If you’re a parent, you’ll have heard debates about Common Core. Some parents swear by it, while others avoid it at all costs. But what exactly is Common Core, and should you use it in your homeschool? Let’s break it down.
1. What is Common Core?
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are a set of educational benchmarks created to ensure students across the U.S. learn essential skills at each grade level. These standards focus on math and English Language Arts (ELA) and outline what students should know at what grade level, but they do not dictate how subjects must be taught.
Common Core was introduced to create consistency across states, helping students build strong foundational skills no matter where they live. However, not every state adopted it (mine included) and homeschoolers are generally not required to follow it. Even if your state hasn’t adopted it, they most likely have a set of standards they follow that are somewhat similar.
2. Isn’t it all about “New Math”?
Common Core math has gained a reputation for being confusing, especially among parents who learned a more traditional way of doing math. The frustration often comes from seeing problems solved in unfamiliar ways, such as using number lines, arrays, and grouping strategies instead of jumping straight to a formula.
However, the goal of these methods isn’t to make math harder—it’s to help students develop a deeper understanding of numbers rather than just memorizing steps. Traditional methods, like standard algorithms for addition and subtraction, are still taught, but only after students understand the concepts behind them.
For example, instead of just memorizing that 9 + 6 = 15, a student might be taught to break it down like this:
• Think of 9 as 10 – 1
• Then add: 10 + 6 – 1→ 15
This approach helps students see patterns in numbers and improves mental math skills. While it may feel unfamiliar or even convoluted at first, but it can be helpful for many kids (and adults).
3. The Time I Saw a Confusing Math Problem on Social Media – Is This What They Mean by Common Core?
If you cherry-picked a single page from any curriculum and presented it to strangers with no context or references, there’s a good chance it would be confusing. Without the full picture, the materials might not make sense, and people might jump to conclusions. It’s important to remember that there is poorly written curriculum out there, and some of it happens to be Common Core-aligned. However, the Common Core standards themselves aren’t necessarily to blame for the quality of the curriculum. Just because something is aligned with Common Core doesn’t mean it’s well-designed. Correlation doesn’t always equal causation – a bad curriculum doesn’t mean the standards are bad. It’s more about how the standards are implemented and how the material is presented.
4. What was wrong with the old way of doing things?
Many adults learned math through drills, timed tests, and step-by-step procedures. While this worked for some, it also left many students struggling—especially when they reached more advanced topics that required problem-solving rather than rote memorization.
The traditional approach often focused on getting the right answer quickly, rather than understanding why the method worked. This led to a common problem: students who excelled at arithmetic but later struggled with algebra because they never truly understood numbers and their relationships.
Common Core math aims to fix this by:
• Encouraging multiple ways to solve problems
• Emphasizing reasoning and understanding over memorization
• Teaching real-world applications of math skills
While it doesn’t work for everyone, the idea is to build stronger problem-solvers, not just number crunchers.
5. Should I be following Common Core?
If you’re homeschooling, you are not required to follow Common Core (unless your state has specific laws about it, but I’ve not heard of any states doing so). Many homeschoolers choose to ignore it entirely, while others use it as a guideline to ensure their children are on the same track as the public school system.
Pros of using Common Core in homeschooling:
✅ Provides a structured skill progression
✅ Helps kids transition smoothly if they re-enter public school
✅ Aligns with many standardized tests
✅ Ensures students are learning the same foundational concepts as their peers
Cons of using Common Core aligned curriculum in homeschooling:
❌ Can feel rigid and limiting compared to a flexible homeschool approach
❌ May be more intimidating for a parent to teach if they were only taught with traditional methodologies
❌ Some methods, especially in math, may not work for every child
❌ Many Common Core-aligned curricula assume a classroom setting, which may not translate well to homeschooling
❌ If your child is advanced, or not at “grade level”, this might create stress for both you and your child.
If you prefer a project-based or child-led approach, you might use Common Core as a loose guide rather than following it strictly. On the other hand, if you want a more structured approach, you may find it helpful to stick closely to the standards.
6. Common Homeschooling Curriculum that is Common Core-aligned (some might surprise you!)
- Moving Beyond the Page
- Beast Academy (it goes beyond the standards)
- Math Mammoth (the newer light blue series)
- Core Knowledge Foundation
- Singapore Math
6. What does Common Core-aligned mean?
If a curriculum is labeled as Common Core-aligned, it means that it covers the skills and concepts outlined in the Common Core standards. However, that doesn’t mean that all common core aligned curriculum teaches the standards in the same way.
For example, some Common Core-aligned math programs use traditional methods alongside newer strategies, while others strictly follow newer critical thinking based methods. Similarly, a Common Core-aligned ELA curriculum may focus on critical thinking and evidence-based writing, but still use traditional methods of teaching reading.
How to tell if a curriculum aligns with Common Core:
✔ Look for statements from the publisher about CCSS alignment
✔ Compare the curriculum’s scope and sequence to Common Core standards
✔ Check reviews from other homeschoolers to see how it actually teaches the material
Whether or not you choose to follow Common Core, understanding it can help you make informed decisions about your homeschool curriculum.
8. Is Rabbit Hole Learning planning on being common core aligned?
Yes…and no.
The biggest benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility. We want kids to be able to ‘fall down rabbit holes’ and explore everything there is to know about things like underwater basket weaving, but we also need to make sure they don’t miss out on the basics. The goal of Rabbit Hole Learning is to provide a checklist of math and ELA skills for each grade that align with Common Core, along with activities that help your learner master those skills.
That said, I encourage caregivers to meet their child where they are. If your child is eight but still working on phonological awareness, start them at Level 0 and move at their own pace. If your child is five and already reading chapter books fluently, they clearly don’t need a ‘learn to read’ curriculum.
For us as homeschoolers, Common Core should simply serve as a guide. We shouldn’t be teaching to—or stressing over—high-stakes tests.
Final Thoughts
Common Core isn’t something homeschoolers have to fear or blindly follow. It’s a tool—a set of standards that can be used, adapted, or ignored based on what works best for your child.
If you prefer a structured, standards-based approach, you may find Common Core helpful. If you thrive on flexibility, you can take what works and leave the rest. The beauty of homeschooling is that you get to decide!
Rabbit Hole Learning 
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