What to Look for in Top Elementary Curriculum

Education is the process by which children are taught basic concepts such as reading, writing and math. It has expanded over the years to include science, history, languages and electives so that students receive a comprehensive foundation starting from the youngest grades up through graduation. The top curriculum options in the industry are those that build these concepts in an organized and understandable approach so students can comprehend what is being taught and smoothly transition from one grade to the next.

Every good student starts with a solid foundation with the best first grade homeschool curriculum where the basics are introduced in a colorful and fun way within the textbook. Experts recommend a print curriculum for younger students because, at this age, they are tactile so having a book and pencil in hand helps to make the concept easier to visualize and work through. When looking at an accredited homeschool program, the first step is to check out the curriculum they use and look at reviews to see what other parents and school systems have said about it. If it isn’t easy to follow or it is disorganized, then parents need to find a different program that will better support their student.

While learning is the primary focus of attending school, either at home or in a traditional classroom, it is important that elementary students have fun and a positive experience. Education does not have to be dry and boring when the best first grade homeschool curriculum utilizes colorful images and activities within the textbook to help teach the concept. Elementary students are stimulated by what they see and do so the more the curriculum can incorporate this into the daily lessons then the better chance the child has of wanting to learn because it is interesting and fun. Each subject should be designed to highlight new concepts with stories, good examples and visual representation to generate questions and use as a teaching tool.

Combined with this is the practical teaching aspect which is often driven by the parent at this age and the teacher when the family switches over to the online portal in later grades. Homeschooling is not limited to just the curriculum classes but should be incorporated with extra-curricular activities and events that support the information being taught. Field trips to museums, parks and with other homeschooling groups get kids excited and wanting to learn more which makes the education process easier. The curriculum is the foundation of information with facts and dates which should be accurate (one of the most important qualities of a great curriculum) and in alignment with reliable sources.

Is the curriculum used by more than one program or unique only to a single platform? One way to identify the best first grade homeschool curriculum options is to see if it is utilized by a variety of accredited homeschool programs who have confidence in its reliability and ability to convey the necessary concepts. A program that uses custom curriculum or a wide range of different publishers needs to be able to show their reason for this as the best curriculum should be comprehensive enough to use on its own. This also means asking teachers you trust what their opinion is about this option because they are the resource that has to teach the student using this as their plan. If they can’t follow it or it isn’t user friendly for them, then, as a parent who is teaching full-time, you will probably want to avoid and find a different selection that is easier to follow and communicate concepts to the student.

With the curriculum, the homeschool program should include a lesson planner as a guide for parents who are teaching their students. This document provides recommendations on how many and which lessons should be completed within a specific period of time for each subject. It is built around the curriculum which divides the lessons into meaningful and manageable idea groups so the student can master one skill before moving on to the next. The lesson plan can be adjusted dependent on the family’s personal events and schedule but is an easy way of keeping track of what has been done and what is left to be completed in the time frame. Elementary grades have a print lesson planner with the curriculum, while the upper grades see this displayed within the portal for each class.

Parents do not need to be experts in all curriculum options but to get the most from the homeschooling experience, it is necessary to look for the above qualities and speak with the staff at the platform. Starting with a quality curriculum from the beginning ensures that the foundation is solid and the grades that follow are easier to work through and build on the path to the final objective of graduation.