I teach with the local Co-op. Before we relocated to the Quantico area, I taught in West Virginia. Additionally, I worked with a number of home-school families. WV requires all home-school families to have a certified teacher evaluate their portfolios and submit an evaluation letter to the local school board office. Do you need to buy a curriculum? What about enrolling in an online school? The short answer is ‘No.’ When COVID struck and schools closed, I ordered a variety of materials for Paul. The following school year when we home-schooled him, I registered with Kolbe Academy. Why? Kolbe offered the syllabus, tests, and support. By submitting materials quarterly, I felt Kolbe held me accountable.
However, you can create a successful curriculum on your own. The families I’ve worked with are split; about half enroll in a program and half go it alone. The more experienced home-school families are less apt to rely on an online school or curriculum. They already have loads of books and equipment. They have vetted programs and know what works with their children.
One family started with a question, ‘What is important for my child to learn? Then the mom set out her program. Do you have a college degree? If you don’t, you are going to feel more confident working with an online school. See if your region has a home-school Convention*.Typically vendors and online schools attend, permitting you to ask questions and look at materials. My friend, Crystal, and I went to a Catholic home-school convention in Virginia to select a school before I home-schooled her step-daughter, Lacie.
Home-schooling is not an ‘all or none’ proposition. My friend, Jen, enrolled her children in Classical Conversations, which meets once per week. I work with her teen son weekly on Latin. Jen uses a wide range of materials for her kids, apart from assignments through Classical Conversations. Many local families use Co-op or online classes for Math and Science; otherwise the teens take classes through an online school. (As a Co-op teacher, I comply with the requirements for their respective schools.)
If you want to design your own curriculum, talk to veteran home-school teachers first. Start with the core, four subjects: Math, English, Science, and History. Join a Co-op. They plan field trips, organize music or art classes, and share resources. Every Co-op is different—especially in terms of its organization and offerings. Co-ops allow you to network. Mention your child is struggling with math and stand back. Moms will swoop in with advice.
I recommend buying textbooks and workbooks, at least at first. The Young Explorers Science Series has a syllabus in the notebook. If you use the textbook and complete the workbook, you’ll have a year-long science class for your elementary-aged child. The Young Explorers series has loads of experiments and projects. They offer two levels of student notebooks for each textbook. The Junior notebooks have printing and handwriting exercises, along with projects. The other workbook has more questions and vocabulary exercises, such as crossword puzzles. The same is true with Saxon Math and the Catholic Textbook Project. Here is an example of the Saxon home study kit. Saxon has 120 lessons, designed for a year-long program. The Catholic Textbook’s History program has a student textbook, teacher’s textbook, and student workbook. They provide tests and quizzes in a pdf file. Again, this is enough material for the whole school year.
English is trickier. Young children need to learn how to read. Once they learn to read, start reading the classics. I like the Primary and Elementary Literature from Kolbe. You can get the books at the library. Download the audiobooks from Hoopla and listen in the car. I copied the questions from the teacher’s manual into a notebook. Paul read 20-30 minutes each day and answered questions. The number of books depends on your child. You can select vocabulary words to use from the books. I had Paul look up words in dictionary and write them into the notebook. You might have your child write answers in cursive. We also used Classical Composition from Memoria Press. Here is a sample.
Faith formation is a given for the home-school families I know. Some enroll in the religious education programs at church; others teach religion at home. (BTW many Catholics use Faith and Life , both home-schooled families and religious education programs.)
Do you need a program? It is easier to home-school by enrolling in an online school. But, you can create your own program, too!
*Here is the link for a Catholic home-school conference, which was online in 2024.
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