Whether you’ve made the final decision to homeschool or you’re still considering it as an option, here are some homeschooling curriculum resources to offer help and guidance.
Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
Find out what other homeschoolers think of homeschool curriculum before you buy – what worked and what didn’t.
The Homeschool Mom’s curriculum reviews (submitted by other parents).
Cathy Duffy homeschool curricula reviews (she’s been reviewing curriculum since 1984).
Home School Inc.’s homeschooling reviews.
Homeschool General Resource – Comprehensive
Homeschool’s complete homeschooling resource guide.
Homeschool Online Curriculums
One of the major decisions homeschooling parents have to make is which curriculum to use. You can use this list as a guide to find the tools and resources that best fit your child.
*Note – the last two websites on the list have Christian-themed content geared toward families interested in religious education.
Oak Meadow – Oak Meadow’s approach focuses on delivering academics for preschool through using imaginative, child-centered methods with a strong emphasis on the creative arts: drawing, painting, music, and handwork.
Moving Beyond the Page – This curriculum offers packages with a focus on critical thinking and comprehension for ages 5 through 12. It takes into account a student’s strengths and learning style, and delivers project-based instruction that meets or exceeds state and national standards.
k12 – If you who want to know that their kids are meeting state standards while still enjoying an individualized approach, this site offers a complete, integrated curriculum as well as online support and assessment tools.
*Sonlight – These Christian publishers have created literature-based academic programs, building grade-level packages around a variety of historical themes, such as World or American History. They offer Instructor Guides for parent-teachers to accompany the book readings.
*Classical Conversations – The curriculum on this site, started by a Christian community, is based on the Classical method of education, with the added benefit of group learning. Families using the materials meet together each week for study, enrichment, and socialization.
Websites For Online Learning
It’s a brave new world for homeschoolers. The Internet has completely expanded educational opportunities. You now have access to many online tools to enhance your children’s learning experience. Below are a few of the most popular websites.
Khan Academy – Free online learning is available in a variety of subjects, including math, biology, chemistry, physics, finance, and history. There are short video clips on each subject as well as interactive exercises that allow students to practice their new skills.
Starfall – On this site, started as a free interactive way to teach young children to read using phonics, kids can play games, watch short videos on letters and sounds, and flip through “books” of stories.
Clickschooling – Free, Web-based curriculum ideas can be emailed directly to you six days a week. Children can also take free virtual field trips to tour places such as the Museum of London and a Kentucky farm where monks make fruitcakes.
Time4Learning – If your kids enjoy computer games, this is a good resource. For a fee ($19.99/month for the first child), children can access learning games to improve reading, math, science, and social studies skills.
Reading Eggs – Looking for a way to teach your young children to read? On this site, kids progress through a series of fun lessons on their road to reading and accumulate online rewards along the way.
Academic Earth – This site, chosen by Time magazine as one of the 50 top websites of 2009, provides advanced-level lectures in dozens of subjects at no cost.
