FAQ: Which Home School Curriculum is Right for My Children?

How do I decide which curriculum to buy?

This is perhaps the most complicated question to answer. First you need to know what curriculum means. The dictionary defines curriculum as "the subjects taught at an educational institution, or the elements taught in a particular subject". Curriculum comes from the Latin word curre which means "to run" or, literally "running, course".

"Curriculum", therefore, is not just a random set of books for each subject, but should be a carefully planned course for achieving the goals you, your spouse, and God have for your child(ren). The course or path is a "running/continual course" and may change over the years, but the goal will stay the same. ("...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out before us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." NIV Hebrews 12:1b-2). Furthermore, the goal should be more than just academic in nature. As Christian homeschoolers our goal should be to lead our child(ren) to the Lord and enhance their character growth and encourage them in a relationship with Jesus.

At The Christian Curriculum Connection we believe the goal of all homeschoolers should be to teach children, not just teach subjects from books!

Nevertheless, planning what books to use to teach your children is an important decision that involves making choices that affect their future. At The Christian Curriculum Connection we are sensitive to that fact that the choice also affects your family's budget. That is why our goal is to offer Home School Books For Less.

While many families prefer the simplicity and convenience of using a completely new and packaged (expensive) curriculum from a well-known publisher, you don't have to invest tons of money in order to homeschool successfully. Some families prefer to use a variety of different curriculums from different publishers for different subjects. It can be helpful to look through various homeschool catalogs, sample copies of materials at conventions, and to ask other homeschoolers their opinions, before you choose which books to buy for your children. However, please know that what is best for one child may not be best for another child, even in the same family. Every homeschool family is unique due to personal circumstances (income-levels, single parents, two working parents, etc.), and every child in that family may have a different learning style. There are so many ways to homeschool and each family must decide what works best for their situation. Sometimes finding what works best can only be determined by trial and error.

It's hard to know which curriculum will work until you actually begin using it. As a result your choices will likely change over time.

Although we cannot make every selection for you, we can help you choose which books will most benefit your child(ren).

If you feel overwhelmed and are unable to make a decision about which curriculum to purchase, please contact the store for a phone consultation. We will do the best we can to assist you in evaluating your situation and choosing the right curriculum.

God bless you in your homeschooling journey.