Choosing a Curriculum
Amidst the Marketing Madness
by Carlene Archer

In your first year of or your 18th, choosing curriculum is a continual process. As children progress, their interests, strength, and weaknesses change. The logistics of your household change. In addition, your family's financial position and needs can vary widely during the years you choose to homeschool.

All of these factors must be considered when choosing curriculum. What makes your process even more difficult is the fact that one formula will not work for every family. One formula won't even work for every child for every year. There are, however, some guidelines to follow that can make the process easier.

Be Prepared and Be Disciplined
There is no shortage of curriculum to purchase. No matter how many things you know don't work, you're still tempted by that shiny new unit study booklet or that wonderful hands-on science kit. That's why it's so important to carefully evaluate your homeschool, your children and you before you choose curriculum, as you purchase curriculum, and after you have made a purchase. Arm yourself with as much information as you can before you buy, keep those goals in mind as you purchase and re-evaluate your decision after you've had a chance to use that new teaching tool. If you follow these steps, you're less likely to spend money on things you won't use. But what knowledge will help?

Be Prepared - As you move toward a curriculum purchase you need to take with you knowledge in the following areas:
Your teaching style
Your child(ren)'s learning style(s)
The teaching approach taken by each curriculum
Your budget
Before you consider these nuts-and-bolts issues, you might want to consider just why it is you're homeschooling. Is it to provide a more challenging academic environment for your child? To ensure that your religious or moral principles are passed on? To offer your child a richer learning environment than a structured classroom education provides? The answers to these questions will also help you narrow down your choices.

Learning and Teaching Styles - Everyone tends to learn most comfortably in one of several ways, and these styles of learning can be broken down into three basic styles: the visual learner, the auditory learner, and the tactile learner. These styles reflect the way your child most comfortably processes information; through sight, sound, or touch. Knowing which style your child is most comfortable with will help you choose the curriculum tools that provide the best fit for your homeschool. In addition, you'll find that you, too, thend to communicate information most comfortably in one of those three ways.
 

Carlene Archer, from Lawrenceville, Georgia, has homeschooled her 11-year old son John for 7 years, with husband Tim acting as principal and spiritual guide. They recently added Cathy (6) and Kelly (4) to the lesson plans. The Archers enjoy using Soinlight Curriculum for their base and equally enjoy  tinkering with it for fun. Carlene is also the editor for the Gwinnett Christian Home Educators (GCHE) local support group newsletter , and a member of the NHEN "Voices" 'staff'.
©2000 NHEN