About 1.7 million children are homeschooled in the U.S., which represents about 3% of the school-aged population. Parents often choose homeschooling to ensure their children receive the best academic instruction possible. The key to achieving this goal is picking the right curriculum, which is not as easy as it may seem, especially when it comes to teaching reading.

If you plan on teaching your child to read at home, it’s important to know what to look for when choosing a homeschool reading curriculum.

What Should You Do Before Looking For A Homeschool Reading Curriculum?

There are several steps you should take before you begin looking for a homeschool reading curriculum for your child. Here’s what to do:

Research 

Take the time to research what reading skills children in public and private schools are learning at your child’s age. Try to answer these questions:

• What reading skills should your child currently have?
• What reading skills should your child have after completing the curriculum?
• What types of texts should your child be reading?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions, you won’t know how to assess the quality of a homeschool reading curriculum. Answering these questions ahead of time will help guide you in the right direction when choosing a homeschool curriculum for your child.

Set A Timetable

You should also set a timetable before you begin searching for the right reading curriculum. How long do you want to spend on this subject with your child? If you want to spend a year, for example, you shouldn’t choose a curriculum that will only cover a semester’s worth of topics.

What Features Should You Look For When Choosing A Homeschool Reading Curriculum?

Now you are ready to start looking for the right reading curriculum for your child. There are many different options available to parents, which can make it harder to choose just one. Make sure you select the right homeschool reading curriculum for your child by looking for these key features

Good Reviews

It’s always wise to find out what other homeschooling parents think about a curriculum before choosing it for your child. There are countless blogs dedicated to this topic, so a quick Google search should help you find information on a specific type of curriculum.

Independent Learning Opportunities

Look for a reading curriculum that allows your child to work and learn independently. Many researchers believe that reading independently can help children improve fluency, reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling skills. If you want your child to benefit from your reading lessons, you should choose a curriculum that gives them plenty of time to read on their own.

Self-Paced

Every child learns at their own pace, so it’s smart to choose a homeschool reading curriculum that is self-paced. This will ensure your child does not have to spend a lot of time working on skills that they have quickly mastered. This way, your child will remain engaged and challenged by the material. Self-paced curriculum also gives your child more time to work on skills that they need to improve on without feeling rushed.

Interesting Content

Kids may start to lose motivation if they aren’t interested in the content they are asked to read. To keep your kids engaged and excited about reading, make sure the curriculum you choose contains interesting content.

Remember that what is interesting to one child may not be interesting to another. Keep your child’s unique interests in mind when selecting a homeschool reading curriculum.

Special Concerns

Some parents may also need to look for a curriculum that addresses their child’s specific concerns and special needs.

For example, if your child has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it’s best to look for a curriculum that provides students with simple instructions and is designed to keep them engaged as they read. These features can help children overcome challenges associated with ADHD and learn how to read.

This is only one example of special concerns that parents should consider when searching for a curriculum. Other examples include learning disabilities, a reluctance to read, and different learning styles.

Look for a homeschool reading curriculum with these features so you can rest easy knowing you have made the right choice for your child.

Supplement Your Homeschool Reading Curriculum With Readability

Don’t be afraid to supplement your child’s homeschool reading curriculum with other valuable resources, including the Readability app. Readability is the only smart reading and comprehension learning app that your child can use to improve their reading skills any time, any place. Incorporate this user-friendly app into your homeschool reading curriculum so your child can develop the skills they need to become a better reader.

Download the Readability app on your smartphone or tablet and start your free 7-day trial today.