Home School Curriculum

Choosing materials for your home school curriculum is perhaps the most challenging part of teaching at home, especially if you are new to the teaching field. Sometimes, the thought of researching and providing all the materials your child needs to succeed academically can feel overwhelming. And when you start adding on the cost of new materials, you might experience a new level of stress.

Ease your mind by remembering children learn from an abundant of sources. Your backyard, library, neighbor, grocer and local museum can all be part of your teaching program.

Don't depend on educational textbooks or computer programs independently. Provide diverse materials and experiences from a variety of sources.

Prepare yourself before you jump. When purchasing curriculum review your preferences and family's needs.

Remember no two people are alike, and all home school teaching programs will vary somewhat. You don't have to choose your curriculum in one day or even in the first year. Build your home education materials at your own pace.

1. What home school teaching method do I prefer? How do I need to adapt the curriculum to fit my personal teaching method? Is there a publisher that specializes in the method I like?

2. How does my child learn best? Will he do better with independent work, peer/parent interaction, or a combination? Consider your child's learning style.

3. What is my budget? How much can I afford to spend on curriculum? What funds am I designating towards other resources, including basic supplies, field trips, science materials, art supplies and literature books? Consider used homeschool books.

4. Do I know someone who has already purchased homeschool curriculum? Would he or she be able to teach me about the curriculum?

5. Do I want to include religion in my homeschooling day?

6. What is my previous experience teaching? Am I familiar with any publishers' textbooks or curriculum sets?

7. Do I want to purchase the curriculum all from one publisher/vendor or use a more eclectic approach?

8. Am I going to grade papers and tests with letter grades, percentages or outstanding/needs improvement? If so, do I need ready-made worksheets, tests and evaluation tools? Do I want to use an online curriculum where other teachers correct my child's work?

9. Am I going to use a daily schedule? If so, will my curriculum choice work well with a daily schedule?

10. How much time do I have available for reading material, researching and planning lessons? How much teaching preparation is needed?

11. Do I enjoy making my own teaching lessons? Do I have the available resources to make my own lessons?

12. Will a spouse or relative be using my home school curriculum? If so, what is his/her preference of materials?

13. Does my child have special needs? Will the curriculum require special adaptations and modifications? Are the pages visually too stimulating or cluttered with information? Are the pages appealing?

14. Do I prefer a hands-on approach to teaching, thematic unit studies, a worksheet approach, or a combination?

15. Which home school curriculum excites and inspires me? Do I like the layout, illustrations, art work, texture of the pages and size of the font? Is the material well-crafted?

16. What ages are my children? For math, do I want hands-on, concrete materials (connecting cubes and pattern blocks) for my younger children? For older children, do I want to use an online math program?

17. Is the product developed for a teach at home environment or for the public school classroom? Am I ordering products I do not need or duplicates I will not use?

18. Is the item consumable or will I be able to reuse it for another year or another child?

SBI!

Home School Curriculum Questions