Choosing Homeschool Curriculum: 10 Do’s and Don’ts You Need to Know

Choosing homeschool curriculum can be one of the most overwhelming parts of the homeschool journey. It feels like you need to pick exactly the right one in order to be successful. But if you jump into the step of researching homeschool curriculum before anything else, you are going to be completely overwhelmed. Here are some of the top things to-do and not to do when you are considering your options.

The Choosing Homeschool Curriculum DO NOT DO List

If you are new to homeschooling, here are 5 things I would recommend not doing when you are thinking about homeschool curriculum. 

Do not search on Google. 

Typing in “Grade 2 homeschool curriculum” is going to yield you a long, long list of options. I’m talking millions. And they likely aren’t even all the options available out there. They are just what a search engine has decided is worth showing. It will not likely immediately answer your “what do use to teach my child” questions nor guide you to the perfect answer. 

Don’t ask for ideas in a Facebook group. 

Far too often, I see new and already overwhelmed homeschoolers posting in large Facebook groups with questions like “What is the best curriculum for Grade 2?” or “What should I use for Grade 2?” This is followed with dozens (or even hundreds) of answers from well-meaning homeschoolers who share what they love to use in their homeschool. Everyone wants to help, which is amazing! And who wouldn’t want to share a program that is working for them? But the challenge is the information dump adds to extra confusion and chaos when you don’t have the foundations in place yet to know what you *really* need. 

Don’t go buy something crazy expensive. 

Almost every homeschooler I know has had the experience of finding what they think will work for their kids and discovering that it really wasn’t what they needed after all. I advise against starting out buying a massively expensive program without testing first and knowing how it fits into your homeschool. Many programs offer free samples or mini-version to try at home or use as a test run before you dive into a full purchase. 

Don’t feel pressured into purchases or get tempted by something new a shiny. 

Maybe someone you know has purchased a specific homeschool curriculum and they think you should use it too. Maybe you constantly see the products for a big-name homeschool curriculum and hear that they are the “best” option out there. Maybe you see something on sale and have a fear of missing the opportunity to buy a curriculum on a discount. Maybe someone told you that you have to buy a curriculum that has everything for the entire grade in it and you think that’s required, even though you know your child struggles in one subject. 

All these kinds of examples add an element of pressure to choosing homeschool curriculum that you really don’t need. You need to know exactly what YOU want to use in your homeschool before purchasing anything. 

The other temptation is to get sucked into the currently popular resource. Whether that’s because everyone is talking about it and you don’t want to be left out, because it promises to solve the problems you feel you are dealing with, or because it looks beautiful…. Don’t buy it on an impulse. Take time to consider all the options first and decide if it’s really what you need at this time.

Don’t get stuck in paralysis analysis mode. 

Making decisions is hard, especially when it feels extremely important to get it right. Don’t spend an extreme amount of time researching, comparing, evaluating, questioning, and panicking. Instead, set yourself a goal to pick something “good enough” and move on. You may never find the single perfect homeschool curriculum for your child. And, even if you do, that can change over time – either because your child’s interests or attention shifts with time, the program updates and is different the next time you buy it, or your lifestyle changes and you have to find a new answer.

So how DO you choose homeschool curriculum? 

Now that we have the important do not list out of the way, let’s talk about the To Do list as you research and choose your homeschool curriculum. 

Do consider your child, you, and your family first. 

Success in your homeschool depends heavily on your specific child and how it works for them. Deciding on a random curriculum might not fit how they learn, how you teach, or the kind of lifestyle you have. 

For example, if your family isn’t really into screen time – it wouldn’t make much sense to choose a video based curriculum or one that needs internet access. If your child just cannot sit still and listen to books, you probably don’t want to use a reading aloud heavy curriculum. If you are working homeschool parent, you probably don’t want to use a program that requires a lot of your personal time to prepare, teach, and evaluate. If your family live in a tiny house or RV, you might not want a curriculum that requires your child to have a large collection of books or physical projects. 

So, the first thing you need to do is take a look at your family. What practical things do you need to consider as you look at homeschool curriculum? 

• How does your child learn best? Do they have a weakness in a specific learning style? What makes them “come alive” and excited about learning things? 
• What is your family lifestyle like? How many kids do you have? How much room do you have? Do one or both parents work?
• What kind of teaching gets you excited? Do you struggle with anything that might make it hard for you to use a specific style of teaching (like doing a lot of reading aloud?) 

Do take time to deschool yourself and explore different teaching methods. 

When people first start homeschooling, there’s a lot of preconceived thoughts about what learning should look like. So it’s important to take time to evaluate why we believe these ideas, shake up our belief systems, and consider alternatives. This is called deschooling. 

There are so many ways to approach education – and the traditional method of workbook and textbook is just one. Explore the world of homeschool methods and take time to learn about each one to see what one sounds like a good fit for you and your child. 

Do set a budget. 

You can homeschool at any price point. There are ways to homeschool for free and ways that cost thousands of dollars. The key is to know what you can realistically afford for each child. Be sure you include extras like classes, clubs, subscriptions, field trips, materials, and more. And remember – what is a reasonable budget for another family might not be for yours.

Do have a plan before you choose your homeschool curriculum. 

Some provinces require specific things to be taught within the school year. Others offer freedom and independence for the what and how. It’s important to know what exactly your school plan will cover this year. 

• Are there any subjects you are required to cover in order to comply with regulations? 
• What subjects do you want to include in your lesson plans this year? 
• Does your child excel or struggle in any specific subject? 
• What personal goals would you or your child like to set for this year? 

Do take your time and narrow down your options. 

There’s rarely a reason to jump into a curriculum without having considered the options fully.  It doesn’t really matter if you wait until after the school season starts before you choose curriculum. The most important thing is to find resources that are most likely to help you enjoy this homeschooling experience and time with your kids. 

There are so many other questions you can consider to narrow down your options. Check out The Ultimate Guide To Planning Your Homeschool Year post for more ideas and ways to help with choosing homeschool curriculum and then put it all together into a plan for the year.

This post has been rewritten and published in 2024, however it was originally published in 2015. The Canadian Homeschool Blogging Team I hosted at the time put together posts on the how, why and what behind the adventure of choosing their curricula each year. You can find them below.

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Rebecca – 5 Questions to ask Before Choosing Curriculum

How to choose curriculum can be one of the most stressful aspects of homeschooling! If you have ever been to a homeschool convention and seen the rows of tables FILLED with curriculum, you may have felt completely overwhelmed at where to start! Every homeschool mom you talk to has a different program they love and it is difficult (if not seemingly impossible) to know ahead of time if something will work for your family and your child. If you have been or are at your whits end when it comes to choosing curriculum, take a deep breath and read on! Find out the top 5 questions you need to ask yourself before you purchase anything and grab your free planning printable!

Lisa – Curriculum

When I started homeschooling; I so badly wanted to just buy a box with everything I “needed” to homeschool. Sadly I never found this magic box…So I get curriculum from many places…

Bonnie – How I Choose My Homeschool Curriculum

One of the biggest questions facing a homeschooler is what curriculum to use. There are tons of great curriculum options available to homeschool families. For me, the deciding factor has been talking to fellow homeschoolers about what has worked for them in their daily routines.

Alexandra – Choosing Homeschool Curriculum & Planning for the Year Ahead

Since I started homeschooling, I have used several books to inspire, educate, and help me in my research. The most influential books for me have been: Project Based Homeschooling, The Well Trained Mind, and The Writer’s Jungle by Brave Writer.

Alison – Our Relaxed Classical Curriculum (including next year’s picks!)

It’s that time of year again when many homeschoolers are wrapping up their year. Finishing some subjects early (way to go you homeschooling superstars!) and trying to plough through where you may have fallen behind. It’s a great time for evaluating the year; what worked and what didn’t. Many are attending homeschool conferences, vendor halls, and planning for next year. Here’s a review of what we have been working on, and our plans for what’s up next for our up and coming third grader and kindergartener!

Andrea – Tips for Choosing Curriculum

Just remember curriculum is a personal choice. There`s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your curriculum.

Katie – How We Choose Our Curriculum

When it comes to homeschooling 2 very different special needs children, there was a lot of trial and error involved before I landed on a method that worked the best for all of us.

Joelle – How I Choose Our Curriculum

When it comes to curriculum, the homeschool market is saturated. There is way too much to choose from. On top of that, I am a curriculum junkie (defined as having a hard time staying away from curriculum), so I struggle.

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And now something for you! Here is a special free printable – with 4 worksheets to help you plan, compare, and purchase your curriculum materials for the year.

Includes:

• a goal setting worksheet
• a basic budget planner
• a wishlist and comparison worksheet
• a store/price comparison worksheet

Download your free Curriculum Purchase Worksheets.