Do you need a curriculum for homeschooling your kids?
Whether you are looking for an online homeschool curriculum or traditional homeschooling textbooks and workbooks, there’s something for everyone.
Check out the links at the bottom of this page to learn about non-curriculum-based approaches to homeschooling, manipulatives, and educational games.
Homeschool Curriculum Subject Areas
Click the links below to go straight to the subject area you’re looking for.
Curriculum-Based Method of Homeschooling
When parents start homeschooling their children, they often use a curriculum-based, teacher-driven approach.
Using curriculum can be a great way to help your child learn about nearly anything. However, it’s important to note that the purpose of homeschool curriculum is to help your child learn a skill (like handwriting) or understand concepts (like science.) On the other hand, the purpose of homeschooling is not to hyper-focus on curricula.
Homeschooling curriculum should be used as a guide to help your child progress with his or her education. The curriculum is not the be-all and end-all of your child’s homeschool education. There are many different ways for your child to learn, and some approaches to homeschooling are not curriculum-based.
What Is Curriculum?
Curriculum is a series of lessons designed to help a person learn specific information. A curriculum is often singularly focused on subjects like math, history, or reading.
It’s important to recognize that no curriculum was created specifically for your child. As a result, there probably isn’t a curriculum that is perfect for your child. However, there are some excellent homeschool curriculum options available.
As a homeschooling parent, it’s important to be adaptable. When your child is struggling or isn’t challenged enough with his or her homeschool curriculum, be flexible so you can help your child progress on his or her educational journey. For example, you can skip some parts of the homeschool curriculum or supplement it with other games, books, and videos.
Circular vs Linear Learning
Curriculum is generally laid out in a circular or linear pattern. When lessons are taught in a linear pattern, the student learns steps 1 to 10 in a very straightforward path. However, when students learn in a circular motion, they constantly review previous steps and make additional connections as they progress to step 10.
Linear Pattern of Learning
A linear pattern is basically a straight line. In education, a linear pattern is a straightforward path to learning specific information. For example, your child might learn history from ancient times to modern times. Math is often taught in a linear order. As your child learns to read, he or she will progress from easy books to difficult books.
Podcast Episode: How to Use Homeschool Curriculum
Circular Learning
The human brain doesn’t always prefer to learn in a linear pattern. Oftentimes, people learn better in a more circular way. Here’s an example of circular learning.
Your child reads one of Rick Riordan’s books from the 39 Clues series and becomes interested in Russian history. This spurs an interest in the Romanov family that trickles into other subject areas. The child then starts drawing portraits of Anastasia Romanov, reading and talking about the Romanov family, and doing additional research about historical events of that era.
Learning in a circular pattern where subject areas intertwine is often more interesting. This way of learning is generally self-driven, much more natural, and leads to deeper learning.
Language Arts Curriculum for Homeschooled Students
Below are some of the best options for grammar and composition.
- Easy Grammar
- Fix It! Grammar
- Grammar Galaxy
- Guest Hollow’s Language Arts
- Structure and Style for Students
Homeschool Math Curriculum
Discover more information about the following.
Homeschool Curriculum for Handwriting
We’ve done the research for you and compiled information that you will find helpful as you choose handwriting curriculum. While many states no longer require cursive to be taught in schools, at HomeSchool ThinkTank, we believe it’s an important skill for all people to learn.
In this article about handwriting, you’ll discover helpful videos, information, and a podcast episode too!
Homeschool Science Curriculum, Programs, & Books
- Backpack Sciences Online Curriculum. Elementary curriculum
- BookShark Science Packages. PreK through high school
- Elemental Science Classic Series. Elementary and middle school curriculum
- Exploring the Building Blocks of Science Series. Elementary and middle school curriculum
- Learn Science Conceptual Academy. Middle and high school homeschool curriculum
- Mystery Science Lessons. Elementary curriculum
- Noeo Science Curriculum. Elementary and middle school curriculum
- Science People. Upper elementary through high school.
Homeschool Spelling Curriculum
If you’re looking for spelling curriculum, tips, and activities, then you’ll definitely want to check out this article about spelling curriculum for homeschooled kids. We’ve included spelling review videos, helpful information, and curriculum.
Get more information about homeschool spelling curriculum.
History Curriculum for Homeschoolers: Books, Programs, Supplements, and Games
Learn more about homeschool history curriculum here.
This article also includes information about our curated collection of history podcasts that your family will love.
Geography Curriculum & Games
- Anno’s China, Anno’s Denmark, Anno’s Italy, Anno’s Spain. All ages.
- Arcademics Online Academic Games. PreK-elementary.
- Around the World with Picture Books. Elementary.
- Cooking Through Geography. Upper elementary through high school.
- Daily Geography Practice. Elementary.
- Draw Map Series. Upper Elementary through middle school.
- Drawing Around the World. Elementary through high school.
- Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbooks. Elementary through high school.
- Expedition Earth Geography Course. Middle to high school.
- Geography Songs. Elementary ages.
- GeoMatters Geography. Elementary to high school.
- Girls of American History Curriculum. Elementary ages.
- Guest Hollow’s Homeschool Geography Curriculum. Middle school to high school.
- Let’s Go Geography Curriculum. Elementary ages.
- Map Travelers by NIA Unit Studies. Elementary ages.
- Mapping the World with Art. Upper elementary through high school.
- Memoria Press Geography & History. Elementary through high school.
- PAC World Geography. High school.
- Read Through the USA. Elementary ages.
- Snapshots Across America Game. Elementary through high school.
- Social Studies Games by Simply Fun. Geared toward elementary aged children.
- Trick Geography. Elementary to high school.
- Visualize World Geography. Upper elementary through high school.
- Where In the World Game. Upper elementary through high school.
Reading Resources for Homeschoolers
- All About Reading by Marie Rippel. PreK-elementary.
- Blumenfeld’s Alpha-Phonics by Samuel L Blumenfeld. Lower elementary grades.
- Explode the Code by Nancy Hall. PreK-Elementary.
- First Start Reading by Cheryl Lowe. Lower elementary grades.
- Foundations: Logic of English. PreK-2.
- Night Zookeeper. Elementary through middle school.
- Phonics Pathways, 10th ed. Dolores G. Hiskes. Lower elementary grades.
- Pinwheels Language Arts Program. Lower elementary grades.
- Starfall Reading Resources. PreK-3.
- Teach a Child to Read by Mark B. Thogmartin and Mary Gallagher. PreK-elementary.
- The Young Reader by Margaret Craig. PreK-Elementary.
Unit Studies Homeschool Curriculum
- Book Shark. Elementary through High School.
- Five in a Row by Jane Claire Lambert, Carrie Lambert Bozeman, and Becky Jane Lambert. Elementary through Middle School.
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2018-2023+. HomeSchool ThinkTank, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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