How To Choose The Best Homeschool Curriculum For Your Child

The best homeschool curriculum is the one that works the best for you and your child. Of course, it may be easier said than done when it actually comes to choosing your curriculum - there are just so many choices!

Here, we’ve outlined some great tips to help you choose the best homeschool curriculum:

1. Consider What You Want and Need
2. Consider What Your Children Need
3. Think About Your Homeschool Style & Philosophy
4. Think About Your Preferred Teaching Methods (e.g. online resources, books, etc.)
5. Consider Your Budget and Price Of Curriculum

To learn more about each of these tips, continue reading below. Or, if you have questions about getting the right curriculum for you and your child, contact us at EZ-Teach now.

1. Consider What You Want & Need

Homeschooling creates an even more dynamic relationship between parent/caregiver and child. The curriculum that you use can have a big impact on the overall feeling that both parent and child have during the school day.

Before you consider how your child will feel or react to a curriculum, it’s important that you not only feel comfortable teaching it, but that you also feel like it’s a general good fit for you.

As a homeschooling parent, you already know that a good portion of your day will be spent teaching and using various resources, whether they are resources you’ve created on your own or ones that you have found or purchased from a third party.

So, when considering a new curriculum, take some time to think about:

• Where you are homeschooling: Does this curriculum allow me to teach in my preferred settings (e.g. outdoor learning, homeschooling co-op environments, in-home, etc.?)

• How hands-on you are: Does this curriculum allow you to be as hands-on as you want? If you prefer a more hands-off approach, how does that play into the way this particular curriculum works?

• Whether there are any particular needs in your family to consider: Do your children (or even yourself) have any particular educational, physical, or emotional needs that may impact how you choose to homeschool them?

• Whether you are homeschooling full-time: Are you sharing the homeschool responsibility with another parent? Are you homeschooling while also planning to work from home? How flexible is the curriculum and can it meet these needs?

After you have thought about these questions and have narrowed down your options, it’s time to think about what your child or children need when it comes to the curriculum you choose.

2. Consider What Your Children Need

You have now found a few different curriculums that work for you - next, which ones will work best for your child or children? Children can easily adapt, and while it’s very important that you as the educator feel confident and comfortable with your curriculum, you’ll also want to choose something that will allow your children to thrive.

Consider what is included in the curriculum that your child will enjoy

When thinking about choosing a curriculum with your children in mind, ask yourself these questions:

• Is my curriculum age-appropriate? If you are only homeschooling one child, is your curriculum age-appropriate? If you are homeschooling multiple children of different ages, can this curriculum be used for everyone?

• What is your child’s activity level? Is your child high-energy? Would they do better learning outdoors some or most of the time? Does your child enjoy sitting and crafting or reading? Does this curriculum allow for your child to work within their limits?

• What are your child’s interests? Does this curriculum explore some or many of your child’s personal interests, such as animals or nature, machines, space, etc.?

• How much social time does your child want/need? Does this curriculum allow flexibility around social/co-op homeschooling activities? Does it provide enough opportunity for these activities?

Every child has different needs, whether they attend a public school or they are homeschooled. The great thing about homeschooling is that it allows you to be completely attentive to these needs and to choose curriculum based on what you feel is best for your child or children.

3. Think About Your Homeschool Style & Philosophy

If you are new to the world of homeschooling, you may feel overwhelmed with just how many different curriculums are available, and with the different homeschool philosophies and styles that you’ve read about.

Here, we’ll go over some of the most common philosophies to help you get a better understanding of what’s out there and which one may be the right fit for you and your family.

Of course, you don’t have to strictly adhere to just one philosophy. You may choose to integrate a number of different styles and ideas into your homeschooling curriculum.

Different homeschooling philosophies may work better for parents who prefer a more nature-based experience

It is a good idea to know the roots of current homeschooling resources and curriculums and which ones you feel best suit your personal style and preferences. Let’s look at a few common homeschool philosophies and styles.

Common Homeschool Philosophies

• Classical Method: The Classical Method is a very popular homeschooling teaching style, and roots itself in ancient teaching methods. Its main focus is on logic and reasoning, and it has three main points of study: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. Learn more about the Classical Method >

• Charlotte Manson: Manson’s homeschooling style is rooted in Christianity and may be a good choice if you are homeschooling using a faith-based style. This homeschooling philosophy believes that short periods of study (15-20) minutes is best for learning and utilizes a lot of nature-based learning. Learn more about Charlotte Manson’s Style >

• Montessori: The Montessori Method has become very popular over the last few years, but don’t confuse it with a simple parenting aesthetic you see online! This teaching method encourages children’s own agency and provides children with an environment where they have greater control over how and what they learn. It utilizes a lot of hands-on methods and materials, and promotes both independence and peer-based play. Learn more about the Montessori Method >

There are other homeschooling methods and philosophies that you may be interested in learning more about. Check out this thorough listing from The Best Schools to learn more and find great resources.

4. Think About Your Preferred Teaching Methods

Some parents prefer to do all the teaching themselves, while others like a co-op environment. Some would like to use online resources for some or most of the time. When thinking about how you would like your average homeschooling day to go, consider the following:

• Outdoor Time: How much time do you want to spend outdoors? Do you live in an environment where it is easy to spend many hours outside or would that be challenging based on your location’s climate? Do you want to frequently utilize outdoor spaces such as zoos, farms, or parks?

• Screen Time: Do you want to integrate online learning into your day? Are you trying to avoid screen time?

• Time Spent With Others: Do you want to participate in a homeschool co-op? Will your curriculum allow for this or would it be challenging with the one you chose? How often do you plan to have social time during the week?

Most homeschool curriculums do allow for flexibility because you have control over how you use them! Still, when thinking about a curriculum that will work best for you, it’s a good idea to choose one that is structured in a way that will make it easy for you and your family to follow without worrying too much about modifications.

5. Consider Your Budget & Price of Curriculum

The final thing to consider when choosing your homeschooling curriculum is your budget. Every family will have a different answer when it comes to budgeting, and the answer can change based on many factors.

When budgeting, don’t forget to consider the materials you will need.

Of course, if you are purchasing a curriculum, you should think about how much to budget each year for the actual curriculum materials and access to other resources it provides.

However, homeschooling parents also need to budget for other things, such as:

• Trips: How often do you plan to take trips, and where are your preferred field trip locations?

• Materials: How much will you budget for craft materials, educational toys, books, desks/tables, etc.?

• Extracurricular Activities: Are you integrating extracurricular activities into your day, such as swimming lessons or team sports?

Creating a budget that includes everything you need will ensure you are able to not only get the curriculum you want but also ensure you have the budget to get everything else you need too.

EZ-Teach: Helping You Choose The Best Homeschool Curriculum

At EZ-Teach, we’re committed to enriching education and helping you choose the very best homeschool curriculum for your needs and your child’s needs. We offer unique resources that help connect parents to teachers with great curriculum, connect students to amazing teachers, and help homeschool parents get the support that they need. To learn more, contact us now!

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