The Curriculum Buffet
Let’s talk about one of the biggest struggles some parents encounter in homeschooling—finding the right curriculum.
If you’ve ever thought, "This curriculum just isn’t working for us," you’re not alone. But before you toss it aside, let’s take a step back and gain some perspective. After all, you’ve invested a lot of time and money into whichever curriculum you’ve chosen, so you don’t want to be too hasty in scrapping it and starting over!
What if the curriculum itself isn’t as bad as you think?
Here’s the thing—Curriculum is a tool to serve you, not the other way around. Too often, parents feel overwhelmed, trying to fit in every worksheet, lesson, and extra resource, only to find their kids frustrated and disengaged.
Think of the curriculum like an all-you-can-eat buffet. You don’t have to eat every single dish just because it’s there! Instead, you take what nourishes and satisfies you, and you leave the rest on the buffet. (You’ll make yourself miserable if you try to eat everything out there!)
The same goes for curriculum. When you invest in curriculum, don’t pressure yourself to get your money’s worth by using every element provided. Just as when you go in for dinner at that buffet, you know how much you will pay regardless of how much you eat. The point isn’t to eat more to get your money’s worth; the point is to eat however much you need to nourish you!
So, go ahead and release yourself from the pressure of doing everything, and instead focus on how to make this curriculum what you need to provide your child an excellent education this year!
Here’s how to make curriculum work for you:
✔ Customize it – You don’t have to follow every lesson exactly as written. Slow down, skip, tweak, or change assignments as needed.
✔ Prioritize what matters – Focus on the core subjects and teaching methods that best fit your child’s learning style.
✔ Release the guilt – Just because you bought a curriculum doesn’t mean you have to use every single page of it.
If you want to learn more about how to make the curriculum work for you, check out our Homeschool Crash Course. I created this self-paced, online course to help parents (new and experienced!) build a confident, stress-free homeschool—without second-guessing every curriculum choice. It’s packed with practical strategies to make homeschooling simpler, more effective, and actually enjoyable.
Because our kids deserve better,
Amy
