Tips for Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum
by admin - February 8th, 2012Homeschooling is becoming more and more common place. Once upon a time it used to be that only the children born in very strict religious families were schooled at home. Many different types of families are now making the choice to homeschool their kids. You also have a ton of curriculum options available now. Having internet access has made all of these choices possible. So what is the best approach to choosing which curriculum is right? Keep reading for some things to keep in mind as you search.
Unschooling is, by far, the most relaxed and variable type of homeschooling curriculum. You’re children’s natural instincts and interests are the focus of this curriculum. Technically the term unschooling isn’t schooling at all since the term school refers to a coordinated lesson plan and curriculum. This method allows kids to decide when and how they learn. You as the parent can take a hands off approach to their learning. However there is a drawback, college admissions and SAT’s aren’t always favorable to this method.
Your kids are still required to take the standardized tests sent out by the government and state even if you’re homeschooling them. Each year, the brick and mortar schools set aside days for the students to take these tests. Ask your local school board if your kids are required to take these tests in a "traditional school" classroom or if you can proctor them yourself at home. Some areas, set aside specific days where all the homeschooled kids are required to come in to take these tests.
Your best resource for figuring out how to handle the yearly standardized tests your kids have to take is your local school board.
Alot of parents choose to focus on unit studies for their kids. This method breaks the curriculum down into units to make them easier. Traditional schools have had a large influence in the development of this curriculum. Remember those "vocabulary units" in english class and the "Planets units" in science? This method can help focus your lesson plans. If your kids don’t like the lesson you are trying to teach you may have some trouble. You might consider skipping to something else. Homeschooling is no longer just for religious people. Parents these days are from all walks of life and still choosing to homeschool their kids. It is quite easy to decide on homeschooling. Figuring out what curriculum to use and how to implement it can be difficult. There are many choices in curriculums. Listen to your kids input and do alot of research. It is at this point that you will discover the right lesson plan for your family.