As more parents continue to make the transition to homeschooling, choosing the right curriculum for their child and family has become a top priority. There are so many factors to consider when shopping for the right homeschool curriculum. Is the curriculum student-paced and flexible? Is it a core academic curriculum or supplemental resource? Does it include free planning, grading, and reporting tools? And, finally, is the curriculum affordable? If you’re new to homeschooling, you may not even know what your options are, or what to look for. As you evaluate your options, refer to this homeschool curriculum checklist to help you make an informed decision.

Homeschool Curriculum Comparison Checklist

        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.
        OR
        Program-Paced
        School work is completed based on a set schedule. Students move through lessons whether mastery of a subject is completed or not.
        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.
        OR
        Supplemental Curriculum
        The curriculum provider often specializes in particular subjects and is used in conjunction with other curricula.
        Independent Learning
        The curriculum includes automated instruction making it possible for students to learn their lessons with limited involvement from their homeschool teacher.
        OR
        Homeschool Teacher-Led Curriculum
        The curriculum is created with the intention of the lesson’s instruction being delivered by the homeschool teacher.
        Online Curriculum
        The curriculum lessons and quizzes are delivered on the computer typically using a web-based program accessible 24/7 with internet access.
        OR
        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.
        Automated Grading
        Common with online curricula, the student’s lessons and quizzes are graded automatically without homeschool teacher involvement.
        OR
        Manual Grading
        Typically the homeschool teacher will review the lessons and quizzes for their homeschooler.

        Consider Affordability and Flexibility

        Cost is always an important factor to consider when choosing a homeschool curriculum. Time4Learning members pay a low monthly membership fee and there are no contracts. Our month-to-month billing option is convenient and gives you the option to start, stop, and pause at any time. This frees you from paying an exorbitant price up front or being locked into a long-term contract. You can also take advantage of our 14-day money-back guarantee so you have nothing to lose.

        Finding a flexible curriculum that allows you to customize your child’s learning should also be top-of-mind. Some programs may lock you into a specific grade level and a demanding schedule for an entire year. It’s important to find a curriculum that gives your child the freedom and flexibility to learn at their pace and that maximizes their strengths while helping them improve on more challenging areas. Time4Learning’s self-paced curriculum allows your child to work on different grades and even change levels at any time.

        Time4Learning’s Online Curriculum Benefits

        Time4Learning is an online PreK-12 curriculum that teaches math, language arts, science, and social studies, and includes a year’s worth of material that can be used as your core curriculum or in conjunction with other programs. Members have 24/7 access to the curriculum, and with no schedules to follow, they can log in and learn on their time, even on weekends.

        The simple-to-follow format is perfect for independent learning and helps students gain confidence as they progress at their own pace. Students even have the ability to redo lessons and activities, as well as retake tests and quizzes. Since every child learns differently and has their own unique abilities, Time4Learning allows students to work in different grade levels by subject in order to help them take their time on more challenging topics and quickly progress on subjects they are more comfortable with.

        As a parent, you’ll be able to easily keep track of your child’s progress with our automated grading and recordkeeping features that save you time. You also have access to detailed lesson plans that keep you up to date on what your child is learning. Your Parent Dashboard even includes printable worksheets, spelling word lists, and activity planners. Read about our surprising member benefits designed to help you homeschool with confidence.

        We hope our curriculum checklist is helpful as you explore the many wonderful lifelong benefits of homeschooling.

        Enjoyed this article? Sign up to receive others like it straight in your inbox.