Choosing The Best Homeschool Curriculum For Your Child

Deciding on a homeschool curriculum should be your first objective after deciding to homeschool your child.  The trick is knowing how to start.  Making a list of the most important questions to ask is a great first step to choosing a homeschool curriculum that will best suit the needs of your family and your child.  You can divide those important questions into two categories:

  • Questions for Parents to Ask and
  • Questions for the Student to Ask.

Questions for Parents to Ask

Whether your work takes you outside of your home, revolves around the day-to-day operations of your household, or involves both, parents are busy.  Taking on the additional responsibility of homeschooling brings up some very important questions when you’re looking into a curriculum provider.  As the adult ultimately responsible for preparing your child for all the possibilities in their future, you want to be sure you are providing them with the right foundation. 

Although there are many things to consider, the three most important questions to ask about any curriculum provider include the following:

  • Does this curriculum uphold the values of my family?
  • How much planning does this curriculum require of parents?
  • Will this curriculum prepare my student for college?

Does this curriculum uphold the values of my family?

You made the decision to homeschool your child for good reason, and for many families, that decision revolves around the desire to help them grow more solid in their faith, help them learn to be more responsible citizens without the political agenda of a school district, and help them leave school with a solid foundation before heading off to college or the workforce. 

At Northgate Academy, we understand the importance of this calling. In fact, our mission statement will explain it best.  “The mission of Northgate Academy is to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders, through the training and nurturing of students in their spiritual, academic, emotional, and social development. This is realized through delivering a Christ-centered education, founded on biblical truth, which leads to the development of a world-view that will greater impact the world for Christ.”

Our goal is to provide your child with a Christ-centered foundation, the armor they will need as adults in today’s world. How do we do this?  Our faith-based curriculum offers many different courses that will prepare your student with the knowledge to interpret the world through their faith. Two of the many examples of how we will support your child’s development are Life Management Under God and Bible Doctrines, which help our students understand the connections between the Bible and everyday life. 

To understand more about our beliefs and what motivates us at Northgate Academy, please visit our website to view our Statement of Faith. 

How much planning does this curriculum require of parents?

Being realistic about the amount of time you actually have to plan and execute a proper homeschool curriculum is essential.  Northgate Academy’s courses can be used by semester or full school year. No matter what course(s) you enroll your student in with us, you can feel confident that everything is already planned for you, and all grading will be done by our instructors. The most parents are expected to do is to support your student in their academic journey, help monitor your student’s progress, and hep them reach out to us when you see them in need of help.

If you are confident in your ability to prepare some curriculum for your student, then you might want to only enroll your student in some of the core subjects such as math, English, science, and social studies classes. Northgate offers single course options that can fill the gaps in your curriculum. Part-time NGA students can enroll in up to four single courses.

However, if you are looking for full-time enrollment, we have you covered as well. Students enrolled full-time at Northgate take six courses: 1 English, 1 math, 1 science, 1 social studies, and 2 electives.  

Will this curriculum prepare my student for college?

Yes! Our accredited high school diploma is accepted by colleges and universities around the country and globe.  Northgate Academy is regionally accredited by Cognia, (formally AdvancED) the parent organization of the North Central Association CASI, the Southern Association of Colleges and School CASI, and the Northwest Accrediting Commission. Click here to view the school’s accreditation profile. Northgate Academy’s accreditation is recognized by the State and US Department of Education and is recognized by all colleges, universities, employers, and the US Military.

Our rigorous curriculum prepares our students with the essential critical thinking and academic skills necessary for your child to succeed in college, the military, or the workforce.

However, certainly your child should be asking some questions about the curriculum they will be learning from as well.

Questions for Students to Ask

After parents have asked their important questions, a student should ask the following to be sure that the curriculum is the right fit for them.  They should ask these three important questions:

  • Is there guidance for me in choosing my courses and planning for after high school?
  • If I get stuck, is help available?
  • Does it offer courses I’m interested in?

 

Is there guidance for me in choosing my courses and planning for after high school?

Knowing what courses to choose and how to be sure you are headed in the right direction for your plans after high school will give you security and help you stay motivated as you work through your classes.  Going it alone can feel uncertain and unpredictable.  You want to feel confident in your choices and your plan, so being sure that you and your parents select a school that is going to give you the guidance and resources you need to be ready for graduation is quite important.

Northgate Academy provides you with an Academic Success Coach who you can stay in contact with throughout your school year.  Our Success Coaches are only an email or text away, and their greatest joy is to help you stay on track and prepared for whatever your future holds.  At your request, they will help you choose your classes, set a plan in motion for your graduation track, and provide you with the resources you need to be successful in high school and while you plan for college.

If I get stuck, is help available?

Since you are the person who will feel the weight of the work on your shoulders, this is another valid question.  We all have strengths and weaknesses when it come to academics, so what happens when you are a homeschooled student but you need help with something and don’t know who to turn to?  You want to be sure that any program you enroll in has enough support for you to be successful.

On top of Academic Success Coaches to guide you through the process of online school, Northgate Academy offers the following academic supports:

  • Every full-time student has access to unlimited online tutoring through Train the Brain. With Train the Brain, students sign up for homework help ahead of time with a tutor specifically selected by them, confirm their appointment, and then show up, all online and revolving around their schedule.
  • You can reach out to your instructor and expect to receive a response within 24 hours by emailing them from directly inside your course online.
  • Students also have access to online help during our regular business hours using the chat feature directly on our website.
  • You can also easily send a support ticket from within your student account.  Our specialists will reply to your support request within 1 business day.
  • Finally, although we do prefer you reach out to your instructor first, if you need immediate help, you can call us during our regular business hours and speak to a staff member directly.

Does it offer courses I’m interested in?

Take the time to explore not only the core subjects that you usually take in an academic setting but any potential school’s elective choices as well.  You will want to take a close look at all of the school’s course choices and decide if the options they have available pique your interest and will prepare you for the future you have in mind for yourself.

Northgate Academy offers quite a few interesting electives to choose from.  Our courses include electives choices such as language, technology, social sciences, and engineering focused classes.  From courses like Computer Applications, Family & Consumer Science, and Jesus and His Followers to classes like Biotechnology, Sports Medicine, and Digital Photography, we have something for everyone.

In the end, these will be the classes preparing you for college, the military, or the workforce, so investigate and ask the questions you need to in order to be secure in your decision. For more information or to enroll today, click here or give us a call at (800)339-7132.

Northgate Academy Welcomes Everyone

We have a unique community of online learners from all over the world. We have students that chose to attend high school online due to social problems, large classroom size, conflicting beliefs concerning the educational process, and bullying. Maybe you just don’t share the values taught at the public schools. We have athletes, performers, military and ex-pats students; as well as international students that have chosen to earn an American, accredited high school diploma online. Students love the ability to attend a Christian school online according to their schedule and pace.

If you are ready to get started, why not Enroll Now?