Wondering how to choose elementary homeschool curriculum for your family? One thing that overwhelms many new homeschool families is how to choose a homeschool curriculum. It can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Using the same steps veteran teachers take, you’ll feel confident in choosing your family’s new curriculum for the upcoming school year.
Note: I’m not an unschooler, so this post may not be for you if you choose to homeschool in that way. Carry on!
Determine Your Student’s Needs
Teachers are taught to look at student needs to help them determine curriculum choices. You’re the teacher now, so that’s exactly what you should do. Look at your students, their learning styles, and your state requirements to get you started. Since each state’s homeschool laws vary, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with your specific requirements. Since I live in Ohio, I use Ohio laws as references. I know what is expected, and that helps me build my curriculum choices for the year.
Learning Styles
How does your child learn best? Is he thrilled to sit and do seatwork, or is he better with hands-on learning? Does he prefer reading to himself or listening to someone read to him? There are a multitude of simple learning styles quizzes out there, but I like this simple one from Homeschool.com. It will help you to get a sense of how your child learns and what he prefers when it comes to learning. Believe it or not, even very young children will have some awareness of their own learning preferences!
Pro Tip: Teachers use something called SWBAT to help them plan their lessons and curriculum. SWBAT = Student Will Be Able To. It’s an effective way to help determine the objective of a lesson or curriculum choice.
Make A List
Once you have started exploring what your state requires and your child’s interests, you can begin to formulate your list of subjects or topics for the year. Now, this is an easy time to become overwhelmed! When I first started, I wondered if I’d ever know how to choose elementary homeschool curriculum. I learned quickly!
Some states have a hefty list of topics to cover, but I assure you that you can easily cover those topics. More on that later. For now, starting a list of must-dos, like-to-dos, and could-dos is a good place to start. I usually cover my bases with the 3Rs (reading, writing, arithmetic) and build out my list from there.
Pro tip: I love All About Reading for teaching my littles to read. Learn more here! And here is a free guide for evaluating a reading program!
Research, Research, Research
Nearly all curriculums offer free samples to preview, and you should absolutely look at anything you’re interested in purchasing. There are a huge number of reviews online, including Youtube flip-throughs. One suggestion is to join homeschool Facebook groups and search their posts for inspiration.
Cathy Duffy has an immense wealth of information on curriculum options. She has been reviewing curricula for years and is a trusted resource for millions of homeschooling families. This will help you get an idea of what other real parents (who are in the trenches) and experienced educators like to use.
I typically use my list of what I’m considering, and then I research each piece to help me make my decision. Some things to consider:
- How long does each lesson take to complete?
- How much parental instruction/involvement is needed?
- Is there prep work or is this an open and go situation?
- Does this align with our values and views of the world?
- What are potential pitfalls that could make this NOT work for us?
I also like to include my students in the process. Let them know you’re looking, and show them their options! It’s their education, and it’s empowering to our kids to be a stakeholder in the decision process.
All-In-One or Eclectic?
There are many curriculum companies that offer all-inclusive kits. The kits will include all materials for all subjects. I bought a kit one year because I thought it would be much easier for me. Turns out, that wasn’t true at all! It was very expensive, included so many subjects we couldn’t even get to them all, and wasn’t the best fit for our family or my child’s learning needs.
Some people choose one brand and use the kits, but I prefer to individually select our materials to truly customize our learning experiences. To each, their own, but just know that neither all-in-one nor eclectic is right or wrong. They’re just different options!
Go Forward Confidently- You’ll Learn How To Choose Elementary Homeschool Curriculum As You Go
When you decide what curricula to purchase, go forward feeling confident that you’ve put a great deal of thought and effort into the process. Rest in the truth that you’re invested in your children’s education in an incredible way. Commit to trying your choices with an open mind, and make adjustments as needed.
A curriculum item may need schedule adjustments or pacing changes in order to work for your family. That’s okay! You’re the teacher, and you’re in charge now!
Be flexible and remember that you’re learning right alongside your children as you embark on this incredible journey of learning.
