Ah, the end of the year.  Homeschoolers breathe a sigh of relief.  The kids are ready for some time off.  You are too, but you can’t quit the books just yet.

It’s time to evaluate your curriculum.  This step goes much further than evaluating the year as a whole.  This is where you drill down to find out why you had a great or a mediocre year, and determine what you do next year.  Here are some questions to help you size up your curricula.

• Did the curriculum fit your kids’ learning style? If your child is active and learns best by doing, a history text full of dry facts and tiny print is not going to interest him or help him retain facts.  If your child is a ravenous reader, you may consider changing from a workbook to a literature based approach for grammar.  The fabulous thing about homeschooling is that the curriculum world is your oyster.  Personalize it so it’s perfect for your own child.

• Did it fit your teaching style? If you just had a baby, this may not be the year for an intensive, Charlotte Mason style approach to grammar and spelling.  If you hate meeting other people’s deadlines, then your virtual K-12 school curriculum may need changing.  You shouldn’t be miserable teaching.

• Did you look forward to a certain book, or did you dread the day it was scheduled?  Did you find yourself procrastinating certain lessons or subjects?  Every seasoned homeschooler has a book or two that just didn’t work.  Don’t spend another year using subpar lessons. There’s no shame in selling the book you despise and trying something else.

• Can you make minor changes to make the curriculum work better? Is there a way you can make next year even more inspiring?  If you are thinking of jumping ship on a program, consider if there is a way you can make it work for you.  Maybe you just need to add a little extra background by using library books or a little extra practice with some printables.  Maybe the class would be better taught by your spouse, or is a good candidate for independent learning.

• Have you found something else you want to use instead? Don’t fall into the curricula hopping trap.  Just because something is new and different doesn’t mean it’s better; it might just mean that you are bored with the old.  On the other hand, a new text with a fresh view can enliven your lessons.

• Are there any major changes in family life that should be taken into consideration?  If your history program involves lots of input from you, the teacher, and your mother is entering hospice, that’s a good reason to look for different lesson plans.  Is there a big move, family change, or circumstance that will make last year’s gem next year’s albatross?  Consider the future when evaluating the present.

• Check with your spouse or someone who knows you and your child well. Does the curriculum seem successful?  Has your child mastered the next level of mathematics, or does she struggle everyday?  Do your loved ones see that a particular method or book seems to stress you out?  This more objective feedback can help you recognize problems.

A final word of advice: don’t evaluate the curriculum by yourself.  Homeschooling is a journey that student and teacher take together.  Get your child’s input and find out what he loved and hated before throwing anything out or buying the next level in the instruction series.

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