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SUMMARY

Wondering how to choose homeschool curriculum without blowing the budget or burning out? This is Part 2 of the new homeschooler series, and today we’re covering the steps you need to take before you spend a single dollar on curriculum.

If you’ve been tempted to skip ahead and just start buying, it’s understandable. Curriculum feels like the answer to all the chaos. But here’s what Christy-Faith has learned after coaching hundreds of moms: if you skip what we’re covering today, you’re probably going to regret it.

This episode is about how to choose curriculum wisely without wasting money or burning yourself out. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do before you shop, and you’ll feel clear, not overwhelmed.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. These steps build on each other.

SHOW SPONSORS

🎁 Mentioned in this Episode…

The Homeschooler Roadmap (FREE)
👉 https://christy-faith.com/the-new-homeschooler-roadmap 

How to Start Homeschooling Part 2: Deschooling, Dreaming, and Choosing Curriculum

Before you spend a single dollar on curriculum, there are three steps you cannot skip.

Host: Christy-Faith, author of Homeschool Rising and founder of Thrive Homeschool Community

Episode Summary

If you’ve been tempted to jump straight to buying curriculum, I get it. Curriculum feels like the answer to all the chaos. But here’s what I’ve learned after coaching hundreds of moms: if you skip what we’re covering today, you’re going to regret it.

This is Part 2 of the new homeschooler series. In Part 1, we covered your state’s legal requirements, your exit plan, and how to find your homeschooling style. Today we’re diving into steps four, five, and six: deschooling, dreaming with your kids, and how to choose curriculum without wasting your money or burning yourself out.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what to do before you shop, and you’ll feel clear instead of overwhelmed. You’ll understand why deschooling matters for both you and your child, how to discover what your kids actually need, and how to make curriculum decisions you won’t regret.

If you haven’t listened to Part 1 yet, go back and start there. These steps build on each other.

Key Takeaways

• Deschooling is not the same as unschooling. It’s a transition period that helps both parent and child reset their understanding of what education can look like.
• Deschooling is for you too, not just your kids. You need to unlearn the idea that education only happens with worksheets and checkboxes.
• Dreaming with your kids and interviewing them about how they learn is essential before choosing any curriculum.
• Knowing your homeschool style before you buy curriculum will save you thousands of dollars and a closet full of unused materials.
• Not all curriculum is created equal. Some are highly parent-intensive, and you need to know that before you commit.
• The goal isn’t to find the perfect curriculum. The goal is to start with a growth mindset and know you can always pivot.
• Around age seven, kids should be able to start doing some things on their own. Consider how parent-intensive a curriculum is before purchasing.
• Nothing on the curriculum recommendations list is sponsored or paid. If it’s on there, it’s been vetted.

Why This Matters

Most new homeschool moms make the same mistake: they get excited, ask a friend what curriculum she uses, and just buy it. Three months later, they’re miserable. Not because the curriculum is bad, but because it doesn’t match how they want to teach or how their child learns.

This episode exists to save you from that. When you take the time to deschool, dream with your kids, and understand your own teaching style, you make decisions that actually fit your family. You stop wasting money. You stop burning out. And you start building a homeschool that works.

You don’t have to get this perfect on day one. But you do need to build a solid foundation before you start buying.

Practical First Steps

1. Start deschooling. Download the free 20 Questions guide and begin the process of resetting how you and your child think about learning.
2. Interview your kids. Ask them how they like to learn, what subjects excite them, and what feels hard. Their answers will shape your curriculum choices.
3. Take the homeschool style quiz. It’s free, takes five minutes, and will help you eliminate curriculum options that aren’t a fit.
4. Check the curriculum recommendations list. Everything on there has been vetted. Use it as your starting point instead of getting lost in Google.
5. Ask about parent intensity. Before you buy anything, find out how much hands-on time it requires. If you have multiple kids or need to work, this matters.
6. Give yourself grace. Some things will work and some won’t. That’s not failure, that’s homeschooling.

Resources Mentioned

Free 20 Questions to Kickstart Your Deschooling Adventure
Free 5-Minute Homeschool Style Finder
Free Curriculum Recommendations Download
New Homeschooler Roadmap (companion download for this series)
👉 christy-faith.com/links

Thrive Homeschool Community
👉 christy-faith.com/thrive

Christy-Faith’s List – A directory of homeschool-friendly businesses, colleges, and service providers
👉 christy-faiths-list.com

Homeschool Rising by Christy-Faith – Includes an entire chapter on deschooling
👉 christy-faith.com/book-homeschool-rising

Summit HealthShare – Save 40-60% monthly on healthcare
👉 summithealthshare.com/cf

LearningRx – Cognitive skills training for ADHD, dyslexia, and learning challenges. Use code HOME50 for $50 off.
👉 learningrx.com

Notable Quotes

“If you skip what we’re covering today and go straight to buying curriculum, you are gonna regret it.” – Christy-Faith

“The goal isn’t to find the perfect curriculum. […] The goal is to just start and enter this with a growth mindset.” – Christy-Faith

“Your kid’s education is way too important for [just jumping in and hoping for the best].” – Christy-Faith

Share This Episode

Send this to a mom who’s overwhelmed by curriculum options and doesn’t know where to start. This episode could save her hundreds of dollars and months of frustration.

Join the Conversation

What’s the biggest thing holding you back from starting your homeschool? Share in the comments or tag Christy-Faith on Instagram.

Other Episodes for You

How to Start Homeschooling Part 1: The Legal Stuff and Choosing the Right Approach
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/how-to-start-homeschooling-part-1-3-the-legal-stuff-choosing-the-right-approach/

What I Wish I Knew Before Buying Homeschool Curriculum
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/what-i-wish-i-knew-before-buying-homeschool-curriculum/

Do You Meet the Qualifications for Homeschooling?
🔗 https://christy-faith.com/podcast/do-you-meet-the-qualifications-for-homeschooling/