Home Kayley Kenzie on 04 Apr 2008
What to Look for in a Homeschool Curriculum
Have you ever attended a homeschooling convention to choose homeschool curriculum? The experience can be quite refreshing, since it introduces you to the many possibilities available on the market.
On the other hand, it could leave you feeling more lost and overwhelmed than before you ever went.
Or you may be the type of parent that likes to browse through catalogs and choose what you think is best. You like to order your purchases by mail, phone, or Internet. You would rather contact the salesperson instead of them contacting you.
Or, you could possibly be the type of homeschooler that likes surfing on the web to find what you need.
No matter how you choose to shop for your homeschool curriculum–whether it’s online, through a catalog, or a homeschool convention–there are some important things to keep in mind when you’re making your decision:
* Know your children’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests. This will help you determine some of the materials you should get. You shouldn’t only augment your child’s strengths, but find a variety of resources that will also help turn weaknesses into strengths.
* Know what your family is about. Is your family religious? Do your children have special needs? Would you like to do more traveling? When you choose a homeschool cirriculum, it is important to consider all these factors.
* How does your child learn? Knowing your child’s learning styles are an important consideration when making curriculum choices. Is your child a visual, auditory, or hands-on learner?
* What are your family’s long-term goals? Does your child have goals for him/herself? If you and your child have a goal for him/her to run their own business, you should look for resources to help you accomplish this.
* Cost of materials is an important factor. Some homeschooling families feel okay about photocopying material, or “borrowing” curriculum. Personally, I feel it is not fair. This doesn’t mean that the curriculum you choose has to be expensive or make your broke. If you plan in advance, you will be able to budget in the costs.
* What philosophy appeals to you when it comes to homeschooling? There are many different schools of thought when it comes to homeschool cirriculum philosophies. Some examples include unscooling, Classical, Christian, accelerated, literature-based, textbook, and unit studies.
* What are your time constraints? If you have a lot of children and also work part-time, it is important to take time into consideration. When you buy curriculum, you need to consider the time that you’ll also be putting into co-op classes and your child’s activities.
Before choosing any homeschool curriculum, I find it important to pray about your decision and talk things over with your husband to seek his counsel.