Whether you have been homeschooling for a short time, or you have found your homeschool “groove”, you may be curious about creating your own homeschool curriculum. For many, this can be overwhelming. There are so many options out there and this can add to the overwhelm. Thankfully, I have been creating my own curriculum for a few years now and I can help you do the same!
*This post contains affiliate links. This means I can make a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase from one of these links. Don’t worry, I only tell you about tools that I have used and believe in 100%!*
Why Create Your Own Homeschool Curriculum?
True, it may be extra work to create your own homeschool curriculum, but think of the benefits. Not only do you get to choose the subjects you want to cover, but you can pick what books cover that subject best. (Of course, some states do require certain subjects to be taught, so take your state’s homeschool laws into consideration as well.)
Creating your own homeschool curriculum can be exciting and rewarding. It will allow you to personalize your child’s learning experience, while you are tailoring your approach to your child’s specific needs.
How to Create Your Own Homeschool Curriculum
After you have checked out your state’s homeschool laws, assess your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style. What do they enjoy learning about? Do they need an extra push in one direction or another, are they able to work independently? How much time do you have to devote to homeschooling, or even to one particular subject? Will you also enjoy the subjects you will be teaching? If you cannot give a certain level of enthusiasm for a subject, is it possible your child can study it independently? I have written before about how I do not enjoy science experiments. However, we have found a way to study science through nature. This allows me to show enthusiasm for the subject, and instill that enthusiasm into my children.
Set Goals
If you are a goal-oriented person, this would be a good time to set goals for each subject. I must admit, I need to do better about setting goals in general. However, if you do well with setting and meeting goals, by all means, think of ways you want to incorporate this into your homeschool curriculum.
I feel it is essential to understand that you cannot be too strict with these goals. I’ve learned to relax in my homeschool routine. I have realized that things do not always go as planned. Your homeschool plan may change mid-year or at the end of the year. This is ok, it’s also normal. Flexibility is the key.
Plan Extracurricular Activities
When I was planning our history curriculum I planned some fun field trips. We were studying Colonial America, so we planned a trip to a state park highlighting the state’s colonial history. The local library is also an excellent place to gather books for whatever subject you are learning about.
Incorporate life skills into your homeschool curriculum as well. Cooking, baking, cleaning, gardening, and grocery shopping, can all be included in your homeschool curriculum when you involve your children.
What I Chose to Create My Homeschool Curriculum
When we first started homeschooling I chose Evan-Moor to create my homeschool curriculum. Evan-Moor allows the flexibility to choose a wide range of grades and skill levels. With Evan-Moor you have the flexibility to choose from a variety of subjects. Here is a general list of things you can find on Evan-Moor.com
I believe Evan-Moor can be used as a stand-alone program in the early years, or when you are trying to figure out the ins and outs of homeschooling. You can also use Evan-Moor as a supplement to your main curriculum. Say you are using another curriculum and you feel you need something to fill the gaps, consider Evan-Moor.
Using Evan-Moor For All Your Homeschooling Needs
Remember to keep things simple. Do not overwhelm your child or yourself. The main subjects that should be taught are language arts, math, and basic handwriting. Do not expect your child to form letters and words perfectly. In fact, most kids’ hands are too small at a young age to properly form words, or hold a pencil. Focus on developing and strengthening hand muscles. Sensory bins are a great way to engage a kindergartner.
Where to Find Evan-Moor Curriculum
It is cheaper if you purchase the bundle for the specific grade. I love this easy to follow guide they set up for you! For more details on how to use the books, and how long it should take you to finish the book, follow the link suggested curriculum overview. (This link can be found mid-way down before the book lists.) Follow the links below for the specific categories.
Learning Fundamentals-Available for grades 1-6. These books are designed to go along with the Daily Practice books. They fit great into any curriculum and build a basis for skill development. Support your students’ learning and simplify the planning process with Learning Fundamentals. These are available in Language, Reading Comprehension, Math and Vocabulary.
Stem Activity Books-Critical thinking skills, and problem solving are enhanced with these hands on activities. Available for PreK-First Grade.
Daily Practice-With a variety of subjects covered, your child can develop many skills with the Daily Practice series. Each program or subject is designed to increase knowledge, through proven methods developed over many years of research.
Skill Sharpeners-The most popular choice for our homeschool was the Skill Sharpeners series. These books will allow your child to prepare for the next grade level.
Sales, Sales, Sales!-I love how many sales Evan-Moor has. It seems I am always getting an e-mail that they are having another sale! Back To School time is upon us! Be sure to get in on the sales!
The Bottom Line
I love using Evan-Moor in my homeschooling. Whether I need to bulk up a subject, or keep it simple in another, Evan-Moor has what I need! Find out what you need by shopping Evan-Moor for your homeschool curriculum!
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