provide step-by-step instruction and guidance. Parents who opt for this type of homeschooling are responsible for guiding the student’s learning by teaching lessons at home.
Traditional homeschool curriculums typically provide study guides, pacing charts, weekly and daily lesson plans, and answer keys. Parents may feel a more secure in knowing that their children are learning the same material as their peers in school.
What Are the Benefits of Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
There are numerous benefits to using a traditional homeschool curriculum. The most obvious is that the curriculum used typically follows the same standards as a traditional school setting. This helps eliminate any questions or concerns from public school teachers or administrators that may arise if the student has to transfer back to a traditional school setting.
Structured teaching helps children learn discipline and how to follow directions which are important skills to have. Structure also helps children develop organizational skills, including how to plan and manage their time.
Additionally, traditional homeschool curriculum help children become accountable with their work and progress.
What Are the Disadvantages of Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
There are also some drawbacks to using traditional homeschool curriculums. Since parents have to teach their children the material in a very structured format, it doesn’t leave much room for creativity or experimentation. Additionally, since traditional homeschool curriculum is so structured, it may be difficult to make adjustments as the student learns and grows.
Additionally, depending on the curriculum, it may be difficult to provide a personalized education that meets the student’s individual needs. Another drawback is that depending on the curriculum, it may be more expensive than some of the other homeschooling models.
How Can Parents Decide If Traditional Homeschool Curriculum Is Right for Their Child?
It is important for parents to decide if a traditional homeschool curriculum is right for their child as each child has different needs, learning styles and interests. Parents should start by assessing their child’s learning style and academic achievements to see if traditional schooling fits their needs.
Additionally, parents should consider their budget and how much they are able to spend on a curriculum. Finally, parents should evaluate their desired outcomes, as some curriculum and home-based education models may be better suited to meet the student’s and the family’s needs.
What Different Types of Traditional Homeschool Curriculum Are Available?
There are various types of traditional homeschool curriculums available for purchase, including religious, secular, traditional, and state-based. Religious curriculums focus on a specific religion and introduce the tenets of that faith throughout the material.
Secular curriculums focus on core subjects such as math, science, and English but do not include religious material. Traditional curriculums are typically grade-level based and include textbooks and other worksheets, quizzes, and tests. Lastly, state-based curriculums are designed to meet each state’s homeschool guidelines, which may differ slightly.
What Are Some Popular and Affordable Traditional Homeschool Curriculums?
Affordable traditional homeschool curriculums can be hard to find, but with the right research, parents may find just the right one. Some popular and affordable traditional homeschool curriculum include Abeka, Bob Jones University Press, Alpha Omega, ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) and Saxon Math. Abeka curriculum is an affordable, but high-quality, Christian curriculum that focuses on establishing a Christian worldview and making sure that students learn the material.
Bob Jones University Press offers affordable traditional homeschool curriculum for all ages, with an emphasis on biblical integration. Alpha Omega offers a variety of traditional homeschool curriculum, but with a Christian focus.
ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) is a popular curriculum that focuses heavily on Bible study. Finally, Saxon Math is a must-have for any family who wishes to teach their child traditionally and focuses on teaching children math basics.
Are There Free Traditional Homeschool Curriculum Options?
Surprisingly, yes, there are free traditional homeschool curriculum options available. With the help of the internet, parents can find a variety of free traditional homeschool options, such as Khan Academy, Ambleside Online, and Acellus. Khan Academy offers free online courses in mathematics, science, economics, history, and more.
Ambleside Online provides free homeschool curriculum in various subjects, such as history, science, economics, and math. Finally, Acellus is a free online traditional homeschool curriculum that provides lessons in English, math, science, music, and social studies.
What Is the Difference Between Traditional and Eclectic Homeschool Curriculum?
The main difference between traditional and eclectic homeschool curriculum is the amount of structure and guidance–the amount of freedom and flexibility the parent or guardian has to provide instruction. Traditional homeschooling typically follows a structured curriculum with sets of textbooks that guide the student’s learning.
However, an eclectic homeschool approach offers a more personalized way of learning that does not rely on textbooks. Instead, the parents mix and match curriculum to find the best fit for their student.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
The pros of a traditional homeschool curriculum are that it follows the same standards as traditional schooling, provides instruction in discipline and responsibility, and instills organizational skills while following a structured teaching approach that keeps children accountable. Some cons include a lack of flexibility and freedom, difficulty making adjustments as the student learns and grows, difficulty providing a customized education, and the potential cost of textbooks and intricate curriculum.
Do Traditional Homeschooling and Public School Curriculums Differ?
Traditional homeschooling and public school curriculums may differ in some ways. Traditional homeschooling typically covers the same standards and is held to the same standards of accredited private or public schools; however, homeschoolers may be able to customize the learning to some degree.
Additionally, public schools follow specific state-mandated curriculums that may require additional classes or resources that a traditional homeschool curriculum may not include, such as physical education or computer-based learning.
What Are Some Common Challenges of Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
Some common challenges of traditional homeschooling involve finding time to fit in homeschooling with regular daily life, combatting boredom, and motivating children to stay focused and study independently. Working parents and single parents may find it difficult to consistently find time to dedicate to homeschooling. Additionally, some children may find traditional homeschooling boring, especially if the material is the same each day or week.
Lastly, it can be a challenge to motivate children to remain focused, take initiative, and complete the coursework on their own.
What Are Some Resources and Strategies to Combat These Challenges?
There are numerous resources and strategies to combat traditional homeschool curriculum challenges. For example, some parents may find it helpful to form a homeschool cooperative, which allows parents to rotate teaching different subjects or to outsource lessons to specialized tutors or instructors. Additionally, some parents may find it helpful to introduce unschooling approaches that allows students to modify curriculum to suit their interests.
Another strategy to help combat challenges is to introduce “subject-based field trips” or engage in online classes and communities to remain connected.
Are There Alternatives to Traditional Homeschool Curriculum?
There are alternatives to traditional homeschool curriculum. Some alternative curriculum allows students to learn from home-education based activities, such as co-ops, workshops, sports teams, volunteering, or internships. Additionally, some families may wish to create their own curriculum or turn to approved online courses for their home-based education needs.
Another option is distance learning, which lets students learn via the internet, Skype, or other virtual methods. Lastly, unschooling allows students to develop an independent learning program that meets the students’ own specific needs and interests.
Conclusion
Traditional homeschool curriculum provides structure and guidance to ensure that children are learning the same material as their peers in traditional schools. Parents must consider the student’s learning style, strengths and weaknesses, and desired outcomes when selecting a curriculum. Additionally, parents should consider various types of curriculums, such as religious, secular, traditional, and state-based.
Free alternative curriculum are available, as well as resources and strategies to help combat some of the challenges that traditional homeschool curriculum presents. With careful thought, parents can find the right traditional homeschool curriculum for their children.