Checklists are life savers, aren’t they? They remind us of what we need to get at the grocery store, what we want to ask the pediatrician at our child’s next appointment, or what we want in our homeschool curriculum. Selecting a provider is no easy feat and definitely not something to be taken lightly. As such, having a homeschool curriculum checklist when purchasing something new can make it easier to compare your options. So, if your current educational programs aren’t working for your family anymore and it’s time for a change, use this homeschool curriculum comparison checklist to make an informed decision when considering your next provider.
Homeschool Curriculum Comparison Checklist
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- Student’s Preferred Way to Learn
Before deciding on a type of homeschool curriculum, it’s important to first understand your child’s learning style. Is your son a visual learner who does better by watching videos? Is your youngest a more tactile learner who loves using his or her hands to explore, build, and draw? Does your daughter prefer reading books and taking notes? Once you know how each child learns best, you’ll know what type of curricula to look for.
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- Homeschooling Method
What homeschooling method do you follow? The curriculum you choose typically aligns to the homeschooling method you choose, be it Classical, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, eclectic, or something else. As you consider your next curriculum purchase, you’ll want to consider how the curriculum will fit into your preferred homeschooling method.
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- Homeschool Curriculum Cost
This is an important one. First, figure out how much money you have to work with. Look for a homeschool curriculum provider that doesn’t require a large investment or long-term contract. Chances are, if you’re buying curriculum in January or February, you probably just need curricula to last you through the rest of the academic year. Many families choose Time4Learning because it’s extremely affordable and it allows members to pause the curriculum, while still keeping records intact, for a reduced monthly fee. As you evaluate your homeschool curriculum options, here are a few more components common to curricula that you’ll want to consider. What are you looking for?
Student-Paced
Students complete their work on their own time and at their own pace. They can go back and repeat material until they achieve mastery before moving on to the next lesson.
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Program-Paced
School work is completed based on a set schedule. Students move through lessons whether mastery of a subject is completed or not.
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Comprehensive Curriculum
The homeschool curriculum provider offers the core subjects – math, language arts, science, and social studies – and can be a one-stop-shop for parents and students.
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Supplemental Curriculum
The curriculum provider often specializes in particular subjects and is used in conjunction with other curricula.
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Independent Learning
The curriculum includes automated instruction making it possible for students to learn their lessons with limited involvement from their homeschool teacher.
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Homeschool Teacher-Led Curriculum
The curriculum is created with the intention of the lesson’s instruction being delivered by the homeschool teacher.
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Online Curriculum
The curriculum lessons and quizzes are delivered on the computer typically using a web-based program accessible 24/7 with internet access.
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Textbook/Workbook
The lessons and quizzes are delivered in hard copy format. They typically come with a teacher’s guide to enable homeschool teachers to teach the lessons.
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Automated Grading
Common with online curricula, the student’s lessons and quizzes are graded automatically without homeschool teacher involvement.
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Manual Grading
Typically the homeschool teacher will review the lessons and quizzes for their homeschooler.
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Try It Before You Buy It
When it comes to homeschool curriculum providers, there’s one piece of advice we don’t want to leave out. The last thing you want to do is make a long term commitment without even knowing if the program will work. When you find a homeschool curriculum provider that you think may work, find out if you can access the material on a trial basis. A few weeks is usually plenty of time for both you and your children to decide if it’s a good fit. Time4Learning is happy to offer a two week money-back guarantee to new members. If you find that it isn’t right for your children, you can cancel within this time and receive a full refund, no questions asked. Yes, there’s a lot to consider when looking for a new curricula midyear (or any time of year), but when you know what to look for — thanks to a helpful comparison checklist — you’ll be better informed and better prepared to make the switch. Want more great advice? Sign up for our online education newsletter and receive regular emails from Time4Learning. If you want to learn more about how Time4Learning stacks up against the checklist, contact us and let’s talk more about what you need.
For a high school student with disabilities who is at an elementary or middle school learning level, would the membership price be according to the grade the student is in or the materials/curriculum level they are at?
Hi Leah, thanks for your interest! Pricing depends on the grade level courses you place your student in. If your student won’t be taking any high school level courses, you would sign up as a K-8 student. You can set each subject at a different grade level, tailoring the curriculum to your child’s needs. Once you’re ready to place them in some high school courses, you could then convert to a high school membership. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have additional questions! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Since adobe flash is no longer supported and the lessons require it to be able to work, will there be an update to platform?
Hi Cody! Thanks for reaching out! We have converted all of our flash based content, so everything should work normally for you! If you do find an activity that appears to be flash based, please forward that to our customer support team so they can investigate. 🙂 https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I need only 1 class, science for my 8th grader, is it possible to just take one class?
Hi! Time4Learning’s low monthly membership includes language arts, math, science, and social studies. You can pick and choose what parts of our curriculum you use, and you aren’t locked into anything and you only pay for the months you use it. Hope that helps! Definitely feel free to reach out to us if we can answer additional questions or help you get started. https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi! Is this program only for Americans or can other nationalities apply worldwide?
Hello! Thanks for your interest. While our curriculum is aligned to educational standards in the U.S., we have members from all over the world that use our curriculum successfully! You can sign up and get started whenever you’re ready: https://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I’m in Texas and want to homeschool my 2nd and 6th graders. Is there a grade in which it starts or can My 2nd grader start now? I’ve seen a few websites that state 3rd-12th in Texas. I want to make sure before withdrawing them traditional school.
I’m in Texas also. Most of the 3-12 you see are the public online school options. My 5th and 7th graders are in one of the public online schools, and my K and 2nd graders use timeforlearning and addition resources. It’s really a lot less stressful, as you can adjust it to suit your child’s needs and use your own extra resources to suit each child. I am leaning towards switching my older two over after summer.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience, Sondra! We’re happy to hear that Time4Learning is less stressful for you and your students. 🙂
Hi! Thanks for your interest! Time4Learning is a curriculum, not a school, so there are no enrollment periods or requirements. You can sign up and get started whenever you’re ready! 🙂 Our online curriculum is for PreK – 12th grade. Here is a page with more information about homeschooling in TX, if you need it. https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/texas/
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can answer any additional questions or help you get started! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
Hi! I’m 90% sure that I’m going to sign my 6th grader up for time4learning. I heard from another local homeschooler that you use the edgenuity program. Is this correct? If so, I think that my decision will be made!
Hi Kristi, thanks for your interest! Yes, for our middle school science and social studies courses, and all of our high school courses, Edgenuity is one of our curriculum partners! 🙂
I am a certified teacher and I will be homeschooling a group of 6 to 10 students. Would I be given a price break for this group or would it be the 19.95 per month per child?
Hi! Pricing depends on the grade level of your students:
For PreK to 8th grade, the monthly membership cost is $19.95 for the first student and $14.95 for each additional student.
For high school, the monthly membership cost is $30 per student, and includes 4 courses. Additional courses may be purchased for an extra $5 per month, per course. If you have one student at the high school level, you will receive a discounted rate of $14.95 for a student in the lower grades; there is no discounted rate for a second student who is at the high school membership level.
Please feel free to reach out to our customer support team if you have additional questions! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I’m am considering Time 4 Learning to start homeschooling my 7th & 8th grader. Do you give the option to retake a quiz or test if they do not perform well?
Hi Melissa. Thanks for your interest! Yes, students can retake quizzes and tests as often as they need. We offer parents customized reports, so you can generate reports based on average scores, most recent scores, or highest scores. 🙂
If you have additional questions or would like help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
How do I change from a core curriculum to a supplement curriculm?
Hi Jacob! The subjects and activities don’t change, so you’ll simply use the parts that you’d like, when/as you need them. 🙂
Can this be accessed from a tablet in an App format or just in a browser?
Hi Dani! For the best user experience, we recommend using a desktop, laptop, or chromebook with the chrome or firefox browser. We don’t have an app, but some tablets run the program with no issues. Here is more info: https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/faq.html#ipad
Looking to home school my children. Is Time4Learning accredited?
Hi Maggie! Thanks for your interest. We’re often asked if Time4learning is accredited. The short answer is ‘no,’ but the longer answer is worth understanding. Accreditation is a form of credentialing that applies to schools. Accreditation addresses issues such as teacher:student ratios, number of computers in the media center, number of teachers holding advanced degrees, curriculum used, and so on. Because Time4Learning is a curriculum and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us. However, the curriculum offered by Time4Learning is used at many accredited schools across the United States, so you can be assured that it is educationally rigorous.
Can I pick Just 1-2 subjects for my child to do online or do I need to do the whole package in order to do time4learning? Thanks
Hi Lauren! Time4Learning is a curriculum that families can tailor around their educational needs. You have total control! While the low monthly membership cost remains the same (giving you access to everything we have to offer), you can pick and choose what subjects you complete. 🙂
How long are each individual class
Hi Judy! Since Time4Learning is student-paced, how long each activity takes will vary by student. The average amount of time spent on T4L activities each day could be anywhere between 30 mins to 4 hours, depending on the grade level of the student.
The subject material/courses for the most part, are intended to be full year courses. But again, being student paced, that could vary. 🙂
Please let us know if you have additional questions!
do you provide all the work and do the grading or how does that all work?
Hi Traci! All of the instruction is online and Time4Learning takes care of scoring quizzes, tests, and scored activities for you! 🙂 Here is a little more info on how we work: https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/how-it-works.html
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have additional questions!
Hi, my son has special needs (ASD) – he’s higher functioning. Do you have a program for special needs children? And is there any in-person instruction?
Hi Janis! While we don’t have a separate curriculum for students with special needs, we have many special needs families that use Time4Learning successfully! Here is a page that could be a good resource for you: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/autism/
We also have a dedicated community on Facebook for T4L families with special needs, which could prove to be helpful for you as well. https://www.facebook.com/groups/Time4LearningSpecialNeedsFamilies
There is no in-person or live instruction. T4L members are free to login and complete assignments on their own time, and at their own pace. 🙂
Good evening, is science experiments, learning to use a microscope, etc. part of the curriculum?
Hi Alice! We do provide some ideas for hands-on projects in our elementary science activities. Our middle school and high school science courses also have some virtual labs that students can complete!
You can check out our science curriculum overview here: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum/science.html 🙂
HI, is this program all on line or are there workbooks as well?
Hi Cristi! Time4Learning is an online curriculum. Depending on your students’ grade levels and the subjects they are studying, we do have some resource worksheets you can print out. These are optional, and can be used for practice/reinforcement. 🙂
So the students have to login and is there a teacher waiting on them to start the lessons or do they just watch the lessons at their own pace?
Hi Megan! Each of your students have their own login, and they work at their own pace! 🙂 Since we are a curriculum and not a school, there are no teachers or set times that your children have to be online. Our instruction is pre-recorded. Hope that helps! Feel free to reach out to our customer support team if you have additional questions or need help getting started. https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
What if we feel our child is not at the same grade level in all subjects? I have a son with Down syndrome but this issue could be the same for typical kids.
Hi cc! Time4Learning is SO flexible, and is an excellent resource for families in a situation such as yours. With T4L, parents can set each subject at a different grade level, and can make changes to those grade levels as often as necessary. So not only can you set them differently, your student can progress at different speeds. If they wrap up one subject before another, you can go ahead and change just that subject, without any pressure to complete everything at the same time. 🙂
Is Time4Learning going to be enough for my kids in it’s self? Or do you recommend supplemental materials be used as well?
Hi Kasey! Here’s a blog post that might be able to answer your question! 🙂 https://www.time4learning.com/blog/experienced-homeschooler/is-time4learning-a-complete-curriculum/
We’d also like to invite you to join our active Facebook community for Time4Learning Families. It’s a great way to connect with other T4L members and homeschoolers! https://www.facebook.com/groups/Time4LearningFamilies
Hola estoy viendo su programa y tengo una duda. Los materiales o libros que se usas son todos en linea o hay una opcion de tenerlos impresos?
El plan de estudios está todo en línea.
No hay libros o materiales que se envían.
Podrá imprimir hojas de trabajo y claves de respuestas.
Cada estudiante obtiene un inicio de sesión seguro individual en el sitio web de Time4Learning para que pueda acceder a él desde cualquier computadora en cualquier momento. No hay CDs ni software para instalar en los ordenadores de los usuarios.
I am interested in letting my children homeschool but I really don’t know how to get started the prices that is listed will that be the price every month or will they change?Will there be classes online for them to take if not would that be an option.How long are the course tradional school is aug-june how long would this school be and how is the next grade determined
Hi Lisa! The price listed for Time4Learning is per month. We are an online curriculum not a school, so parents set their school year based on their needs and schedules. You can follow a traditional school calendar, school year-round, or make your own schedule. 🙂 Parents determine if their students are ready for the next grade, and can change grade levels any time!
Do you all offer credits?
Hi Heather! Thanks for your interest. Since we are a curriculum and not a school, we don’t assign credits. The homeschool parent (the teacher of record in a homeschool) will issue/assign credits. Our automated reports can help you determine time spent for credit issuance.
Here’s a good resource to learn more about credits: https://letshomeschoolhighschool.com/2013/08/10/guide-high-school-credits-homeschool/
Is this one of South Carolina’s accredited homeschool programs? Can I start this Monday? Also, can you receive a diploma using Time for Learning?
Hi Amy. Accreditation applies to institutions like virtual schools or a brick-and-mortar school. Since Time4Learning is a curriculum, and not a school, accreditation does not apply to us.
You can start Time4Learning any time you’re ready, and since homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, the homeschool parent issues the diploma. 🙂
Is time4learning common core based
Hi Denise! The Time4Learning program is designed to correlate to all state standards, and uses a variety of teaching styles to provide for the requirements and preferences of students across the US and beyond. The teaching approach used in some activities might appear similar to common core methods, while many others will not. We have not made changes to our curriculum to align specifically with common core. We do not participate in any common core practices like data tracking. The program provides parents a wide variety of lessons with the flexibility to use the materials as they need.
Great info loving watching you guys grow
Thank you so much, Belle! 🙂
Need it on amazon fire 7 tablet
Hi Amber, thanks for your feedback!
I have used the Time4Learning Program for the past 4 years and it’s “Awesome”. I would not change any thing about it.
Thanks for being a valued member, Stella, and for taking the time to stop by and comment! 🙂
Is this program online for kids that are special needs?
Hi Jill! Time4Learning’s online curriculum has been successful for many families who have children with learning challenges/special needs. Here are a couple of links that could be helpful for you:
https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling/special-needs/
https://www.time4learning.com/blog/special-needsgifted/special-needs-and-time4learning/
We also have a special needs board on our parent forum (https://www.time4learning.net/forum/special-needs/) and a Facebook group for Time4Learning Special Needs Families (https://www.facebook.com/groups/175459356331405/).
If you’d like further information, or need additional help, please don’t hesitate to contact us! 🙂
My child is in honors classes at school now. Could she continue at those?
Hi Sonya! Honors classes usually mean that the subject material is more advanced and completed at a faster pace than regular classes. With homeschooling, you can tailor your high school classes to challenge your student as they need.
Is there a program that helps you to know what grade level to place your child in
Hi Carolyn. Time4Learning’s flexibility allows you place your child in whatever grade you think they should be in, changing it as you need. In grades K-8, students automatically have access to a grade below and a grade above their placed grade. In your parent dashboard, you can change grades easily and even set specific subjects to different grades, tailoring the curriculum to your needs. This page has some good tips for building a homeschool curriculum: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschool-curriculum.htm
Please feel free to contact us if we can provide any additional help! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php
I am considering putting my advanced kids in T4L, and am concerned about them only being able to access one grade ahead. Could I place my first grader in second grade, so he can access grades 1-3, or are they placed automatically? What do I do if he needs higher curriculum in a subject than we can access? (My oldest was at a fifth grade reading level in kindergarten. My first grader reads 3rd grade books for fun, but I have not actually assessed his level yet. We have never officially homeschooled before, and his K teacher did not check/share his level with me.)
Hi Holly! Thanks for your interest! When you sign up, you’ll select a grade level and the system will automatically place your student in that grade across all subjects. Once your account is created though, you can go in and change each subject to a different grade level if you need to (and you can make grade level changes as often as you need, so you’re never locked into anything!). 🙂
If you have additional questions or need help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! https://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/contact_us.php