| Now that you've made the choice to homeschool | | | | studies. |
| your child, you're faced with thousands of | | | | |
| curriculum choices. How do you know what is | | | | What about your financial situation? If you |
| right for your family? Here are some tips to | | | | are short on funds, you may lean towards an |
| help narrow down your choices and guide you | | | | eclectic style. You can find homeschool |
| to the best curriculum for your child. | | | | materials cheaply or even free via the |
| | | | Internet, and even yard sales, thrift stores |
| Consider your objectives | | | | and online auctions. Conversely, if money is |
| | | | no object, you can go all out and pick a |
| Think about why you chose homeschooling. What | | | | curriculum that includes all the craft and |
| is the most important benefit in your | | | | science project materials as well as hard |
| estimation? Are you concerned about the | | | | bound books your child will be reading during |
| quality of your child's education? Do you | | | | the year. Teacher support via Internet or |
| want to mesh your child's secular education | | | | phone may be available also. |
| with religious instruction? Is it important | | | | |
| to you that your child be accepted into a | | | | Consider your philosophy |
| good college, or are you more concerned with | | | | |
| teaching your child entrepreneurialism or | | | | Do you believe in a classical education |
| respect for the earth? | | | | philosophy that dictates a lot of copywork |
| | | | and memorization, or are you a proponent of a |
| What is truly important to you and how do you | | | | more experiential, hands on or informal style |
| want to impart that to your child? | | | | of learning? If you choose a curriculum that |
| | | | doesn't mesh with your beliefs about |
| Answering these questions can help lead you | | | | education, you'll find yourself frustrated |
| in the right direction in regards to what | | | | and likely your child will be unhappy too. |
| curriculum to choose. | | | | |
| | | | There is no one "best" choice. You should be |
| Consider your situation | | | | congratulated for being willing to invest the |
| | | | time and energy to educate your child at |
| Do you have 3 or more children? Do you work | | | | home. Don't stress out about curriculum |
| part time or have little support? It's going | | | | choices. As a home schooling parent you are |
| to be especially challenging for you to spend | | | | free to change things whenever you want to. |
| time educating. A curriculum that requires | | | | Finding the right curriculum for you and your |
| minimal teacher preparation and supervision | | | | child isn't that hard once you know what you |
| might be best, for instance the "All in One" | | | | truly want from your home schooling |
| style of homeschool curriculum versus unit | | | | experience. |