A comprehensive guide for choosing the best homeschool curriculum for both you and your homeschool learner. 

I want to start by saying there is no one size that fits everyone or a perfect curriculum.

Not one single book will ever meet your child’s needs, but merely several tools incorporated with one curriculum will help you, the teacher, guide your student to understand the ways of learning. 

If you are unaware, teaching homeschool is a full-time job. A job that comes with zero pay but a big reward.

Your job as the teacher is to teach your student to learn and use whatever tools are necessary to teach your homeschooler, including understanding where they are developmentally and what type of learner your student is.

The best way to teach your child any concept is to take it slow, through trial and error, and with a lot of patience.

Suppose you feel like you are struggling with teaching homeschool in an area and have tried everything to remedy the problem. It’s okay to ask for help. 

Click here for a free 30 homeschool consultation where you can Ask Me Anything. You don’t have to struggle alone.

Whether new to homeschooling or a long-time homeschool teacher. Each homeschool year is different, and every child learns in a unique way, but we have to start somewhere. Right!

A New Year awaits, and you didn’t enjoy last year’s previous curriculum, or you are a new homeschool parent and have no idea where to start.

Here are a few easy tips to help get you started and on your way to choosing the best homeschool curriculum for both you and your child, no matter the grade.

Tips for Choosing the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Both Teacher and Student

Research 

Start simple. Think of a way your child learns or what they like to learn about and go with it. Google and reviews are your best research tools. Find a few curriculum choices you want to try and narrow down your top choices.

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Samples

Ask for curriculum samples, scope and sequence, or online placement tests. Utilize every freebie guide or example a curriculum has to offer. Use these as a guide to determine the curriculum that best fits you.

A peek inside the curriculum before you buy never hurt anyone. 

Keep Receipts and Buy Second Hand

Curriculum can be expensive, especially if you are buying for multiple children over a certain amount of years.

There’s nothing wrong with returning curriculum or buying curriculum second hand. Remember, the goal is to identify what works for you and your child and stick with it. It’s okay to try before you buy your wallet will thank you. 

Commit and Scheduling

Once you’ve narrowed down your top choices for your best curriculum, I suggest starting your homeschooling year early.

Try out your new curriculum for a few weeks before a regular school year may begin. This way, you know if the said curriculum you have chosen is the right fit, and you can commit to teaching this curriculum all year round. 

Just Start

Why wait for the best homeschool curriculum? Just start! There are a number of online curriculums to choose from; take your pick. Or head down to your local bookstore, grab a book just for fun, and see where the learning process takes you or if homeschooling is right for you. 

Don’t Over Complicate Things.

Please keep it simple.

When or if you or your child struggle to complete the lesson, fix it. Examine the problem areas and change the material, add to the lesson, or change curriculums. Remember, the curriculum you choose is one tool in the teaching and learning process.

It may take several tools to help both you and your homeschool learner to succeed. 

Keep in mind that if you as a homeschool teacher are frustrated, your frustrations are projected onto your student, and it’s at that point, both the learning process and teaching becomes ineffective.

Identify a common goal that you as the teacher want to achieve and identify any student achievements goals to create a fun learning environment. 

Just a friendly reminder!

There is no perfect curriculum or a perfect way to teach homeschool.

Learn from your mistakes, trial, and error, and continue to move forward with your homeschool journey.

As long as your homeschooled child learns to learn in a safe, stress-free environment, you are on the right path to success. 

Happy Homeschooling!

Jaclyn