Understanding Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschool parents select the curriculum for their students. How do they compare and select their curriculum?  I know, from listening to my friends and reading the forums, that parents spend a fantastic amount of time comparing and considering curriculum.  So to help parents, I thought I would create a website that helps parents think about and analyse the different choices.

Understand that we are not going to review all the curriculum and make recommendations. Well, we will make some (In fact, some of the offerings are crappy and we might name names!). But the main goal is to cover the basic categories and principles by which curriculum is organized.

Here's some basic definitions:

Scope and Sequence - An outline of skills and information to be taught, typically organized by grade level or by course. Provides information on what will be covered.

Spiraling Curriculum - coming soon.

Standards Based - Each state has long published educational expectations or standards by subject for students for each grade in their state.  For example, by the end of 4th grade, students are expected to fluently know their math and division math facts up through 12. Students will be able to do long division etc.  Each state develops standards often as a derivative of national standards by subject created by teacher groups such as the National Association of Teachers of Math or National Council of Teachers of English. In 2010, a new dynamic started when the council of state educational officers decided to jointly develop standards. See Common Core.

Common Core - coming soon.

Core Knowledge - think the opposite approach to standards from the common core core...coming soon.

Unit Study – A cross-curricular educational approach in which learning is focused around a central, common theme. For instance, a unit study on trains would teach the development and use of early trains (history), train routes (geography), different engine types (science), train-based literature (language arts), and so on. Unit studies allow children of different ages to study the same unit together but in different levels of detail.
Portfolio – An accumulation of materials that demonstrate your child’s learning. Some items included are: logs (reading, attendance), assignments (samples from each subject demonstrated throughout the year), awards, certificates of participation, list of materials used (textbooks, websites, computer programs, resource books etc), pictures of projects and field trips, writing samples (composition and penmanship), and other items that you feel represent your child’s education. Portfolios can be online, in file boxes, in 3-ring binders (the most common), or otherwise.But, it’s Organization is the key. This is an on-going process that your child should take part (and pride) in from the beginning.
Boxed Curriculum – There are many programs for purchase that provide homeschool families with a comprehensive scope and sequence, textbooks, assessments, projects, and timelines that are grade leveled. These programs provide day-by-day very specific instructions to the parent and student.