Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Choosing your curriculum is an important step when beginning homeschooling. Today on Home School Heartbeat, Mike Smith talks about how to decide among the available curriculum options.

Mike Smith:
Every homeschool needs a curriculum. Your choice of curriculum will depend on how you choose to run your homeschool.


The majority of homeschool families have experienced success with a more structure approach by using a formal curriculum. Using a formal curriculum initially is the best way to start. Once you become familiar with the practicalities of homeschooling you'll be in a better position to decide whether you need to change your curriculum.


Every child is by definition an individual. Therefore, no single curriculum will be the best fit for every child. Active children, who are most easily distracted, may need a more flexible curriculum, whereas a child who has the ability to concentrate for long periods of time may respond better to a structured approach.


Most homeschool families experiment with their curriculum, but if you find a method that's working, stick with it. There are many examples of successful homeschool graduates who have used the full variety of curriculum available.


If you're unsure about your curriculum decision, talk with veteran homeschoolers in your community and learn what worked for them. Someone who's already been through the process can be a great help.


And until next time, I'm Mike Smith.