How Do I Choose Curriculum, and What About the Cost?
For part of 2025, I have decided to do blog posts centering around frequently asked homeschool questions. I have been asked these questions or seen them in various online spaces. In many homeschool groups on the online space, parents are asking for the best curriculums out there. Very rarely will a whole collective group of homeschooling parents agree on what the best curriculum of all time is. Because really, there isn’t the best curriculum for everyone, but there is the best curriculum for your particular family unit. No homeschooling family is alike.
There are literally thousands of curriculum choices out there. From all-in-ones, piecing together, hodge-podge, you name it, and it is out there, with technology, homeschooling curriculum, and choices have become a lot more readily available than they once were.
A lot of what curriculum you choose will depend on how you want your homeschool to look and how your child learns. I suggest looking at these things first before moving forward. I would even consider making a homeschooling mission statement for your family (I may write a blog post on this topic in the future).
Some are unschooled, and I admire these families, but I need a little structure and guidance. The best resource I have found to compare curriculums is Cathy Duffy Reviews. She has reviews for literally almost all of the curriculums out there. Go through and look at each subject, or look for a specific curriculum. Using her reviews, I have been able to match up our values and expectations of homeschooling, make a list of choices to investigate further, and then narrow it down. Even if you don’t use her sight and you start researching different curriculums, I suggest taking the time to compare it with what you want your homeschool to look like and then factor in what will work best for your children.
Cost is often a factor in homeschooling. Many people stereo-typically think homeschoolers are made of money because of the cost of some curriculums out there when, in reality, a lot of homeschooling families operate their households on one income. The best resources I have found are just like with clothing or other items, and I look for Facebook buy/sell groups, especially if I am unsure of how the curriculum will fit with our family. I have been lucky enough to be able to afford to purchase our new curriculum for the last few years. However, I have picked up supplements and things to use in these groups.
When purchasing a curriculum, I also factor in how well I will be able to use this curriculum for all four of our kiddos, and if I won’t be using it for all of them, the resale value in it. Suppose I can use it for all of the kids. In that case, I also have to consider what extra pieces I may need to do that (extra worksheets, manipulatives, and supplies I will need to repurchase). Spreading the cost over four children usually makes the math make sense in our budget by buying a new curriculum up front. I have also chosen a curriculum that will resell well.
I hope this post has answered any questions you may have had about how to choose a curriculum and the cost involved with it. If not, feel free to comment under this blog post or contact me via our Facebook Page or Instagram. If you want more in-depth conversations, check out our Facebook Parent Group.
Remember that this post is part of a series of FAQ’s regarding homeschooling. This is the proposed schedule of past and future topics:
How do I start?
Am I even qualified to Teach My Child?
Who Holds You Accountable?
But What About Graduating and Issuing a Diploma?
What Should My Child Be Learning?
How Do I Choose Curriculum and What About the Cost?
How Long Does It Actually Take?
But What About Socialization?
What is the Hardest Part?
What Types of Schooling Are There?
What Do I Need to Homeschool?
How Can I Be Around My Kid All Day?
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