Finding the Right Curriculum
Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum
By Teri B. Clark
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Finding the right curriculum for your child can be a test of your patience, especially if you are new to homeschooling and have limited information regarding the types of curriculums available. Many new homeschoolers are under the impression that they must use a formal curriculum - one that is similar to the public school system. Although you may choose to do this, there are many, many options!

Finding the Right Curriculum
Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum

When choosing a curriculum, you need to keep in mind your teaching style and the learning style of your child. Some children work best with a lot of structure - others don't. Some parents will find that a specific method works across all subjects - others won't. In the beginning, you may not find "the" right answer for your child. You will have to pick something to start, based on your understanding of you and your child, and then you will have to experiment a bit.

Keep in mind that you ALWAYS have the option of making a change. If something you are doing is not working - then stop and do something else. Unlike a public school, you do not need to go through a committee and have it approved! You simply see that it is not working and make a change. Sometimes the change can be quite small, like allowing more freedom of choice for daily activities, and sometimes it can be quite large, like a decision to quit using a particular curriculum. Either way, the choice is yours!

There are three main curriculum choices available to you as a homeschooler.
You can buy a complete package that has all the materials you will need for a particular grade.
You can buy complete curriculum for each subject from different curriculum vendors.
You can create your own curriculum.
Let's explore these three options further.

In a Box and Ready to Go

Some suppliers offer you everything you need to begin your homeschooling experience. Included in these packages are items such as:

* Teacher Guides
* Text Books
* Work Books
* Supplemental Reading Material
* Study Sheets
* Pre-Tests
* Exams
* Activities and Experiments
* Videos
* Audios
* Internet Support
* Certified Teacher Supporter
* Report Cards
* Others

Keep in mind that not every complete curriculum comes with all these items.
Each supplier will tell you exactly what you get.

Some complete curriculums go beyond materials and support. They actually provide an assigned teacher that grades work and makes specific comments about that work. They will also keep transcripts and provide a diploma at the end of the course of study. Once again, this depends entirely upon the specific provider.

The advantages of a complete curriculum are:

* Ease
* Can find religious suppliers
* Structured
* Meets legal requirements
* Replicates school model

The disadvantages of a complete curriculum are:

* High cost
* Lots of work involved
* Child may not like the style or structure
* Less imagination and freedom

Mix and Match

Sometimes you will find that you like one part of a curriculum package, the math, for instance, but do not like another. Many parents mix and match different curriculum programs for different subjects. For instance, you may decide to use A Beka for math but use Calvert for science or history.

The advantages to combining different curriculums include:

* Allows you to teach to individual learning styles
* Uses a certified resource
* More freedom

The disadvantages to this method are:

* You need to do more independent research to determine what modules you need
* Costs of individual components are more expensive when bought outside a the whole curriculum package
* Meeting legal requirements is now your responsibility

Do It Yourself

When you choose to create your own curriculum, you get to decide on the methods, the books, the schedule, and anything else related to your child's education. You can decide to have a traditional or nontraditional school and can vary methods across subjects. Parents using this method must trust in their instincts and determine what the child needs based on the child.

The advantages to creating your own curriculum include:

* Choose your own style
* Less expensive
* More child based

The disadvantages include:

* Fear of making the wrong decision
* Meeting the legal requirements is your responsibility
* Less structure

What is Unschooling?

Unschooling is becoming more and more popular. John Holt originally coined the term. However, trying to define homeschooling is difficult. Once again, this is like trying to define homeschooling - there are so many definitions. Here are a few to help you get the feel for what it is:

* Unschooling is about the process of learning. It is not about content. Unschoolers believe that content can be looked up at any time as long as the child has the ability to learn!
* Unschooling is about your child's interests. They take the lead and let you know what they want to learn.
* Unschooling is not planned. It is spontaneous learning in a "world as your classroom" environment
* Unschoolers believe that if you give a child a great learning environment, they will naturally learn.
* Unschoolers tend not to rely on any curriculum.
* Unschoolers believe that learning is just a natural part of living.
* Unschoolers trust their child to determine what they want to learn and when.

The biggest reason that unschooling is hard to define is summed up in the first definition above. It is a process. It is not a specific technique. It does not have steps 1-10. As you can see, unschooling is more of a way of life instead of an educational method.

What are the Advantages of Unschooling?

1. Children discover that learning takes place everywhere and at all times. Learning is not a classroom only experience.
2. Children discover that learning does not require a leading adult. They realize that they can learn on their own.
3. Lessons are exciting.
4. If they have an interest, they have the freedom to pursue that interest.
5. There are no "extra-curricular" activities. All activities are part of the learning process. This includes field trips as well as trips to the store. It also includes everyday activities like making the bed and fixing lunch.
6. Unschooling works in any living situation. Whether you live in a traditional US suburb or live on a houseboat, you can unschool because the world is your classroom.
7. Every kind of curriculum is open to you. Whatever your child wants to do is part of unschooling. If your child wants to use a textbook, then that can be part of unschooling!

As a homeschool parent, the decision is all yours. You can start and stop, mix and match, and create depending upon your needs and the needs of your child.

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