A question that many homeschool parents face after homeschooling for a while is, “What do you do when your homeschool curriculum isn’t working?” This can be an overwhelming mix of frustration and feelings of failure, often accompanied by tears from everyone involved. It’s just as tough for your child, and this is a question that needs to be addressed.
When I first started homeschooling, the feeling of thinking that everyone magically knew what homeschool curriculum to use was often overwhelming, especially in moments when I felt inadequate. How could I ever pick the right one? What I didn’t know then was that I didn’t have to know which one was the right one. What I didn’t know was that “the right one” would likely change from time to time, depending on where my child was in their comprehension, mental ability, and how they felt about school at any given time. I felt so much pressure to get it right that I got it wrong sometimes.
How do I know if my homeschool curriculum isn’t working?
What you will realize as you go through your homeschool journey is that you will begin to quickly recognize when something isn’t working, either because it is the wrong homeschool curriculum or because everyone is just tired. Sometimes, being tired, not feeling like doing school, and needing a break can lead to feeling like you are using the wrong curriculum.
Often, the math curriculum is where you see it first, and this can be troubling since math is a core subject. If you can take time to answer a few questions prior to choosing any curriculum, you can save yourself a headache. Ask yourself:
What is my child’s learning style? How do they learn best?
In home education, there are many resources that can help you discover your child’s learning style. Maybe they learn best through unit studies, videos, interactive programs that involve manipulatives, workbooks, or printables.
Why isn’t the current homeschool curriculum program working?
Sometimes, when something isn’t working, everyone just needs a break. Your program may be a fine fit for learning styles, but if you (or your children) need a break, it might appear as though the curriculum is wrong. Look at your schedule and see if it’s time for a short break or break from the curriculum. You can often find substitute lesson plans where you can learn without using the homeschool curriculum you have chosen. This can often be a short-term solution that helps you feel like you’ve had a break. Using games for learning is a great example of this.
What are my non-negotiables when it comes to choosing a homeschool curriculum?
Do some soul searching. If something isn’t working, your curriculum may very well need to be changed. However, you should have a set of non-negotiables that you want/need a curriculum to meet. Maybe it’s a Christian worldview or a particular format that you know your child will respond to. Or maybe you need the curriculum to be low prep. There are a number of things that could be your non-negotiables.
These questions can help you determine if your curriculum isn’t working or if you need a change for a bit.
What do I do if my chosen homeschool curriculum isn’t working?
This is a good question because you’ll often feel stuck on this journey, whether because of the lack of finances or because you don’t have the time to switch. Don’t worry! There are a few practical solutions to help.
Finding a new homeschool curriculum
First, if you don’t feel stuck and you’re ready for a new curriculum, take those questions from above and search online or at homeschool conventions. Side note: At homeschool conventions, you’ll find many choices from a variety of distributors at one time. There are many options for every grade, and you can put your hands on the books and decide what might work for your family.
You might not have to spend a lot to get a new-to-you homeschool curriculum. There are lots of places online where you can find used curriculum, not to mention borrowing a curriculum from a friend that they’re not currently using or checking the library or a local co-op to see if they have a curriculum you can borrow.
Once you decide to switch, keep in mind that you can often earn money back for the curriculum that didn’t work for you. Selling a used curriculum is a great way to recoup some of your money on something that didn’t work for you.
Also keep in mind that keeping the curriculum could be an option that will save you money down the road, too. Chances are that your children’s learning styles will be different. If a Charlotte Mason book or Alpha Omega publication didn’t work for one child, it might work for another.
Change your scenery
As mentioned above, sometimes the solution is as easy as changing scenery for your homeschool. Your child’s education can be done in a variety of ways.
Maybe you’re struggling with language arts. Change it up by getting away from the workbooks, reading literature, or going outside on a nice day. Soak up the sun in a different location and write a descriptive poem or writing.
Sometimes, a change of scenery can be as easy as doing the same curriculum in a different place. When my kids were younger, my daughter loved to take her work out and lay in the sun while she worked. The options are limitless. Math, language arts, or social studies can be done away from the kitchen table.
Changing your homeschool approach
Changing your approach without changing the curriculum can work, too. If you’ve been using textbooks, change it up and watch some videos or do some hands-on interactive work.
Take science for example. If you have been using a textbook for a high school class, maybe take a break from that text and do some lab work. You can find different experiments here that will go along with many different homeschool curricula.
Using number games is another great way to change your approach to math.
Each school year will come with its own set of challenges. No one homeschool looks like another, and all kids learn differently. Take a deep breath and remain encouraged. From Pre-K on, you’ll learn more about your children and will become better equipped to handle challenges as they come. You can do this, mama. Breathe deep and hang in there!