| When a family decides to homeschool, one of the | | | | standards. |
| first decisions they face is what they will use for | | | | There are some drawbacks to using a prepared |
| learning materials. Most families choose one of the | | | | curriculum. Some of the cons include: |
| many pre-written curricula now available for sale | | | | |
| to families that homeschool. But a significant | | | | 1. There is a substantial up-front cost. A full |
| number of families choose to design their own | | | | curriculum from a major publisher will cost |
| course of study. | | | | anywhere from $300 to $1000 (or more) every |
| Whether families choose a pre-made curriculum, | | | | new year. While this is less than many private |
| or design their own studies, it requires a significant | | | | schools charge for tuition, it's still a concern for |
| commitment. There are great reasons to buy a | | | | homeschooling families on a budget. |
| course of study done by any number of | | | | 2. You are locked in for the school year. Even if |
| companies that specialize in curriculum for | | | | the curriculum you purchase doesn't fit your |
| homeschoolers. | | | | needs, many families will be reluctant to stop |
| Some of the advantages to buying a pre-made | | | | using it because of the expense of buying it. You |
| curriculum include: | | | | may be able to adapt the curriculum to better fit |
| | | | your needs, but that requires an extra preparation |
| 1. Everything is done for you. It's undeniable that it | | | | step you weren't expecting. |
| takes much less time and effort to buy a | | | | 3. There's no assurance what you buy is right for |
| packaged curriculum. The biggest time expense | | | | your kid. Your child may not connect with a given |
| will be doing research to find the right curriculum | | | | curriculum, no matter how well it's put together. |
| for your child. Once you decide which curriculum | | | | Your job as "head teacher" will be to make sure it |
| to purchase, you only need to follow the | | | | works for your child. Again, that is an extra step |
| directions that come in the course of study. | | | | that you didn't expect to go through. |
| 2. There is established structure. It's reassuring for | | | | Each family's individual needs will influence the |
| kids to know in advance what they are going to | | | | decision whether or not to buy a packaged |
| study. Parents have a ready-made answer to the | | | | curriculum. There is no right answer for every |
| question, "What are we doing today?" The | | | | family. Generally, packaged curricula offer more |
| curriculum structure serves as a roadmap for the | | | | structure, less preparation time for the parents, |
| year's study. | | | | and are assembled by people with an academic |
| 3. Professionals put the curriculum together. The | | | | background in education. |
| people who assemble curricula for most major | | | | Every family must choose whether a |
| homeschool publishers have education and | | | | pre-packaged curriculum is right for them. Either |
| homeschooling experience. This gives parents | | | | way, the children benefit from the commitment |
| some confidence that what the kids learn is age | | | | the family makes to home-based education. |
| appropriate and in keeping with educational | | | | |