Discover homeschool curriculum tips and confessions in Episode 568! Learn what works, what flops, and how to choose the best homeschool curriculum for your family.

Curriculum Confessions – What Worked and What Flopped ~  Episode 568

Why the Right Homeschool Curriculum Matters

Welcome back to Vintage Homeschool Moms! I’m Felice Gerwitz, your host and a homeschool mom of 32 years. I know, I sound way younger! (I hope you think that!) Listen, I’ve learned so much through trial, error, and some amazing wins. Today, we’re talking Curriculum Confessions: What worked and what didn’t. If you’ve ever wondered if you picked the right curriculum or felt stuck with one that’s just not working for you or your family, this episode is for you. We’re diving into practical ideas to help you find what works for your family, with a focus on you. Not Sally-Jane down the street, or that lady who seems to have it all together with the perfect kids. No. You. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t like the curriculum, even if everyone says it is the best, it isn’t going to work for your family.

My goal for this podcast, as well as for the others that represent our network, is to leave you encouraged, equipped, and ready to make choices that bring joy to your homeschool. Let’s get started.

How to Choose a Homeschool Curriculum That Fits Your Family

The truth is, the best curriculum is the one that fits your family’s unique needs, and that can change from year to year as your kids grow. Look at your family and analyze what you need. Watch your kids at play, or if you have high schoolers, what interests them? Adding a mini-unit study or a deeper study will definitely help promote a child’s interests, but introducing them to new topics or stretching their minds is always beneficial.

I’ve mentioned this before in Episode 536, “The Best Homeschool Curriculum,” where we discussed finding what aligns with your kids and your lifestyle. A great place to start is CathyDuffyReviews.com – it’s a goldmine for detailed, expert reviews that help you sort through options without feeling overwhelmed. Trust me, it’s saved me from plenty of curriculum mistakes over the years.

Prioritizing Family Connection in Homeschooling

One thing to remember is that the focus of your homeschool should be on building strong family relationships through learning and education. Most of us prioritize spending time with our children over checking every academic box. I used checklists to keep us on track, as I could easily go off on a tangent. However, I prioritized shared activities, such as read-alouds and hands-on projects. We always had something planned, like a science or history fair. Even if we only presented to our family. For several years, we participated in science fairs, and my daughter won the competition, placing 2nd in the regional science fair and 1st in the state homeschool science fair. My other children were not as interested in the bigger competitions, so we kept it to the local homeschool science fairs. My science fair book even made it on the shelves of some libraries across the state and was named as the top book in God’s World Publishing.

Incorporating Life Skills into Your Homeschool Curriculum

Every opportunity to incorporate school into our homeschool was utilized. We cooked, baked, and worked on larger family projects together. I taught the children how to budget, or we worked on several gardens, not all of which were successful, except for basil. Somehow, we can grow huge basil plants. That didn’t mean we didn’t have a math curriculum, or reading and language arts for the older kids.

My kids were raised with the goal of being ready for life, not just tests. No snowflakes here. I think sports helped (although I was a reluctant sports mom at first; my biggest complaint was the time taken up with practices and weekends for the sport). Aside from that, I spent a great deal of time customizing my own curriculum with living books, nature studies, and creative projects. I eventually wrote books with a co-author who was a scientist, and we developed a four-book series. The Creation Study Guides are available on my website.

Affordable and Flexible Homeschool Curriculum Options

My focus was on creating an educational environment that was tailored to your kids. And finally, affordable options like CTC Math one of our sponsors.

What Flopped in Our Homeschool Curriculum

Now, let’s get to the confessions. As a former public school teacher, I attempted to recreate the school experience at home, but that proved to be a major flop for both my then-only homeschooling child and me, who had some learning struggles. It was horrible. The all-in-one programs were recreating public school at home. It was too rigid and too much like busywork, leaving us all frustrated. Switching to something flexible made all the difference. The math book, especially, was a train wreck, so what did I do? I ordered another one. I soon realized that the younger grades really needed to incorporate hands-on learning, and with that small tweak, it became a success instead of an ordeal. More work for me? Yes. But so worth it.

Practical Solutions for Curriculum Challenges

We used real-world learning, a straightforward phonics program, and turned everyday tasks like grocery shopping into math lessons, keeping things engaging and practical. We loved the nature center, and my son and daughter learned so much! But the biggest obstacle for me was changing the curriculum mid-year. I had such a hard time giving myself permission to do so because of the cost! No one wants to waste money, so often we just plow through and make the best of things. If that is how you feel, then listen to my Vintage Homeschool Moms, “Help! I Want To Change My Curriculum,” I finally made a mid-year switch that brought relief and success.

Fostering Critical Thinking Through Family Discussions

Another thing that worked was making time for family discussions centered on books, ideas, or current events. These conversations spark curiosity and build critical thinking in ways no worksheet can. On the other hand, a significant drawback was pushing through without breaks. I’ve learned that routines are important rather than rigid schedules. We took short breaks between subjects when possible and made time every morning for a devotional, where I read a short Bible story or thought for the day. This allowed us to keep burnout at bay.

The Role of Discipline in Homeschool Success

Truthfully, being fully committed and maintaining a strict approach to child discipline was key. Episode 491, “Homeschool Secret Weapon,” has more details on the topic.

One thing I learned was that I couldn’t be afraid to make a change or thoroughly research before buying a homeschool curriculum. Remember, what your good friend loves and what works for her family may not work for you. I often had friends come over and look at my curriculum, and I did the same if I was interested in something that someone else used.

Why Homeschooling Beats Traditional Schooling

The end result is that a bad day of homeschooling is better than the best day in public or private school. Even co-ops. You homeschool moms and dads are doing incredible work. I so miss the days of traveling and speaking at homeschool conferences. There, I was able to meet face-to-face with moms and dads and spent the entire time discussing and helping families. Even if it meant sending them off to buy someone else’s curriculum instead of my unit studies. I listened and advised accordingly.

Keep experimenting, keep adjusting, and know that every step forward is a win. You can do this! Share this episode with a friend who’s navigating curriculum choices, and let’s encourage each other. Please visit our website to leave a personal comment or connect with us on social media. I’d love to hear what’s working for you or any way I can help you!

Thanks for joining me today. Keep homeschooling and remember you are not alone. Until next time!

Key Takeaways for Choosing the Best Homeschool Curriculum

• Point 1: Choose what fits your family – The best curriculum matches your kids’ needs and may change yearly; use CathyDuffyReviews.com for expert guidance.

• Point 2: Prioritize connection – Building family bonds through shared learning experiences, such as read-alouds or hands-on projects, is the best!

• Point 3: Integrate life skills – Teach practical skills, such as cooking or budgeting, alongside academics to foster well-rounded kids. Expect a lot and you will get a lot back. Remember, discipline is important.

• Point 4: Keep it simple and affordable – Use flexible, budget-friendly options like the Media Angels curriculum. Unit studies are suitable for K-12 students and can be utilized throughout your homeschooling years by delving deeper.

• Point 5: Our decsions change – I didn’t plan to homeschool but it turned out great. Here is a past episode of Confessions of a Homeschool Mom.

Struggling with your homeschool curriculum? Share your wins or flops on this post (see below) or on our Facebook page #HomeschoolCurriculum or visit VintageHomeschoolMoms.com to connect and comment!

Snag your bonus BIRTHDAY PODCAST GOLD. Grab the FREE Homeschooling Matters Ebook from Media Angels.