As we are nearing the end of the homeschool year, if you’re like me you find yourself re-evaluating and planning for your next year of homeschooling. As homeschool vendors start offering early bird deals to help you beat the summer curriculum rush, many of us are thinking about making changes to our homeschool curriculum.
Most homeschool bloggers and vloggers are going to tell you things like, be careful making changes, consistency is key, and don’t change something if it’s working. While I’m sure they have the best of intentions based on their homeschool knowledge, I am going to toss all of their advice out the window.
If you are someone who thrives on consistency and doesn’t like change, then don’t think you need to change just because it can be beneficial. Always homeschool your way and do what works for you and meets the needs of your kids.
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The Gift of Hindsight
As a second generation homeschooler I have a different perspective from the usual advice based on my over thirty years in the homeschool space. I am a homeschool graduate and understand what it takes to get a kid to that point. This hindsight has helped me shape the way I homeschool my kids over the years, and is still shaping my perspective even as my oldest approaches high school.
As I was growing up, there were many, many changes to my homeschool curriculum from year to year, and these changes weren’t harmful. I have made many, many changes to my own kids’ curriculum from year to year, and as my oldest is beginning his high school work, I can honestly say that it has not damaged his learning or put him “behind” in any way.
If you need assurance that your kids will be fine even if your curriculum doesn’t stay constant then take this as your assurance. They will be fine.
Switching Homeschool Curriculum is a Good Thing
1. Switching curriculum can breathe new life into your homeschool.
I am not a person who thrives on the mundane. Routines, schedules and I are not friends. When we get to the end of a homeschool year, I am usually so happy to be done, because most curriculum is repetitive and consistent. In my mind this translates to, ugh! Using a new and shiny curriculum is sometimes my kids and I need to stay interested. This homeschool adventure is a years long process for us, so sometimes we need to be able to see the end of a curriculum that’s not years away. This applies to curriculum we like as well as what we don’t like.
2. Your homeschool style might change.
When I first started homeschooling I thought I was a classical homeschooler. I read all things Susan Wise Bauer and spent lot’s of time researching and choosing classical curriculum. Then I quickly realized that I am sooooooo not a classical homeschooler.
You may find that the style you think will suit you and your kids isn’t the right fit. That’s okay. It really is okay to be wrong and pivot. Homeschooling is a long game and your needs and your kids needs may change at different stages. Being flexible and moving with those changes is a good thing.
Homeschool Styles and Curriculum Choices – My Homeschool with a View
3. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find the right fit.
My oldest is finishing his eighth grade year, and here is what his math journey has looked like.
- 1st grade – Christian Light Education
- 2nd grade – Abeka and Math U See
- 3rd grade – BJU Press
- 5th grade – attempted CTC and then back to BJU
- 7th grade – Math U See
Yes, this looks like a lot and looks inconsistent, but different things were good for different seasons and these were all necessary changes. It took us a long time to find the best program for him in the elementary years (BJU), but I wasn’t a fan of their higher level math and when we looked at the seventh grade book we knew it was time to switch. I had always planned on Math U See for high school math, so we made the switch. He is not behind in math. All of the switching and inconsistency did not hurt him. I actually think moving with the changing seasons of his life and trying different things until we landed on the one that was best for him was beneficial.
I will add that I do think consistency in the skills subjects can be beneficial, but I argue that it is not always best to stay consistent.
4. What works for the student might not work for the parent.
Our homeschool has gone through seasons where I was super involved and every subject was parent lead. Then other years, I needed more independence from my kids and had to switch to curriculum that encourages independence.
Both teacher driven and independent curriculum are good tools to homeschool. Sometimes as moms we have the capacity to do it all and other times we don’t. These are good changes that will help you homeschool for the long haul and you don’t need to feel guilty about making changes so it works for you as the homeschool mom.
Get Rid of the Homeschool Mom Guilt
It’s important to be consistent with educating your kids, but keeping a consistent curriculum is not required. If you are an inconsistent curriculum switcher like me, don’t feel guilty. As a homeschool mom who was homeschooled, I can truly say that I have seen the other side and I was not harmed by curriculum changes. I think my kids will be fine and yours too. As long as you put in the effort and provide the tools to learn, they will learn.
Keep on being a super mom and even wear the t-shirt. You deserve it. And I just so happen to have a supermom shirt in my store! Yes, it’s a shameless plug for my merch, but you truly are a supermom and I appreciate any support of this site!
