top of page
  • Black Facebook Icon
  • Black YouTube Icon
  • Black Instagram Icon
  • Black Pinterest Icon

Choosing the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Your Child

Writer's picture: Sarah MillerSarah Miller

Updated: Jan 11


Choosing the best homeschool curriculum for your child


Choosing the best homeschool curriculum for your child can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. But don’t worry—you’re not alone in this journey! Did you know that in 2024, nearly 4 million children in the U.S. are being homeschooled? That’s a lot of parents navigating the same decisions you’re facing. Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler or just starting, this guide will help you cut through the noise and select a curriculum that fits your child’s unique learning style, interests, and educational goals. Let’s dive in!


Understanding Your Child’s Learning Style


Some children learn by seeing nicely organized information in a workbook. Others learn best by hearing you read aloud. Other children might need to touch and play with things to understand a concept. Perhaps yours just has to read a lot of books and do some writing to learn. Identifying your child’s unique learning style can help you hone in on the curriculum options that might best serve them. For example, if my child learns math best by using hands-on materials, I am not going to continue researching a curriculum if I find out it is primarily a workbook or worksheets. There are plenty of other options available!


Setting Your Homeschool Goals and Priorities


Balancing your preferred educational outcomes with your family’s values and beliefs is SUPER important! We all want our kids to learn and have a strong academic outcome from our homeschooling efforts. However, did you think about their personal development and your family goals? What about their interpersonal relationships with each other or executive functioning skills? One example might be that you want your child to learn the executive functioning skill of time management. In this case, a curriculum that has some assignment and deadlines might be helpful for them as long as you enforce these requirements. Maybe you have a short-term educational goal for your child to have better handwriting. These goals and priorities should be considered when finding the best homeschooling curriculum.


Exploring Different Types of Homeschool Curricula


There are SO many different types of homeschool curricula out there. I will list out just a few of the bigger types below with some brief descriptions of what you could expect:

  1. Classical -  emphasizes a rigorous and structured learning process based on the classical model of education called the Trivium broken down into 3 stages of learning. 

  2. Traditional - closely mirrors the structure and content of a typical public school curriculum with a focus on established subjects, graded assessments, and structured schedules. (K12 is an example of this)

  3. Charlotte Mason - good for families who value literature, nature, and the arts, literature rich curriculum that is child-centered and focused on fostering an appreciation for the arts and nature. 

  4. Socratic - emphasizes critical thinking, dialogue, and the exploration of ideas through questioning and discussion, usually tailored to the student’s interests, needs, and pace

  5. Unschooling - allows children to explore their passions and interests at their own pace, trusting their innate curiosity and desire to learn; child-led with no textbooks or workbooks; parents act as facilitators rather than instructors, providing resources, guidance, and support as needed; focuses on real-world connections, experiential learning and autonomy

  6. Unit Studies - an integrated and thematic approach to learning where multiple subjects are centered around a single topic or theme; flexible and adaptable, focused on connections. 


You may even find that your child (and you) would thrive best with one type of curriculum for certain parts of your homeschool and another type of curriculum for other parts of your homeschool. This is called “cherry-picking” and I would venture to bet that MOST homeschoolers are doing some sort of cherry-picking to maintain a happy balance within their homeschools. More about this in another post 🙂


Budgeting for Homeschool Curriculum


When you start looking at homeschool curriculum options, you may find that many are pricey and this might scare you. There are many budget-friendly homeschool resources out there! The truth is, you can often find what you are looking for through smaller homeschool curriculum makers for a lot less than what “the big curriculum companies” are offering. Many times, you can find just a PDF version of a curriculum and supplement with your own notebooks and library books. You can also find used homeschool curriculum in buy-sell-trade Facebook groups. (Try searching for curriculum-specific buy-sell-trade groups too!) Just because a curriculum is expensive, don’t let it scare you off. You might just need to get creative finding a used copy, PDF version or find a similar yet less expensive option.


Adapting the Curriculum to Your Child’s Needs


Repeat after me: “I will not let my curriculum control my homeschool.


When you finally find the curriculum you want, it can be very easy to dive in head first and follow it to a T. Don’t fall into this trap! You can quickly get stressed out by getting slightly “off-schedule” according to the syllabus. This is YOUR homeschool! Tailor lesson plans if you have an advanced learner or one with special needs. Adjust the pace if you have a season of family emergencies Incorporate your child’s passion for horses if it gets them more excited. Again, this is YOUR homeschool! Adapting the curriculum you chose is fine, okay, fantastic and expected!!


Balancing Online vs. Offline Resources


Another thing to consider is whether your child would work best using an online resource, an offline resource, or a mix of both! One advantage of using an online program is the availability of instruction videos for many of them. This can be especially helpful in subjects that you may not feel so strong in. A disadvantage of online programs could be that your child spends more time on a screen than you would prefer. We use a little of both in our homeschool to mix things up a little.


Choosing the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Your Child: Conclusion


Choosing the best homeschool curriculum for your child is an ongoing process. As your child grows, their needs, interests, and learning preferences may change—and that’s okay! The key is to stay flexible, listen to your child, and continually adapt your approach. Remember, the perfect curriculum isn’t just about the materials; it’s about how well it supports your family’s unique learning journey. Ready to find the perfect fit? Start exploring today and set your child up for success!






Recent Posts

See All

Comments


As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

© 2025 by Wonder Grow Learn. Powered and secured by Wix

  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
bottom of page