It’s no surprise that there’s been a huge influx of inquiries on the homeschool groups as families weigh their schooling options for the fall.  Quarantine and social distancing requirements have really thrown a monkey wrench into education planning, and I totally get it!  As I field a lot of the same questions over and over, I thought it would make sense to write one thorough post including all of my favorite resources.

I share from a classical Christian perspective, though families not interested in the Classical Model could certainly pull from my favorite resources as well.  Likewise, some of my favorite resources are not written from a Christian perspective (like math), but most are.  It will be more difficult to use these resources if you’re looking for secular recommendations.

First things first, GO HERE if you’re new to the Classical Model to better understand my perspective.  I also like the Charlotte Mason Method because of her wholistic approach of creating an educational atmosphere, the reliance on living books, and pursuit of nature studies.  Below, I outline my favorite resources through the schooling years, but going HERE will also take you to all of my other more popular homeschool posts.

A few notes:

• I am not personally a huge fan of boxed all-in-one or 100% online curriculums, which is why you will find a large range of different resources below.  There’s nothing wrong with them at all, they are fantastic options.  I simply prefer variety.  If I were going to go that route though, I’d be looking at Abeka, The Good and the Beautiful, Switched on Schoolhouse, Sonlight, Kahn Academy, Memoria Press, Wilson Hill, or Liberty University. There’s also lots of great online dual enrollment options for high schoolers.
• Teachers Pay Teachers has excellent supplemental resources for everything.  Lots of free resources there, too.
• Consider registering with Homeschool Buyers Co-Op to get discounted prices on curriculum.
• I love printing from Best Value Copy because they’re prices are so reasonable.  Shipping is a little pricey, so I save up all my printing to do at one time before school begins.
• There are an infinite number of ways to homeschool children.  No one way is right or wrong.  I identified with the Classical Model and the Charlotte Mason Method, but if you don’t, that’s okay!  Keep digging and you’ll find the resources to fit your family.
• You’ll need to find out about the homeschool laws and requirements in your state and how to send homeschool notification.  HSLDA has a great resource HERE.  Also, I highly, highly recommend joining HSLDA because it’s the nation’s largest, most trusted homeschool advocacy organization.  It’s good to know they have your back.
• If you haven’t done so already, consider searching on Facebook for local homeschool groups.  Search “homeschool” with your state, and then your county or surrounding counties.  These groups are fantastic ways to find out about in-person co-ops, classes, and social gatherings in your area.  It’s so much easier to connect with other homeschooling families nowadays!
• Lastly, research local umbrella schools in your area to oversee your homeschool.  They’re not necessary, but we’ve always used one and I much prefer it over being reviewed by the county.  For simplicity’s sake, they’re kind of like private schools for homeschooling families, but they vary greatly in what they offer and how they review families.  My umbrella school, for example, uses a peer review system, so us moms review each other’s portfolios.  I’ve always loved it because of the camaraderie and convenience factor, but also simply because it affords us privacy.

RESOURCES FOR ME

The Well-Trained Mind

The Core

The Question

Teaching From Rest

A Thomas Jefferson Education

Home Learning Year By Year

Homeschooling From a Biblical Worldview

For the Children’s Sake

From Playpen to Podium

ALL YEARS

I am a firm believer in reading great literature.  Lots and lots of literature.  It’s always been the backbone of my homeschool plans.  For years, I read aloud to the kids every day.  I miss those times greatly, but they’re all older now and we just don’t sit together as much anymore to read because we’re all doing our own separate activities and assignments.  But as the kids get older, I do assign them individual readings from the reading lists below.  We also take advantage of Audible when we’re in the car.  I really enjoy the speed feature on the app because I can slow it down for my youngest son, who has several language diagnoses and processes a little slower.

Gospel Coalition Reading List – Grades 1-8

Claritas Reading List Cycle 1 (Ancients)

Claritas Reading List Cycle 2 (Middle Ages)

Claritas Reading List Cycle 3 (Early Modern Times)

Claritas Reading List Cycle 4 (Modern Age)

Read Aloud Revival

Claritas Publishing (memory work)

Classical Conversations (memory work)

We participated with both CC and Claritas in a co-op/community, but they can be used at home also, if you want to incorporate memory work into your homeschool.  Read HERE why we left Classical Conversations, as well as a REVIEW of Claritas as an alternative.

Community Bible Study

Not Consumed Kids Bible Studies Tools

Simply Classical Curriculum (designed to support special needs students using a Classical approach)

Our Mother Tongue This is an incredible grammar guide for those who are really into grammar like me

Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason curriculum)

Outschool I don’t have personal experience with this site but it looks intriguing as it offers a large variety of one-time, short-term, and semester-long online, live classes for students age 3-18

PRESCHOOL | Academics 30 minutes – 1 hour a day

I truly believe that the biggest goal in preschool and lower elementary grades is to simply instill a love of learning in children.  To me, that means lots of reading, time in nature, discovery, and unstructured play.  Teaching our children to love learning gives them confidence to learn anything in the future.  That ability to learn a new skill is absolutely priceless and will stick with them for the rest of their lives.  Having said that, I also think preschool is a great time to prepare children for future formal learning, which is why I like to use a preschool curriculum to foster that discipline.

Horizons Preschool for Three’s

My Father’s World PreK4

Five in a Row

Charlotte Mason Nature Study

LOWER ELEMENTARY | Academics 1-2 hours a day

Complete Kindergarten Curriculum: My Father’s World Kindergarten

Literature: Five in a Row, assigned Classics

Reading: All About Reading, Explode the Code, Reading Eggs (supplemental only)

Handwriting: Zaner-Bloser or Handwriting Without Tears

Grammar: First Language Lessons 1, 2, 3 (easier to get started) or Fundamental Grammar Level 1 and 2 (better used in conjunction with Claritas memory work)

Writing: Writing With Ease, Building Writers

Spelling: All About Spelling, Spelling Plus, Spelling City (website to drill spelling words)

Math: Math U See (hands-on, multi-sensory), Math Mammoth (workbook style, little teaching requirement but extremely thorough), Xtramath website (free for drilling math facts)

History: Story of the World Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 (there are also audio versions if you prefer to listen)

Science: God’s Design for Science or Apologia, Charlotte Mason Nature Study

Health: KidsHealth.org website (free)

Music: Classical Music Theory & Appreciation Curriculum and private tutors

Art: Artist Study Guide for Classical Communities, Discovering Great Artists, Great American Artists, How To Teach Art to Children

Bible: Apologia

Typing: Keyboarding Without Tears

Physical Education: Private classes, swimming, outdoor activities, homeschool gym

Foreign Language: Private online tutors (if you want to start this early)

Critical Thinking: The Critical Thinking Company (especially for special needs students)

UPPER ELEMENTARY | Academics 2-3 hours a day

Reading: All About Reading

Literature: Assigned Classics, Progeny Plus Study Guides

Handwriting: Zaner-Bloser or Handwriting Without Tears

Grammar: Fundamental Grammar and coordinating Claritas Cycle workbooks or First Language Lessons 3 and 4 (with coordinating Level 3 and 4 student workbooks) as well as Our Mother Tongue as a parent guide

Writing: Institute for Excellence in Writing Theme-Based Writing Level A (need student and teacher guide – there is a bit of a learning curve for parents, but I love this way of teaching writing)

Spelling: Building Spelling Skills, Spelling City (website to drill spelling words)

Vocabulary: McGraw-Hill Education Grades 3-5

Math: Math Mammoth (workbook style, little teaching requirement but extremely thorough), Xtramath website (free for drilling math facts)

History: Story of the World Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 (there are also audio versions if you prefer to listen) or Notgrass History

Geography: A Child’s Geography

Science: God’s Design for Science or Apologia, Charlotte Mason Nature Study

Health: KidsHealth.org website (free), Big Life Journal, Usborne Mindful Kids series, Imagine Journal

Music: Classical Music Theory & Appreciation Curriculum and private tutors

Art: Let’s Make Art subscription, Artist Study Guide for Classical Communities, Discovering Great Artists, Great American Artists, Lamb’s Book of Art

Bible: Apologia

Typing: Typing Pal, Type 2 Learn

Physical Education: Private classes, swimming, outdoor activities, homeschool gym

Foreign Language: Private online tutors (there are plenty of options with live tutors)

Critical Thinking: The Critical Thinking Company (especially for special needs students)

MIDDLE SCHOOL | Academics 3-4 hours a day

Writing: Institute for Excellence in Writing Theme-Based Writing Level B (need student and teacher guide), IEW Poetry/Literature Package, Writing With Sharon Jump In Middle School Composition

Literature: Assigned classics, IEW Teaching the Classics, Progeny Plus Study Guides

Vocabulary: McGraw-Hill Education Grades 6-8

Math: Math Mammoth through seventh grade (see my notes on high school math for more ideas)

History: Story of the World, The World’s Story, Notgrass History

Geography: Exploring the World Through Cartography

Science: God’s Design for Science or Apologia

Health: Nutrition 101, Made in His Own Image, Food, Inc. DVD, Seeds of Deception, Genetic Roulette, Detox for Life, Mindfulness for Teens, Enneagram Made Easy, Big Life Journal, Imagine Journal

Music: Private tutors

Art: See the Light Art DVDs

Bible: The Answers Books, Operation World Prayer, Apologia, Tim Tebow’s Know Who You Are

Physical Education: Private classes, swimming, outdoor activities, homeschool gym, FCA sports teams

Foreign Language: Private online tutors (there are plenty of options with live tutors)

HIGH SCHOOL | Academics 4-5 hours a day

While I am forever sold out to the classical model of education, I do believe that flexibility is important during the high school years. If students are interested in particular subjects, I think that should be embraced and every effort should be made to support their curiosities. There are so many great curriculum choices for high school with plenty of online options taught by experts in the subject (especially when we aren’t feeling super confident about teaching a particular class). Below are the resources I respect and/or have enjoyed.

Overall online learning programs: Memoria Academy, Wilson Hill Academy (including AP options)

English: My personal opinion is that high school English classes should be filled with lots of classic literature, followed by excellent Socratic discussion and literary analysis, as well as thoughtful writing assignments.  I do not follow a specific curriculum, but instead choose great books to read, discuss/analyze, and write about.  To that end, my favorite resources are IEW Teaching the Classics, IEW Window to the World: Intro to Literary Analysis, IEW Timeline of the Classics, Words Aptly Spoken, IEW Poetry/Literature Package, Writing With Sharon The Power in Your Hands and Writing Fiction, and Secrets of Great Communicators.  I also like the literature study guides from Progeny Plus.  I am aware that there are many, many other solid options, but these are the ones with which I have experience.

Vocabulary: The Vocabulary Builder Workbook

Math: We tried Teaching Textbooks with medium success.  It’s fine but not very rigorous and did not prepare my high schooler for private school math.  Other curriculums to consider are Derek Owens, CTC Math, A+ Interactive Math, Kahn Academy, and Shormann Math (aligned with SAT/ACT based on Saxon Math).

History: Notgrass History, Hillsdale College online classes (free!)

Science: Clover Creek Physics (online teacher-graded), Clover Valley Chemistry (online teacher-graded option), Apologia

Health: Nutrition 101, Every Herb Bearing Seed, Apologia, Detox for Life

Fine Arts: There are so many good options for this, it’s hard to know where to begin!  I might consider the watercolor version of Let’s Make Art subscriptions, because the kid’s version is so, so fun.  Music lessons would also count, drama, dance, graphic design, photography, cinema production … the possibilities are endless.

Bible: AIG Apologetics, Reaching a Lost World, Apologia, Tim Tebow’s Know Who You Are

Physical Education: FCA sports teams, private classes, workout videos (YouTube, Beachbody, etc.)

Foreign Language: Private online tutors (there are plenty of options with live tutors)

Extras: Dave Ramsey’s Homeschool Finance, Uncle Eric Series

Also another thought to consider for high school – check into the dual enrollment opportunities at your local community college!

 

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