Homeschool Roundup: Curriculum Choices

It’s that time of year where families shop for back-to-school supplies and send their kids off to school. It’s a sad reminder that summer has ended and school is now back in session.

Lucky for you, your kids don’t have to leave home because you’ve decided to homeschool them!  That’s the beauty of homeschooling.  You can start and end school whenever you decide and your days are structured differently than most schools.

But even the ease and flexibility of homeschool can quickly turn into something overwhelming and stressful.

Choosing a homeschool curriculum can be an overwhelming experience.  I remember feeling so overwhelmed and frustrated when I first started on our homeschool journey 4 years ago.  I scoured the internet only to find hundreds of curriculum ideas to sort through.  It was almost enough to make me give up before I even started.  It’s hard enough when you feel unqualified to teach your children, let alone having to choose curriculum.

You don’t have to go through the same thing!  The good news is you CAN do it!  With a little bit of direction and encouragement, you’ll be homeschooling with better perspective.

In today’s post, I’ve asked 6 homeschool moms to give me their best advice and curriculum recommendations.  I am not an expert by any means.  I feel like I’m still learning!  What I love about the homeschool community is the generosity and kindness of other families willing to share what has worked for them.  You feel like you are not alone and there are several other families who have walked the same path, but have experienced success!

And that’s what I want for you, to experience success, fulfillment, encouragement, and a sense that you can do it because you are equipped.

First Things First: Why Homeschool?

Before we dive into curriculum choices, I wanted to share this blog post by Wendy from Learning to Live Outside the Lines.  In her Homeschool Q & A, she answers questions most homeschool moms have when they’re starting off.  I wish I had read this before I started my homeschool journey!  It’s encouraging and practical.  So if you’re in the beginning stages of deciding whether to homeschool or not, read her blog post because you’ll walk away with a better understanding of what’s involved when teaching your child from home.

Mom-Approved Homeschool Curriculum

Just a quick disclaimer here.  Each homeschool family is different.  How you choose to educate your child is entirely up to your preference.  There is not one method better than the other.  Each child is different.  Unit Studies may work better for one child where Montessori may work best for another child.

This is why it’s important to really know your child’s learning style.  How they process information is unique to the way they are wired.  To find out your child’s learning style, I would recommend visiting HSLDA’s article called, “Know Your Students | Identify Their Personal Learning Styles”

Let’s dive into mom-approved homeschool curriculum, shall we?

COMPREHENSIVE HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM

Sarah from Wild Things Adventure gives you her HOMESCHOOL ACTION PLAN for the year.  She shares which curriculum for each subject has worked for her kids.  She homeschools four of her children, ranging from 3rd – 6th grade.  She is amazing!

READING AND WRITING CURRICULUM

Sharon from The Secret Life of Homeschoolers shares her review for READING and WRITING curriculum.  Sharon home schools her two children and has over 20 years of teaching experience.  She has a wealth of information!

MATH CURRICULUM

Sarah from Raising Royalty gives you her review for MATH curriculum.  She is a single mom with 6 kids AND homeschools her children!  She is such an inspiration.  Her insight is invaluable, honest, and packed with detail.

HISTORY CURRICULUM

Terryn from Just A Simple Home shares her review for HISTORY curriculum.  Terryn is another rock star mom.  She has 7 children and homeschools.  Any mother who can homeschool AND take care of multiple kids is my hero in my book!

MONTESSORI TEACHING METHOD

Anitra from Chronicles of a Momtessorian is trained in the MONTESSORI teaching method.  If you don’t know much about this method, in a short summary, Montessori encourages self-directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play.  Teachers are trained to guide children in the learning process.  Some homeschool families practice this teaching method.  With Anitra’s experience, she does an exceptional job of sharing plenty of ways to incorporate Montessori into your homeschool teaching!

I encourage you to visit each of these homeschooling mom blogs.  You will find so much more reviews, recommendations, tips, and advice from each of them.

Soak up as much information as you can.  Build up your tool of resources so you can feel more confident!  Reach out to any one of us!  We are all here for each other.  If you have any questions, leave us a comment.  If you need encouragement, let us know! 

We’ve all been in that place of feeling unsure and inadequate.  But, know this, you are equipped for this.  And we are all here to support you and cheer you on!

Lastly, I want to thank all the women who contributing to this post.  Your wisdom, experience, and generosity are deeply appreciated!  I am so glad to be a part of a supportive homeschool community!

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