How to Find the Best Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschooling is a grand adventure, giving you the flexibility to build lasting memories with each of your children. And that adventure always starts with the question, “How do I find the best curriculum for my child?”

If you are looking to impart a sound educational experience while instilling Christian values, it’s essential to focus on the Biblical and moral principles given within the curriculum. The good news is that there are many options to choose from!  But having those options can make it difficult to narrow down for each of your children.  Consider the following tips and ideas when choosing the right Christian homeschool curriculum for your family.

1. Start by looking for samples when it comes to a curriculum that claims to be Christian.  

Many publishers and online classes can give you a preview of their classes. Preview these classes and see if they give details for Biblical Principles. Also, if there’s a certain publisher you like, their website oftentimes gives more details into their beliefs and how they are presented in the coursework. Note that there may be times when you don’t agree with everything, but those are times that you can use as learning experiences for your kids.

2.  Build off of your samples and then decide if the curriculum has a sound teaching-learning process.  

A few questions to ask might be:  Is the curriculum student-oriented?  Do the lessons promote active learning?  Do the main points move beyond basic knowledge?  If you answered yes to these questions, then you’re probably on the right track.  Many families find that there is more than one way to go about choosing the right curriculum, but by using these questions as your guide you can then incorporate different pieces of several Christian curricula if you’d like some variation.

3.  Once you’ve decided that the curriculum has a sound learning process, ask yourself if the doctrine is appropriate. 

Remember that your curriculum is essentially a lens through which you can look at the world, and it can set the stage for some meaningful discussions between you and your child.  For example, The Mystery of History has a concrete foundation that many Christian homeschooling families like to build upon.  What’s nice about homeschooling is that you can learn about science, history, and current events by feeding everything through the foundation of a Christian worldview.

4.  Speak to other homeschooling families about the Christian homeschool curriculum that they like.

If you are searching for curriculum, why not ask other families what they have used and liked?  When asking about their curriculum, make sure to ask for specific examples of why it worked for each of their children and their family as a whole. Use God’s Word as your guide, and when you’ve spoken to enough families about which curricula they enjoy most, give yourself some time to reflect on their choices to see if they might work for you.  Lots of families love to share their successes through blogs, such as Raising Arrows, and you can learn even more about curriculum options through their stories.

5.  Be creative.  

Many homeschooling families choose a more eclectic curriculum.  They don’t limit the curriculum by just choosing a boxed set. Instead, many families try focusing on the skill set of their child and choose various elements from different curricula to build their skills.  You don’t want the curriculum to be so difficult that it discourages learning, but you do want it challenging enough that they build critical-thinking skills along the way.

6.  Focus on Learning Style.

Now that you have some Christian curriculum options, view those options through the lens of your child’s learning style. If they are a visual learner, make sure the curriculum offers pictures and graphs throughout so that they can see the concepts presented. Or if they are a kinesthetic learner, try finding a curriculum that offers hands-on projects to keep them engaged. And if you are not sure what your child’s learning style is, click here! Bridgeway offers a Learning Style and Personality Style Assessment for the whole family!

7. When all is said and done, make your education focus on God.

With a Christian homeschooling curriculum, you can ensure your child is taught that God, not man, is the center of the universe and its Creator.  It will teach what is happening in our world and government and add how God wants the government to work.  This homeschooling parent says it best, “You can still teach how a plant photosynthesizes sunlight into energy for life, but you won’t have to teach that it all happens by chance.  The observable facts remain the same. What changes is the point of view.”

The best Christian homeschool curriculum will focus on a Biblical worldview that teaches information according to your child’s learning style, ability, and passion for learning.  Remember to give yourself enough time to research the publisher options and that every family dynamic is a little different!  You may need to make adjustments along the way, but it’s worth it to find the best Christian homeschool curriculum for your family.

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Need help choosing a curriculum tailored to your beliefs and homeschooling goals? We’d be happy to discuss your options with you. Give us a call at 1-800-863-1474 to speak with a homeschool expert and learn more.