The #1 Homeschooling Mistake (It’s Not Curriculum)
take a minute to rethink, refresh and reset your homeschool
Raise your hand if you’ve spent hours researching the “perfect” homeschool curriculum.
You’re not alone. Many parents have been there—scrolling through reviews in Facebook groups, second-guessing choices, and wondering, “If I could just find the right curriculum, everything would fall into place.”
When I started homeschooling, I thought the same thing. I spent so much time early on searching for the ‘perfect’ program for writing, math, science… Even though I was already using real-world projects, I couldn’t *quite* let go of the idea that having a perfect curriculum was the core of successful learning.
Until I did—
And realized the truth:
It’s not about the curriculum.
That might sound controversial. After all, so much of homeschooling advice focuses on what to teach.
But even the best curriculum can’t solve all your struggles. It’s only part of the picture—and not the core of what helps kids learn.
Why Curriculum Isn’t the Whole Picture
Here’s what I’ve seen over and over again (and experienced myself):
Parents get caught up in which program to use because they’re hoping it will solve deeper frustrations, and maybe, if they’re lucky enough to find a great curriculum, it will solve ALL their concerns for their child.
When homeschooling feels stressful, it’s rarely because you picked the wrong curriculum.
The real challenges often look like this:
Your child is frustrated, distracted, or bored during lessons.
You’re stretched thin and trying to juggle teaching, planning, and life.
No matter how much you prep, something always feels off.
Like so many parents, maybe you want to:
See your child light up with curiosity instead of fighting through lessons.
Feel less stressed and more confident about how to teach.
Create a learning environment that works for your child instead of against them.
But even the best curriculum can’t magically make those things happen.
That’s because the real problem isn’t what you’re teaching—it’s how.
We all intuitively know this is true.
Do you remember a favorite textbook from school? Probably not.
Remember having a great teacher somewhere along the way? Someone who understood you? Probably. Hopefully.
It was how that teacher made you feel—supported, inspired, and capable of more than you imagined. If you were lucky, you did. And you likely have remembered that person and experience ever since because it was so meaningful.
It was the great teacher who made learning come alive and who inspired you to want to learn and to believe in yourself—not the textbook.
And that’s what your homeschool needs:
A mindset that prioritizes connection and curiosity over stress.
Tools to make learning fun and effective.
Simple routines that create ease and flow in your day.
And all these things add up to one all-important thing—your child having a great teacher. And that teacher is you, the person who knows and understands your child best.
Why This Matters
Before starting down the road of self-doubt and rehearsing all the reasons why you might feel unqualified to teach your kid directly, take a minute. Do a mindset refresh.
Stay in a space of positivity. Envision your dream for your homeschool, and your child—the reason you decided to homeschool in the first place.
Breathe deep. And center yourself in an ‘I can’ mindset—for your child.
Now, with an ‘I can’ mindset, reflect on your child’s current struggles.
If your child is:
Easily distracted or resistant during lessons.
Overwhelmed or frustrated when things feel hard.
Lacking the motivation to dig into new ideas.
And if you’re feeling:
Stretched thin trying to juggle everything.
Worried you’re ‘not doing enough.’
Frustrated because no matter how much you plan, something always feels off.
It’s exhausting, isn’t it?
Realism is important. But don’t let it defeat you. Use it as your secret weapon, along with your ‘I can’ mindset refresh to figure out what you can do to make a positive change in your homeschool.
And keep this in mind: You don’t need to work harder. You need to work differently.
When you focus less on curriculum and more on building the right mindset, tools, and framework for guiding your child to become a happy, independent learner, everything changes.
A Homeschool Reset Is Your Fresh Start
The holiday season is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and reset. You’ve completed most of the fall semester. You have a sense of how things are going and might be thinking about the changes you want and need to make for the start of the spring semester.
Think of it as an opportunity to:
Take stock of what’s working (and what isn’t).
Clear out the stress and confusion about how to homeschool.
Step into the new semester with a plan that feels doable and enjoyable.
If you’re ready to reset your homeschool on a positive track and want support, join my Homeschool Reset Camp—a 3-day workshop designed to help you:
Reassess and Refocus: Uncover what’s holding you back and where to focus your energy.
Learn Proven Strategies: Discover teaching methods that actually work and make learning fun—think key elements of Montessori, Waldorf, and progressive teaching methods adapted to homeschooling.
Build Confidence and Clarity: Create a plan that’s tailored to your child and fits your family’s rhythm.
The Details
When: 3 Days - December 10-12
Where: Live on Zoom (recordings available).
What: Three 1-hour workshops introducing the key principles of the Independent Learner Framework + one week of text support.
Black Friday Offer: Save 36%!
For this weekend only, you can join the camp for $97 (regularly $150). The early bird price is available through Sunday at midnight.
By the End of the Camp…
Imagine starting the spring semester with:
A child who’s curious, confident, and eager to learn.
A homeschool environment that’s calm, focused, and fun.
A plan that finally feels like it works for both of you.
Feel empowered as the teacher your child needs, equipped with tools that make lessons enjoyable and effective.
You don’t have to do this alone. Let’s reset your homeschool and make the second half of the year your best yet.