I Bought the Curriculum Everyone Recommended… and My Child Hates It. Now What?

You researched. You read reviews. You asked other homeschool parents what they loved. You finally chose the curriculum everyone seemed to recommend.

And now your child hates it.

Lessons drag on. Your child complains or shuts down. Maybe they're flying through one subject but struggling with another. Meanwhile, other parents are still raving about the exact curriculum that isn't working in your house.

So…did you choose wrong?

Not necessarily. You may simply be learning more about what your child actually needs.

A Great Curriculum Can Still Be the Wrong Fit

There is no single curriculum that works perfectly for every child. 

One student may thrive with independent online lessons while another needs more interaction. One may need extra repetition while another becomes frustrated by it. Your child might even need completely different approaches for math and reading.

That's one of the advantages of homeschooling: your child's education doesn't have to fit neatly into one box.

Instead of asking whether a curriculum is "good," ask:

Is my child learning well with it?

Look beyond whether lessons are being completed. Can your child explain what they learned? Apply the skill later? Are they making progress without every school day becoming a battle?

Those answers tell you much more about fit.

Before You Switch Everything, Find the Friction

A difficult week doesn't necessarily mean you need a new curriculum.

Try identifying exactly what's causing the problem.

Is the work too hard or too easy? Are the lessons too long? Does your child understand the material but dislike the format? Do they need more help than the program provides? Is the curriculum the problem, or does your schedule need adjusting?

Sometimes a small change is enough.

Shorten lessons. Slow down. Skip material your child has already mastered. Add extra practice where they need it. Provide more support while they develop independence.

And sometimes?

It really is the curriculum.

That's okay, too.

Changing Course Isn't Failing

Homeschool parents sometimes feel guilty about switching because they've already spent money, made a plan, or told themselves, "This is what we're using this year."

But homeschooling gives you the flexibility to respond to the child in front of you.

If something consistently isn't helping your child learn, even after you've made reasonable adjustments, you have the flexibility to change it.

Recommendations are a great place to start.

Your child is where the final decision gets made.

Because the best homeschool curriculum isn't the one everyone else loves.

It's the one that helps your child learn.

Still Figuring Out What Fits?

FunCation Academy gives homeschool families multiple learning options, academic support, enrichment, community, and a Virtual Campus, giving families room to build around what their student actually needs.

Learn More About FA

Sources & Further Reading

• CAST — Universal Design for Learning Guidelines: Research-based guidance on designing flexible learning experiences that address individual learner differences.

• Education Endowment Foundation — Teaching and Learning Toolkit: Evidence summaries on individualized instruction, mastery learning, feedback, and other teaching approaches.

• Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education — What Works Clearinghouse: Research and evidence on educational programs, practices, and interventions.