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25 Comments

  1. Shelby
    April 29, 2013 @ 5:16 pm

    Glad to see you address this issue. I often get asked by new homeschoolers what to do when they find out that they made the wrong curriculum choice. I always give them the same advice you gave. 🙂 I think I will just bookmark this post and refer it to those new homeschoolers who are still trying to get the hang of things. 🙂 Thanks!

  2. Heidi
    April 29, 2013 @ 6:19 pm

    Thank you Shelby. It is one of those tough but common things we stumble upon in our homeschooling journey. Given that I have experienced it multiple times myself (even more than the 2 examples I listed), I thought I would try and offer up some of what I have learned for others to benefit from.

  3. Mimi
    April 30, 2013 @ 11:48 am

    Great post, right now I am new at this and basically flying by the seat of my pants and all over the place, but then so is my ADHD grandson, plus free is about all we can afford but as time progresses I have found many resources for curriculum that may fit his needs.

  4. Heidi
    April 30, 2013 @ 11:56 am

    Mimi, the options are so numerous that it can be overwhelming! I will often find something new and worry that my kids are missing out by not switching. Ultimately you have to know in your gut what is working or not working and stick or bail accordingly. There are so many free resources that the Internet has given us the opportunity to access which is wonderful. This age of technology comes with many benefits for homeschoolers.

  5. Living Waters by LeAnn
    May 1, 2013 @ 7:15 pm

    I am going to send your link to my daughter. I know that she sometimes struggles with the Curriculum.
    Blessings!

  6. Heidi
    May 3, 2013 @ 1:42 pm

    LeAnn, Curriculum issues can be tough, especially if you have a significant amount of time, money and energy invested in one that ends up not feeling like it is working.

  7. www.aspiredliving.net
    February 11, 2014 @ 1:37 pm

    I really like this post I think sometimes we jump ship too quickly because we have allowed curriculum to become our master instead of a tool in our toolbox. Still sometimes some curriculum just are not working for your family and they need to be kicked to the curb! Thanks for sharing! Blessings, K

  8. Heidi
    February 11, 2014 @ 1:49 pm

    Yes it can be all to easy to become a slave to your curriculum. Learning to make it work for you is often the key. Although, it can sometimes be a tricky balance between knowing when to hold on and stay the course, hold on and modify, or jump ship altogether.

  9. www.aspiredliving.net
    February 11, 2014 @ 2:04 pm

    Agreed!

  10. Lynda Schultz
    February 11, 2014 @ 2:30 pm

    We are in the middle of transitioning from one curriculum to who knows what. (It’s been going on for about 6 months or more, but who’s counting.) I’m so thankful for these tips. I’ve been feeling like a failure jumping from one resource to another, and you’ve given me several new ideas to try. Bless you my friend. 🙂

  11. Heidi
    February 11, 2014 @ 2:44 pm

    Lynda, I so know your pain. We struggled greatly with finding something for math that worked with our daughter. I have a hard time – a very hard time – letting go, especially with curriculum. I like to dot my “I’s” and cross my “T’s” so to speak. 😉 I am so glad you find these tips helpful and hopefully encouraging as you are not alone in this struggle. 🙂

  12. Liz @ Watch Me Homeschool
    February 12, 2014 @ 9:41 pm

    Great post Heidi! I’m in the same boat right now. Thinking of really changing things up next year!

  13. Heidi
    February 13, 2014 @ 8:52 am

    Liz, it has really made a huge difference in our homeschool that I have a better grasp on knowing when things need to be changed or dropped altogether. Sticking with something that isn’t right can really bring you all to a bitter place. We are changing a few things for the coming year as well.

  14. Adelien Tan
    February 17, 2014 @ 2:00 am

    Nice to see this post as I often find that some of my purchased curriculum didn’t work for us too. Thanks for sharing.

  15. Heidi
    February 17, 2014 @ 8:17 am

    Adelien, It is tough to have paid the money thinking that this new curriculum was going to be the one, but then realizing it isn’t. I have been there a few times and find it hard to let go, but I have always been grateful that I did because it led me to something that was a better fit.

  16. When Curriculum Isn't Working - The Homeschool Village
    April 2, 2014 @ 7:10 am

    […] Have you ever bought a curriculum and before the end of your school year you realize that it just isn’t working? Heidi has some great advice on what to do when your curriculum isn’t working anymore. […]

  17. The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers
    April 7, 2014 @ 6:54 am

    […] What Happens When…..You Know A Curriculum Isn’t Working […]

  18. Meg F
    January 12, 2015 @ 9:57 am

    It is really really hard to just ditch a curriculum – and sometimes you just need to. I think the first time is hardest – it was for us.

  19. Heidi
    January 12, 2015 @ 11:39 am

    Meg, It can certainly be hard to let go. But once you have done it once it does get easier. I think because you know that ditching it will bring around something new, and possibly better. We just ditch our Language Arts program for our 12 year old son because it wasn’t working. On to something new!

  20. Veronica
    January 12, 2015 @ 6:48 pm

    I’ve only been homeschooling for a year and a half, but we ran into this issue early on. It was so hard for me to just. let. go. I finally cut my losses, and we moved on–so much better than before. Yes, it is definitely worth it to reevaluate curriculum when it just isn’t working. Thanks for sharing some other great tips to consider.

  21. Homeschooling a Large Family Part II - Aspired Living
    January 13, 2015 @ 9:29 am

    […] Okay, start breathing….. but just so you know I am very serious about this. You are not a short order cook or a short order teacher. Just sayin’ Each time you use a different curriculum you create a lot of work for yourself and for your student. So I say unless a curriculum is a complete BUST do not switch. Don’t switch when you hit a rough patch work through it instead of trying a new curriculum.  Learn to stick with the one you’ve used for 5 years and know like the back of your hand. Now does this mean NEVER EVER, EVER SWITCH…no, I have a child with autism and she uses different curriculum then the other kids. Your goal is to stick with the same curriculum for as many children as possible (even when you get bored with it, yes I said even when YOU get bored with it) to the point that you know it so well when your kid asks you a question you know it because its the 3rd, 5th or 10th kid who has asked that same question. Here is a post from Heidi at Starts at Eight that discusses “ What to do when a curriculum just isn’t working“. […]

  22. Heidi
    January 13, 2015 @ 9:38 am

    Veronica, it is always amazing how hard I want to hold on, even knowing that it will most likely be a good move! It is so important to know when to cut your losses.

  23. Michelle Cannon
    March 22, 2017 @ 2:28 pm

    I’ve never purchased an entire curriculum, but I’ve definitely purchased things that didn’t work. Just ditched it and moved on!

  24. Entirely at Home
    March 30, 2017 @ 12:24 am

    Great advice and great article! I’ve held on to curriculum I’ve books too long that both my kids and I just didn’t enjoy and weren’t working! I’ve definitely had to get rid of a things before. It is hard when you’ve invested time in something and were excited about it though!

  25. Heidi
    March 30, 2017 @ 12:38 pm

    Yes hard to give up both the time and money investment! But sometimes the giving up is much less than you were already sacrificing by keeping what you were using!

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