How to Choose the Right Homeschool Curriculum
March 31, 2008
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.
Or maybe you came away feeling overwhelmed and more lost than you were previous to attending.
Maybe you′re the sort of parent who enjoys browsing through catalogues and choosing what looks best. You might prefer purchasing through the internet, mail, or phone. Maybe you′d rather get in touch with the salesperson rather than the other way around.
You might instead be the kind of homeschooler who prefers surfing the web to find exactly what you need.
Regardless of how you shop for your homeschool curriculum online, through a catalog, or at a homeschool convention, here are some important suggestions to consider when making your choices:
* Recognize your child’s interests, strengths, and weaknesses. This will help guide you when you′re choosing the materials. The resources should not only play to your child’s strengths, but also help turn your child’s weaknesses into strengths.
* Understand what your family is about. Are you a religious family? Do you have special needs children? Maybe you would like to travel more. When choosing a homeschool cirriculum, it is essential that you take these factors into account.
* How does your child learn best? Is your child more of a visual learner, and auditory learner, or more of a hands-on learner? Knowing your child’s learning style is a very important consideration when choosing curriculum.
* What are your long-term goals? Remember, your children’s goals are important: Are they setting goals for themselves? Does one of your children want to own a business? Then you should find resources that will lead to this end.
* How much are you willing to spend? Some families who homeschool feel fine about “borrowing” or photocopying curriculum. I personally don’t think this is fair. That doesn’t mean you have to choose expensive curriculum or leave your family destitute. If you plan ahead, you′ll be able to budget 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.
* If you have lots of children and work part-time on the side, it is essential that you take time into consideration. As you purchase a curriculum, you need to think about the time that is also put into your child’s activities and co-op classes.
Before you decide on any homeschool curriculum, I think it’s important for you to pray about your decision and talk things over with your spouse first.
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