Parents new to homeschooling are always intimidated by the homeschool curriculum. Curriculum is really just a fancy way of saying lesson plans and subject matter. You won't have to write a book or come up with all your own ideas- why redesign the wheel? There are plenty of resources both on the Internet and in books that you can refer to. Additionally, there are many companies that offer pre-made homeschool curriculums for purchase that include the book, study guide and answer key.
If you prefer to navigate the program on your own terms you can create exciting programs for you and your child. Homeschool does not mean that you need to replicate a traditional classroom in your home. In fact, for many that is the reason they have left the public school system. Children that are being homeschooled can learn in a variety of ways including volunteering, field trips, hands-on activities with a mentor as well as learning from books and videos. The major difference in homeschooling vs. public schooling is that children are allowed more time on projects than they would be in a traditional school. Many things simply cannot be taught in 40 minutes. The other advantage to homeschooling is that you can provide your child with more information by using field trips to enhance the learning experiences. Since many children are visual learners, the more outside experience you provide them with the more information they will retain.
Some schools will provide you with the homeschool curriculum that your child will need to follow. In this case you will know which books need to be used and you can then tailor the learning experiences around these lessons.
Parents that homeschool will need to remember that the school year consists of 180 days. Children and parents are required to end the school year at the end of the local school districts year. This means that all records will need to be turned in on time because there are no extensions. The upside is that you can start the school year (180 days) whenever you want! Use careful organization and planning in creating your curriculum or lessons for a pre-determined homeschool curriculum. The success of your school year depends upon it.
