What to Do When Your Homeschool Curriculum Isn’t Working

August 31, 2022
Written by:
Jamie Gaddy
Elementary Homeschool, Homeschool High School, Homeschool Resources, Homeschooling - Getting Started, Homeschooling Curriculum

I love a new school year! I love having a chance to reminisce…to look over the past year and pull out the precious memories, the keepsakes… and treasure them! But that also includes your homeschool curriculum… is it a keepsake? a treasure? Or does it need to go?

But I also love the new year because I can look back at our previous year and see if there are any mistakes –  and analyze them to see what caused them and how we can improve. I can learn from those mistakes and make changes that will help each of us.

First, I’m taking a look at all the pros and cons of the past year. I do that easily by folding a piece of paper lengthwise and writing them out in two columns. That simple act gets the thought processes going and it simply requires recall/memory on my part.

Next, I like to revisit the worksheet you and I have talked about before. The “How Why What” worksheet. I have a podcast of that chat if you’d like to listen to it! Click here for Episode 20 on Making Changes.

I take the worksheet and I revisit my WHY… why do we homeschool.. why do we want this for our children? Fill it out… make your muscles work through it with your mind!
What to Do When Your Curriculum Doesn't Work

Print Your Worksheet on Homeschool Curriculum

Once I have my worksheet, I then work through it and ask myself a few other questions that look sort of like this:

  • Ask yourself “why” you are homeschooling.
    • What do you hope to accomplish by homeschooling
    • What are your personal expectations?
    • For example: Faith – Special needs – Unschooling – Special interest; like ballet, cooking, acting, or a sport – Travel – Better education – Independence – To catch up – Science – Get into an ivy-league college – Independence
  • Ask yourself “how” you need to be homeschooling.
    • What is your family’s homeschool style? What method of teaching/learning works best for you and your children?
    • What is your child’s learning style? What process of learning works best for them? Do they do well with text-based learning or do they need something interactive like online learning?
  • Finally, your WHAT is just as important but it should rest firmly on the first two. What are you using to accomplish the first two? What type of curriculum? What teaching method? What type of schedule? Ask yourself if your WHAT aligns with your how and your why. The WHAT you use to homeschool must support the others. If you’re struggling -this could be the exact place where everything is derailing. 

 

Additional Homeschool Resources

Homeschool Curriculum Help

Back to Homeschool Curriculum Awards

Is it Too Late to Change Homeschool Curriculum?

#CHANGING CURRICULUM, #HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM, #HOMESCHOOL GOALS, #HOMESCHOOL HELP

Jamie Gaddy

Jamie Gaddy, B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D. has been a college education professor for over 17 years. Education has been a part of her life in both the classroom and as a principal. Six children later found her dissatisfied with traditional school and homeschool became the better fit. She is also a pastor’s wife, editor, and entrepreneur who now homeschools four of her six children in Georgia. Jamie loves to share about her homeschool experience to help other homeschoolers find success. Connect with her at jamie.gaddy@homeschool.com.