In this two-part guide, we will walk you through the process of choosing the right homeschool curriculum for your child. We’ll discuss where to find curriculum options, what to consider when making your decision, and provide tips for finding the perfect fit.
Homeschooling can be a great way to give your child an education that meets their specific needs. It can also be a lot of work, especially when it comes to choosing the right homeschool curriculum.
There are so many options available, how do you know which one is right for your family?
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What to do first
When preparing to look for homeschool curriculum I like to do a little work up front. First, I think about what my child needs, set a vision for the year and come up with some specific goals I hope to accomplish.
Based upon all this, I then select the subjects I want to focus on for our school year. Typically this will include Math, Science, Reading, Writing, and History, but often includes other topics like health or cooking. I also try to narrow down things like what type of science to focus on and what era of history we’ll cover.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
At this point, I am ready to start looking for specific homeschool resources to match up with the subjects. So with all the options out there how do you know where to start looking? That’s where we’ll start here in this guide!
After this, be sure to continue on to part 2, where we will discuss how to narrow down all the options you are finding to choose the best resources for your family.
So let’s get started!
Just a quick note: I usually like to differentiate between the words “curriculum” and “resources” just to emphasize that the resources we use in our homeschools can be more than just a book or box of pre-made curriculum. But in this post, I will use the terms fairly interchangeably.
1. Ask a fellow homeschooler
Maybe it’s because people are nosy, or maybe it’s because we all want to sort each other into some sort of homeschool category.
But one of the first questions I’m often asked when someone finds out we homeschool is “what curriculum do you use?” I can’t say it’s what I ask first.
But I understand the draw. The desire to understand this family a little more. Because you can tell a good bit about a person by the curriculum they choose.
Of course I always throw people off by saying we use a lot of different things with no specifics at all. I’ll give more if probed but it typically gets left there.
Perhaps there is another reason we want to know. Maybe someone will say they use that magic life-changing curriculum we’ve been searching for all these years… You never know!
So we ask. And personally I keep a list, I research, and sometimes try it out on my kids. Often I feel pulled because if it’s amazing for her surely it’ll be amazing for us. It’s not always that way.
Anyways, I still ask. Because ultimately there’s so so so many resource options out there that well, you have to start somewhere! So why not start with a great recommendation from another successful homeschooler?
Beware of crowd-sourcing. Often times this happens on social media. The question is presented and the poster will be given a ton of options – it’s overwhelming.
And everyone will think their option is the best. So while you may be given several really great options, it often doesn’t narrow down the search much for you, but it could.
My suggestion, however, is to find a couple friends or acquaintances who homeschool. Someone you feel does a good job, someone you may like to model your homeschool after and ask them what they use. This will likely give you better options to look into.
If you don’t know many – or any – homeschoolers, you could ask someone online directly.
What we use
Interested to know what my family uses? Follow the links below. I will continue updating this list over time.
2. Narrow down with philosophy
A homeschool philosophy is more or less, a general method of teaching. A way to approach learning with your kids. A few of the popular homeschool philosophies these days are Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, and Unschooling.
I tend to think that your homeschool philosophy doesn’t matter because I don’t think anyone should feel put in a box or tied down to a specific method.
But if you have a general bent toward a specific method or philosophy of teaching, then it can help narrow your options when it comes to curriculum choices. Also if you are new to homeschooling, starting with learning about homeschool philosophies may be helpful for you. But it is definitely not a requirement.
With so many great resource options out there, it can be incredibly helpful to feel free to pick and choose which work for your family.
You can be fairly Classical when it comes to Language Arts, but use Charlotte Mason approaches for history and science.
You can unschool for most subjects and reinforce math with a structured curriculum. It really is alright even though many Unschoolers would disagree.
3. Research online
There are several great websites that help with choosing curriculum. From bookstores that sell homeschool curriculum, to review sites, to curriculum publishers.
Publishers
If you already have a list of curriculum you’re interested in, going straight to the publisher may be helpful. Often their website will offer a downloadable sample of the curriculum or at least several pictures that you can look over to get a feel for the resource. Occasionally you can find a small sample on other sites as well.
Cathy Duffy Reviews
One of my favorite websites for researching curriculum is Cathy Duffy Reviews.
Also in book format, Cathy Duffy has compiled a huge amount of homeschool curriculum reviews on her site. She gives a great overview of the resource, adding in her thoughts on value, best usage, religious perspective, need for parent instruction, and more.
You can also do a search on the site if you are needing to find options for a particular subject. Her site is invaluable and one I use every time I consider a new curriculum.
Rainbow Resource
Another website I use often is Rainbow Resource. This is an online homeschool bookstore that has a phenomenal amount of resources for homeschoolers.
Not only are their prices great, but they also have succinct reviews and often even samples on their site for reference. Their customer service is outstanding. Their site is also easily searchable if looking for options for a particular subject.
Christianbook.com
A similar site for checking out books and curriculum is Christianbook.com. They have a wide range of options, particularly for those looking for faith-based options.
Curriculum companies
There are also many curriculum companies that compile resources to sell as a package. I often use these lists to find resource options. Some of these sites include Sonlight, Bookshark, and My Father’s World. Of course any of those resources are great options as a whole as well!
Beyond those, there really is no shortage of online resource recommendations. From blogs to other publishers, and even books.
All-in-one homeschool curriculum
While speaking of whole sets of curriculum, boxed curriculum is a great way to homeschool, especially if all the options are overwhelming to you.
A pre-made boxed curriculum set will already have everything you need included and even comes with a suggested schedule of how to go through it all! Many of them also are set up to be used with multiple grade levels at once, which can be incredibly helpful.
One down-side to using a box set is the price. With all the readers and other resources included, it can add up real fast!
However, if price holds you back, you could consider buying the essentials and finding readers and such used or even borrowing them from the library.
Occasionally students have trouble going at the predetermined pace of the curriculum, but there are some options for working around this.
- If your child is overwhelmed with the amount of work, remember that the curriculum is a tool and doesn’t have to be used as is. Skip some things if needed.
- You also are often able to buy partial curriculum sets if you plan on doing this. Some kids may excel in one subject area, wanting to push ahead, while other subjects are more difficult. Feel free to adjust your schedule as needed.
There are also many websites out now that have complete online curriculum all laid out for each grade level.
These are nice, because often they even include grading and such in the price. A couple of the more popular sites are time4learning and IXL. This can be another good introductory approach to homeschooling while you decide whether it works for you.
4. Go to a curriculum fair
Another way to help you choose homeschool curriculum is to go to a curriculum fair. At a curriculum fair, you will be able to talk to different vendors and see many curriculum options in person.
This can be a great way to get more information about what is available and to find out what other homeschoolers are using. You may even find some good deals on curriculum at a curriculum fair!
The most helpful thing about a curriculum fair is being able to flip through the books, study the table of contents and compare resources with others in person. I tend to be very hands on when it comes to choosing curriculum so I highly value seeing them in person.
I will warn you that seeing so many amazing options in one room can be incredibly overwhelming. Even for someone like me who has been to many!
These fairs can be huge so allow lots of time to look, take breaks when you can, and give yourself time and space to consider without making any forced decisions.
My strategy is to go through the entire hall at least once for a brief overview.
Then I will go back to booths I want to spend more time at, look at the resources, ask questions, and possibly make a purchase. I usually end up walking through the entire hall at least three times before I’m finished!
For other tips on homeschool conventions and fairs, check out my Guide for homeschool conventions here!
5. Get a consultation
There are several homeschool bookstores that offer consultations for curriculum recommendations. This can be a great option if you need help narrowing down your choices or if you have specific questions.
The consultant will be able to give you personalized recommendations based on your child’s learning style and your family’s educational goals. They can also answer any questions you may have about resources you have already been looking at.
One specific website I know that does this is a bookstore I mentioned above, Rainbow Resource. You can click here for more information on their service.
6. Start with something you like
If you are overwhelmed with options but have found at least one resource you like, start with that resource.
Perhaps go to the publisher’s website and find other resources they may offer.
Or look online for other options that may be a similar style for other subjects.
If you are up for a more eclectic approach, look for resources that can be used across multiple subjects. For example, if you find a history resource you love, it may have additional recommendations to go along with it for other subjects like reading, writing or science.
Once you get into the year of homeschooling, you will start to get a feel for what the curriculum is like and what works for your family. Beginning with one resource will give you a starting point for finding other resources that you may need.
You can always add resources or even switch to another curriculum later if you find your first choice isn’t for you.
Wrap it up
These are just a few ideas to get you started when searching for homeschool curriculum. Take your time, do your research, and don’t be afraid to ask for help! Homeschoolers tend to be very encouraging.
Choosing the right curriculum is an important part of homeschooling, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a little research, effort and knowing where to look, you will be able to find the perfect homeschool curriculum for your family.
Stay with me and continue on to part 2 of my guide on how to choose homeschool curriculum. In the next part we will discuss some ways to narrow down your resource options and things to consider in the process. Click here to continue to my Tips for Homeschool Curriculum.
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