One of the great things about being a homeschool mom is that we get to spend our days with our children! And, as we teach them, we become students ourselves. We get to observe how they play, learn, and interact with the world around them. And what we learn from those observations can help us to adjust, adapt, and tailor their education to their unique needs, abilities, and preferences. But how do we do that?

Customizing Your Curriculum

Curriculum is not just another word for textbooks. It is the subjects comprising a course of study. It is the content, the plan, and the strategy. The materials and methods we choose are what will allow us to customize that plan to our family’s unique needs.

Consider the following questions as you choose your curriculum and materials:

What is Your Worldview? Our worldview, how we explain and interpret the world around us, and then how we apply this view to life. This will influence what materials and methods we choose in our homeschool. Is a biblical worldview important to you? Do you want all (or some) subjects to be taught from a biblical worldview? Worldview plays an important role in determining what we study and how we study it. Be sure that the materials you choose match your worldview.

What is your Philosophy of Education? What is your “why?” What are your reasons for homeschooling? Answering these questions will help you to determine the method or approach that is best for your family.

What Does Your Family’s Schedule Look Like? Be realistic about this. If your family is more relaxed, laid back, and spontaneous, a highly structured curriculum that requires a consistent schedule may not be the best fit for you. While some structure and organization may be a good thing, you may find yourself easily frustrated and quickly burnt out. On the other hand, if you are more structured in your daily plans and routines, you may not do well with a curriculum that offers little structure and a lot of flexibility. Be honest about your family dynamics, needs, and expectations, and revisit the question as your family grows and your children mature. Your needs, desires, and goals may change throughout the years of your homeschooling journey.

What Can You Afford? Homeschooling is an investment – of time, energy, and money. Remember, you get what you pay for. But we also need to be good stewards of our finances. Be sure to reach out to your HomeWorks Consultant about how to get what you need, within your budget.

What is Your Teaching Style? Remember, you are the teacher. The curriculum, materials, and methods you choose need to make sense to you, too. Understand and incorporate your own strengths, and make allowances for your weaknesses. Take your unique season of life and situation into consideration.

What are Your Children’s Learning Styles? I have 4 children. They all have different needs, interests, abilities, and aptitudes. Each one is different and unique. Even though they are growing up in the same family, being educated by the same mom, and using the same curriculum, their educational experiences look very different from each other! They don’t like the same subjects equally. They don’t excel or struggle in the same ways. And, they all have different learning styles. I have a Visual Learner, an Auditory Learner, a Read/Write Learner, and a Kinesthetic Learner.

What worked for one does not always work for the others. But I cannot pick a completely different curriculum for each child. Our budget is limited. So, I need something that works for all types of learners, that I can pass on, adapt, and reuse over the years.

Adapting the Curriculum

Here are just a few tips to help you adapt the curriculum to your child, not your child to the curriculum.

Get to know your child’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. This will help you to know which activities will help them learn best.

You do not need to assign every problem, activity, or workbook page. Learn to pick the ones that are best for each child.

Give yourself permission to go beyond the books! A textbook is a tool, not a taskmaster. Whatever your curriculum, philosophy, or approach…use it as a springboard for other learning opportunities.

Children (and adults!) learn best and retain more information when taught using a multimodal, or multisensory approach. Incorporate as many senses and learning styles as possible into your school days.

See/Read: words, books, math problems, Bible verses, formulas, dates, facts.

Say: vocabulary or spelling words, names, dates, places, equations.

Hear: a story, a lecture, music, a song, a rhyme, a poem.

Write: take notes, draw pictures, write out spelling words, math equations, and scientific formulas. (Use sidewalk chalk, dry-erase boards, water guns, sand, or shaving cream to add a little fun and variety!)

Do: go on a field trip, take a nature walk, dissect the specimens, make a craft, cook a meal, bounce a basketball.

Understand that your child is an individual. God created each of them in a unique way, with special talents, needs, abilities, and preferences. No learning style is “one size fits all.” Where you can, recognize, incorporate, and prioritize your child’s learning style. But realize that learning styles can, and do, grow and change.

Resist the urge to customize every aspect of their education to their specific learning styles. Life is multisensory. There are very few instances where just one style of learning is called for, used, or sufficient.

The beauty of homeschooling is that we can provide many opportunities for our children to learn in their preferred ways. But we also get to help them step outside their comfort zone and try other styles or methods of learning.

We get to teach them how to learn!

Facing a bump in the road? We're here to help!

Our HomeWorks by Precept Consultants are not just curriculum providers—we're your partners in homeschooling. Whether you need support, inspiration, or encouragement, we're ready to walk alongside you on your journey. Contact a consultant by using our map link.