Strategies to Find Curricula to Fit Your Homeschool
By Anna Reynolds October 2, 2023
When it comes to homeschooling, there is no one-size-fits-all. Many families opt to homeschool for the flexibility and adaptability that it allows. But when it comes to picking a curriculum for each subject, the options can be overwhelming. In this article, we’re sharing a few strategies for approaching the question of curriculum and considerations for your unique homeschooling situation.
What a Curriculum Is Not Let’s start by defining what we mean by a curriculum. As veteran homeschool mom Sarah Mackenzie, author of “Teaching from Rest, writes, “Curriculum isn’t something we buy. It’s something we teach. Something we embody. Something we love. It is the form and content of our children’s learning experiences.” Oftentimes, we do pay for a set of books, a packaged “curriculum,” aimed at helping us teach a subject. However, it’s helpful to remember that the books do not teach on their own. Even after our children are reading independently and well on their way to self-directed learning, the books are only tools for grasping the material. Successful communication and comprehension of a topic—whether math, history, or religion—is the actual curriculum. There is no one way to teach math or spelling. The world has not reached a consensus on how science should be introduced. And that is for good reason: Each classroom is different (in our case, each home is different) and different materials will better facilitate learning and loving the subject matter at hand. A curriculum is the material taught, including all the many modes of communicating knowledge and promoting understanding involved.
Know Your State’s Requirements Each state has different regulations for homeschooling, but no state requires a specific set of books or lessons. Make sure to research your own state to understand the portfolio or testing requirements that may be needed.
In Texas, for example, no testing or portfolio submissions are necessary but the state requires that the curriculum be “bona fide” and must be in a visual form (meaning books, workbooks, or a video monitor, as in the case of an online course). The only subjects required by Texas law are reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics and good citizenship. These subjects can be taught through many different books and programs, or communicated through personally designed, one-on-one instruction. With so many options, how do you decide what is right for you and your children?
Drawing on Different Educational Philosophies As we have discussed in previous articles, several different educational philosophies pair well with homeschooling and serve as a guide. You might find inspiration in the teachings of Maria Montessori or Charlotte Mason, two influential educators of the past 150 years. You may find a framework for your education in the classical model of education, which emphasizes memory work in the early years and a strong foundation in the study of western civilization.
If you find an educational philosophy that resonates with your family’s goals for homeschooling, you can usually find like-minded homeschoolers in your area. Even better, you may find an already established co-op based on the teachings of Charlotte Mason or a classical approach. Some co-ops even function as hybrid schools offering in-person instruction certain days and at-homing learning others. With a hybrid school, you usually follow the curricula chosen by the school for each subject. This can be a great way of getting a lay of the land if you are new to homeschooling and growing in confidence.
The Advantages of Box Curricula There is no reason any homeschool family has to spend hundreds of dollars on packaged curricula. Many people have demonstrated how to homeschool affordably using simple materials and instruction. However, when new to homeschooling or faced with teaching multiple children at different ages and with different learning styles, the advantages of a packaged program is eliminating a lot of additional decision-making.
There are several long-established names in the world of Catholic and Christian homeschooling, many of them offering an option to enroll in a home study course: Seton, Kolbe Academy, Memoria Press, and Mother of Divine Grace. And there are many more! Each program is different, but many offer a detailed syllabi and book lists, oftentimes workbooks and other materials to reinforce learning, and even options to enroll online and attend online classes. Not every program works for every child. It can be helpful to find a local homeschool store that can give you the opportunity to see materials in-person and evaluate them before investing. If you don’t have access to high quality homeschool materials at a local store, you can try to organize a curriculum night with other homeschool parents to review and examine curricula. Confidently Finding Your Own Path Experienced homeschoolers report the same observations: the particular curriculum matters much less than consistency in home education and the creation of an environment of learning in the home. There are many different ways to learn how to read, learn math, and learn about world history. If a particular program is frustrating and unproductive for your family, you can try another one. That’s the beauty of homeschooling!
If the thought of picking a math and reading program scares you now, you can rely on time-tested programs that will point you in the right direction. With many popular homeschool programs, you can find adults who used them for their schooling and you can gather feedback from actual graduates about the strength and weaknesses of a particular program. Curriculum is not just the set of books you buy but the goal for your children’s education you have in mind and all the steps you take to make your home the type of environment to achieve that goal. As homeschooling grows in popularity, there are even more options to pick from. As you progress on your family’s unique path in homeschooling, you can appreciate more the variety available and have confidence in making your choices.