Encouraging Moms at Home

Tips, Tricks and Tools for the #MomWin

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Brand Inquiries
    • Full Disclosure
    • Our Writing Team
  • Homemaking
    • Cleaning
    • Essential Oils
    • Recipes
      • Instant Pot
      • Gluten Free Dairy Free
      • Using Produce
      • Cooking with Pumpkin
    • Nutrition
    • Food Preservation
  • Homeschooling
    • Homeschool Resources
    • Homeschool Encouragement
    • Homeschool High School
    • Special Needs
    • Homeschooling Art
    • Homeschool STEM
    • Charlotte Mason
    • Homeschool Technology
    • Teen and Tween Writers
    • Homeschool Notebooking
  • Teaching Ideas
    • Free Printables
    • MInecraft
    • LEGO
    • Fine Motor Skills
  • Family Life
    • Gift Guides
    • Kid’s Activities
    • Summer Fun
    • Hiking
    • Moving
    • Christian Life
      • Christian Family Activities
      • Scripture Memory
      • Poetry
      • Creation
      • Advent and Christmas
      • Thanksgiving
  • Moms
    • Encouragement
    • Budget And Finances
    • Mom Fashion
    • Date Your Spouse
    • Work At Home
  • Shop
    • My Account

Choosing the Right Curriculum for Your Homeschool

by Amy Blevins 24 Comments

Posts contain affiliate links. This means, if you choose to make a purchase, I will make a commission at no extra cost to you. For more information please see our full disclosure.
144 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

So you’ve figured out which homeschooling method will work out best for you and your students, but within the method you have lots of curriculum choices. How do you find the perfect fit?

I have to admit I am something of a curriculum junkie. I love trying new curriculums and I usually share what I learn on my blog. So you could always start by reading curriculum reviews on my blog. 🙂 All playfulness aside, blog reviews and review books like 101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy are both great places to start.

You have decided to homeschool and you know the method that you will follow, but how do you choose the right curriculum? Here are 8 tips on how to make the best selection for your homeschool classroom.

Questions to Ask When Considering a Curriculum for your Homeschool

Does it fit my student’s learning style? If you have a kinesthetic learner, you should be looking for something with a hands-on focus. If you have an auditory learner, you should be looking for a focus on read-alouds or recorded content. Visual learners will enjoy notebooking and spatially organized material with clean illustrations. You can read more about learning styles here.

Does it fit our lifestyle?

If you have lots of doctor and therapy appointments, you will need something portable. If you like to have Fridays off you will need that flexibility. If you are structured in nature you will want a clear plan for each day.

What do my children think?

My children don’t have final say, but the older they get the more input they have. If you value a child’s input, he will have an investment in making the curriculum “he picked” work. Often I find that if I narrow it down to two choices and can’t decide my children have keen insight and see something I have overlooked.

Does this curriculum mesh with your values and goals?

Choosing a curriculum that teaches evolution may be an appropriate choice for you – even if you believe in creation. However we should scrutinize carefully any curriculum we consider to make sure it meshes with our goals and values OR allows us to teach the opposing side’s view so that our children can stand up against that view. It’s important to think about this before you are six months into the year with a curriculum your child reads on his own – before you realize that it contains blasphemy, mature information, or otherwise.

Where can I look at Homeschool Curriculum?

1. Go to conventions.

One great way to compare and consider a wide variety of homeschool curricula is to attend a homeschool convention such as Teach Them Diligently. Each convention has a variety of curriculum vendors with samples and products on hand so that you can get a good luck at your choices and often make purchases at a discount.

2. Ask Your Friends.

If you have a local homeschooling group or other homeschooling families in your church, ask the question. Does anyone have this curriculum I can look at? Or maybe you could organize a curriculum show and tell day where you each bring a set of materials you have at home for others to look at.

3. Look at Samples. 

Many curriculum providers include samples on their website which you can peruse or even download to get a good look.

4. Find Out if your have a local homeschool store.

I’ve been surprised at how many local homeschool stores exist and how often our local Christian book store has a large selection of curriculum. It’s not a shoe-in, but it’s worth a look.

Disclosure

144 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

24 Comments
Giveaways!, Homeschool Resources, Homeschooling

About Amy Blevins

Amy lives with her husband and six beautiful children in Northern Virginia. Besides blogging, Amy enjoys homeschooling, hiking, reading, singing, teaching, and serving Jesus above all. Welcome.

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Jammie says

    July 30, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    We usually do unit studies, I try to mix things up so my daughter doesn’t get bored, and we base our learning on things she enjoys. This makes schooling fun for her.

    Reply
  2. Tracey M. says

    July 30, 2012 at 11:56 PM

    I use an eclectic approach! I enjoy having the freedom to use what works best for my daughter’s abilities, interests, and needs. We both like to have a variety of choices. I use a classical, charlotte mason, and montessori with a touch of traditional methods. Thank you for posting this giveaway.
    God bless, Tracey M.

    Reply
  3. Jenn Porsche says

    July 31, 2012 at 3:18 AM

    We use a mix of methods. Some traditional, some eclectic, we are just a hodge-podge of methods! lol

    Reply
  4. Robin says

    July 31, 2012 at 3:59 AM

    Eclectic approach – curriculum, unit studies, lapbooks, lots of reading and fun activities. :o)

    Reply
  5. Eddie - The Usual Mayhem says

    July 31, 2012 at 5:05 AM

    I don’t know what you’d call our style. Primarily Charlotte Mason with classical and unit studies thrown in would probably come close.

    Actually, “Hey, look, a shiny thing”! might also be an accurate description.

    Reply
  6. Denise says

    July 31, 2012 at 8:08 AM

    the method I have used most through the years is unit studies.

    Reply
  7. Heather says

    July 31, 2012 at 8:35 AM

    we are eclectic, but I try to follow TWTM 🙂

    Reply
  8. jeanine feldkamp says

    July 31, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    we eclectic (because everyone is different) with a cm bend (because doing is always more fun than sitting in front of a workbook alllllllll day!).

    Reply
  9. Laura says

    July 31, 2012 at 10:08 AM

    We unschool. We have a variety of things that she likes doing, sometimes we sail through workbook pages and other times we sit and read together.

    Reply
  10. Jennie says

    July 31, 2012 at 1:28 PM

    This is Day 2 of homeschooling for us..ever! The style we’re going for (and probably failing miserably at) is the classical method. I like that it is tried and true and worked historically. I also like that it doesn’t involve constant entertainment. I want my kids to find “mundane” things exciting and realize that there doesn’t need to be an app or tv show to go along with real learning.

    Reply
  11. Angie Maes says

    July 31, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    I am an eccletic teacher. I love real books for unit studies. I use whatever I can find when I can.

    Reply
  12. Fibia says

    July 31, 2012 at 1:53 PM

    We use an eclectic approach. Ideas and resources from here and there, combining them to fit my kids’ styles.

    Reply
  13. Vanessa says

    July 31, 2012 at 2:59 PM

    We are after-schoolers and just starting! Shopping around at the moment.

    Reply
  14. Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life says

    July 31, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    I’d say Eclectic. I like to use a little of this and a little of that.

    Reply
  15. krysten says

    July 31, 2012 at 6:10 PM

    We use an eclectic approach. Ideas and resources taken from different places combining them to fit my kids’ styles. We are loving it!

    Reply
  16. Julie says

    August 2, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    I don’t really have a set method. I’ve tried different things, and am still trying different things. 🙂

    Reply
  17. Mozi Esmes Mom says

    August 2, 2012 at 8:10 AM

    Eclectic most definitely. My 5yo does NOT thrive on repetitive work and gets bored easily, so even if I plan things well, we last maybe 2-3 weeks before I have to switch things up. Some days we might do a lapbook, then a living history book day, a cultural day, etc. with various tidbits of other things thrown in.

    Reply
  18. Rebecca says

    August 4, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    We are attempting classical because my daughter enjoys reading and history. Thank you.

    Reply
  19. laura says

    August 5, 2012 at 6:31 PM

    i am just starting my second year of homeschooling this year, so i’m still figuring it all out 🙂 i would say at this point, i’m a mix!

    Reply
  20. Heather McCully says

    August 6, 2012 at 10:48 PM

    We have chosen Tapestry of Grace and Galloping the Globe.

    Reply
  21. Robyn says

    August 9, 2012 at 5:28 AM

    Teaching Textbooks, Veritas Press History, Rod and Staff, Abeka Phonics, Horizons Math, Rosetta Stone Spanish, Writing with Skill, Geography Trails…

    Reply
  22. april yedinak says

    August 12, 2012 at 9:16 AM

    Prentice Hall

    Reply

Search

Keep In Touch

  • Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • About Encouraging Moms at Home
  • Brand Inquiries
  • Full Disclosure with Privacy Policy
  • Our Writing Team

Kids Can Learn with LEGO Bricks

Our Latest Shenanigans

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Copyright ©2022, Encouraging Moms at Home. All Rights Reserved. Custom design by Pixel Me Designs