Home School Curriculum Choices

The first and hardest decision any parent will make when deciding whether to home school their children or not is just ‘doing it’. But, before plunging headlong into teaching children at home, there are many things to consider. Among those things to consider is the number of home school curriculum choices available today. First, before looking into types and styles of curriculum to choose from, let’s consider the transition from traditional education to teaching at home.

A very common approach made by the home school family is to mirror the public or private schooling method. This may work for a while, especially when getting your children used to their new environment. Unfortunately, by simply mimicking the more traditional method of schooling, you most likely will fall into a trap and begin to think you can’t do this. It is imperative that you break that mold and begin to think outside the box when it comes to your children’s education.

There are several ‘traditions’ within the public or private school system that need to be changed. For example, you need to rethink limiting each subject to a set time. If your child is experiencing difficulty wrapping their head around a particular subject, the opportunity exists to take all the time you need in order for them to ‘get it’. There is no longer the time constraint to ‘move on’ to the next class.

Another ‘tradition’ that can be broken is when the school day begins and when it ends. You are no longer bound to a set time because, for one thing, you are now not only the parent but the teacher and, as such, there is no need to hurry each child through the day so that everyone can get home on time! No more buses to catch, etc.

Okay, so now we have established some new ground rules; let’s get on with choosing the right curriculum for your children. Most likely, since you have made the decision to home school your children, you have a general idea of what types of curriculum are available. If not, there are several to choose from that will fit your child’s individual needs. Choosing the right curriculum is vital to a successful home schooling environment.

You can go online and search the ‘world wide web’ for what you will need in the form of curriculum. In so doing, you will find a wealth of choices; it may even be a bit overwhelming at first. Do not be discouraged though; stay with it and be certain that whatever curriculum you choose will work best for both you and your children.

Another approach is to contact other home schooling families in the area and get some input as to what they are using. If they have been home schooling for some time, they have experienced a ‘sifting through process’ and will be able to help you avoid potentially wrong choices, thus saving you both time and money. If you do contact others who have been home schooling for a while, be sure to ask questions with your children’s particular needs in mind. Just because they have ‘been there, done that’ doesn’t guarantee they will know what is best for your home schoolers.

One final thought is to take into consideration how many children you will be home schooling. It is also important to weigh out their ages and individual interests. There are curriculums available that will cover a wide age range so you can apply the ‘one size fits all’ approach. There is also the option of purchasing curriculum that is grade specific but can then be used next year for the child who is younger. Many curriculums available today are in software format making them reusable.

With all of the curriculum available today, there is still a need for parents to understand why they are doing this ‘home school thing’ in the first place. To help parents through this process, there are numerous books available on this subject written by Raymond and Dorothy Moore, quite possibly the pioneers in the home schooling movement. Their breakthrough book titled ‘Better Late Than Early’ is an excellent resource to reinforce your choice to home school in the first place.

Regardless of what home school curriculum choices you may make, the most important thing to remember is this: you are the parents and, as such, you know what is best for your children. By choosing to teach your children at home and selecting the best curriculum suited for your children, you will be giving them the best education they can have in order for them to enter the adult world fully prepared for success.