How to Choose a Homeschool Math Curriculum That is Best For Your Family
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Deciding how to choose a homeschool math curriculum doesn’t have to be complicated. Technically the process is the same as choosing any curriculum, but it can feel overwhelming. There are so many choices!
Math tends to build on material taught the previous year so we worry that one wrong choice will doom our children’s math education. Let me reassure you. One ‘bad’ curriculum isn’t going to be the downfall of your homeschool. We are not locked into any curriculum so we can always change course if needed.
This guide on how to choose a homeschool math curriculum is for you if you have ever had difficulty choosing the best math curriculum for your children!
How to Choose a Homeschool Math Curriculum
First, let me give you the unfortunate news.
I can’t tell you which math curriculum is best. There is not a single math curriculum (or any curriculum really) that is best for everyone. Everyone learns in different ways, has different wants and needs, and has a different budget.
The good news is that this gives you the flexibility to find the best option for your family.
Consider a few things when selecting a homeschool math curriculum:
- Budget
- Format of instruction
- Teacher
- Sequence of lessons
- Religious or secular
Budget?
I like to start curriculum shopping by figuring out my budget. This way we can immediately eliminate options that are financially out of reach at the moment. There is no use researching something that really isn’t a realistic option.
Math curriculum can range in price from free (Khan Academy) to hundreds of dollars.
Related: How to Use Khan Academy as a Full Homeschool Math Curriculum
Don’t worry if you have a small budget. There are affordable options out there. You might be able to find a math textbook at a used homeschool store. Don’t have a homeschool store nearby? Many will ship items to you if you call and ask.
Hands-on, online, or workbook?
Does your student need hands-on activities to really understand the material? Will a physical workbook or textbook be best or will an online curriculum be the right fit for your family? There is no one right approach for everyone, but it helps to think through those questions.
Ask your child if they have any idea what might work for them.
My daughter has never liked online math curricula. Instead, she prefers to learn through workbooks and hands-on activities. My son happily used an online math curriculum for a few years before deciding that he wanted a more traditional math textbook.
Taught by a teacher or taught by a parent?
Some homeschool math curricula require a parent to do 100% of the teaching and others supply the teacher with video instruction.
Consider your math abilities, time availability, and whether your child wants to learn from you. I don’t mind teaching math to my children, but not everyone is comfortable with it.
Co-op math classes might be an option for you too.
Spiral or mastery?
Not all math curriculums teach concepts in the same order.
A spiral approach means that important concepts are taught repeatedly. There is plenty of review and deepening of understanding built into the curriculum.
A mastery-based approach means that students learn everything there is to know about a topic before moving on to the next.
Personally, I like to use a spiral approach to math so that skills are retained and not forgotten.
Religious or secular?
Some people have a strong preference for religious or secular curriculum options. If this is important to you, check out the background of the company. A quick Google search with ‘is (insert math curriculum company here) secular or religious’ will provide answers.
Final note – Involve your children whenever possible. I find it helpful to ask my kids what want in a math curriculum before I even start researching options. There is no point in researching online choices if they feel like they learn best from a textbook.
Once I have it narrowed down to a few choices, I ask my kids for input again. We look at the curriculum options online and try sample lessons whenever possible.
Getting their input is really helpful!
I hope this helped make choosing a homeschool math curriculum a little easier.
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