Building a Good Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschooling in the UK: Crafting the Perfect Curriculum for Your Child

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How to Choose a Homeschool Curriculum

Before diving into the world of homeschool curriculums, it’s essential to understand what a curriculum entails and how it fits within the broader educational framework. The UK National Curriculum serves as a helpful reference point, offering a structured approach to education with clear objectives across key stages. However, homeschooling allows for far more flexibility than traditional schooling. This flexibility means you can adapt the curriculum to match your child’s pace, interests, and learning style, making it possible to provide a truly personalised education.

Involving your child in the curriculum selection process is crucial. Understanding their preferences, strengths, and areas they might need extra help with can significantly influence the curriculum choice. A child engaged in their learning journey is more likely to thrive, making their input invaluable in this decision-making process.

We have also written a comprehensive guide on the benefits of homeschooling, which you can read here.

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Key Considerations

Content Selection: Decide whether you’ll follow a self-selected curriculum or involve your child in choosing the subjects and materials. This choice will impact the flexibility of your homeschooling approach.

Curriculum Types: Choose between purchasing individual courses for core subjects, such as maths, science, and English, or opting for a whole-package curriculum that covers multiple subjects in a cohesive manner. Both approaches have their advantages, and the decision will depend on your child’s needs and your teaching preferences.

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Different Types of Homeschool Curriculums

Homeschooling offers a spectrum of educational methods, each with its unique philosophy and approach. Understanding these different styles is key to finding the best fit for your child. Researching educational philosophies, such as Montessori, Reggio Emilia, or the Charlotte Mason Method, can provide insight into how each approach addresses learning.

Below, we’ll explore five popular homeschooling styles, each with distinct characteristics, benefits, and considerations.

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School-at-Home

The School-at-Home method closely mirrors the structure of traditional schooling, making it a familiar option for many parents. This approach involves using a set curriculum that aligns with the national curriculum, ensuring that your child keeps pace with their peers in a conventional school setting.

One key benefit of the School-at-Home method is its structure. It provides a clear daily routine and set learning objectives, which can reassure parents and children.

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Classical Homeschool

Classical homeschooling is rooted in ancient educational practices and focuses on developing critical thinking skills through a rigorous and structured approach. The method is divided into three stages: grammar, logic, and rhetoric:

Grammar Stage: Typically for younger children, this stage focuses on memorisation and learning the foundational elements of each subject

Logic Stage: As children mature, the focus shifts to analytical thinking and understanding the relationships between different pieces of information.

Rhetoric Stage: For older students, this stage hones their ability to express their ideas clearly and persuasively;
This method emphasises subjects like reading, modern languages, and history, creating a well-rounded education emphasising classical texts and structured learning. While it is more controlled and less flexible than other methods, it allows room for creativity, particularly in the Rhetoric Stage.

This method emphasises subjects like reading, modern languages, and history, creating a well-rounded education with a strong emphasis on classical texts and structured learning. While it is more controlled and less flexible than other methods, it allows room for creativity, particularly in the Rhetoric Stage.

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The Montessori Method

The Montessori Method, developed by Dr. Maria Montessori, is an educational approach that emphasises independence, hands-on learning, and child-led exploration. This method is particularly popular with younger children but can also be adapted for older students.

Montessori homeschooling focuses on creating a prepared learning environment where children can explore materials that interest them. The curriculum is not rigid but guided by the child's natural curiosity and developmental stages. Learning is often self-directed, with children choosing activities from various options carefully designed to promote cognitive, physical, and social development.

The Montessori Method values practical life skills alongside academic subjects. For example, children might spend time learning to cook, clean, or garden, in addition to studying maths, language, and science. The emphasis is on learning by doing, which helps children develop a deep understanding of concepts through experience rather than rote memorisation.

Parents who choose the Montessori Method for homeschooling often invest time in creating a prepared environment at home, filled with educational materials and tools that foster exploration and discovery. This approach is ideal for families who value independence, creativity, and a holistic approach to education.

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Project-Based or Unit Studies

Project-Based or Unit Studies is a homeschooling method inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, which advocates for an integrative approach to education. This method combines multiple subjects into thematic units or projects, making learning more cohesive and interconnected.

For instance, a project on the Roman Empire might include history, geography, literature, and even art, all within a single unit. This approach encourages deeper understanding and retention by allowing children to explore a subject from multiple angles. However, significant parental involvement is required in planning and executing these projects, making it a better fit for parents who can be highly engaged in their child’s education.

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The Charlotte Mason Method

The Charlotte Mason Method is named after the 19th-century British educator Charlotte Mason, who advocated for a broad and rich education that fosters curiosity and a love for learning. This method emphasises literature, the arts, and time spent outdoors, often incorporating “living books”—well-written and engaging books, as opposed to dry textbooks.

The Charlotte Mason Method values short lessons, typically 15-20 minutes for younger children and 30-45 minutes for older students, to maintain focus and prevent burnout. It also encourages nature walks, journaling, and hands-on activities that bring learning to life. This approach is ideal for parents who want to cultivate a love for learning in their children while ensuring a well-rounded education.

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How to Decide What’s Right for Your Child

Selecting the right homeschool curriculum involves more than just choosing a method; it requires tailoring the educational experience to your child’s unique needs and interests.

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Learning Methods

Understanding how your child best learns is crucial. Although this model has seen criticism amongst scholars in recent years, the VARK model, for Visual, Auditory, Reading/Writing, and Kinesthetic, can help you identify how your child learns best.

The learning styles associated with the VARK model are:

Visual Learners: Benefit from diagrams, charts, and other visual aids.

Auditory Learners: Prefer listening to explanations and discussing concepts.

Reading/Writing Learners: Thrive on text-based learning, such as reading and writing.

Kinaesthetic Learners: Learn best through hands-on activities and movement.

In practice, you should expose your child to as many learning methods as possible for a well-rounded learning experience.

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Interests and Engagement

Incorporating your child’s interests into the curriculum is another effective way to keep them engaged. Interest-led learning allows your child to explore topics they are passionate about, which can lead to a deeper understanding and a love for learning. For instance, if your child is fascinated by space, you could integrate astronomy into their science lessons or explore the history of space exploration in their history curriculum.

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Academic Level and Future Goals

Another critical factor is your child’s current academic level and future aspirations. The curriculum should be challenging enough to push your child to new heights but not so difficult that it becomes overwhelming.

As your child approaches Key Stage 4, choosing subjects for GCSEs or A-Levels becomes particularly important. Aligning the curriculum with your child’s future career aspirations can help them stay motivated and focused. For example, if your child is interested in a career in engineering, you might place a greater emphasis on maths and physics, ensuring they are well-prepared for further education and training in that field.

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How to Decide What’s Right for You

Homeschooling is a commitment, and choosing a curriculum that fits your child’s needs and aligns with your teaching preferences and capabilities is essential.

We've written a guide to help you understand the key benefits of homeschooling and why it may be an option for you over traditional homeschooling.