A Few Words about Curriculum

By Linda Dobson

Adapted from Homeschooling: The Early Years

Curriculum: 1. All the courses of study offered by an educational institution

Choosing or creating your child’s curriculum isn’t a frightening proposition when you understand a curriculum is simply the course of your family’s study laid out. Your local school chose one curriculum. You may choose the same, similar, or a completely different curriculum. Four basic options are presented for your considertion, all of which may be implemented individually or combined any way you like.

Purchase complete curriculum

Proponents of particular educational philosophies offer curriculum based on their methods, among them Montessori, Waldorf, Charlotte Mason, Core Knowledge, classical, and religious education.

“We’re about to purchase curriculum for kindergarten for our oldest,” says Veronica, homeschooling in a rural county seat of Tennessee. “We picked this curriculum because it’s relaxed and includes many of the same books we would buy, anyway.”

Purchase curriculum components from a variety of sources

“We purchase math, English, and reading curriculum,” explains Ariana, “and supplement with computer programs, lots of maps and library materials. We homeschool year-round five to six days a week for about two-and-a-half hours each day. We take materials along while on vacations. We do lots of field trips and camping. Doing a little every day,” she says, “keeps the children motivated. They don’t like to miss a day and want to ‘do school’ on Sundays.”

Create your own curriculum

Joni uses online resources and information from other homeschoolers to set benchmarks for each homeschooling session. “I use library, Internet, reference books…whatever is available to outline how to accomplish each benchmark. Then we dig in!” says Joni.

Marlene outlines yet another approach. “I use various books and usually have a plan at the start of the year, but seldom do we finish everything as originally planned. If something isn’t working we drop it and find something else. We don’t stick to a traditional school calendar.”

See also “Parents, It’s Time to Consider Your Educational Choices.”

Use daily life as a curriculum

Using the simplest of plans, Holly’s family “wakes up, does, learns, sleeps. The learning year begins on January 1 and ends December 31.”

As homeschooling opens the door on a world of curriculum choice, it provides your family with many ways to accomplish your educational goals.

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