Homeschooling has been gaining popularity as more families opt for a personalized and flexible approach to education. With the increasing availability of Christian Homeschool Curriculum, it’s easy to be tempted to make a quick purchase. However, before deciding, there are necessary steps and considerations to ensure you choose the right curriculum for your child’s education.
Understand Your Child’s Learning Style
When selecting a curriculum for your child, it is essential first to understand their learning style.
Do they learn best through visual aids and spatial understanding?
Or do they prefer auditory learning or hands-on experiences?
Knowing your child’s learning style will help you choose a curriculum that meets their needs.
Take the time to identify their individual learning style before making any decisions.
For example, children might like to learn more with a hands-on program like All About Reading or Math-U-See.
They may prefer a more animated online homeschool math option like Beast Academy.
Set Educational Goals
Define your educational goals and objectives for the homeschooling journey.
Consider both short-term and long-term goals.
Are you focusing on a specific subject, skill development, or a holistic approach to education?
Clear goals will help you select a curriculum that aligns with your educational vision.
It’s always a good idea to introduce children to an entrepreneurial mindset when they’re young.
Research State Requirements
Different states have different regulations for homeschooling.
Familiarize yourself with your state’s legal requirements, including curriculum guidelines and testing.
Again, you can do this by going onto Facebook with your questions and also going onto HSLDA.org.
This website is made by lawyers who are familiar with homeschool laws all over the world.
They’ll help answer all your questions so you can comply (without too much stress!).
This will ensure that your chosen online curriculum meets the necessary standards.
Explore Different Teaching Philosophies
Homeschooling allows you to embrace various homeschool methods (teaching philosophies or approaches).
That’s right, you don’t have to teach like the schools do!
Research and explore different educational approaches such as:
● Classical – uses the grammar, logic, and rhetoric phases
● Charlotte Mason – gentle teaching methods, good habit training, handicrafts, good living books, nature walks, and study
● Unit Studies – teaches children not through subjects but through topics.
● Eclectic – uses various teaching methods joined together.
● Traditional – they use teaching methods used in many public and Christian schools.
You want to choose a curriculum that resonates with your teaching philosophy and complements your child’s learning style.
You can do a homeschool-style quiz here to help you decide what will suit you best.
Think About Christian or Secular Options
When searching for homeschool curricula, you may come across two distinct curricula types:
● Christian programs and
● secular programs.
Each of these camps offers very different teaching materials.
Christian homeschool curriculum programs usually teach all subjects with a biblical worldview, focus on Bible stories, and emphasize good behavior motivated by a love of God.
In contrast, secular material avoids religious influence and does not discuss Jesus or his teachings.
Therefore, before purchasing a homeschool curriculum, you must decide which one you prefer.
Read Reviews and Testimonials
Suppose you’re planning to buy a curriculum for homeschooling. You really should look at homeschool reviews so you don’t get something that looks good on paper but is actually a dud.
Reviewing testimonials from parents who have already used it is wise.
A great place to do this is through the reviews section on The Homeschool Mom website.
Or you can ask various people on Facebook for their experience with a specific program you’re considering.
These reviews can provide valuable insights into a particular curriculum’s strengths and weaknesses.
While looking for reviews, focus on the following:
● Christian vs secular,
● ease of use (open-and-go or not),
● engagement, and
● the curriculum’s adaptability to different learning styles (mastery or spiral?)
Considering these factors can help you make an informed decision and choose a curriculum that best suits your child’s needs.
Use Free Trials
Numerous online homeschool curriculum providers offer free trials or samples of their materials.
Veritas Press Online School even offers free consultations to get a good idea if how the program will suit your children before buying.
It is advised to take advantage of these opportunities to explore the curriculum firsthand.
Free trials allow you to assess the curriculum’s compatibility with your teaching style and your child’s learning preferences before making a purchase decision.
Check for Accreditation
Accreditation may only sometimes be necessary, but some parents consider it essential (for example, if they’re doing short-term homeschooling and want to re-enroll their children back into school after a term or two).
Consider curricula accredited by relevant educational bodies if you value a standardized and recognized course of study.
Here are some excellent accredited homeschool curriculum options to consider.
Curriculum Recommendations:
Choosing the right homeschooling curriculum ensures your child’s academic success.
With so many options, deciding which one to go for can be overwhelming.
To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of some of the top homeschool curriculum available today.
These curriculums vary in teaching approach and subject coverage, so you can choose the one that best suits your child’s learning style and interests.
Curriculum by Homeschool Method
The following takes you to articles that detail the curriculum that is described as:
● Traditional Curriculum like BJU Press and Abeka
● Classical like Veritas Press and Memoria Press
● Online classical programs Like Acellus Academy and Power Homeschool
● Charlotte Mason, like Ambleside Online and A Gentle Feast
● Unit Studies like Notgrass and Five in a Row
● Eclectic like My Father’s World
● Flexible homeschool programs like Schoolhouse Teachers
If you want to do something more like unschooling, you can just get your kids into good books.
Here’s a free complete homeschool booklist for K-12 grades.
Most titles you can find on YouTube are read as audiobooks for free.
Conclusion
Choosing the right online homeschool curriculum is a pivotal decision that significantly influences your child’s educational journey. You can make an informed decision by understanding your child’s learning style, setting educational goals, researching state requirements, exploring teaching philosophies, reading reviews, utilizing free trials, and checking for accreditation. The recommended curricula above are diverse, catering to different preferences and educational approaches. Remember, the key is to create an enriching and tailored learning experience for your child.
