A well-designed curriculum is one that addresses the learner’s interests and needs. It includes academic, physical, emotional and social development. It incorporates community connections and fosters agency.
Addresses the learner’s interests and needs
It’s common to hear people say, “If you want your child to learn something, they’ll learn it.” But if the goal is for your child to acquire a new skill or knowledge, how do you know what will motivate them?
The answer is that you need to find out what interests them. If you’re teaching a subject like math and don’t incorporate something that interests your student into their learning experience, they may not be motivated enough to complete the task at hand.
Here’s a tip from the Euka home schooling website that can help: Ask a bunch of questions about what your student likes when it comes time for lessons. Once those preferences are established (e.g., science fiction), ask yourself how those things can be incorporated into the curriculum in order for it to be relevant and meaningful for both of you (e.g., create lesson plans around robots).
Includes academic, physical, emotional and social development
A well-designed curriculum for homeschoolers must include academic, physical and emotional development as well as social development. The academic component should include the core subjects of reading, writing, math and science.
Physical education is important to a child’s overall health and wellness. The social aspect of their education is best taught through group activities such as sports or music lessons where they can interact with other children in a safe environment.
An effective curriculum should also teach your children how to cope during times of stress or emotion. For example, if you’re teaching them about world history, then stress management would be an important part of this lesson plan.
Many wars throughout history could cause stress to young minds if they did not know how to properly handle these situations themselves when they arise later on down the road after graduation from high school. Therefore, learning how to deal with these situations beforehand so that later on down the road, when things become difficult at work or home because someone gets hurt, people won’t have any problems handling themselves appropriately without causing problems for others around them who may not understand why emotions might be running high at after hearing about something sad happening overseas.
Includes community connections
A well-designed curriculum should include community connections. These may include field trips, service projects, and volunteer opportunities for students to get involved with their local communities. The more direct your children are involved in their own community, the more likely they are to develop a sense of civic responsibility and empathy for others.
Fosters agency
In order to foster agency and self-directed learning, a curriculum should allow the learner to feel in control of their learning. The learner should be given opportunities to explore their interests and learn about themselves as well as others.
Makes knowledge relevant
This principle is one that we have found to be essential. When a learner can see how something they are studying connects with their own experience, it makes the material more meaningful and relevant.
The best curriculum should help students connect to their world in ways that are meaningful and practical, helping them learn about themselves as well as the world around them. The content of your homeschooling curriculum should encourage students to ask questions about themselves, their families and friends, their communities, other cultures and countries around the globe.
The goal of a well-designed curriculum is to engage the learner in learning activities that are meaningful and relevant. By providing students with opportunities to explore their interests, develop social skills, build confidence and self-esteem, as well as gain knowledge about their world and how it works (both inside and outside of school), educators can ensure that their students are getting the most out of each day’s learning experience.