Help! Where do I start? There are so many choices for homeschool curriculum.

Pouring through curriculum catalogs.

Reading and watching review after review.

Asking every homeschooler you know.

Choosing curriculum is often a HUGE stumbling block for homeschool parents.  And for good reason!  And in today’s homeschool environment, the selection is infinite.   (In tomorrow’s post, I’ll give you a starting place for choosing your curriculum.)

If this isn’t your first year homeschooling, you already have experience in choosing curriculum.  Just because you’ve hit high school doesn’t mean your methods have to change!  You’ve chosen curriculum that has worked.  And you’ve likely had some fails, too.  Both of those are ways we can guide our future choices. 

Whether it’s your first year or 10th year, there are several things you should consider.

I have a free worksheet you can print out with these questions. Sometimes I find it better for me if I actually write these things down. It keeps me focused when I’m shopping!!

(Check out the rest of my 10 Days of Prepping for High School series.)

What are your priorities? 

Maybe you are a family that emphasizes fluency in a second (or third!) language or you’re a computer-loving family who enjoys coding.  Perhaps there’s one college that your family has been attending since it opened, so your goal is to make the best possible application for that school. 

Take the time to consider all of your priorities — from the subjects you emphasize to your post-secondary goals.  This will be the primary guide as you choose the curriculum.  There are so many fantastic programs and it’s easy to get tempted by them.  But it doesn’t matter how strong it is if it won’t support your goals & priorities for your homeschool. 

How does she learn best?

Often, we feel like we have to use textbooks in high school.  I do think there is value in learning to use textbooks, especially if your kiddo will go on to college.  But that’s not the only way they can learn in high school!  Do they do well with lectures?  Do they need a lot of practice for math?  Is your student an artist?  Would she like to create projects for what she’s learned?

How much time can/will you allot?  

Be realistic.  If you dislike prep work, choose things that are open-and-go or have kits you can order. (This is me!  I learned that long ago.) If you don’t have much time for grading, perhaps an online curriculum would be a good fit for you. 

And not every subject can take an hour or two every day.  You’ll run out of time! Just like your budget, you’ll need to prioritize your time.  If your student works slowly in math, account for that.  Can they write a quality 5-paragraph essay in 30 minutes?  That’s important to know, too.

What materials & curriculum is your teen drawn to? 

Involve your teen! Whether it’s your first year of homeschooling or not, your teen is old enough to see what appeals to her and what doesn’t.  Really listen to her.  Her input is important.  It’ll help you choose wisely and give her ownership in her learning.  

My teen likes me to send her links/give her a stack of books, so she can look through them without Mom peering over her shoulder.  She’s able to process it and have thinking time before we talk.

What are your weaknesses and strengths? 

Subjects that are easy for you to understand and teach will be ones that you may not need a strong teacher’s guide for.  But your weaknesses?  Oh, those you will want to look at programs with good teacher support or consider outsourcing them.

For example, some math programs will include the step-by-step work for some homework problems in addition to the answers.  If math is difficult for you to teach, this would be beneficial.  

Don’t forget to consider what kind of relationship you and your kiddo have in each subject.  I can teach writing well — but our relationship really suffered in middle school when I did.  As a result, we chose to outsource it for her first two years of high school. 

How much is in your curriculum budget?

Unfortunately, few of us have an unlimited budget!  Because my daughter will likely major in a math or science-based career, it was a priority for us to provide her with a strong math program that we outsource (link the video).  History, however, is something we choose to take a more inexpensive route. 

Look at the answers to the previous questions and let them guide how you allot your budget.  There is no right or wrong way!  Every family and every student has different needs and goals.