Tips on How to Choose Curriculum for your ADHD Homeschool Child

Curriculum Overwhelm? There is certainly no shortage of choice when it comes time to choose curriculum for your children. How do you narrow it down? Do you really need to teach them ALL the subjects and topics that you hear about? Are you struggling to engage your child in learning? Do you feel like other children are doing more than your children?

Relax. We have all been there at some stage. It can be difficult, and sometimes scary, when faced with the responsibility of choosing curriculum. I want to share 2 secrets you need to know before you continue:

1. It is OK not to get it right (a big sigh of relief). I have a cupboard full of curriculum. Some we tried and hated, some worked for one child and not the others.
2. Do NOT compare yourself to other homeschoolers – EVER! I cannot stress this enough. Your family is unique. You are unique. Your children are unique. Your family structure is unique. You get the picture?

Now that you have the right mindset, I would like to share with you what I learned from homeschooling ADHD boys for the past 15 years.

FIRST: Choose a Curriculum that suits your ADHD Child’s Needs

Over the years I have learned what worked for my children and what did not. My boys struggled with sitting at a desk for extended periods of time – I am talking 10 minutes in the early days. I learned that overwhelm was a significant trigger. My children NEEDED to know what was coming next and what to expect from each activity. As a result, routine, structure, consistency, and familiarity had to be established.

I had to find quality curriculum that set a solid foundation, yet allowed the boys to feel comfortable and confident. I wanted a curriculum that would grow with them and ultimately lead to independent learning.

Familiarity reduces overwhelm thereby leading to independence.

Anxiety is reduced when the child knows what to expect. Consistency allows him to feel a level of control over his work, leading to a sense of achievement. We all know how important control and achievement are to an ADHD child.

SECOND: Set Yourself up by Choosing Curriculum that has a Strong Foundation

There will no doubt come a time in your homeschool journey when you have to put the brakes on and slow down with the academic learning. There may be an illness in the family, you may want to focus on character training, a new baby comes along, etc. Sometimes life takes precedence over academic learning but, you do want the children to learn something.

During tough times my quality curriculum reassured me that my children were still progressing.

Choose a curriculum skeleton that you can fall back on during tough times. My core subjects (Maths, Grammar, and Spelling) were always the same, the same curriculum year in year out. My core subjects built the structure on which the rest of my program was based. This allowed me to be creative in all other areas of learning. When the boys knew what was expected of them, our days ran so much smoother (not perfect, but smooth is good when you have a house full of hyperactive boys!).

NEXT: Consider These 10 Questions Before You Choose a Curriculum:

Question 1

What are your children’s longterm academic goals? Do you want them to gain mastery in this particular subject? (eg Maths) or is a basic understanding enough? Is a purchased curriculum necessary or can you children learn through doing, watching, and/ or internet research?

Question 2

What are your personal strengths and weaknesses? It is easier to teach what you know, therefore invest more in your weaker areas. Do you require a Teacher’s Manual, Tests, Quizzes and Assignments? I love my Teacher’s Manuals as they allow me to whip through marking when time is short. They also provide you with an outlet for older siblings or your partner to help out with explanations and marking.

Question 3

Is the curriculum Christian? Regardless of your preference, it is good to know the underlying philosophy of the program you are considering so you are not in for any surprises.

Question 4

How much time is required of you to deliver the topic? That is, time to plan, teach, correct, and re-teach when further understanding is necessary.

Question 5

How much input do you want for this particular subject? I typically want my core subjects handed to me on a platter. My objective is to create independent learners with these subjects. As a result, I am free to be creative in all other areas allowing me to incorporate my child’s individual interests into our overall curriculum plan.

Question 6

What is the delivery method of the curriculum? Is it online, workbook, textbook? Do you need other resources or equipment?

Question 7

Do you require this subject to be multi-age/level? Are there times when you would like to teach your children together? I prefer History, Science and Art to be a family affair, therefore, a single curriculum in these areas suits us.

Question 8

Does it promote independent learning? Is the curriculum self-instructional? There are times when you may want your child to learn independently. Not only does this free you to work with other children or activities (ie chores), it also gives the child a sense of achievement.

Question 9

Is the curriculum written for homeschoolers? While this is not a deal-breaker, I do prefer to choose curriculum written for homeschool families for my core subjects.

Question 10

Is the curriculum at my child’s level? Will my child feel a sense of achievement after completing each lesson? From experience, my ADHD children need short lessons to hold their attention.

Finally, be kind to yourself. It takes time, sometimes years, to settle into a homeschool rhythm. Don’t be afraid to change if things are not working. But most importantly enjoy the journey.

This post shares my experience and opinions only and is not professional advice. Please make your own decisions on what is right for your child and family given your individual circumstances.