Once the paperwork is done, curriculum is the next thing that overwhelms new homeschoolers. There are thousands of options, every one of them has glowing reviews, and someone in your Facebook group swears by a different one every day.
Most of that overwhelm comes from one mistake: trying to choose curriculum before you've settled your "why" and your teaching philosophy. Without those, every option looks equally good — and equally risky.
Here's the filter that narrows thousands of choices down to about three. The order matters:
Philosophy first. If you lean Charlotte Mason, a workbook-heavy program will feel wrong no matter how well it's rated. Start by crossing off everything that doesn't fit how you want to teach.
Your child's learning style second. Hands-on? Visual? Loves to talk things through? Of what's left, keep the programs that match how your kid actually learns.
Budget and time last. Only now look at price, prep time, and whether it's open-and-go. Doing this step first is how families end up with a cheap program nobody likes.
When it was my turn to homeschool my own kids, my oldest was mathematically minded and always building complex creations to solve problems, so I wanted a solid math program. My philosophy leaned eclectic, he (like a lot of five-year-old boys) loved hands-on activities and games, and I was paying out of pocket while fitting school around my work schedule. Running those through the filter, I landed on RightStart Mathematics: it had a game book, I could print the cards myself to save money, it was open-and-go, and it's a strong program that has stood the test of time. It's still one of my favorites — I only wish it went through high school!
There's no perfect curriculum. There's only the one that fits your family this year.
Module 5 of the Homeschool Course for Parents walks through this exact filter step by step, plus how to combine subjects across multiple kids. And if you just want my personal picks organized by philosophy and learning style, the Curriculum Handbook has you covered.
Explore the course · Get the Curriculum Handbook
