Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Michael Farris:
When my family was first homeschooling, finding curriculum was a tremendous challenge. The days of difficulty in finding curriculum are, thankfully, long gone.

Curriculum choices abound for today’s homeschoolers. There are a few very large suppliers who sell the full range of materials for all subjects and all grades. The granddaddies of this niche are A Beka Books and Bob Jones University Press. There are also a number of well-established programs that provide not only books but full-service correspondence courses. Christian Liberty Academy is the stalwart of this approach for the Christian curriculum, while Calvert School offers a very traditional form of secular education.

There are three good ways for a new or potential homeschooler to get solid advice about curriculum. First, attend a state or regional curriculum fair. Look at the materials and talk to the vendors yourself. Second, contact a local support group leader and ask for some assistance in reviewing curriculum. Third, buy a copy of one of two excellent books that contain comprehensive summaries of curriculum options. Cathy Duffy’s Christian Home Educator’s Curriculum Manual or Mary Pride’s Big Book of Home Learning are both excellent resources. Home School Legal Defense can point you to any of these materials.

This is Michael Farris.