One of the first things people ask when they are deciding to homeschool is, "What curriculum should I use?" This can be a very hard question to answer. There is no one size fits all homeschool curriculum and there are many, many different options to choose from. In this post I am going to talk a little but about how to narrow down the choices to help you get started with choosing a homeschool curriculum.
Cost of curriculum is a concern for a lot of people. It is possible to homeschool for next to nothing. A lot of effort, the internet, a library card, and a lot of life experiences can provide a very good education. On the opposite side you can spend thousands of dollars each year buying from curriculum companies that will include every single thing you need down to the smallest detail. There are a ton of options in between the two. More expensive does NOT mean it is better, just as homeschooling with little or no budget does not mean your child will get "less" of an education. Generally speaking, homeschooling can be less expensive in the younger grades and gets a little more costly into the high school grades, but even then there are many inexpensive and even free options you can utilize. Cost will factor into your decision on homeschool curriculum. You need to get an idea of what you can spend on your homeschool. I set aside a certain amount a money per month for expenses like field trips, art supplies, printer ink, etc..and an amount to buy curriculum with.
The amount of parental involvement that is needed is another concern people have. You can buy curriculum that most children can complete fairly independently or you can choose curriculum that you have to be very involved in. There are online academies you can enroll in that will give your child a teacher to report to who teaches the lessons and grades all of their work. Many of these companies have live classes or self paced options that you can choose from. An internet search should give the names of different companies that offer this service.
When choosing curriculum you should think about the child you are choosing for. How does your child learn best? What kind of learning style do they have? Some children do great with online stuff, others do not. Some students like to learn independently, others need you to be more involved (especially in the younger years!) Some are auditory learners who learn better by hearing, or kinesthetic learners who learn by doing. Some learn better by reading on their own. If you are homeschooling for the first time and panicking because you do not know how your child learns best, don't worry, you will.
You also need to decide what subjects you want to teach and/or what your child want to learn. That will help you narrow down the choices. What are the regulations for homeschooling in your state? Are there subjects you are required to teach? Do you want a Christian curriculum? There are many that are not, so you need to be aware of the worldview of the company. Does your child have a particular interest in a topic of science or history? My first year of homeschooling, my oldest was going into 3rd grade. She LOVED the Little House on the Prairie Books. I found a unit study curriculum called the Prairie Primer that covered all subjects based on those books (I did use a separate Math curriculum ) We had a wonderful time learning through what she loved! When my next oldest was in Kindergarten, he was fascinated with Knights and Castles, so we spent a whole year learning about those. If this is your first year I suggest starting with the three R's and then choosing other subjects.
If you are homeschooling more then one child, there are many subjects that you can work on together. Subjects like Bible, history, geography, science, art, music, nature study, P.E., even foreign languages can be done together as a family. If you have students in different grades that are very close academically you can even combine things like language arts and spelling.
My list of Do's and Dont's when buying curriculum
Do's
1. If you can, go to a homeschooling convention so you can see things in person before buying.This has not been an option this year because of Covid 19. Look at the samples that are offered online or sign up for free trials before committing to buy.
2. Request catalogs from homeschooling companies. Many offer their catalogs free. Sometimes looking at catalogs is easier than looking online.
3. Check out the return policy of the company. Many companies will allow for returns under certain conditions if you are not satisfied or the curriculum does not work for you.
4. Read reviews! There are a ton of them out there. When reading don't focus on whether someone did or didn't like a product but instead focus on what they did or did not like.
If for instance someone loved a curriculum because of all of the hands on activities but didn't like it because of the long sections of reading and your child would rather do a lot of reading then activities it may be a good fit for you.
5. Ask opinions from homeschooling friends again paying attention to what they did/did not like.
If you do not know a lot of homeschoolers you can find plenty online!
6. Set a budget based on what you can reasonably afford.
7. Watch for discounts and sales in the spring and early summer. Even free shipping discounts can save you a lot of money! Most curriculum companies end out an email newsletter you can sign up for an/or have a facebook page that they post sales and specials, helpful tips, and answer questions on.
8. If you choose to buy used, search for used curriculum to save money being mindful that it is something that is allowed to be resold (most computer software cannot), and paying attention to the condition of the product and the price. I have seen used curricula on Ebay go for more than you can buy it new!
And never send money using Paypal's Friends/family to someone you are buying curriculum from unless you really know them. Some people are dishonest and if you use this feature you have no recourse if they do not send the items.
Dont's
1. Don't feel like you have to spend a lot of money to give your child a great education!
2. Don't think that because you have bought something you are stuck with it. If you or your child don't like it, you can switch to something else.
3. Don't fall into "the grass is greener" thought. If you like a curriculum and it is working for your child, don't feel like you have to change because someone else says something is better.
4. Don't buy too far ahead. I have known many people that bought enough curricula to last until their child graduates their first year homeschooling. That is usually not a good idea. You may change, you child may change, or other children in the family may have different learning styles and that curriculum won't work for them. Also, just because you really like one book in a series doesn't mean you will like them all. And, companies change/add to their curriculum all the time. Especially with the increasing number of digital products being developed, you may not want to buy curricula 18 years in advance!
6. Don't buy something just because it is a familiar name. Their are companies that are well known because they supply Christian schools. Curriculum designed to be taught for 6 hours in a classroom setting may not work well for your homeschool.
5. Don't believe you have to do it all!
There are a ton of great curriculum companies out there! If you are looking for a place to get started here are a few of my all time favorites!
Regular Curriculum
Apologia-science, worldview, bible, homeschooling encouragement and resources
Bright Ideas Press- history (Mystery of History, All American History), science (Christian Kids Explore), geography (Wondermaps) and Illuminations
Math U See- K-12 math
All About Learning Press- the best spelling/reading programs!
Compass Classroom- economics, bible, latin, history
Handwriting Without Tears- handwriting
Classical Academic Press- latin, bible, logic, poetry, and more!
Institute For Excellence In Writing- language arts
Lightning Literature outstanding literature programs for all ages
MasterBooks.com- multiple subjects for all ages
Curriculum in a Box
Sonlight
My Father's World
Have Fun!
Happy Homeschooling!
*Bright Ideas Press, Compass Classroom, All About Learning, are my affiliate links. I only form affiliate relationships with companies whose products I actually use and can recommend.
