If you’re familiar with our “FAMILY Factors” for choosing curriculum and have thought through your family’s goals and unique characteristics, then the Flex Factors chart will help you put curriculum options in perspective. Think specifically about your available time to homeschool and how much structure you desire from your curriculum, and this grid can help you sort out curriculum options. You can find this helpful chart on page 2 of our Curriculum catalog – we call it the Flex Factors chart. It looks so simple, doesn’t it? And yet, it took me a while to get my head around this one, which might just make me the right person to explain it.
I found it most helpful to see examples in each square, so let’s do that! We’ll start in the upper left. You can click on the links to see these products and their components where relevant. This chart is designed to help you think about your needs and limits as a teacher/parent. As our FAMILY acronym goes, the Y is for YOU. Think about how much support you do or don’t need or want.
More Structure/More Parent Time examples:
First Language Lessons/The Complete Writer
Less Structure/More Parent Time examples:
More Structure/Less Parent Time examples:
LIFEPAC from AOP
Less Structure/Less Parent Time:
But nothing is perfect, there are unique programs that sort-of go here and sort-of go there. Eclectic draws from more than one square. This could be in one subject area with features of several styles. Or this could be some combination of Traditional math, Charlotte Mason ELA, Classical chronological history, and exploratory, hands-on science. Eclectic is where most homeschooling households land.
Sara’s Sweet Spot: Low-Prep/High Parent Interaction Curriculum These materials fall somewhere between the top two squares as they have features of both categories. In my mind, this is just about perfect! You save time on planning yet have all you need when actively teaching the lesson. You get all the reward of interaction without the time-consuming planning. How beautiful is that?
Low-Prep/High Parent Interaction Examples:
All About Reading/All About Spelling
Our consultant team is always happy to answer questions about specific curriculum or walk through the Flex Factors – or FAMILY Way — in more detail! Call, chat in or email us Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM through 5:00 PM Central Time. We’re happy to help! ~ Sara
888.841.3456 • www.rainbowresource.com
