When using homeschool curriculum products, there are generally 2 ways to go. The first is to pull together a variety of different materials from many different sources and many different publishers. The second is to purchase a complete homeschool curriculum that includes everything you need for an entire year all in one box.
Let’s talk about the second option – the complete curriculum package. New homeschoolers often like the convenience of buying complete curriculum packages for the peace of mind they offer. Since someone else has done the research, the planning and the preparation, all parents need to do is choose a grade level and pay the bill.
But there are other reasons why these turn-key curriculum packages are appealing, too.
- By allowing experts to decide which subjects should be taught and how many lessons should be completed, they take the burden off parents who lack the expertise, don’t have the time, or would just prefer not to have to do it themselves.
- Everything needed for the entire school year is included. Though some systems do require purchasing extra books (for instance, readers or novels) or supplies (science or art, for example), they are complete when they arrive.
- The entire system functions well together, because lessons are integrated and/or complement one other throughout the year. This eliminates the guesswork out of wondering if something will be covered in one class or should be taught in another.
- Because the entire year’s worth of material comes from a single publisher, students tend to be up and running more quickly. The learning curve is lessened since students learn one set of instructions or a single set of keystrokes, and then use the same pattern across the board.
- Lesson plans, instructions and even scripts for parents are often included, requiring little or no preparation time for parents. This can be a tremendous time-saver for working parents or those with many children working independently in the homeschool.
- Finally, while these systems may seem expensive at first, when comparing the cost to individually purchased books and materials, they often come out cheaper than the alternatives.
Complete curriculum sets are not for everyone, however. There is little variety, thus students may find these tedious or boring over time. Parents also need to recognize that these products are developed with “typical” students in mind — not for students who may be working at different levels in different subjects. But despite these objections, complete curriculum systems may be exactly what your family is looking for at this time.
Check out these examples of just some of the products available on the market. Then, ask your friends and do additional research to find the system that works best for your student.
Other posts you might like:
Required or optional? Learning a la carte
Curriculum shopping like buying a car
Would virtual schooling work for your student?
Where to get the curriculum/books?
A peek inside a child’s curriculum crate
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