Developing Your Own Curriculum

Home School Tips — By Dr. Mommy on July 7, 2009 at 9:39 am

There are many prepackaged curriculum available to home school your children. But sometimes, your child may not be ready to use some of the books in the pre-packaged set or may be more advanced in one of the subjects, so making your own makes much more sense.

It is not difficult to create your own. First you must determine what subjects you will be pursuing with your child. Then you can make a list and begin the search.

Some of the places I have gone to review books is the library. This is a great place to try books out without spending any money.  If your friends recommend a certain curriculum, ask to see some examples before purchasing. But, one of the best places I have found are home school conventions. There are many vendors there, so be prepared to be overwhelmed. If you have a list of items you are in search of, it will make it much easier and lighter on your wallet.

If you do decide to purchase pre-packaged items and don’t have a choice to view first, be sure to take advantage of the return policies. Many times you can return items in brand new condition for a full refund. The shipping costs are worth it if you will not be using the books.

Building your own curriculum can save you money as well. You can purchase books and workbooks that your children will enjoy at a fraction of the cost. There are many online home school groups that will also sell like new books that they have used and no longer need. Local home school groups or co-ops always have book fairs where new and used books are sold and have wonderful resources available.

I have made the mistake of purchasing pre-packaged curriculum in the past. I thought it was a great idea to have all the books needed for one year in a box but I never took into consideration, the level or the interest that my children would have in them. For instance, I purchased a 4th grade curriculum but my child at the time was more advanced in the math than what that curriculum offered and I was not able to swap out the math book, so of course there was my mistake. I have since learned from that mistake and research every item included in packages and will more often than not, purchase my own books separately or make my own lessons for a particular subject.

Making your own curriculum is not difficult. It will save you money and ensure that you will be using the books or workbooks or supplies that you purchase. Pre-packaged curriculums work for some, but for many it does not especially if you have a child that may be stronger in one subject than another, and may require a different grade level than is included in a pre-packaged set.

A curriculum can involve so much more than books and we have recently incorporated the use of Lapbooks in our curriculum.  After many years of home schooling, I have found that my younger ones learn more with arts and crafts so incorporated their love into schooling was very important.  The Lapbooks were a great addition, because they enjoy the crafts which involves stickers, and colored paper and I enjoy the fact that they are actually learning in a new and unique way for them.

Remember to keep learning fun.

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