Curriculum Searching

 My mom started homeschooling when there were very few options for curriculum. The curriculum selections had expanded somewhat by the time she was homeschooling me. But that was nothing in comparison to the number of options available today.

I knew it was going to be a lot.

But, guys…

IT REALLY IS A LOT!

There are more curriculum options than I can count. And variations for different learning styles. But, on top of that, we have multiple educational philosophies and approaches to homeschooling.

We’re not just comparing textbook A against textbook B. No, we’re comparing the idea of textbooks themselves against a host of different approaches. 

Do you want to read your textbook and fill out your multiple choice questions?

Or maybe check a book out from the library, read it, and then “teach” it to your mom by giving an oral report or making a creative poster?

Or maybe immerse yourself in the works of the greatest minds so that you learn to truly think deeply and discover this world?

Or maybe we just incorporate everything into our daily lives —learning math and science in the kitchen and the field, writing business proposals, discussing history as we watch current events, and so on.

The list of options goes on and on.

And these curriculums and concepts…they are so pretty. I had the privilege of attending the HEAV Convention this year, and I loved it. I walked around the exhibit hall —half of me was so excited (fangirling, geeking out, you name it) and half of me wanted to cry over the fact that I literally can’t do it all in one lifetime. There’s just too much. I want it all but I can’t have it all.

I think my biggest anxiety was over the idea that I would pick the WRONG curriculum. What if this one doesn’t cover something my daughter really needs? What if it’s tailored to the wrong learning style, and she hates it?

What calmed me down was realizing that the curriculum is just one piece of the puzzle. As the mommy, I’m a big piece of the puzzle myself, especially in these early years. We’re going to sit down together and open our curriculum, and I’m going to work with her on anything she doesn’t understand. So if our curriculum isn’t kinesthetic enough for her, I’ll do more stuff with her. At this age, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to buy a whole new curriculum.

So I’ve spent a month researching curriculums. And narrowing down my options. And mourning over the options I discarded. And creating 3 separate great ideas. And narrowing that down further.

Along the way I got more of an idea of what might work for my firstborn and also for our whole family.

I finally settled on one solid plan.

And then I discovered curriculum sales and free bins. And I expanded my plan out again. Now I have a “here’s my primary plan but I would be willing to insert xyz in place of abc if it showed up in the free bin.”

We’re ready.

-Ish.

Ready-ish.

Yep.