Every new homeschooler—and even those who’ve been at it a while—can struggle with choosing curriculum. With literally tens of thousands of options out there, it’s no wonder it feels overwhelming!

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be. Homeschooling is about cultivating a lifestyle of learning, and curriculum should enhance that—never overshadow it.

That’s why I love using a simple framework to make the process easier. Choosing curriculum really is as easy as A-B-C!

A – Align with Your Goals

Ask: What do I want my child to learn this year?
Clarify big-picture goals: academic (math, writing, reading level), personal (confidence, independence), or family values (faith, worldview, life skills).
Make sure the curriculum aligns with your family’s vision and season of life—not just what’s trending.

B – Balance Style & Budget

Style: Does the program fit your child’s learning style (hands-on, visual, auditory, independent)? Does it fit your teaching style (open-and-go, scripted, flexible)?
Budget: Decide what you’re comfortable investing before shopping. Remember, expensive isn’t always better—sometimes simple is best. And while there’s always a new shiny curriculum to explore and discover, sometimes tried and true is most effective and least expensive (I’m looking at you, AlphaPhonics).
Balance both so you don’t burn out or overspend.
Set aside a little room in your budget for mid-winter pick-me-ups—fun extras or fresh resources you can pull out when the ‘blah’ season hits and everyone’s feeling over it!
- 🎲 Board or card games that sneak in math, strategy, or language skills
  🎨 Art or craft kits for a creative reset
  📚 Short unit studies on fun topics (space, animals, inventors, holidays)
- 🍪 Cooking/baking projects tied to science or history
  🌍 Documentaries or virtual field trips for low-prep learning days
- ✏️ Puzzle books or brain teasers for independent fun

C – Check for Compatibility

Time: How much prep/teaching time does it require from you?
Tech: Is it digital, print, or hybrid—does it work with your setup? We loved using a variety of live online, self paced classes, online tutoring and even apps. Having world class teachers at our fingerprints allowed our kids to dive deep into areas of interest and develop serious expertise!
Community: Does it include teacher support, online help, or peer interaction if that’s important to you? Local co-ops and class days enriched our learning in so many ways from Shakespeare camp to Lego League to Prom! If there was something we wanted that we couldn’t find, we often started it or brought the program to our area, like TeenPact.
Confidence: Will using it help you and your child feel successful, not defeated? The Goldilocks Principle is an important part of educating well! Not too easy, not too hard, JUST RIGHT!

👉 Quick Test: If a curriculum passes the A-B-C check, it’s worth trying. If it fails in even one area, keep looking! Just for you! An ABC Decision Tree!

A-B-C Curriculum Decision Tree

Step A: Align with Your Goals

Q1. What is my main priority this year?

Academic growth → go to Q2
Character/life skills → go to Q3
Both equally → note both in your goals

Q2. Which subject(s) must we strengthen?

Math → shortlist math programs
Reading/Writing → shortlist language arts
Other subjects → list those

Q3. Does this curriculum align with our family’s values + vision?

Yes → continue to Step B
No → cross it off

Step B: Balance Style & Budget

Q4. Does this program match my child’s learning style?

Hands-on / Visual / Auditory / Independent → mark yes/no

Q5. Does this program fit my teaching style?

Open-and-go → ✔
Scripted → ✔
Flexible / DIY → ✔

Q6. Does it fit our budget?

Yes → continue to Step C
No → keep looking

Step C: Check Compatibility

Q7. How much parent time is required?

Light → ✔
Moderate → ✔
Heavy → consider carefully

Q8. What format is it?

Print / Digital / Hybrid → ✔ if it works for your home

Q9. Does it provide support or community if needed?

Yes → ✔
No → decide if that matters for you

Q10. Will this curriculum help us feel confident and successful?

Yes → ✅ It’s a good fit!
Not sure → Try a sample or look for alternatives

Using this, you will be well on your way to choosing the right curriculum for your family!

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Lisa Nehring

Author, Publisher, Curriculum Developer at True North Homeschool Academy

Lisa Nehring has been married for over 30 years, has five children, 2 graduate degrees and a black belt in homeschooling. She has homeschooled since 1991 and wrote a Master’s Thesis on Why Parent’s Homeschool, the Literature Review being,A History of Education in America.

Lisa Nehring and her husband, Dr. David Nehring, a Clinical Psychologist, and Biblical Scholar speak together on a wide variety of topics, including education, classical education, vision, mission, parenting, marriage, and more.

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