Once parents decide to homeschool their children, one of the next steps that they need to take is to decide the curriculum and select the materials to be used in their child’s learning journey. Parents need to find the curriculum and materials that contain the lessons their children need to learn and make sure that it fits their personality and learning style.
A curriculum is defined as the materials that parents will use to help achieve their child’s learning goals for the year. And because there are so many choices, it can be challenging for parents to pick the right curriculum and materials for their child’s homeschooling.
But while that can be intimidating, author, wife, and homeschooling mom Joy Mendoza also describes this process as a fun experience. This is because parents have a chance to customize how their child is going to learn and accomplish their learning objectives for the year. Before parents pick the curriculum for their child, it’s important for them to understand the different types of curriculum and materials that they can choose from:
- Curriculum Used in Formal Schools – These are the materials used in conventional schools such as books, textbooks, and worksheets.
- Box Curriculum – This is the option for parents who have people who can help them put together a complete set of materials for all the subjects areas of their child. For instance, if parents have a friend who also homeschools their child or knows someone who works with a homeschool organization who can help them gather materials.
- Online Materials – The materials that can be found online will do the teaching for the child, including the assessments, which will be helpful for parents who are homeschooling but also have other things to do. These materials are especially helpful for older children who can use computers on their own.
- Mixed Approach – This combines the use of different materials, such as using online sources together with books and printed materials, to mix and match different content that the child needs to cover their learning needs.
Now, when it comes to choosing the right curriculum and materials for a child’s homeschooling, there are many different factors to consider. Here are some of the most important:
1. Age and Level of Child – It’s important for parents to make sure that the materials they will select match the needs of their child as well as their age. Another thing that should also be considered is the learning competencies that are required for the child’s age.
2. Homeschooling Period – Parents should also consider how long their children will be homeschooled when picking the curriculum and materials for them. They should also make sure that the materials they choose will be aligned with the school where they will transfer their child to make their adjustment easier.
3. Number of Kids in Homeschooling – If parents are homeschooling multiple children, they can use some materials and lessons across all levels, which saves them money and time.
4. Learning Competencies – Even if their children are homeschooled, there are still certain learning competencies that homeschooling should cover at each level, which parents should also consider. The website of the Department of Education (DepEd), as well as accredited providers, gives details on the learning competencies that need to be covered each year. Those who are independent homeschoolers, meanwhile, need to structure their materials and learning competencies on their own.
5. Time Allotted for Teaching – Parents should also think about how much time they will have to teach their children, which can range from two to three hours daily. If they don’t have much time to teach their kids, then they can use online materials, most of which will do the teaching for their child.
6. Teaching the Materials – Children have different learning styles, and some may be more receptive to certain types of materials. For instance, children who learn better through hearing will prefer these types of teaching materials, while children who are visual learners will learn more through these materials.
7. Budget – Parents should also consider how much they will spend on the materials. Imported materials are more expensive, while there are a lot of online materials which are free such as those at khanacademy.org. For instance, DepEd has a list of free resources, while parents also have the option to mix and match foreign and local materials. Mendoza says that what’s important is how parents teach and adjust the material to their child.
8. Subjects you are Confident Teaching – Another thing parents should consider is how comfortable they are in teaching the subjects required for their child’s learning. They should be humble when choosing teaching materials and admit that they don’t have to know and be experts in everything.
9. Your Child’s Weaknesses and Strengths – All children have different strengths and weaknesses, and parents need teaching materials that will address their child’s weaknesses while also amplifying their strengths.
10. Reviews of other Homeschoolers – Finally, parents should also look into what other homeschoolers think of these teaching materials. Even if some materials look nice, if they aren’t very usable, then parents should consider materials that are recommended by other homeschoolers.
Mendoza recommends that parents should be willing to flex and shouldn’t feel controlled by the curriculum and materials. They should ask themselves and consider how they can present it in a way that is more engaging for their child, such as by adding projects, activities, or skipping some parts. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to be flexible with the teaching materials to adapt to the personality and learning style of their children.
Homeschooling is a personalized experience, and in the end, picking the right curriculum and materials can be a rewarding experience for parents. In the end, Mendoza recommends that parents pray to God to ask for wisdom when picking the curriculum. After all, it is God who knows our children best and how they will learn, and the learning goals they need to accomplish.
For more homeschooling tips, you can watch episodes of Teach with Joy or visit Plus Network on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
