by Angela Lasch

It’s the first day of school. New shiny books line the bookshelves. The sharpened pencils are neatly stacked, and the notebook covers are clean. Everything is ready, so you begin.

The first week goes pretty well. You feel confident this will be a good year. The second week has a few bumps in the road, but overall, the momentum is strong, and everything is going in the right direction. In the third week, there is some resistance. In the fourth week, there are some tantrums. In the fifth week, you are ready to throw in the towel.

Why isn’t it working? Is it the curriculum? What should you do?

Pray

Always begin with prayer. Ask the Lord for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5 NIV). Remember, God created your children and knows what works best for them. You just need to ask!

Ask

Ask why the curriculum isn’t working. Is it too hard? Too easy? Too boring? Is your child struggling because they don’t understand? Is it a wordy textbook, and your child learns better with a hands-on approach? 

Dig Deeper

Is it the curriculum or something else? Is it all of your curriculum or just a specific subject? 

Is it your schedule? For example, math is usually best accomplished right after breakfast when your child is most focused versus after lunch or in the afternoon when they are “done” for the day. 

Have you tried letting your child pick the order of subjects? 

Are you the master of the curriculum, or are you letting the curriculum rule your day? Especially when you first begin, it is easy to let the curriculum dictate your homeschool. It is okay to jump around, skip chapters, etc. Do not let the curriculum be your master. 

Do you have too many extracurriculars, co-op, park day, field trips, and service projects? Is school the last thing or the first thing you do? Find the balance that works best for your family. Homeschooling gives you plenty of time to do it all, but make sure you give academics their proper place in your schedule. If you do the academic subjects after you get home at the end of the day, it will be difficult for any curriculum to work well!

How do you know when to pull the plug and try something else?

Have you done all of the above?

Have you committed at least three months?

Are there more tears than smiles?

You have permission to try something else! Remember, all kids are different and learn differently. A curriculum that worked for one child may not work for another. If something isn’t working for your child, don’t try to force it! Remember that you homeschool because you can change things that aren’t working. You don’t have to use the same curriculum as your friends. Choose what works best for your family. God gave you your children; you know what is best for them. 

One of my favorite verses I referred to during my homeschool journey was Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time, we will reap a harvest of blessings if we don’t give up.” You will eventually reap the fruit of your labor. Sometimes, you don’t see it for weeks, months, or even years! But you can hold onto this promise in God’s word. 

Trust the Lord, trust the process, reap the blessings.