Curriculum And Material Questions
- How do I know which materials and resources to use?
- There are two lessons we have learned over the years. First, there is no "best" curriculum that works for every homeschool family. Second, there is no "perfect" curriculum.
Choosing curriculum materials is one of the more important elements of homeschooling, and it may take you a while to figure out which one will best meet your family's needs.
It is very helpful to talk with other homeschoolers and find out what has, and has not worked for them. When we first started this website, there weren't many good resources of information from homeschoolers about homeschool curriculum.
Homeschool Facts has been running surveys for a while, and we try to keep up-to-date information about the curricula recommended by homeschool families. A few have risen to the top for their consistency and their service to homeschoolers. You can find those in the "best-in-class" section of this website.
To get the most value from materials, families must judge resources for themselves, and base choices on family values, needs, educational philosophies and their children's learning styles. Some families like the ease and security of having a prepackaged curriculum, while others choose to make their own decisions about what is important to learn and what is useful and helpful in their daily lives. Discuss this with your children. What do they want to do? How do they learn best? Try to look at sample copies of materials before you choose. As homeschoolers, you will be in charge of your learning - take advantage of all the adventure has to offer!
- Where can I get materials and resources?
- Homeschool materials are not difficult to find. Many communities have bookstores for homeschoolers. The internet is rich with curriculum providers. Many homeschool support groups have preferred provider links, and a few sites like ours that publish feedback from homeschoolers. There are two caveats we would like to discuss
Consider the source: The homeschool market has exploded over the past ten years, and there are an abundance of vendors who overcharge and under serve. We recommend giving the vendor a call and discussing your needs with them.
The homeschool market has also led to the development of several "homeschool" websites that claim to be free information resource centers for homeschoolers. Remember the old adage "nothing is free." One homeschool dot com claims to be the #1 provider of resources for homeschoolers. What you don't know is that they charge $500 per month for a one line link on their homepage. Advertising fees for vendors has risen over 500% in the last several years, and those advertising costs are always borne by the consumer. Those "free" resources may be driving up the price of your materials. Homeschool Facts does not accept paid advertising from homeschool vendors. The only paid advertising on this is from the College's that accept homeschoolers. Through a small advertising fee, we are able to provide information to the homeschool community.
Consider the Unknown Provider. Just because you don't see flashy advertising in the homeschool magazines and websites, doesn't mean there isn't great value in a curriculum product. We have discovered a few providers who have consistently refused to pay the high cost of advertising, and pass those savings on to their customers. One of those vendors has earned a solid reputation among their customers and is, in fact, among the "best-in-class" of Homeschool Facts.
- What if my child wants to learn something I can't teach?
- Don't worry, your child's natural learning abilities will likely amaze you. In many communities and in on-line programs there classes (correspondence, video, support groups, community centers, colleges, etc...) taught by experts, but many children are very capable of teaching themselves - just as adults do when they have something new they want to learn. The most powerful learning experiences for a child is to have a parent learning right alongside the child. You don't have to be the expert in every area. Learn with your child, or search your community for resources that will help your child learn. And when searching for "teachers," don't overlook friends, acquaintances, and businesspeople in your community - most people are delighted to have a young person around who is sincerely interested in what they do and know.