Finding a secular homeschool curriculum that meets every single requirement that you are looking for can seem impossible. And when you do find what seems like the best curriculum ever, it is way over budget. Why don’t you create your own homeschool curriculum? You are a homeschool mom, you have the skills to do this.
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We have been using our own curriculum for years. I did not follow a curriculum when we first started homeschooling. We have not used a homeschool curriculum for the past couple of years again. I like the freedom of creating our own curriculum.
Why Create Your Own Homeschool Curriculum
The first reason I can give for wanting to create your own is the cost of buying a curriculum for one child can often be more than your budget will allow for. Buying a curriculum for multiple children can be impossible, even when you are buying used.
The second reason for creating your own curriculum is that it can be impossible to find the secular curriculum you are looking for. Add in looking for curriculum outside of the United States and the task put before you is going to be impossible.
Eclectic Homeschoolers
We are eclectic homeschoolers, I put our homeschool curriculum together myself pulling from different areas, different resources, and even from another curriculum.
Picking and choosing resources makes your homeschooling experience individualized to your child’s needs and your family dynamics. It allows you to use the parts of other methods that really appeal to you and make it your own learning experience.
Creating A Curriculum
Step 1: Decide on what you want your child to learn.
List what you want to cover for social studies, science, history, language arts, and whatever other subjects you may want to cover.
For example, World History Geography, and you want to cover North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Antarctica.
Step 2: Breaking everything down.
For example, you are going to homeschool for 36 weeks in the year. That would be roughly six weeks per continental study if you wanted to give each the same amount of time.
Step 3: Create Sub-topics.
What are you going to cover for each? I would want to cover general information, which countries are where, and typical geography information. I would also want to cover specifics about each such as foods, and traditions, and customs.
Step 4: Create a timeline.
The curriculum timeline is the order in which topics will be taught. Sometimes there is a natural progression, but other times you have a lot of flexibility.
Creating a timeline before even teaching the first lesson will keep the momentum going because you always know what is next.
Step 5: Finding resources.
I love the library. I use our library for 95% of our homeschool resources. There is some unknown when you choose to use the library instead of buying your books, as you may have to wait for the books and not get them when you had planned. It requires flexibility.
YouTube is a great resource, as are the streaming services available now. Curiosity Stream is a documentary-based service perfect for homeschoolers that we use often, along with Disney Plus, Netflix, and Prime.
Don’t forget to look locally as well. Museums, science centers and such are amazing field trip opportunities.
Step 6: Decide on learning methods.
We often read or watch something and then have a discussion about it. when my kids were younger than might then draw a picture or create something Lego to demonstrate what they had learned. As your children get older you can change what you do.
Having a homeschool binder to keep track of everything is going to become your best organizational tool. A central place to keep track of everything.
Homeschooling is a great way to take control of your child’s education. You can tailor the curriculum to your child’s needs and interests, and you have the flexibility to change it as you see fit. There are many resources available to help you create your own homeschool curriculum.
With a little planning and effort, you can create a curriculum that will provide a well-rounded education for your child.
More Homeschool Help
How to Set up Google Classroom for Homeschool