Homeschool Curriculum Shopping? STOP! 10+ Questions to Ask Before you Even Begin

Spring fever has set in. The days are longer and warmer, the grill is getting more use, we’re seeing the ends of our books. And that means it’s time for new homeschool curriculum shopping!

STOP! Before you even begin shopping…

I’ve (mostly!) had good luck with the curriculum we’ve chosen over the past dozen years. There’s been the occasional one that didn’t fit at that time, the writing program that worked for one but not another. And there’s definitely been a couple of things that, a few weeks into using it, I’ve wanted to chuck it out the window! {Right Start Math nearly did me in.}

Nearly all of those “learning opportunities”? They’ve come about when I got caught up in the “thing” that EVERYONE is using. It seemed appealing, it was popular, and of course, it was going to work.

Until it didn’t.

Not only does that cost me time and frustration, but it can certainly be difficult on the homeschool budget, as well!

Over the years, I started asking myself a few questions before I started homeschool curriculum shopping. The list grew, the questions became more pointed. And my curriculum choices began to fit even better.

It may seem redundant to ask some of these questions every year.  I get it!  I also know that things do change, even when I don’t stop to see them.  Forest from the trees and all that jazz. Even if you don’t write out answers to each question, read through them and consider them before you start shopping. (Let’s be honest–I rarely write out my answers!!)

Why am I homeschooling?

Yes, you’re homeschooling because it’s the best fit right now. But WHY? Were your kiddos’ needs not being met/couldn’t be met in the public schools? You need a more flexible schedule than traditional school allows? To explore more interests/a passion? Medical reasons? WHY is homeschooling the best for your family right now?

Keep this simple! A few words, maybe a sentence. 2-3 reasons.
(If you’ve missed writing essays, go for it!)

If you don’t answer any of the other questions, let this be the one you do. My answers change from year to year. If we have a move or a deployment coming up, the flexible schedule is a primary reason. A traditional school setting would crush (like a bug!) my middle kiddo’s deep love of learning. Both of my boys enjoy deep dives into whatever has their interest piqued. Year after year, though, my desire to be the one guiding the kiddos is always on the list.

What does our schedule look like for next year?

Are you moving in the next year? Will any of your kiddos be in a traditional school? What does the sports season look like? Other activities? Will you be in the car frequently during the school day?

Flexibility is a huge part of homeschooling…but things still have to get done!
(This answer doesn’t have to be down-to-the-minute detailed!)

If you’ll be in the car frequently & have older kiddos who can easily read out loud (or access to a lot of library books), a literature-based curriculum may work for you. Do you have a good hotspot? Online classes or video-based classes can offer a lot of flexibility.

Maybe you’re starting a new job and need your kiddos to be more independent. (Don’t choose Story of the World.)

A lot of medical appointments mean a lot of sitting in waiting rooms. (An activity-based curriculum isn’t a great choice unless you love the idea of carting around scissors, balances, and beakers!)

You get the idea. Even if something is working fantastically right now, if the schedule is changing next year, it may be time to consider something else.

What didn’t get done this year?

This is one of the most telling questions for me.

There is a (name-purposely-left-out) science curriculum that is good, engaging, interesting…and a terrible fit for me. I’ve tried it twice. I even had success with a similar one. At the end of both years, I didn’t hesitate on this answer. Why? I still can’t peg the exact problem.

Grammar & writing were another quick answer one year. The curriculum I had chosen was just so tedious, repetitive, and BORING.

Brainstorm a list of reasons why things didn’t get one or you were always behind.

Were you always waiting for needed library books? Behind on printing? Too many moving parts to it? The text was boring?

Your reasons don’t have to rule out anything, necessarily. But you’ll want to have a game plan so you can be successful with it next year.

Identifying concrete things that didn’t work will help you to avoid them next year. And if you want to keep the curriculum, knowing why it wasn’t working will help you formulate a game plan so it will work for you.

What goals do I have for each kiddo next year?

While some goals will be similar from year to year, others may change. One kiddo may consistently need working towards being on grade level in a subject. Another may be looking ahead to a traditional school setting, so their goals may revolve around the skills they’ll need.

Abstract goals are good. Concrete goals are better. But include both.

The more specific they are, the easier it is to set mini-goals to meet. “Read more” if far less measurable than “Jane will read 12 books next school year.” Sometimes, though, it’s hard to get specific. This year, I set a goal to have a slower, more relaxed approach. But. I didn’t know what that looked like. Still, I kept it on my list and tried to keep it in the front of my mind. We met the goal but, even now, it’d be hard to describe concretely.

Ready to grab these questions and more? Download them today and make this homeschool curriculum shopping season the best one yet!