Have you heard this one?

One of the first questions that almost always pops up when I meet a new homeschooling mom is, "What curriculum do I use?" What doesn't show up on the screen is the slightly desperate sound with which the question is uttered.

This question, obviously, can only be answered for each family by each family, but here are a few tips and resources to finding and narrowing down the possibilities.

Always ask that question when you meet someone else who homeschools, "What curriculum do you use?" There is no easier way to find out about what's available, get insight into the pros and cons of the materials, and see it first-hand. In all my years of homeschooling, I've never met any mom who said no when I asked if I could take a look at the books they were using.

Check out review sites like Cathy Duffy's Homeschool Reviews, and homeschooling blogs (all types). Although many don't specifically review books, almost all of them list what they are using. If you run across something new, you can google the specific title, or email the blogger for her or his take on the benefits of that program.

Rainbow Resource Catalog, enough said.

Find out if you have a local consignment shop for homeschooling. They are popping up these days. Not only are the ladies very informative, but you get a chance to flip through the books and see for yourself what they're like. If you already have materials that aren't working out, you might want to sell your previous program here!

Finally, you can search the phrase "elementary education textbook" with whatever subject you're looking for. Be prepared to do a bit of digging here. As a minimum, try searching for sample pages on different distributor's websites.

The most important thing to remember selecting your schoolbooks: don't let fear of making a mistake paralyze you. You can always order something else later if your first choice doesn't work out.