Homeschooling is not simply about grabbing a textbook and teaching it to your child at home. You have to consider how you’re going to deliver the content, the extra points and lessons that can be taught along with that topic, the sequence of topics to follow, and a number of other things. It seems like a lot of work, but not so much when you have got a savior – a homeschooling curriculum. 

You can make sure of all of these things by simply choosing a good homeschooling curriculum for your child. And if you are under the impression that a curriculum is not necessary, then you might have to rethink that notion. A homeschooling curriculum can make a difference in your child’s education in a number of ways. In this article, we will be discussing the importance of it. 

A Curriculum Helps You Structure Your Child’s Education

Consider this scenario: You have been teaching your child Mathematics for a long time and you are now considering whether he/she is ready for more advanced mathematical operations such as calculus, or trigonometry. 

When you start discussing basic calculus, you realize that you haven’t covered enough Algebra for your child to grasp these concepts. So you decide to take a break from calculus and teach Algebra instead. As you are covering this topic, you move on to logarithmic operations because that makes sense. When you’re halfway through logarithms, you’re considering whether it’s too advanced for your child. At this point, the potential topics you can cover with your child feel limitless. 

You, as an educator and a parent, feel overwhelmed and confused. 

If you were following a curriculum, you would only have to open up the curriculum to decide what you’re going to teach today. Everything would be carefully structured in the most effective sequence and you’re free to modify this curriculum to suit your child’s needs. 

Moreover, a curriculum will also determine the best method of teaching each of these topics. Consider this advice from Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): “Speak to people only according to their level of knowledge.” (Saheeh Al Bukhari) 

Homeschooling involves a lot of self-study but certain topics might require a lecture or a more activity-based approach. By following a homeschooling curriculum, you will be able to structure your child’s education accordingly. 

You will have a better idea of the knowledge your child has acquired, and know when to move onto an advanced topic. It will also relieve you from decision fatigue, which would prevent you from making impulsive decisions regarding your child’s education. 

It Helps You Measure your Child’s Performance

Homeschooled children do not face the pressure of competition among peers through comparisons of GPAs and ranks, and that is the best part about it!

However, learners still require a timely measure of their academic performance. A curriculum can be used as a measure of your child’s competencies before progressing to more advanced levels. If your child demonstrates sufficient knowledge of the topics in the curriculum, you’ll know that they are ready to progress. You can even prepare suitable assessments for your child using a curriculum as a point of reference. 

A Homeschooling Curriculum Ensures Nothing Important Is Forgotten

If you rely solely on your own ability to spontaneously decide what to teach your child and how to deliver this knowledge, you might end up missing important points. When homeschooling your child, you have to make sure that you cover important intellectual, creedal, and behavioral points. Those points have to be paired with the right theories and concepts. Then, you need to figure out when to teach those concepts. 

If you forget a grocery item, you can go back to the supermarket and get it. It might not be so easy to correct the situation if you forget something important when homeschooling your child. By following a curriculum, you can make sure that you cover important subtopics and deliver important cultural or societal information related to it. 

An interesting anecdote from the seerah demonstrates this point. Once, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was having a meal with Umar, the son of Abu Salamah. He (peace be upon him) noticed that Umar’s hand was reaching for food from all over the plate. The Prophet (peace be upon him) utilized this moment to teach Umar some very important behavioral and creedal lessons. He (peace be upon him) said, “Mention Allah’s Name (i.e., say Bismillah), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.” (Saheeh Al Bukhari)

A Curriculum Covers More Than Just The Subject Matter

In a school environment, children are exposed to a lot more than just textbooks. There is playtime, social interaction, discipline, etc. and all of these factors play a role in their development. By following a good homeschooling curriculum, parents who homeschool can ensure that they create a similar environment for their children. 

It will also help the parent and child maintain balance in their homeschooling experience. Every moment spent with our children should not be turned into a homeschooling activity or a session. 

Choose a Curriculum That will Give Your Child the Best Of Both Worlds

Now you know that a homeschooling curriculum helps you structure your child’s education and measure their performance. 

The next question is how to choose a good homeschooling curriculum.

Perhaps this is a question that deserves an article of its own because the curriculum you choose can play a crucial role in measuring your child’s competency. We encourage you to pray istikhara and consult other parents who homeschool their children before choosing a curriculum since it is a heavy decision to make. 

It’s also worth considering your child’s needs and the dynamics of your family. The best curriculum you can choose for your child should give them the best of both worlds — the Dunya and Akhirah, such as the one we have devised for our students at al-Huda Global School. 

Our mission is to nurture Allah-centric youth to overcome today’s challenges with innovative solutions. We provide synchronous and asynchronous classes for English Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Math, Arabic, Qur’an and Islamic Studies. We also offer electives such as Psychology, Culinary Arts, Interior Design, etc. 

For more information about our courses, click here.