What is the
Best Homeschooling Curriculum?

You may already be homeschooling in which case you already know that homeschooling is a huge undertaking, but is an extremely rewarding endeavor for you and your children.

Or you may be thinking about homeschooling and have tons of questions about homeschooling curriculum.

Perhaps you clicked to this page accidentally. But now that you are here, you are curious and want to find out more about homeschooling curriculum!

So, let’s start our homeschooling journey with some general information before we discuss homeschooling curriculum. Most of this information applies to all parents and children. Some sections will also apply to families with autism.

Parents are given the responsibility and authority by God to educate and teach our children. We are to "raise up a child in the way he should go."

However, government schools are teaching their religion of secular humanism to our impressionable children, and simultaneously eliminating Christianity from the public school system.

Instead, perhaps Christians should consider homeschooling where we can teach our children a Christian worldview within the context of the family!

Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states. However, each state has its own set of laws and regulations that you must follow in order to avoid truancy. But, it is easy!

Also, you do not need a teaching degree. You just need dedication, motivation, and hard work. Anyone who really wants to homeschool can homeschool.

Homeschooling takes much less time than you would imagine. A homeschooling curriculum can be designed around everyday activities, such as cooking meals and grocery store trips. And you accomplish much more than you would believe.

You can start homeschooling any time and at any age. Some people never send their child to government schools. Some people start homeschooling at the beginning of the school year. Other people take their child out of government schools mid-year. The right time is when you are ready.

You can ‘do school’ anywhere in your home and at any time of the day. We rearranged furniture and set up desks, but they all like to work on the floor instead! My son prefers to do most of his homeschooling curriculum in the evening.

Homeschooling is perfect for your special needs children with diagnoses of autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Your child may have an individualized educational program (IEP) in government schools. But the teachers do not know or love your child like you do! You can provide the best IEP for your child right at home. You just need appropriate homeschooling curriculum along with optimal treatments and therapies.

The National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network (NATHHAN) provides resources for Christian families homeschooling special needs children. Also, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) provides legal advice for homeschooling special needs children.

The same comments also apply to gifted children and mentally retarded children. You can accelerate some subjects and decelerate other subjects. You can add unusual subjects or additional treatments and therapies as necessary. Again, homeschooling provides the perfect individualized educational plan for your children.

Still, you may be hesitant to homeschool your child with autism or other special needs. You may want advice from a Christian professional homeschool consultant who specializes in special needs children. Then, you should contact Mary Gusman! She offers a free 30 minute initial consultation. I am impressed with her knowledge and experience. I think that you and your child will benefit from her advice.

You will also need to decide whether you want to give tests and grades , or whether you will emphasize mastery of the subject instead. We have shifted from the former to the latter. I now realize that this shift has resulted in my children developing their own intrinsic rewards and increasing their innate desire to learn. They are rewarded by satisfaction about their accomplishments rather than motivated by grades.

Many parents worry about socialization during homeschooling. But, many parents homeschool because they DO worry about the socialization that occurs in government schools! Homeschooled children actually relate well with all age groups, not just their own age group.

If your child has autism or is extremely shy, you will be able to work with them appropriately to improve their social skills. You can provide structured social events with social skills training so that they can master these skills in a controlled environment.

Any behavior issues also improve in the home environment once the peer pressures and stresses from government schools are removed. These children are able to relax at home and are much less irritable.

Homeschooling provides opportunities for many activities and much community involvement. My son plays select soccer and participates on a varsity basketball team at a Christian school. My daughter dances seven days per week. My other daughter takes horseback riding. We would never be able to manage this hectic schedule if they were all in government schools.

Other wonderful opportunities to combine a worthwhile activities with homeschooling is with 4-H, and with American Heritage Girls which is a Christian scouting organization for girls. The 4-H project books and the American Heritage Girl badges are awesome for homeschooling curriculum.

Educational field trips provide creative experiences as well as socialization and communication opportunities. We have been to many places:

• Planetarium
• Creation Museum
• Natural History Museum
• Art Museum
• Renaissance Festival
• National Parks
• Nina Ship Tour (from the Pinta, Nina, and Santa Maria)
And more! Just let your imagination soar!

A homeschooling support group is highly desirable. You can find a local group through your state homeschooling organization. We had to create our own homeschooling group since there were none already in our area.

I also suggest that you closely examine your goals for homeschooling. Government schools strive for conformity and vocational training. With homeschooling you are free to concentrate not only on academics, but also on the development of

• character and integrity
• a Christian worldview
• communication abilities and social skills, and appropriate behavior
• thinking and learning skills
• life and domestic skills and
• ethics and morals.

In addition, you can be creative and design the homeschooling curriculum to include activities that both you and your children would enjoy. For example, you can learn about the science of baking cookies for a fun and rewarding experience for everyone! Also, you can add experiential learning games to your homeschooling curriculum for even more excitement!

High school is often a concern for many parents, because the homeschooling curriculum becomes more difficult. However, many programs have available help. The HSLDA has advisors specifically for assistance with high school homeschooling curriculum and transcripts.

A homeschool transcript is needed to document high school work whether or not your child goes to college. But high school transcripts can be scary since they seem so complicated. So, you need Transcripts Made Easy! You can learn everything that you need to make a terrific homeschool transcript with the information from this book!

Colleges not only accept homeschoolers, but they actively pursue homeschoolers! They find homeschoolers independent, self-reliant, and mature. Just the type of student who does well in college!

My daughters have already decided that they want to home college which is just a continuation of homeschooling. Home college is a great alternative for individuals on the autism spectrum.

I will help them select appropriate homeschooling curriculum for their advanced work just like I do now for their primary and secondary work. They will have opportunity to apprentice and to develop a portfolio. They will also be able to serve God in missions.

Harold and Sarah Mally explain the concept of home college extremely well on their CD called “Credentials Without College”.

You must know the learning styles of your children as well as your own learning style so that you can select the best homeschooling curriculum. You can find out whether your child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner by taking this free learning style profile.

You also need to choose an educational approach for your homeschooling curriculum. None of these approaches is intrinsically right or wrong. However, children with autism generally prefer more structure. You need to find a method that is comfortable and workable for you and your child.

• Traditional– Textbooks and workbooks are used for each subject area.
• Classical – This method is based on the trivium concept of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
• Unit Study – Several subjects are presented around a central theme.
• Charlotte Mason – Her approach to learning involves real books, narration, hands on experiences, interrelating subjects, fine arts, and nature.
• Unschooling – This approach encourages the child to follow his own interests in his own timing.
• Eclectic – Any combination of the above methods.

I used a structured traditional Christian homeschooling curriculum our first year while I gained confidence and experience. Now, I am using an eclectic approach to more specifically meet the needs and interests of my children.

By now your are probably convinced that homeschooling is a great idea. However, you may still have questions about covering the bases, and overcoming obstacles, and getting organized. Then, I suggest that you check out the Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling which is packed with proven ideas to get your homeschool up and running smoothly!

I also thoroughly read the articles and the advertisements homeschooling magazines. My favorite homeschooling magazine is The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. I can not wait to read it from cover to cover when it arrives at my door!

• Christian Homeschool Curriculum – The top programs include Abeka, Bob Jones, Alpha Omega Publications, and Accelerated Christian Education.
• Homeschool Computer Curriculum – This subject is often neglected with homeschooling. However, our world is high tech and computer skills are absolutely necessary. You and your child can easily make your own website and even make extra income. Also, your child can independently take a homeschool computer course.
• Homeschool Bible Curriculum – Your child needs a Christian worldview. Answers in Genesis has great resources about creation.
• Homeschool Math Curriculum – Saxon and Math-U-See are among the top math programs. Your child can easily remember the upper times tables and difficult math terms with mnemonic Times Tales Deluxe and Memory Triggers. Sometimes it is difficult to explain just why our children need to know math. Beyond Numbers is a practical guide to teaching math biblically and is a must for every Christian homeschooling family!
• Homeschool Writing Curriculum – Writing skills are an essential component of education.
• Literature Study Guides – Study guides can greatly help your child understand good literature without you needing to read the book, too.
• Communication Skill – Communication skills are important for everyone. We all can use the Art of Eloquence for improving our public speaking abilities in a fun way!
• Homeschool History Curriculum – Blackline Maps of World History with lesson plans is an excellent way for various ages to learn history with the structure of timelines. Hands And Hearts - Hands on History Kits for Homeschoolers! are also a fun and creative way for multiple ages to learn history together with projects!
• Learn a Foreign Language – The Rosetta Stone language program, Power Glide Foreign Language Courses, The Easy French , and The Easy Spanish are highly recommended programs for anyone. Even listening to the language by natives is extremely beneficial for autistic children as part of their music therapy.
• Sign Language – Sign language is a useful skill for anyone, but especially for nonverbal children. It can also be used as a foreign language requirement for those who have problems with living languages.
• Critical Thinking Skills –The Critical Thinking Company can help your child develop better thinking skills. Your child can also learn how to be a fallacy detective and use the thinking toolbox for additional skills.
• Handwriting Programs – Various penmanship programs to help with legible writing and with fine motor skills. A Creative Penmanship Experience series has thematic reproducible penmanship books that use interesting content along with terrific illustrations for daily printing and cursive handwriting exercises.
• Lapbooking and Notebooking Curriculum - Use a hands-on approach with In the Hands of a Child curriculum for history, geography, science and much more.
• Homeschool Internet Curriculum – If your child loves the computer, perhaps she can learn from an internet program.
• Free Homeschooling – You can do homeschooling for free or on a shoestring budget.

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