What Curriculum Should I Use?
Choosing curriculum. Argh. What a way to throw a first-time homeschooling parent into the deep end before you even get started!
I know that's where many of you are right now. While others are enjoying summer, you're feverishly making plans for your upcoming school year. And the ocean of the internet isn't helping.
Curriculum options are as varied and endless as the day is long.
Who has the best phonics program?
Which method of teaching Math is most effective?
Will this curriculum be too hard or too easy for my child?
What's the time commitment for this program?
It's easy to get overwhelmed. But take heart! You don't have to get lost in all the options.
In fact, I just want to give you permission, if you need it, to stop looking so hard at curriculum, and let's simplify this process.
Here's the liberating, time-saving, sanity-restoring truth:
You aren't going to make or break your kid's education with your curriculum choice.
Now, I understand. You want to do your due diligence. You want to research the options. You want to be fully informed. I get that, and I applaud you for that.
But can I share a personal experience that may help give you some breathing space?
While I myself am a hard-core researcher by nature (so is my husband; it takes us so much brain-power just to plan out a vacation), and while I barely knew anything about homeschooling when I first started out, do you know how many curriculum options I looked at before purchasing?
Two.
I seriously considered only two choices. And to be honest, I would have purchased the first option I looked at, but there was a miscommunication with the sales rep, and we missed the virtual meeting we had set up to discuss their program. That prompted me to take another look, which led me to the curriculum we chose (to this day, I'm still grateful for that mix-up).
In our case, that choice has stuck. We've used the same curriculum provider for almost 12 years now. Our daughter is about to graduate later this year, having used this curriculum from age 4 until now, and all three of our sons are still using it as well.
That's my experience. But yours may look different. So I just want to ease your mind with this perspective about choosing curriculum:
It's okay to just make a choice. If it doesn't work out and you don't like it, you can change next year!
Curriculum should be viewed more like an all-you-can-eat buffet instead of a one-size-fits-all menu. To learn what I mean by that, check out my video, The Curriculum Buffet, where I explain what I feel is a healthy mindset about curriculum.
Curriculum is meant to work for you, not the other way around. Even if you get a program you aren't 100% happy with, you make the difference in whether or not your child succeeds more than the curriculum does! Our curriculum is not perfect. But here's a video where I share three reasons we've never changed curriculum.
Should I buy a full grade level kit, or should I piece-meal together different options? This is a common question asked when starting out. While I'm not going to tell you what you should do, my recommendation to new homeschooling families is to find a full kit here in the beginning and avoid piece-mealing as much as possible while you find your footing.
So much work by very talented educators has gone into creating various curriculum programs; my personal feeling is you shouldn't try to reinvent the wheel when you're first starting out!
Trust me--You're going to have your hands full enough just navigating this new world of homeschooling with your kids. The simpler your curriculum program can be for you, the better. It's okay to make things easier for yourself and let a robust curriculum program do the heavy lifting for you! That's actually why we used videos in every subject in those early years. It was much more manageable to have all of that support there for me as the parent, then gradually make it our own as we found our rhythm in homeschooling.
Now, if you're wondering what curriculum I recommend, I'm happy to share with you who we use and why. We began homeschooling in 2012 with BJU Press Homeschool's online video courses, and we have continued using BJU (a mix of videos and no videos) throughout our entire journey. It's the only official curriculum we've ever purchased for our four kids, currently in 3rd, 6th, 10th, & 12th grades. (Disclaimer: I did try a more informal approach this year in one subject and bought my younger boys workbooks from another homeschooling mom I follow, but I haven't liked it as well as BJU and don't plan to do that again.)
Why BJU? I was already familiar with their textbooks from a private school I attended for a few years when I was younger. I remembered their books being colorful and more appealing than the other textbooks we had. So when I found out they offered homeschooling materials, I was thrilled to learn more. I love that they integrate a biblical worldview in every subject (not just Bible). I love that they allow you to buy a whole grade kit or piece only the subjects you need together. Even in their full grade kits, they understand children move at their own pace, so they allow you to sub out one or two subjects in the kit for a different level (e.g., you could buy the 3rd grade kit with 4th grade Math and 2nd grade Spelling). We love that it is self-paced and allows for so much customization by the parent for the best outcome for each child. If you'd like to see a little bit of BJU for yourself, I have an unboxing video to help you see what to expect in an order from them.
That's what we use and have been happy with. But the point of this post isn't to persuade you toward the option we like.
The point is to take the pressure off of you and encourage you! If you're overwhelmed by the choices, take a step back, clear your head, and when you're ready, ask yourself, "Which one do I feel best about?" And of course, I'm not saying let your feelings drive your decision. But based on what you know from your research, which one do you have a sense of ease and confidence about?
Trust your instincts. And don't overthink your decision. You've already made the most crucial decision: to educate your child at home. Curriculum is just a tool in your tool belt. You're the builder. Choose the tool that suits you best, and enjoy building!
As always, I'm here to support you along the way.
...Because in the end, our kids deserve better,
Amy
WiserHomeschool.com
@amyharrellsmith
