How do you know what to teach?
This has got to be one of the most common questions I get from people who find out we homeschool. It was also one of my biggest questions when we pulled our daughter out of public school in 2006. I had no idea where to start.
Curriculum choices abound. And when I say “abound” I mean, the sheer number of possiblities is enough to make you go stark raving mad. Totally overwhelming. After hours of going round and round, I was getting nowhere; I needed a new approach. So, I simply asked myself this question: When it comes time for our children to launch out on their own, what do I want them to know? That’s how I came up with my Master List. I can’t say we’ll cover everything here between now and when they turn 18 or so (in fact, we probably won’t), but having the list has helped me at least figure out where we’re headed and things I don’t want to miss along the way.
Anyway, I thought I’d post my list here in case it might be helpful. (And maybe sometime I’ll post my Master, Master list broken down even further along with an explanation of how I use it…I just didn’t want to completely overwhelm you today!).
By the way, this isn’t only for homeschoolers. I am of the opinion that the public school system does not prepare our children well and feel strongly that parents need to take back full responsiblity for the education of our children, whether we choose public school, private school, homeschool or anything else.
And if you’re a homeschooler, you might also want to check out my Homeschooling for Free links!
Feel free to copy the list and change it so it works for your family. Credit and/or a link back is appreciated. I always appreciate a Stumble too!
Speaking of credit, two sources that were very helpful as I was compiling my own list were Old Fashioned Education’s Categories of Instruction and Doc’s K-8 Master Syllabus.
The Master List
Spiritual Formation
- Bible
- Morals & Character
- Personal Growth & Journey
- Church History
Math
- Arithmetic
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Calculus
- Probability & Statistics
- Advanced Math
Language Arts
- Phonics & Reading
- Handwriting
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Vocabulary
- Writing Composition
- Oral Presentation
- Critical Thinking
- Finding Information
Literature
- Genres
- Literary Devices
- Literary Skills
- Oral Reading
Fine Arts
- Art
- Music
- Theater & Dance
- Photography
- Film
- Architecture
Foreign Language
- Ancient
- Modern
Social Studies
- History
- Geography
- Civics & Government
- Business & Commerce
- Cultures
- People & Community
- Society
Science
- Life Science (Biology)
- Earth Science & Astronomy
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Scientific Inquiry
Health & Safety
- Emergency Preparedness
- Transportation Safety
- Personal Safety
- Weather Readiness & Safety
- Survival Skills
- Nutrition & Diet
- Exercise
- Personal Hygiene
- Common Diseases
- Sex Education
- Addictions & Abuse
Life Skills
- Swimming
- Keyboarding
- Test-taking Skills
- Household Management
- Personal Finance
- Driving & Auto Care
- Interpersonal Skills
- Child Care
- Job Hunting
- Carpentry & Repair
- Travel
- Handicrafts
Now go check out Homeschooling for Free to find free resources for all of these categories!
Related posts:
My goal at WithPurpose.com is to help you streamline life so you can spend more time, energy and money on what you want to do and less on what you have to do. Browse the categories across the top or 
I am considering homeschooling my children this fall and I sooooo appreciate the simplicity of your master list. It helps me see the value within the BIG picture.
Jawan’s last blog post..From my seat
Excellent idea! I’ve been toying with a “life list” – a similar idea really. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa B.’s last blog post..Awesome God
Wonderfully put. I’m inspired to put together my own Master List!
I would love to read the follow-up. You suggested writing a more in-depth explanation of your Master List and that would be SO interesting to this homeschoolin’ Mama!!! ^_^ I LOVE to learn the workings of other homeschool Mom’s minds because I always learn something of worth for me and my family and usually end up inspired (see second sentence!).
Tori’s last blog post..Lift Up the Hands that Hang Down
Wow, that is quite a list! I’m 34, and I still haven’t gotten to calculus or carpentry.
Amanda’s last blog post..Gratituesday: Unschooling Reading
[...] How to Know What to Teach — With Purpose Great advice for answering the question of what to teach, or more pointedly, what do you want your children to know [...]