What is the best homeschool curriculum?

Here are some guidelines to help sift through the infinite options.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 8, 2022

Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community

Every family’s homeschooling journey is unique. After deciding the pros out-weigh the cons, new homeschoolers have another major issue to tackle: which one of the infinite curriculum choices is best?

While it might feel like drinking from a fire hose, the good news is: once you understand your goals and your child’s needs, the choice of how to homeschool becomes much simpler.

In order to narrow down the seemingly infinite possibilities, we’ve got guidelines to get you started: first, general characteristics of homeschool curricula that we believe help children grow into lifelong learners, regardless of your specific circumstances; second, questions to help your family think through the various approaches to homeschooling and how they might align with your needs, goals and expectations.

What makes a good homeschool program?

The ultimate blank canvas, homeschool lets you paint your child’s education any way you wish. Look for these characteristics in any potential homeschool curriculum review and you’ll be taking a step towards ensuring your child can thrive.

1. It’s flexible

Without the constraints of a traditional school schedule, homeschooling offers an unparalleled opportunity to let your child pursue their passions as far as they want to take them (and discover new ones along the way). If kids are excited about learning, they really do their best work, so look for a curriculum that allows kids to go in the direction they choose, with plenty of time for deep dives. This works well in a “unit studies” approach, in which kids focus on a single topic/project for a given length of time (like we do with our six-week, thematic, project-based cycles at Prisma).

2. It’s self-paced

While traditional school (whether public or private school) is all about keeping kids together according to grade level, homeschooling allows your child to move at their own pace. Don’t assume a fifth grader needs a fifth grade math curriculum. Maybe they need to get a true understanding of fourth grade materials before they continue; or maybe they can do sixth and seventh grade math in a single school year. Homeschool families should start with an assessment (standardized testing options available may depend on your state) and be sure that whatever program you choose will allow your child to learn where they are, whenever they get there.

3. It’s suited to their learning style

We all have preferences when it comes to learning. Some kids love doing math with pen and paper. Others light up when they get an adaptive math app in their hands. Some kids excel when they use manipulatives. You may have three different kids who each do better with a different curriculum. Trial and error will be a big part in getting it right.

4. It’s core-skills-first

At Prisma, we believe that the best curriculum emphasizes core skills rather than specific content. A great social studies curriculum shows kids how to apply the lessons of history to today, how to evaluate primary sources and how to research the questions that get them interested. A great language arts curriculum will teach kids how to think critically about the books they read, while developing their own sense of taste as a reader. A great science curriculum will teach the scientific method and instill an appreciation for evidence-based practices. With those core skills, they’ll be able to dive into whatever excites them most, and the lessons will last longer than if they were simply memorizing facts and figures.

5. It’s hands on

You can learn how to calculate profit and loss in a textbook, but you also can do it by building your own business — and pick up life skills along the way. We believe that a curriculum that enables kids to learn in a real-world way is by far more engaging. A project-based curriculum that applies learning to solving real world problems helps kids see the relevance of what they’re learning, enabling them to internalize it.

Questions to help determine what is the best homeschool curriculum for your family

Once you have the foundations, you’ll want to think about the nuts and bolts of your experience: What will it look like to homeschool on a day-to-day basis? These questions will help you vet your top picks:

  • How comfortable do you feel teaching certain subjects and grade levels? Homeschool parents of prek and elementary school children should think about their comfort in teaching subjects like phonics, while high school parents should consider their ability to cover more advanced subject material (and even college prep for 11th and 12th grade).
  • If your child has any special needs, how do the various curriculum options accommodate them?
  • Do you have interest in religious education? Among the box curricula available for purchase, several are Christian homeschool programs (Sonlight, Charlotte Mason and School House). Others, like Moving Beyond the Page, are secular.
  • How much time do you want to dedicate to homeschooling? Each of the approaches will require a different level and type of parental involvement.
  • All-in-one curricula: Purchasing a box curriculum (or using free homeschool curriculum available online) will save time in developing personalized homeschooling resources (lesson plans, worksheets, workbooks, quizzes and tests). However, you’ll still have to put in the time to teach the lessons, grade the material and keep the day flowing.  
  • A piecemeal approach: Families who want a fully customizable option can choose a la carte options, incorporating local and online programs. They might enroll their kids in a community college course, take online classes, supplement with resources like time4learning, join homeschooling groups, and do independent study. This approach may lighten parents’ load in some areas — but requires them to stay on top of scheduling, transportation and coordination.
  • A small co-op that brings together local families allows parents to pool their resources and share the responsibilities. Some co-ops hire instructors, while others draw on the parents of the enrolled students to share in the teaching. The setup of yours will determine the extent of your investment of time and money.
  • Online homeschool: Home-based, online learning, with a full-service program like Prisma, provides students academic and social support. Parents won’t have to do any heavy lifting in terms of instruction or planning, but they will be more involved with their child’s education than in a traditional public school setting. At Prisma, we offer two pathways for homeschooling: our full-service model, where your learner is matched with a teacher who serves as a 1:1 mentor, giving feedback on their work; and a parent-as-coach model, where for a lower cost your learner has access to our comprehensive curriculum, live workshops, and peer community, but where you as the parent continue to provide feedback and support to your child. Many devoted homeschool parents choose to do Prisma with the parent-as-coach model.
  • Unschooling: This approach, in which kids have complete freedom to dictate how they spend their time, is perhaps the least involved in terms of planning and dedicated instructional time. However, the whole family needs to be on board with this totally unstructured approach.

If you come from a traditional school background, homeschooling is such a major life change it can be hard to imagine. Sometimes, the only way to figure out what’s best, is to jump in, try it, and then make changes based on what you learn.

We’ve written these resources to help you get started:

98% of parents are confident that Prisma is preparing their child for their adult life.

Want to learn more about how Prisma can empower your child to thrive?

Talk with us

More from our blog

7 tips to deal with high school burnout

With adolescent mental health in crisis, here’s how to support your high school student’s well-being.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 28, 2023

Why is Creativity Important in Education?

At its core, creativity is the expression of our most essential human qualities: our curiosity, our inventiveness, and our desire to explore the unknown.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 24, 2023

How to develop critical thinking skills in students

The concept of critical thinking can seem vast and abstract. But one of the most meaningful ways you can start to tackle it is by rethinking the role of the teacher.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 23, 2023

Worldschooling: Our Complete Guide to Getting Started

Imagine your child exploring new countries, meeting people from different cultures, and gaining a deep understanding of the world in a way that simply isn't possible in traditional education.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 22, 2023

Writing prompts for middle school students

Unstick your child’s creativity, stretch their thinking, and improve their writing skills with topics that tap into their passions.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 21, 2023

Cora & Caitlin's Prisma story

I never expected to find a family within my child’s school, but the leadership, teachers, parents and kids have become friends for life

Caitlin, Cora's mom
• 
March 21, 2023

Homeschool Burnout: How to Take Care of Yourself in Your Journey

Homeschooling can be overwhelming for parents. Here's how to recognize the signs of burnout & concrete solutions.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 20, 2023

Why is school so boring?

What’s behind your child’s complaint — and what to do about it.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 17, 2023

What to do when your child has no friends

If building social skills has been a bumpy road for your kid, here’s how to help them form healthy friendships.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 14, 2023

How to make homeschool fun

The homeschool day can be quite efficient, compared to a typical public school day. Then, their school work completed, kids have plenty of time for extracurriculars, hobbies, unstructured play and generally... fun.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 9, 2023

My child hates school. Should I homeschool?

Possibly. But here’s what to do first.

Prisma Staff
• 
March 7, 2023

Teaching nutrition to high school students

To instill life-long healthy eating habits, take a hands-on approach

Prisma Staff
• 
March 2, 2023

The secrets of building a sense of community in online learning

Distance learning doesn’t have to be a drag. Here’s how Prisma creates a community-centered online learning environment.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 28, 2023

How does online high school work?

Distance learning is gaining popularity. Here’s what you need to know about online learning for high school students.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 23, 2023

How to build strong study habits for middle school

A bridge into high school, middle school is the time to prepare for independent learning. Here’s how to set the stage.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 21, 2023

How to help an easily distracted child

ADHD is only one reason for a short attention span. Find the cause, then try these tips for helping your child focus.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 16, 2023

How to help your child find their passion

There’s no roadmap to develop a true passion — but here are ways to make the journey more fruitful.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 14, 2023

Meet Kristen Shroff

Kristen Shroff is an experienced educational leader who has been with Prisma from the very beginning, first as a Founding Curriculum Designer & then as Head of School. Now, as CEO, she will lead Prisma into its next stage of growth.

• 
February 10, 2023

Meet Claire Cummings

Meet Claire Cummings, our Head of Middle School. Claire started out as a beloved Learning Coach in our middle school program before transitioning to the Head of School role in January 2023! She is based in Detroit, Michigan.

• 
February 10, 2023

How to teach life skills for teens

From making a meal to balancing a budget, here’s how to help teens learn to thrive in the real world.

Prisma Staff
• 
February 9, 2023

Meet Emily Veno

In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Emily Veno, one of Prisma's Founding Curriculum Designers. After two years focused on building Prisma's middle school curriculum, in her new role as Head of Learning Innovation she works across both the middle & high school programs.

• 
February 8, 2023

Meet Leena Williams

In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Leena Williams, the Lead Coach & Curriculum Designer in our new high school program.

• 
February 8, 2023

Motivating students who don't care

Get to the bottom of your child’s apathy and help them find their ‘why.’

Prisma Staff
• 
February 7, 2023

Major & Latasha's Prisma Story

At Prisma, we believe the families and learners who like to call themselves Prismarians—are our ‘secret sauce’! Here we highlight one of our favorite stories from the Prisma community

Latasha, Major's mom
• 
February 6, 2023

How to incorporate educational family trips into homeschooling

From national parks to beach vacations, design an in-the-field learning experience the whole family will enjoy

Prisma Staff
• 
February 2, 2023

How to switch to online school

Online learning takes many forms. Decide why you want to go remote — and the rest will fall into place.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 31, 2023

What are the benefits of homeschooling with ADHD?

Here’s how parents of ADHD children can set themselves up for successful learning at home.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 26, 2023

How to stay focused during online school

Online learning doesn’t have to be distracting. These tips can prime your child to thrive at home.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 24, 2023

Learning activities for gifted children

From early childhood through high school, homeschooling provides the ideal setting to facilitate a gifted child’s learning. Here’s how.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 20, 2023

What challenges do students with learning disabilities face?

And how can you support them in the classroom?

Prisma Staff
• 
January 17, 2023

What are the benefits of child-led learning?

From fostering a love of learning to developing problem-solving skills, child-initiated learning is a pillar of a successful homeschooling journey. Here’s how to get started.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 12, 2023

How to get your child interested in math

Focus on number sense and you’ll help your child add math skills to their toolkit.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 10, 2023

How to keep kids healthy & active during remote learning

Combine fun with a pinch of self-discipline, and you’ll be well on your way to a wellness routine your child wants to follow.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 5, 2023

How to get your child to open up

Kids need to develop their own world as they mature. But the stereotype of the zip-lipped pre-teen doesn’t have to be your reality.

Prisma Staff
• 
January 3, 2023

How to homeschool and work from home

It’s not easy to juggle full-time work and homeschooling — but it is possible. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to thrive.

• 
December 29, 2022

What language should my child learn?

Learning languages opens doors, offers connections and inspires new ways of thinking. Here’s some advice about which one(s) to pick.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 27, 2022

How to teach your child to be a critical thinker

Critical thinking matters for academics, work and relationships. Here’s how to lay the foundations at home.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 22, 2022

Life of a Prisma learner: Aaron

Read about the hands-on learning opportunities one Prisma high schooler tackled in the Secrets of the Biosphere theme

Emily Veno
• 
December 22, 2022

How to help your kids be more creative

Creative thinking is the key to problem-solving. Here’s how to foster creativity at home.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 20, 2022

Considering alternatives to college?

Traditional four-year college is only one option. Here’s how to inform your decision.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 15, 2022

What does Montessori homeschooling look like?

The Montessori approach focuses on early childhood. Here’s how the popular pedagogical method can lend itself to home-based learning for all ages.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 13, 2022

Is Roblox educational?

Here’s what parents need to know about the popular social media network.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 9, 2022

Don’t develop healthy habits for kids — do it with them.

Here’s what every parent should know about facilitating a routine that works for the whole family.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 5, 2022

‘Learning styles’ are a myth (part 3) — What is a kinesthetic learner?

Hands-on learning benefits all students. Here’s how to incorporate it into your homeschooling.

Prisma Staff
• 
December 1, 2022

‘Learning styles’ are a myth (part 2) — characteristics of an auditory learner.

There’s no evidence to confirm the validity of these popular labels. But here’s how auditory learning strategies can benefit everyone.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 29, 2022

‘Learning styles’ are a myth (part 1) — characteristics of a visual learner.

Although no studies link these popular labels to academic achievement, here’s how visual learning helps everyone.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 24, 2022

Is Discord safe for kids?

Here’s what parents need to know about the free, popular chat app.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 22, 2022

Reading is the Gateway to Learning: Here’s how to get your child interested in reading.

Incorporate these reading tips into your routine, and you’ll be on your way to fostering a love of reading in your child.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 18, 2022

Holiday, winter and Christmas art projects for kids

Ready to Deck the Halls? Here are projects to engage kids of all ages—and tackle your seasonal shopping with DIY keepsakes.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 16, 2022

What is the Socratic Method for Kids?

More than just asking questions in the classroom, the Socratic Method helps learners test their own ideas in a real-life context.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 10, 2022

What is self-directed learning — and what are the benefits?

When students set the conditions of their learning experience, they show more creativity, passion and sticktuitiveness.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 3, 2022

How is Minecraft Educational?

With built-in lesson plans, educational tools, and endless problem-solving opportunities, Minecraft: Education Edition can help motivate kids in coding, science, language arts, and more.

Prisma Staff
• 
November 1, 2022

Stuffed with stuffing? Step away from the casserole and try these Thanksgiving art projects for kids of all ages.

Get into the spirit of gratitude with these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 27, 2022

Gratitude is one of the prime ingredients of happiness. Here’s how to teach kids to be grateful.

Teach children gratitude and they’ll experience better mental health, well being and social connection.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 25, 2022

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can make reading comprehension a struggle. Here’s how to help a child with ADHD learn to read.

8 tips to ensure learning disabilities don’t get in the way of building reading skills.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 20, 2022

Bored Students Don’t Thrive. Here’s How to Get Your Child Interested in School.

Why does your child dread Mondays? Once you know, take these steps to help them (re)discover their spark.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 18, 2022

Here’s how to prevent bullying in school - and what to do if it happens.

To stop bullying behavior, educate yourselves and your children.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 13, 2022

Why do kids get bullied at school — and why do kids bully others?

Bullying is about a power dynamic between peers. To interrupt it, first understand why it happens.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 11, 2022

How to build confidence in kids

Children’s Mental Health is in Crisis. Here’s How to Help Develop Your Child’s Self-Esteem.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 6, 2022

What is twice exceptional - and how can homeschooling help?

To reach their high potential, twice-exceptional children benefit from a flexible learning environment.

Prisma Staff
• 
October 4, 2022

Halloween art projects for kids

The holiday season is the time to get your hands dirty with these Halloween craft ideas - candy corn optional.

Prisma Staff
• 
September 29, 2022

How to help a child with dyslexia at home

Dyslexic kids often lose their love of learning. Here’s how parents can help them rediscover it.

Prisma Staff
• 
September 27, 2022

How to support your LGBTQ child

The challenges of adolescence can be magnified for LGBTQ kids. Here’s how to help them thrive.

Prisma Staff
• 
September 22, 2022

What challenges do LGBTQ students face?

From bullying to finding a safe bathroom, LGBTQ students navigate a tough landscape at school.

Prisma Staff
• 
September 20, 2022

How to Make Learning Fun

What we know about the relationship between ‘hard fun’ and learning. (Hint: It’s not about playing games in between worksheets.)

Prisma Staff
• 
September 15, 2022

Want to raise successful kids?

Here’s what we mean by ‘success’ at Prisma - and how we use it to help kids thrive.

Prisma Staff
• 
September 13, 2022

Homeschooling Socialization Guide

What parents need to know about socialization in—and out of—the classroom to help your homeschooler thrive.

Prisma Staff
• 
August 16, 2022

How to start your own business as a kid

Child entrepreneurship is trending. Here are three steps to developing an innovative business that stands out from the crowd.

Prisma staff
• 
August 4, 2022

What is project based learning?

A hands-on approach to develop real-world skills, resiliency and a love of learning — here’s how we practice it at Prisma.

Prisma Staff
• 
August 2, 2022

Writer + Programmer = Calliope Ghostwriting

A Shared Name and Diverse Strengths Led Two Bens to Build an AI Writing Business.

Prisma staff
• 
July 7, 2022

Alternatives to School

When traditional public school isn’t the best option, consider these alternatives.

Prisma Staff
• 
July 1, 2022

How to Develop a Growth Mindset for Kids

Five ways parents can help their kids see themselves as a work in progress.

• 
June 22, 2022

Top 7 tips for how to recover from gifted kid burnout

Gifted kids face unique challenges when it comes to burnout. Here’s how parents can help.

Prisma staff
• 
June 21, 2022

What is worldschooling?

For travel-hungry families dreaming of school vacation, there’s much to celebrate about shifts in the way we live, work and educate our children.

Prisma staff
• 
June 16, 2022

How to start homeschooling

To create a customized education for your child takes more than a checklist. This three-stage framework can help you get started.

• 
June 14, 2022

Pros and cons of homeschooling

If you’re homeschool-curious, here’s what 100 families have to say about the biggest advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.

Prisma staff
• 
June 10, 2022

How does Homeschooling Work in the Modern Era?

With homeschooling, the sky’s the limit – and there’s a lot on your plate. Learn about how to make this growing trend work for your family.

Prisma Staff
• 
June 9, 2022

Building healthy screen time habits: What Prisma kids say

Learning how to use the internet safely, smartly, and creatively is one of the most essential skills for success in our hyper-connected world. Prisma learners just wrapped up their Cyber Citizens learning

• 
April 2, 2021

Introducing Prisma LIVE

A live learning platform purpose-built for kids. It's a new, fun and engaging way for kids to learn and collaborate together virtually.

• 
March 19, 2021

Connected learning for a connected age

Technology has completely revolutionized how we shop, communicate, entertain ourselves, and even how we work, but no such revolution has happened in education.

• 
March 5, 2021

Prisma: a first retrospective

We’ve officially wrapped up our first ever fall session at Prisma and are excited to share our learnings and observations with you.

Victoria Ransom
• 
December 17, 2020

Join Prisma from anywhere in the USA this fall

Starting today, families can apply to join Prisma from anywhere in the USA. Here’s how it will work. You can still apply to any of our five founding cohort hubs (Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Tampa) if you live nearby.

• 
July 27, 2020

A Stress-free switch to learning from home this fall

Over the past week, as millions of parents have realized that traditional in-person schooling may not be safe or available come September, a new twist on an old phenomenon has emerged.

• 
July 22, 2020

Be a founding family!

We're excited to announce the rollout of Prisma cohorts in 5 US cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Salt Lake City.

• 
July 17, 2020

Introducing Prisma

We’re Prisma, and today we’re announcing the world’s first Connected Learning Network, a whole new category in education. We’re not a school in the conventional sense; we’re a locally-rooted, globally connected at-home learning network that gives kids the tools to live their optimal life, starting today.

Victoria Ransom & Alain Chuard
• 
June 24, 2020

Prismarian Asher Nelson Rhymes His Way to Victory

First-time Poet Wins “Games for Change Student Challenge” with “Poem of PvZ”.

•