Homeschooling Parents are free to either use a fixed curriculum or pick and choose books and resources for each subject. The choice is often difficult to make. Should you save time by picking up a ready made curriculum offered for the grade your homeschool student is in? Or should you be flexible about what your child may or may not study in the academic session based on his or her interest?
Independent Learning
The end goal of a homeschool student is to be able to teach himself about whatever subject he may have interest in. To encourage independent learning the homeschooling parent may choose to forego a set homeschool curriculum with fixed books and learning resources. This will allow them to pick up learning material as and when they require based on how they proceed in each topic.
It can be more economical to buy a single books or so each month than buying an entire set at the beginning of the year. However in the long run, you may end up spending more on individual books collectively during the academic session. It will depend on the homeschool family’s budget to pick the option that suits them best.
Hands On Tools
With a set homeschool curriculum kit, there will be a limited number of activities that encourage hands on learning. Yes, the books will tell you about activities and there may even be a kit or two in the pile to do something interesting, but on the whole they will focus on books and workbooks for the learning.
While a homeschool teacher, who is not restricted by a set curriculum kit, will be able to add any activities that they like. They can pick up art kits, robotics kits, craft materials as required for different projects, when they want to. The flexibility and freedom of choice will be much greater in this case.
So, which is better? To have a formal, set homeschool curriculum or to make up your own along the way? That is a question best answered by the homeschool teacher by taking finances and teaching preferences into account.