Some people are planners, some are not. I fall in between. My homeschool planning improves each year, but after ten years I’ve learned a few things. These five tips for planning homeschool curriculum will help you give your child the best learning experiences possible. Start planning early, reflect on your previous year, make time for thorough research, try something new, and use a planning packet to stay organized.
Start planning early
Do you procrastinate? If so, you’re not alone. I almost messed up my daughter’s first year of high school by waiting until late summer to make arrangements for her classes. This time I’m starting in the spring, before the year is finished, so I’m not in vacation mode, and so far removed, that I forget what homeschooling is like.
Reflect on your previous year
Reflection is one of the most important steps in planning homeschool curriculum. (If you are a first time homeschooler, skip to the next tip). Think about the curriculum you used and its effectiveness. For each of your children write down their academic subjects. Reflect on each subject area and what you used to teach your child. Write down what went well and what needs to be changed or improved.
For example, I’m ending the year feeling dissatisfied with our history curriculum. We abandoned it altogether, so my son didn’t get much history content covered. The book was not a good fit for him, so I want to change to a curriculum of picture books instead of a textbook.
Make time to research thoroughly
Research takes times. First you need to identify curriculum and products. Then you have to get to know the ins and outs as best you can. This can mean reading product descriptions, downloading sample lessons, watching videos, partaking in free trials, and reading reviews. If you are investing money in something, it’s worth making time to adequately research.
When there is so much available in the homeschool market it can paralyze you. Try doing a google search for just one subject. You’ll feel like you’re drowning. This is where reflecting on your previous year come in handy. When you know what you want (or don’t want) you can eliminate curriculum from your list of possibilities quickly.
For example, you need a science curriculum that works for a broad age range so all of your kids can learn together. That specific criteria narrows your search.
Facebook groups, homeschool blogs, Cathy Duffy reviews, people you know personally, and companies that sell curriculum are all good places to find curriculum ideas. Look through catalogs to find popular products or dig deeper to find those less-known treasures.
Here are links to past curriculum we’ve used:
Try something new
I’ve had years when I was too tired (with a baby) to put much time and effort into planning ahead. I just kept doing what was familiar. The saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might be true, but where’s the fun in that?
Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if you are happy with your past curriculum choices. A new program or resource will renew your energy for the new school year and add freshness to your routine.
I’m looking forward to adding an artist study piece to my son’s curriculum next year. He’s an inquisitive boy. I think he’ll love learning about famous artists and doing projects that mimic their techniques and style.
Use a planning packet to stay organized
Planning your homeschool curriculum takes time, so staying organized is important. Too many times I’ve jotted down the name of a product on a scrap of paper, or tried to keep separate documents open on my laptop, only to lose track of the work I’d already done.
This homeschool curriculum planning packet walks you through the steps to thoughtfully plan and stay organized. You can purchase it here or you can come up with your own system. They key is to find a system that works for you.
Follow these five tips for planning homeschool curriculum, and you’ll be ready for your new school year. Start planning early, reflect on your previous year, make time to research thoroughly, try something new, and use the homeschool curriculum planning packet to take away the overwhelm. You’ll be confident in your curriculum choices, because you took the time to reflect and plan before making purchases.
