The Problem With Over-Focusing on Curriculum (And How to Fix It)
Summer is the perfect time to rethink what real learning looks like.
Imagine walking into a store where every shelf is filled with utterly amazing, ‘I want’ packaging—shiny boxes, fabulous colors, all tempting you to buy what you don’t need and promising the best results, more happiness, and ultimate satisfaction.
But when you open the boxes, there’s nothing inside. Nothing real anyway.
This is how we’ve come to treat learning.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve started believing that curriculum—the lists of facts, the standards, the checklists—is the learning itself. We pour our energy into ensuring every kid has the right ‘package’ of information. We’ve created the same standards for everyone and the same topics that need to be ticked off. We measure progress by how fast each kid can consume these bite-sized facts, like racking up points in a game of trivia.
And then we wonder why everyone—our kids and ourselves as teachers and parents—are stressed, disengaged, and if we’re honest, often a bit disinterested in learning. Even when we believe learning should be and can be fun.
Why? Because we’re focusing on the wrong thing – the packaging instead of the how of learning.
Curriculum is the packaging. Learning is what’s inside the box.
Too often, we’re missing what’s actually inside.
The Curriculum Trap
It’s easy to fall into what I call the curriculum trap. Whether you’re a homeschool parent planning the next year or a teacher pressured to ‘cover the standards,’ we’ve been conditioned to equate learning with content delivery.
We think:
Did my child learn about photosynthesis?
Have they mastered long division?
Do they know the dates of the Revolutionary War?
These things feel like learning because they’re clear, measurable, and fit into neat boxes.
But real learning isn’t neat. It’s messy, human, and deeply personal.
When we focus too much on curriculum, we start to believe that learning is about absorbing facts, skills, and information. The checklists grow longer, the textbooks thicker, the assignments more structured. We worry about rubrics, tests, and meeting standards.
We forget the real goal of learning – raising kids who can think.
What Real Learning Looks Like
Real learning isn’t about memorizing facts or completing worksheets. It’s about growth—mental, emotional, social, physical, and even spiritual. It’s about seeing our kids as whole people.
It’s about guiding our kids through the deep, personal transformations that happen when they:
Ask questions prompted by genuine curiosity.
Experiment with new ideas or skills and fail, then try again.
Connect new knowledge with something they already care about.
See how what they’ve learned applies to real life.
Build confidence through trial and error… and grit.
This is the kind of learning that helps kids take ownership.
They start to see themselves as capable, curious, and competent. They’re not just absorbing ‘content’—they’re growing into curious learners, and people who are lit up and engaged with life.
When we shift our focus from curriculum to real learning, we are creating spaces for our kids to:
Explore. Kids get to follow their interests and test ideas in the real world.
Become resilient. They learn to bounce back from mistakes and keep going.
Connect to people and life. They see how learning relates to their lives, their relationships, and their communities.
Build confidence. They trust themselves to figure things out, even when the answer isn’t obvious.
Why We’ve Lost Sight of This
Why did we start equating curriculum with learning?
Because it’s easier. (And keep in mind, I’m not suggesting that curriculum is pointless or that standards don’t matter at all. I’m saying we need to focus on the how, not the packaging.)
It’s easier to create a standardized list of what kids should know than to navigate the complex, human-centered process of discovery and growth. It’s easier to track grades and test scores than to assess curiosity, creativity, and resilience. It’s easier to assume that if a child can recite facts, they’re learning.
But this approach ignores the most important part of learning—the child. Our children.
When we emphasize curriculum over curiosity, we turn learning into a transaction. We say, “Here’s the content. Memorize it. Show me you can repeat it back.”
But that’s not learning—that’s performance. And it has the power to kill off the very thing we’re trying to instill in our kids, a love of learning.
Let’s Compare- Curriculum-Focused vs. Real Learning
Here’s a simple comparison to illustrate the difference:
Curriculum-Focused
Facts, checklists, tests
Standardization
Controlled content
Focus on outcomes
Passive absorption
Teacher-directed
Real Learning
Exploration, questioning, ownership
Individual growth and engagement
Open-ended problem-solving and play
Focus on process and development
Active experimentation
Student-led with guidance
So, how do we shift our focus? Without losing skills mastery or core concepts…
This summer is the perfect time to step back and ask yourself:
Am I creating an environment for my child to learn, explore, be curious, experiment, or am I just delivering content?
Here are 5 simple ways you can shift your focus from teaching curriculum to guiding your child toward real learning:
1. Prioritize Process Over Product
Instead of focusing on finished worksheets or correct answers, focus on the process of thinking, trying, failing, and trying again. Give your child permission to be messy, to take risks, and to reflect on what they’re learning along the way. Better yet… do it with them, talk about it, share ideas, and model being an inquisitive, resilient learner to your child. It also creates an environment of conversation and sharing.
2. Create Real-World Learning Spaces
Design activities that connect learning to life.
These could be:
Starting a garden and observing plant growth.
Organizing a family debate around a big question.
Building something together—like a simple machine or a model city.
Playing educational games that challenge critical thinking.
3. Use Socratic Questions and Conversations
Instead of giving answers, ask questions and listen to your child’s answers. Make it a conversation, not a lecture.
Why do you think that happened?
What could you try next?
How might this apply to something else you know?
These open-ended questions spark curiosity and deepen understanding.
4. Make Time for Observation and Reflection
Set aside quiet, screen-free time when your child can observe, think, and reflect. This could be journaling, sketching, or simply talking through what they’ve noticed. Reflection helps kids connect with what their learning and build deeper connections across subjects and ideas.
5. Trust the Human Element
Above all, remember that your child is a whole person. Their emotions, relationships, physical energy, and sense of purpose are all part of the learning process. When you prioritize these human elements, you nurture not just a student—but your child. You help them become a confident, independent learner.
Takeaways
It’s What’s Inside the Box That Matters
This summer, while others rush to plan the next school year or cram in last-minute ‘learning’ before fall, take a moment to step back.
Ask yourself:
Am I focusing on the packaging, or on what’s inside? What kind of learning experience do I want to create for my kid?
Learning isn’t about how many facts your kid can memorize or how many standards they can check off. It’s about who they’re becoming—their curiosity, their resilience, their confidence, and their ability to connect ideas and solve problems.
When we focus on these human-centered aspects of learning, we stop worrying about whether kids ‘fall behind’ and instead start asking how we can help them grow into thoughtful, capable, and creative human beings.
That’s the real ‘product’ of learning.
Ready to start making real learning happen in your home or classroom?
If you’re curious about bringing project-based learning (PBL) into your child’s education but aren’t sure where to start, I’ve created a simple, beginner-friendly guide just for you:
A Beginner's Guide to Project-Based Learning for Homeschoolers: How to Help Your Child Become a Happy, Independent Learner
This eBook is packed with:
✨ Easy-to-implement PBL ideas for beginners
✨ Tips for choosing and managing hands-on projects
✨ Ways to foster curiosity and independence
✨ Simple steps to shift from worksheets to real-world learning
Start turning those ‘curriculum checklists’ into meaningful, human-centered learning experiences today.
Make learning come alive this summer—and beyond.
Well done! Excellent read.