Are You Considering a Mid-Year Curriculum Switch?
How to Tell When it’s Time for Change, and How to Manage it Successfully
When your homeschool curriculum is not working for you and your child, where (and when) do you make a change? Should you stick it out to save your family money? As a parent – do you wonder – am I really doing this right to begin with? Do I show enough grace and patience in my teaching ability? Is this my fault?
We can be pretty hard on ourselves. Not accomplishing educational goals that we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year can feel – to an adult – like a terrible failure. So take a breath, and realize that the ability to be flexible is one of the most wonderful gifts that homeschooling can provide your family. Be conscientious about your selections, note when something is working well – and be ready for change when it simply just isn’t!
What Are the Signs of a Non-Functioning Homeschool Curriculum?
- ‘Bad’ days happen nearly every day.
- A subject that was once cool, fun, and interesting completely loses its spark.
- Your child is growing increasingly frustrated or falling behind in a subject.
- You are growing aggravated and impatient with the flow of course material.
So Things Aren’t Great – What Should You Do First?
- Understand that sticking it out to save money should not cost the price of your households’ sanity. Homeschool mom Jamie says, “Sometimes I find the idea of switching is much harder on ME than it is for my kids, who just accept and move on. Meanwhile I can deliberate far too long instead of just listening to my gut!”
- Identify your personal educational philosophy. Many parents enter into the homeschooling journey more than a bit uniformed about individual philosophies and what will work best for their children – while fitting their own personal beliefs. Often, they end up selecting items based on other parents recommendations. But before parents buy any curriculum, they should spend time investigating what their own philosophy is, and THEN figuring out the philosophy of the curriculum they want to buy. You must have a match for a successful outcome.
- Investigate alternate curricula thoroughly. Choosing your various forms of curricula has little to do with one being better than the other. Each is designed very differently, and the success of each will depend quite greatly on the learning style of your child. Homeschool mom Marcia says, “The beauty of homeschooling IS to make changes and find the ways that work best for the child. Learning does NOT have to be boring or become drudgery. It should inspire and excite our children!”
If you are still in doubt, ask yourself this important question:
In the big scheme of things, does it matter if I finish a specific curriculum book by the end of the year?
The answer is likely a resounding, NO. As long as your child is learning, advancing steadily at his or her own pace, and enjoying the journey of a homeschool education, you are providing the most important element. A love for learning.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jessica Parnell is passionate about homeschooling. A wife, mother and former public high school teacher, Jessica has transferred this passion into her career as Principal of Bridgeway Homeschool Academy. Her passion grows out of a deep desire to see every child reach their God given potential and purpose through faith-based, customized, and flexible homeschooling. With over 25 years of experience helping over 24,000 families to homeschool their way, Jessica is dedicated to helping families understand the freedom that comes with homeschooling and to empowering parents, a child’s first teacher, to feel confident in taking control of their child’s education.
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