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What to Look for in a Homeschool Curriculum

By: Kayley Kenzie Have you ever attended a homeschooling convention to choose homeschool curriculum? The experience can be quite refreshing, since it introduces you to the many possibilities available on the market.

On the other hand, it could leave you feeling more lost and overwhelmed than before you ever went.

Or you may be the type of parent that likes to browse through catalogs and choose what you think is best. You like to order your purchases by mail, phone, or Internet. You would rather contact the salesperson instead of them contacting you.

Or, you could possibly be the type of homeschooler that likes surfing on the web to find what you need.

Regardless of how you shop for your homeschool curriculum online, through a catalog, or at a homeschool convention, here are some important suggestions to consider when making your choices:

* Be familiar with your children's strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Knowing these factors will help you decide the best material. The resources you choose should not only enhance your child's strengths, but also address your child's weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

* Understand what your family is about. Are you a religious family? Do you have special needs children? Maybe you would like to travel more. When choosing a homeschool cirriculum, it is essential that you take these factors into account.

* What is your child's learning style? Knowing how your child learns is an important factor to consider when choosing curriculum. Is your child more of an auditory, visual, or hands-on learner?

* What long-term goals does your family have? Has your child been setting goals? If you and your child both have a goal to let him or her run a business, you should focus on resources that will help both of you achieve this goal.

* Cost of materials is an important factor. Some homeschooling families feel okay about photocopying material, or "borrowing" curriculum. Personally, I feel it is not fair. This doesn't mean that the curriculum you choose has to be expensive or make your broke. If you plan in advance, you will be able to budget in the costs.

* What homeschooling philosophy appeals to you? There are a variety of homeschool cirriculum philosophies. Some include: literature-based, unit studies, textbook, unschooling, accelerated, Christian, and Classical.

* What are your time constraints? If you have a lot of children and also work part-time, it is important to take time into consideration. When you buy curriculum, you need to consider the time that you'll also be putting into co-op classes and your child's activities.

Before making any firm decision on homeschool curriculum, it is important to pray for guidance and discuss it with your spouse.