Over the past month or so, I have compiled the typical course of study from grades 1-12. The purpose is to let you know what public school children around the country are studying, and to give a guideline to anyone who might want to write their own curriculum based on what most kids are learning at the same time.
As homeschoolers, however, many of us are free to deviate from that typical course of study (depending upon the rules in your state). The question is, however, just how much should we deviate? While we want our kids to have unique educational experiences, we also worry that they may miss something important along the way.
If you look at the typical course of study I have laid out, you will find that it is extremely repetitive. See the typical course of study for k-12 below.
Second Grade Homeschool Basics
Fourth Grade Homeschool Basics
Middle School Homeschool Basics: Overview
Typical High School Course of Study: Science
Typical High School Course of Study: Social Studies part 1 and part 2
Typical High School Course of Study: Language arts part 1 and part 2
Typical High School Course of Study: Math
So if you teach the children the lessons in depth the first time, there really isn’t any reason that they need to be taught the lesson two more times. A second time may be necessary, but how many times does a kid really have to learn about photosynthesis to remember it?
My suggestion is that you use a year in review workbook each summer (for the next year, not the year they just completed) to find out how much the child already knows. This will eliminate the need to cover topics they are already familiar with and also show you where you should focus your time. This will also leave plenty of free time to allow you to teach your child subjects and have experiences that are not on the typical course of study.