A practical, no-pressure guide to finding the right curriculum for your family - even if you have no idea where to start.
If you are new to homeschooling, picking a curriculum can feel like the biggest decision you will ever make. The sheer number of options is overwhelming. Hundreds of publishers, thousands of programs, and every homeschool parent on the internet seems to have a different opinion about what works best.
Here is the truth that experienced homeschoolers know: there is no single "best" curriculum. The right curriculum is the one that fits your child, your teaching style, your state's requirements, and your budget. What works beautifully for one family might be a total disaster for another.
That said, your curriculum choice does matter for a few important reasons:
The goal of this guide is to give you a clear framework for making this decision - without the anxiety. By the end, you will know exactly what to consider, what questions to ask, and how to move forward with confidence.
Unlike choosing a school, you are not locked in. If a curriculum is not working after a fair trial, you can change it. Many families adjust and refine their approach throughout their first year, and that is completely normal.
Before you start browsing curriculum catalogs, spend a few minutes thinking about how your child actually learns best. This single step will save you more money and frustration than any amount of curriculum research.
Visual learners absorb information best through seeing. They tend to remember what they read, love diagrams and charts, and often think in pictures. If your child doodles while listening, prefers reading instructions over hearing them, or remembers things by visualizing where they saw them on a page, they may be a visual learner.
Good curriculum fits: Textbook-based programs, workbooks with clear layouts, video-based instruction, programs with lots of illustrations and graphic organizers.
Auditory learners learn best by hearing. They remember conversations easily, enjoy discussions, and often talk through problems out loud. If your child asks to have things read aloud, remembers song lyrics effortlessly, or explains concepts better verbally than in writing, they may be an auditory learner.
Good curriculum fits: Audiobook-heavy programs, discussion-based approaches like classical education, video lessons, read-aloud curricula, podcast-style learning.
Kinesthetic learners need to move and do. They learn through hands-on experience, physical activity, and building things. If your child cannot sit still for long, learns best by doing experiments rather than reading about them, or fidgets during lectures, they are likely kinesthetic.
Good curriculum fits: Unit studies with projects, science experiment kits, manipulative-based math programs, art-integrated curricula, nature-based programs.
These learners thrive with traditional text-based materials. They love reading, writing notes, and working through written exercises. They tend to enjoy research, journaling, and essay writing.
Good curriculum fits: Literature-based programs, writing-intensive curricula, traditional textbooks, research-based unit studies.
Most children are a mix of learning styles, not purely one type. Do not stress about categorizing your child perfectly. The point is to notice their tendencies so you can lean toward materials that play to their strengths. And remember: learning styles can change as children grow.
Understanding the main approaches to homeschool curriculum helps you narrow your search dramatically. Here are the most common types, with honest pros and cons for each.
A boxed curriculum provides everything you need for the entire school year in one package: lesson plans, textbooks, workbooks, tests, and a schedule. Examples include Abeka, Sonlight, and The Good and the Beautiful.
Online programs deliver instruction through videos, interactive lessons, and digital assessments. Examples include Khan Academy (free), Time4Learning, and Outschool.
This approach uses real books - novels, biographies, and primary sources - instead of textbooks. Subjects are taught through reading and discussion. Examples include Sonlight, Beautiful Feet Books, and Five in a Row.
Classical education follows the Trivium: Grammar (facts and memorization in early years), Logic (critical thinking in middle years), and Rhetoric (persuasive communication in high school). Examples include Classical Conversations, Veritas Press, and Well-Trained Mind.
Based on the philosophy of Charlotte Mason, this approach emphasizes "living books" (well-written, engaging texts), nature study, short focused lessons, narration (children retelling what they learned), and habit training.
Unit studies integrate multiple subjects around a single theme. For example, a unit on Ancient Egypt might cover history, geography, art, writing, and even math (pyramids and geometry) all at once.
Unschooling follows the child's natural interests and curiosity rather than a set curriculum. The parent provides resources and opportunities, and the child drives what they learn and when.
You do not have to pick just one approach. Many successful homeschool families combine methods - using a structured math program alongside literature-based history and Charlotte Mason-style nature study. The flexibility to mix and match is one of the greatest strengths of homeschooling.
Our Compliance Checker gives you a personalized checklist of required subjects and documentation for your state.
Check Your StateBefore you fall in love with any curriculum, you need to know what your state requires you to teach. This is not optional - it is a legal requirement that affects your curriculum choices.
Most states mandate instruction in core subjects, typically including math, language arts (reading and writing), science, social studies, and health or physical education. Some states are more specific than others:
Your state's reporting requirements also affect curriculum choice. If you need to submit detailed progress reports or portfolios, a structured curriculum with built-in assessments makes that process much easier. If you are in a state with minimal reporting, you have more freedom to use informal or eclectic approaches.
Some states require standardized testing or professional evaluations at specific intervals. If your state requires testing, make sure your curriculum actually covers the material that will be tested. This does not mean you have to "teach to the test," but your child should be exposed to grade-level content in the tested subjects.
State laws change. What was required last year may be different this year. Before choosing curriculum, verify your state's current requirements. Our Compliance Checker stays up to date for all 50 states, or check your specific state page for detailed requirements.
One of the most common first-year mistakes is overspending on curriculum. The good news is that you can homeschool effectively without spending a fortune. Here is how to keep costs down without sacrificing quality.
There are excellent, completely free curriculum options available:
According to homeschool families we work with, the average first-year spend on curriculum ranges from $200 to $800 per child. Families who plan carefully and use free resources often spend under $200. Families who buy boxed curricula or multiple online subscriptions can easily spend over $1,000. Start small and add as needed.
Blue Folder lets you log curriculum, track attendance, and build a compliance binder - so you stay organized without extra work.
Get Started FreeDo not spend money on a full curriculum based on a sales page and a few five-star reviews. Here is a practical evaluation process that takes about 30 minutes per program and can save you hundreds of dollars.
Almost every curriculum publisher offers free sample pages on their website. Download them. Look at the actual content your child would be working with - not just the marketing photos. Ask yourself:
Many online curriculum programs offer free trial periods (usually 14-30 days). Sign up and actually use it with your child for a week. Pay attention to whether your child is engaged or struggling, and whether the platform is intuitive for both of you.
Ignore the five-star reviews from brand ambassadors and look for honest, detailed reviews from families who actually used the program for a full year. Search for "[curriculum name] honest review" or "[curriculum name] what I didn't like." The most useful reviews mention specific drawbacks, not just praise.
Before buying, know your options if it does not work out. Some publishers offer generous return windows (30-60 days). Others do not accept returns on opened materials. This matters, because you will not know if a curriculum truly fits until you have used it for a few weeks.
Local homeschool groups (in-person or online) are goldmines for curriculum advice. Ask parents who have children similar to yours in age and learning style. They can tell you things no review will: how the curriculum holds up over months, what the pacing feels like, and whether their child retained what they learned.
Attend a homeschool curriculum fair if one is available in your area. These events let you flip through materials in person, talk to publishers, and sometimes get convention discounts. Many are held in spring and summer before the new school year.
One of the most powerful advantages of homeschooling is flexibility. Your curriculum plan does not need to be a rigid, year-long contract. Here is how to build a plan that can adapt as you learn what works.
Identify your state's required subjects and make sure you have a plan for each one. These are your non-negotiables. For everything else, you have room to experiment.
There is no rule that says you must use the same approach for every subject. A common and effective strategy looks like this:
New curriculum always feels awkward at first - for you and your child. Give any new program at least four to six weeks before deciding it is not working. But if after a solid trial you see that your child is miserable, not making progress, or dreading school time, trust your instincts and make a change.
Switching mid-year is fine. It is not failure; it is one of the reasons you chose to homeschool in the first place. Just keep good records of what you used and when you changed, so your documentation stays clean.
Instead of committing to a full year of everything upfront, plan one semester at a time. This approach:
Most experienced homeschoolers say it took them 1-2 years to find their groove with curriculum. Your first year is a learning year for the whole family. Give yourself grace, and treat it as an experiment - not a final exam.
After working with hundreds of homeschool families, we see the same curriculum mistakes come up over and over again. Here are the biggest ones, so you can skip the learning curve.
This is the number one mistake. New homeschoolers often buy a complete boxed curriculum, plus supplemental workbooks, plus an online subscription, plus a stack of educational games - before they have taught a single lesson. Then half of it sits untouched.
Fix: Start with the minimum. Buy math and language arts for the first month. Add other subjects gradually as you find your rhythm. You can always buy more; you cannot easily return opened materials.
Parents often choose curriculum based entirely on their own preferences, reviews they read, or what their homeschool friend uses. But your child is the one who has to work with it every day.
Fix: Let your child try sample lessons from two or three options and ask them which they prefer. Even young children can tell you whether they find something interesting or boring. Their buy-in matters more than you think.
Many new homeschoolers instinctively try to recreate a traditional classroom at home - desks, bells, hour-long subject blocks, the works. This almost always leads to burnout for both parent and child.
Fix: Homeschool is not school-at-home. You do not need seven hours of instruction per day. Most homeschool families cover more material in 2-4 focused hours than a traditional classroom does in a full day, because there is no time lost to transitions, announcements, waiting for other students, or behavior management.
The homeschool community is wonderful but it can also fuel comparison anxiety. Seeing another family's perfectly organized curriculum shelves or hearing about their child reading three grade levels ahead can make you second-guess everything.
Fix: Your family is unique. Your child's needs are unique. What matters is whether your child is learning and growing, not whether your approach looks like anyone else's. Stay off comparison-triggering social media groups when you are feeling vulnerable.
Some families switch curriculum every few weeks, chasing the "perfect" program. This constant switching actually hinders learning because the child never gets deep enough into any material to benefit from it.
Fix: Commit to at least 4-6 weeks before evaluating. The first week or two of any new curriculum feels rocky. That is normal. You need enough time to get past the adjustment period before you can judge whether it is truly a bad fit or just unfamiliar.
A curriculum might be perfect for your child on paper, but if it requires you to do something you hate - like conducting daily Socratic discussions when you are an introvert, or doing elaborate hands-on projects when you are not crafty - you will dread school time.
Fix: Be honest about your own strengths and preferences. If you love reading aloud, a literature-based approach will energize you. If you prefer your child to work independently, an online or workbook-based program is a better fit. A happy parent makes a better teacher.
Do not buy a full year of curriculum for every subject before your first day of homeschooling. Start with one or two core subjects, get comfortable, and build from there. You will save money and avoid the stress of having a shelf full of unused materials.
Blue Folder's compliance checklist shows exactly what your state requires - and our binder builder creates polished documentation in one click.
Build Your Binder ChecklistYou can homeschool effectively for free using library books, Khan Academy, and public domain resources. Most families spend between $200 and $800 per child per year, but expensive does not mean better. Start with free or low-cost options and only invest more once you know what works for your family.
Absolutely. Most experienced homeschoolers mix and match. You might use a structured math program, a literature-based approach for language arts, and hands-on unit studies for science. There is no rule that says you must use one curriculum for everything. Mixing lets you play to each subject's strengths and your child's preferences.
It happens to almost every homeschool family at some point, and it is not a disaster. Give a new curriculum at least 4-6 weeks before deciding it is not working. If it truly is a bad fit, switch. Many curriculum companies offer return policies, and you can resell used materials through homeschool swap groups. The flexibility to change is one of the biggest advantages of homeschooling.
Both approaches work. A boxed or all-in-one curriculum is great for first-year homeschoolers who want structure and simplicity. Piecing it together gives you more flexibility and can save money, but requires more planning. Many families start with a boxed curriculum their first year and then customize more as they gain confidence.
In most states, no. The majority of states do not require curriculum approval. However, some states require that you teach specific subjects (like math, reading, science, and social studies), and a few states like New York require submitting an Individualized Home Instruction Plan. Check your specific state page to make sure your chosen curriculum covers required subjects.