What Curriculum Should I Use?
This is a question I hear often (not necessarily are they always asking me, but asking the collective homeschool community). I want to take the time to answer this question for any of you thinking about homeschooling, choosing curricula, and for those of you who currently homeschool and are asked this question.
If you are in the position where you have the freedom to choose your own curricula, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. While it is a good idea to ask others about their experiences, be careful that you weed out the emotions associated with their choices and listen to what each option has to offer. The curriculum that your best friend absolutely loves may not work for your family. The curricula that your sister thinks is the worst out there you might find outstandingly effective. It all depends on your family, you, and your child. I do encourage every homeschooling family to pray about the curricula choices as well as the schedule and weekly activities and assignments.
There are ten things you need to look at when choosing curricula:
1) Requirements. What requirements do you face through the method you have chosen to homeschool. You need to make sure the curriculum you choose complies with these requirements.
2) Goals. What are your goals for long-term and this year in home educating?
3) Budget. You need to figure out how much you have available to spend. When looking at your budget don't forget to include the curricula as well as other school expenses such as pencils, paper, notebooks, and field trips. I keep those in two separate categories - this just works best for me. You can find a way to educate within whatever budget you have. I have friends who do not spend anything on curricula - they find it all online and at the library. I have other friends who spend several thousand dollars each year. Some of us have to create a budget based on our financial needs, while others of us have the freedom of seeking the costs of our curricula choices then tailoring our budget around those costs. This is a case where you have to do what works best for your family and do not compare your budget to the budget of others.
4) What is your preferred teaching style? This may sound odd if you are starting your first year of teaching your child at home, but just take a moment to think about it. Jot down things that come to your mind. How to you currently teach your child? How do you teach or explain things to adults or others in your family? Do you practice things hands on, or do you talk through everything you are doing so your child hears more about it? Do you tell people what you need them to do and expect it to be done without further help or demonstration? Do you prefer to help people find the answers themselves?
While many claim there are six teaching styles, I believe there are seven styles today in homeschooling: Traditional, Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unit Studies, Unschooling, Technology-led, and Eclectic (which combines different methods based on the subject material). Most lists exclude Technology-led, but I find that Technology-led education does not fit into any other category. This style of education focuses on uses a computer programs, DVDs, or distance learning. I personally am an eclectic teacher. I use all the seven methods in my home. For information on the different types of teaching styles, you can do a websearch. I may try post those styles at another time here on my blog.
Note: Some people classify teaching styles as Parent-led (Traditional), Child-led (Unit Studies and Unschooling), Combination for Parent-led and Child-led (Charlotte Mason), and sometimes skip Eclectic - thinking we all fall into one of the other categories. There are many other terms used to describe learning styles, but most can be lumped into these categories. However, it is not always fair to lump every style into just one category. I know many moms who use Unit Studies in a combination for Parent-led and Child-led style.
8) What is your child's learning style? This one may be harder to determine than your preferred style of teaching, and many times it is through the course of our first year homeschooling that we can truly determine our child's best learning style. Watch how your child plays and imitates you. Does he watch then do? Does she need a hand-over-hand approach? Does he do well with verbal instruction? If you are not certain of your child's learning style or how to accurately approach this (I wasn't my first year) it is perfectly fine to get a boxed curriculum for the first year so you and your child can learn each other.
7) Why are you homeschooling? If you are homeschooling for religious purposes, then choose curricula that is friendly to your religion. If you are homeschooling because you like your public school education but you do not want your child around the other children, then choose a curriculum with the same standards as your public school system. If you are homeschooling because your child needs special attention to his or her strengths and weaknesses, then choose curricula based on those (in this case you probably will not be able to take a standard 'boxed' curriculum but will need to choose each subject based on what your child needs).
8) What kind of time commitment do you want for daily schoolwork? Some states set a minimum amount of time for you, but you still have the option to go more. Other states leave the time for schoolwork completely up to you. Some curricula require six or more hours of work each day, while others barely require two. Make this decision prayerfully and with full consideration of what you and your child are able to handle. Younger children should spend less time on schoolwork than older children.
9) Do you have a spouse or someone else who will be assisting in teaching? If so, then that person should also be involved in choosing the curricula. If he or she does not understand the curriculum you have chosen it will be difficult for them to help you - either on a daily basis or as a substitute teacher. In my home I make all the curricula choices and when my husband needs to serve as a substitute teacher I leave fun activities, independent work, etc. for the day. If you are looking to have someone other than your spouse assist, be cautious of your state laws. Some states require you as the parent to teach a specified percentage of the time.
10) What does your 'classroom' look like? Some curricula work great sitting at a table, whereas others encourage exploring the outdoors for a hands-on approach. Still other require a lot of books from the library. You need to consider your location and what available resources you have. You also need to consider your storage space to determine if you need a curriculum with minimal books and supplies or if you can handle an expanse of resources and materials in your home.
Once you have chosen your curricula, there are a few other points to consider.
1) I was very intentional in the above list with talking about your child instead of your children. Each child is different and even within the same family they may have different learning styles. I have not found a single curriculum for the core subjects that was one size fits all. My youngest child is in the second grade and is on her sixth math curriculum. None of the materials I used with my older two worked for her.
2) If a curriculum is not well-suited for your needs, put it aside and get another one. I know you spent good money on it, but it is a sunk cost. You don't want to waste money, but what is worse is to waste a year of your child's education. I intentionally pad my budget so that if I need to I can purchase a different curriculum.
A word of caution: there is a difference in a curriculum not meeting a child's learning needs and a chid's distaste in the subject matter. Before switching curricula make sure your child is trying his or her best, even if the subject is a least favorite.
3) Be watchful for your child's strengths and struggles. Tailor your child's curricula around his or her needs. If he breezes through a subject he will become bored; find a curriculum that will be more challenging. If she simply cannot grasp a subject look for ways to make the subject 'real' to her, but do not make her feel bad - we all have things at which we simply are not very good. Find a curriculum that will keep her moving forward, even if that means staying on one lesson for two weeks or longer.
4) Your teaching style may not match up with your child's learning style. I learned this one the hard way. I would rather stand at a blackboard and teach the way I was taught, but my children do not learn well that way. I have one child who learns best when the other two children are in another room or outside. As the parent and teacher you need to be flexible, but you can find cohesiveness and blend your styles together. While we learn best when we enjoy the process, there are times we have to do something we don't enjoy simply because that is best for the family.
5) If you have more than one child, look for ways to work together. In my house each child has his or her own math and English grammar. Everything else is done together. While it is easier for me since my children are all in consecutive grades, I have friends who do this with children who are spread apart in grades. You simply give easier work to the younger children and more and/or harder work to the older children. For instance we read aloud together as a part of our Reading. I purchased four copies of the same book - one for me and one for each child. We sit together and take turns reading aloud. My youngest child reads a paragraph at a time and receives help with hard words. My oldest reads a page a time with minimal help. I also read during this time because I believe it is good for children of every age to be able to listen to their parents read to them, and it also gives me the opportunity to model inflection and dramatic pauses, etc.
6) Be aware that when choosing curricula not all same grade levels are equal. Take math, for instance. If you compare Saxon math with Horizons and Teaching Textbooks, Saxon is a semester ahead of Teaching Textbooks but it is a semester behind Horizons. When you choose a curriculum for core subjects, if one is available have your child take an assessment test. This will tell you where to start your child in that particular curriculum. I also have my children take an assessment test when I choose to change curricula to make sure I don't start them in a book too far ahead or behind where they need to be.
Blessings in your homeschooling journey,
Sara
If you are in the position where you have the freedom to choose your own curricula, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. While it is a good idea to ask others about their experiences, be careful that you weed out the emotions associated with their choices and listen to what each option has to offer. The curriculum that your best friend absolutely loves may not work for your family. The curricula that your sister thinks is the worst out there you might find outstandingly effective. It all depends on your family, you, and your child. I do encourage every homeschooling family to pray about the curricula choices as well as the schedule and weekly activities and assignments.
There are ten things you need to look at when choosing curricula:
1) Requirements. What requirements do you face through the method you have chosen to homeschool. You need to make sure the curriculum you choose complies with these requirements.
2) Goals. What are your goals for long-term and this year in home educating?
- What are your goals for your child? When I was first asked this question, my answer was simply, to learn! I have learned goals need to be more specific than that. Look at where your child may need to be challenged more (the subjects he or she loves and does well in) versus where they are lacking. Where do you want your child to be academically one year from now? Also include characteristics you would like to see in your child such as wanting your child to develop compassion, learning to be patriotic, or to have a heart for the Lord. Character building should be an intentional part of your education at home.
- Look at the goals for your 'school' and you as an educator. This is another important question that took me a while to realize really needs an answer. Do you want to become an active part of a homeschool co-op? Do you want to grow as an teacher as your child learns? If yes, in what areas do you want to grow. If no, why not?
3) Budget. You need to figure out how much you have available to spend. When looking at your budget don't forget to include the curricula as well as other school expenses such as pencils, paper, notebooks, and field trips. I keep those in two separate categories - this just works best for me. You can find a way to educate within whatever budget you have. I have friends who do not spend anything on curricula - they find it all online and at the library. I have other friends who spend several thousand dollars each year. Some of us have to create a budget based on our financial needs, while others of us have the freedom of seeking the costs of our curricula choices then tailoring our budget around those costs. This is a case where you have to do what works best for your family and do not compare your budget to the budget of others.
4) What is your preferred teaching style? This may sound odd if you are starting your first year of teaching your child at home, but just take a moment to think about it. Jot down things that come to your mind. How to you currently teach your child? How do you teach or explain things to adults or others in your family? Do you practice things hands on, or do you talk through everything you are doing so your child hears more about it? Do you tell people what you need them to do and expect it to be done without further help or demonstration? Do you prefer to help people find the answers themselves?
While many claim there are six teaching styles, I believe there are seven styles today in homeschooling: Traditional, Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unit Studies, Unschooling, Technology-led, and Eclectic (which combines different methods based on the subject material). Most lists exclude Technology-led, but I find that Technology-led education does not fit into any other category. This style of education focuses on uses a computer programs, DVDs, or distance learning. I personally am an eclectic teacher. I use all the seven methods in my home. For information on the different types of teaching styles, you can do a websearch. I may try post those styles at another time here on my blog.
Note: Some people classify teaching styles as Parent-led (Traditional), Child-led (Unit Studies and Unschooling), Combination for Parent-led and Child-led (Charlotte Mason), and sometimes skip Eclectic - thinking we all fall into one of the other categories. There are many other terms used to describe learning styles, but most can be lumped into these categories. However, it is not always fair to lump every style into just one category. I know many moms who use Unit Studies in a combination for Parent-led and Child-led style.
8) What is your child's learning style? This one may be harder to determine than your preferred style of teaching, and many times it is through the course of our first year homeschooling that we can truly determine our child's best learning style. Watch how your child plays and imitates you. Does he watch then do? Does she need a hand-over-hand approach? Does he do well with verbal instruction? If you are not certain of your child's learning style or how to accurately approach this (I wasn't my first year) it is perfectly fine to get a boxed curriculum for the first year so you and your child can learn each other.
7) Why are you homeschooling? If you are homeschooling for religious purposes, then choose curricula that is friendly to your religion. If you are homeschooling because you like your public school education but you do not want your child around the other children, then choose a curriculum with the same standards as your public school system. If you are homeschooling because your child needs special attention to his or her strengths and weaknesses, then choose curricula based on those (in this case you probably will not be able to take a standard 'boxed' curriculum but will need to choose each subject based on what your child needs).
8) What kind of time commitment do you want for daily schoolwork? Some states set a minimum amount of time for you, but you still have the option to go more. Other states leave the time for schoolwork completely up to you. Some curricula require six or more hours of work each day, while others barely require two. Make this decision prayerfully and with full consideration of what you and your child are able to handle. Younger children should spend less time on schoolwork than older children.
9) Do you have a spouse or someone else who will be assisting in teaching? If so, then that person should also be involved in choosing the curricula. If he or she does not understand the curriculum you have chosen it will be difficult for them to help you - either on a daily basis or as a substitute teacher. In my home I make all the curricula choices and when my husband needs to serve as a substitute teacher I leave fun activities, independent work, etc. for the day. If you are looking to have someone other than your spouse assist, be cautious of your state laws. Some states require you as the parent to teach a specified percentage of the time.
10) What does your 'classroom' look like? Some curricula work great sitting at a table, whereas others encourage exploring the outdoors for a hands-on approach. Still other require a lot of books from the library. You need to consider your location and what available resources you have. You also need to consider your storage space to determine if you need a curriculum with minimal books and supplies or if you can handle an expanse of resources and materials in your home.
Once you have chosen your curricula, there are a few other points to consider.
1) I was very intentional in the above list with talking about your child instead of your children. Each child is different and even within the same family they may have different learning styles. I have not found a single curriculum for the core subjects that was one size fits all. My youngest child is in the second grade and is on her sixth math curriculum. None of the materials I used with my older two worked for her.
2) If a curriculum is not well-suited for your needs, put it aside and get another one. I know you spent good money on it, but it is a sunk cost. You don't want to waste money, but what is worse is to waste a year of your child's education. I intentionally pad my budget so that if I need to I can purchase a different curriculum.
A word of caution: there is a difference in a curriculum not meeting a child's learning needs and a chid's distaste in the subject matter. Before switching curricula make sure your child is trying his or her best, even if the subject is a least favorite.
3) Be watchful for your child's strengths and struggles. Tailor your child's curricula around his or her needs. If he breezes through a subject he will become bored; find a curriculum that will be more challenging. If she simply cannot grasp a subject look for ways to make the subject 'real' to her, but do not make her feel bad - we all have things at which we simply are not very good. Find a curriculum that will keep her moving forward, even if that means staying on one lesson for two weeks or longer.
4) Your teaching style may not match up with your child's learning style. I learned this one the hard way. I would rather stand at a blackboard and teach the way I was taught, but my children do not learn well that way. I have one child who learns best when the other two children are in another room or outside. As the parent and teacher you need to be flexible, but you can find cohesiveness and blend your styles together. While we learn best when we enjoy the process, there are times we have to do something we don't enjoy simply because that is best for the family.
5) If you have more than one child, look for ways to work together. In my house each child has his or her own math and English grammar. Everything else is done together. While it is easier for me since my children are all in consecutive grades, I have friends who do this with children who are spread apart in grades. You simply give easier work to the younger children and more and/or harder work to the older children. For instance we read aloud together as a part of our Reading. I purchased four copies of the same book - one for me and one for each child. We sit together and take turns reading aloud. My youngest child reads a paragraph at a time and receives help with hard words. My oldest reads a page a time with minimal help. I also read during this time because I believe it is good for children of every age to be able to listen to their parents read to them, and it also gives me the opportunity to model inflection and dramatic pauses, etc.
6) Be aware that when choosing curricula not all same grade levels are equal. Take math, for instance. If you compare Saxon math with Horizons and Teaching Textbooks, Saxon is a semester ahead of Teaching Textbooks but it is a semester behind Horizons. When you choose a curriculum for core subjects, if one is available have your child take an assessment test. This will tell you where to start your child in that particular curriculum. I also have my children take an assessment test when I choose to change curricula to make sure I don't start them in a book too far ahead or behind where they need to be.
Blessings in your homeschooling journey,
Sara
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