I Asked 100 Moms What CURRICULUM NOT to Use… Here’s What They Said
Homeschooling can feel like navigating a never-ending buffet of curriculum choices. From brightly colored workbooks to beautifully designed unit studies, every program promises to be the one that will make your days smoother and your kids’ learning soar. But with so many options out there, how do you avoid the ones that end up collecting dust on your shelf—or worse, draining all the joy from your homeschool days?
I dove into a vibrant Christian homeschool Facebook forum, sifting through over 400 honest comments from seasoned moms who had walked the same aisle of curriculum overwhelm.
After tallying the most frequent “never again” mentions, five programs rose to the top of the “avoid” list.
Four of them you might expect; the fifth one will surprise you.
Below, I unpack each of these five curricula with candid mom-to-mom feedback, real stories, and practical take-aways to help you choose wisely.
Let’s jump in.
1. Abeka
Traditional to a Fault (Even When It’s a Favorite)
Abeka actually made the Top-10 “Favorite Curricula” in a separate poll I ran—moms praised its structured phonics, rigorous scope, and vibrant pages. And I get it: I was an Abeka kid myself and can attest that it works academically.
Yet in the “never again” thread, 82 moms emphatically advised steering clear. Here’s why:
“Drill-and-kill city.”
“My 2nd-grader spent more time erasing tiny math facts than actually learning them,” confided one mom.“Six-hour days, no joke.”
Another admitted, “It literally sucked the joy out of my son’s homeschool experience.”“Zero love of learning.”
Even one Abeka alumni ex-homeschooler shared, “It prepped me academically but burned me out. I never enjoyed school.”
Why the polarizing reaction?
Abeka is about as traditional as homeschool gets—imagine a full private-school workload dropped onto your dining-room table.
A single Grade 3 seat-work packet can top 1,050 pages, and if you’re expecting anything close to “flexible” or “open-and-go,” you’ll be in for a rude awakening.
Take-away: There is a way to keep the best of Abeka without the burnout: selective skipping.
Keep the phonics and readers that hook your child’s interest.
Toss or streamline the repetitive workbook pages that drain motivation.
If self-editing feels daunting, consider other structured yet more parent-friendly options—like video-based lessons or shorter, mastery-focused workbooks.
2. Saxon Math
When “Loved” Turns to Loathed
Saxon Math is often hailed as the gold-standard in spiral review.
I’ve watched countless videos praising its consistent reinforcement of concepts.
So it genuinely surprised me when a solid 74 mom comments urged, “Just bail on Saxon.”
What happened?
“Lesson 1 had 60 problems.”
One mom described it as “my non-mathy kid’s worst nightmare.”“It was like detention at home.”
Another parent’s children “hated it so much,” she said.“My kid scored 92% in another program after Saxon—and yet flunked every Algebra test.”
And yet another user’s experience underscored how sheer volume can backfire when mastery falters.
What’s the core issue?
Saxon’s traditional, drill-heavy approach demands you—or your child—to power through 45–60 minutes of worksheet after worksheet.
And while repetition builds retention, forcing every problem is a surefire recipe for tears.
Take-away: You don’t have to ditch Saxon’s robust curriculum, but sometimes you do need to smart-edit:
Slash practice to “odds-only” if needed: That instantly chops your workload in half.
Focus only on new or struggled-with concepts, letting your child skip what they’ve already mastered.
If any of that feels like too much work, look for a mastery-based course or a program with a leaner problem set—same content, fewer tears.
3. MasterBooks Language Arts & Math
Too Gentle for Some, Just Right for Others
MasterBooks markets itself as a gentle, story-based approach infused with solid content and a biblical worldview.
I personally appreciate its relaxed pace—perfect for story-loving families.
Yet 65 moms flagged it as “too low” in key areas:
“Reviewing the alphabet in 3rd grade?”
One parent, an ex-public-school teacher, summed it up: “It’s way too low for grade level.”“We spiraled backward.”
Another shared, “Placement tests showed my daughter was a full grade behind.”“Too slow and dull.”
And yet another parent’s kids “tuned out” after just a few lessons.
Hidden snag: One frustrated mom said she “spent more time wrestling the printer than teaching”—some lessons require print-and-prep mini-games that undercut the promise of “open-and-go.”
But here’s my perspective: MasterBooks can be open-and-go—skip the printables that feel like busy-work, and you’ll find its lessons genuinely straightforward.
Take-away:
Stick with MasterBooks if your family thrives on relaxed, story-driven lessons.
Supplement or level up if your kids are academically advanced and crave more rigor—think Abeka or other higher-pace programs.
By the way, if this whole topic has you second-guessing your own choices, or you just want a simpler, smarter way to homeschool, I made something just for you.
It’s called the Homeschool Parenting Program AKA Homeschool Mastery Program, and it’s designed to help you homeschool with more confidence and way less overwhelm.
It’s everything I wish I had when I started, and it’s helped tons of families already.
You can check it out here (it’s only $69USD) and watch the promo video below.
4. Classical Conversations – Foundations (Elementary)
Memorization Without Meaning (…Until Middle School)
Classical education has gifted us the trivium model: a Grammar stage in the early years, a Logic stage in middle school, and a Rhetoric stage in high school.
In theory, it’s brilliant.
However, the Foundations years of Classical Conversations draw 59 “not for us” comments:
“Just memorizing facts.”
“Far too shallow,” One parent lamented, “no context or meaning.”“Where’s the why?”
Anther parent’s child “kept asking questions,” only to find memorization at every turn.
Context: Classical education deliberately delays explanations until the Logic stage, stocking kids with raw facts in the Grammar phase.
If you don’t know that upfront, you’ll feel like you’re wasting time until middle school unlocks the deeper discussions.
Cost shock: Between tuition, guides, and mandatory extras, a single Foundations year can surpass $1,000—and you still need to buy separate math and LA materials.
Take-away: If you love the big picture of the trivium and thrive on community “Practica” days, stick it out knowing that the real payoff comes later.
If your family needs deeper exploration now, look to literature-based programs or DIY memory work that delivers more immediate engagement—and a smaller price tag.
5. The Good and the Beautiful (TGATB) – The Surprise Twist
Pretty Pages, Major Red Flags
TGATB dazzles on Instagram with pastel spreads, unit studies, and a “free PDF” download that feels too good to pass up.
Yet it sparked the largest debate of all:
“It’s Mormon.”
One mom’s comment earned 121 likes: “The Good and the Beautiful is LDS.”“Worldview drift.”
Anther noted, “It teaches U.S. history as a democracy, not a republic.”“Where’s the gospel?”
Yet another parent pointed out plenty of moralism but scant grace teaching.
Academic gap warning: Parents adore the artwork, but many bail by Grade 5 when math suddenly leaps ahead or language arts slows to a crawl.
Wallet warning: The PDF itself is free—until you decide to print in full color. Binding and pages can tack on $250+ per child per year.
Payout: If doctrine matters—and it should if Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—you’ll need that red pen more than once.
That’s because TGATB’s author worships in the LDS (AKA Mormon) Church.
The curriculum delivers lots of God talk, strong morals, even Scripture snippets—but lacks a clear presentation of the gospel.
For most Christian parents, that should be a non-starter.
Urgent reminder: Choosing a truly gospel-centred curriculum isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical for every Christian homeschool. 🔥 Don’t delegate your child’s faith formation to “good morals.”
What’s Next?
Navigating the homeschool curriculum world means balancing rigor with joy, structure with flexibility, and—above all—truth with grace.
The five programs above reflect how even the most beloved options can miss the mark in unexpected ways.
Ready for better choices?
I’ve created an in-depth video showcasing Christ-exalting, academically solid alternatives—programs that integrate faith and learning without burning out your family. 👉 See the video below to watch the “Gospel-Centred Curriculum” deep dive and equip yourself for the school year ahead.
Homeschooling well means learning from each other’s wins—and our stumbles. May this roundup save you hours of research, hundreds of dollars, and a whole lot of frustration. Here’s to a year of confident choices and joyful learning!
