5 Top Tips For Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
How do you feel about choosing homeschool curriculum? It can be exciting, but also overwhelming.
There’s a lot to consider when choosing curriculum and homeschool resources. There is just so much to choose from, and it can be difficult to determine what truly matters.
If you’re trying to choose a curriculum for the coming school year or feeling overwhelmed by the choice, you’re in the right place. I’ve got 5 practical tips for choosing a curriculum you don’t want to miss. Plus, I’ll share some of our favorite homeschool curriculum resources to make it easy.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum Can Be Overwhelming!
Choosing homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming at times. With so many options, it’s no wonder we have such a hard time choosing. We want to make the right choice for our kids, ourselves, our budgets, and our values.
Plus, there’s always a little voice asking, “What if I pick the wrong thing?” It can all feel like too much. Especially with every company promising their product is the perfect solution to all your homeschool struggles.
The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all in homeschooling. What works best for one child or family won’t be the best solution for another. Believe it or not, that’s a good thing. It means we aren’t locked into one curriculum forever.
When something isn’t working, we can switch it up. Ultimately, the goal is to find tools that support where we are right now and what we want in our homeschool. It’s not about finding a magical curriculum that does “all the things,” it’s about starting simple and adjusting as we go.
5 Top Tips For Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
Fortunately, there are a few solid tips to guide us when we choose our homeschool curriculum. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or reevaluating, these tips can help you find the right fit.
Consider your child’s interests
Tune into your child’s interests. Considering what they want to learn about and which topics they find fascinating can make homeschooling days easier, more fun, and boost your child’s success.
When kids are naturally curious, they’re engaged and more easily retain what they learn. That doesn’t mean we skip multiplication because our kids hate it.
It’s more about weaving their interests and favorite topics into our lessons as we go. That’s how we can turn reluctant learners into eager students.
Sometimes it’s as simple as turning them loose in the library to explore their passions and find books that spark their curiosity. Sometimes it’s about letting them deep dive into a topic until they have explored everything they want to know.
Even if it means spending months talking about Viking boats, it’s worth it. Following their interests makes learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure you’re on together.
Your homeschool approach matters
Your homeschool approach matters because it sets the tone for your entire year. If you favor a relaxed, eclectic style with lots of hands-on play, projects, and real-world learning, a rigid textbook curriculum might end up feeling like a constant uphill battle.
On the flip side, if structure and routine help your family thrive, you might prefer a less open-ended homeschool curriculum. That way, you don’t find yourself feeling unprepared and stressed out every Monday.
It’s also important to consider how much time and energy you realistically have. Creating your own game-based, art-infused unit studies can be amazing—but not if it overwhelms you.
Fortunately, a well-designed interest-led curriculum can give you the freedom to add in creativity when it works for you, not because you have to build everything from scratch. The good news is you don’t have to fit into just one box. It’s totally okay to mix and match what works for you.
Don’t Panic Buy
One of the most important tips for choosing a curriculum is not to panic buy. It rarely ends well. When we’re stressed out and feeling overwhelmed, we start thinking the first shiny new curriculum filled with promises will be the holy grail for our family.
However, rushing into it without thinking it through usually means spending lots of money on something that doesn’t fit us, our kids, or our schedule. The result is lots of frustration, wasted money, and dusty textbooks.
Instead, give yourself permission to pause and think carefully. Ask questions, watch reviews, and try samples before committing to a new curriculum. The best choices happen when you’re calm, clear-headed, and focused. You don’t have to figure it all out overnight.
Nothing Is Permanent
What if you already panicked and bought the wrong thing? What if you really hate the curriculum you’re using right now? Good news! Nothing is permanent. I give you full permission to leave that less than stellar curriculum behind and find something new.
If something isn’t working, it’s okay to let it go. You’re not failing your child by switching it up. Actually, you’re showing them how to adapt, problem-solve, and prioritize what matters most.
Every homeschool journey includes some trial and error. Changing course means you’re learning what works now, and that’s no small thing. Stay flexible. It’s one of the best things about homeschooling.
You Don’t NEED Curriculum
That’s right, you don’t need a formal curriculum to give your child a rich and beautiful education. Learning can happen without textbooks and worksheets. It’s happening through conversations, books, nature walks, games, documentaries, and everyday life.
Homeschooling without a set curriculum can be just as effective and a lot more exciting than following a rigid program. Ditching the formal curriculum allows you to tailor lessons to your family’s routine and interests.
You can explore fractions while baking, dive into science on the family beach vacation, or learn geography while tasting food from around the world. Yes, it will look different than traditional school, but that’s because you’re building a learning lifestyle led by curiosity and connection.
More Homeschool Curriculum Resources
With all that in mind, here are some of our favorite homeschool curriculum resources. These are the materials that include those we’ve adopted and ones we’ve built to fit our family. We hope your family will love them too.
Discovery Decks
Discovery Decks will help your kids discover and learn in a way that fosters curiosity and critical thinking. Each Discovery Deck has 20 common questions that many children are curious about, plus a QR code to a video that will help them answer the questions and lead to more learning.
There are more than 30 Discovery Decks for Curious Kids, and we’re adding more all the time. If there’s a topic your kids are curious about, let us know in the comments, and it might become our next deck!
Flexible Planners
Our flexible Homeschool Planners were created because you do not always need something elaborate; sometimes you just want a simple layout that is in a checklist format, and that is what this gives you, along with options to make it fit your needs.
If you’re using a Waldock Way unit study or following our flexible child-led homeschooling approach, you’ll love these planners. There’s even a fun Wizards & Wands themed planner for our most popular unit study!
Gameschooling
We didn’t invent it, but we love gameschooling! Sign up for our newsletter and you’ll get an email when we share a new list of games each month.
If you’re just starting out with this approach, grab our comprehensive Guide to Gameschooling. It’s a 25+ page guide with everything you need to begin Gameschooling in one place.
Guide to Strewing
We’re also big fans of strewing for independent learning. Strewing is an easy way to create learning opportunities that put kids in the driver’s seat.
Strewing doesn’t require parents to conduct another lesson or even participate, so you can watch your kids discover and learn on their own while you sip your morning coffee. Grab our ultimate Guide to Strewing to get tips on adopting this approach in your homeschool.
Interest-Led Unit Studies
So what’s our favorite way to homeschool? Interest-led unit studies of course! We have followed our daughter’s interests and curiosities down some amazing rabbit holes, and we have all learned a lot of new and exciting things.
If you want an interest-led learning curriculum that’s focused on great books, games, hands-on activities, and exploration, don’t miss our unit studies:
- Literature Based Unit Studies
- Homeschool Geography & History Studies
- Homeschool Nature & Science Studies
- Homeschool Holiday Fun
Choosing homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. With a little planning and the freedom to shift gears, you can find what works best for your family.
Follow your child’s interests and keep things simple. Remember, you’re not behind, and you don’t have to do it all perfectly.
Ready to dive in? Check out some of our favorite curriculum resources above, explore what sparks joy for your child, and if you ever feel stuck, come back to these tips.