The Best Curriculum for Beginning Homeschoolers
Each year, when it comes to narrowing down the curriculum choices you will be using with your kids, it can either excite you or frustrate you. For me, it’s both. I’m excited because it’s a new school year and I love the smell of new books, but I also get a little frustrated because I’m trying to decide which will be best and that’s not always very clear, especially when you aren’t used to piecing together a curriculum or when there is more than one good one.
I can distinctly remember researching and praying about how to teach my toddler to read. What were the correct steps? When do I implement this? How do I get started? I was SO frustrated and stressed about this because I wanted to start on the right foot in the right lane, but I didn’t know how and I work well with a step-by-step guide. But after searching tirelessly, I found it. I finally found it. And I was able to follow those steps patiently, critiquing my methods and approach as I got better and more confident in the process. And now, I teach other parents how to teach their children to read.
Thus, the more experience you gain with researching and trying out the curriculum, the better you will get at choosing what will work best in the future. And how will you determine what works best? Well, the more you homeschool and learn about your children’s learning goals, needs, and interests, combined with the overall goals and flow of your homeschool, the easier it will be to judge whether or not a curriculum is going to meet their needs or work well in your homeschool routine.
So if you’re new to homeschooling, I’ve got a list of the best curriculum for beginning homeschoolers. Just keep reading!
Disclosure: Hey! Just a quick note: some of the links in this post may be affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase or to join, I will earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. But just know that I recommend these companies and their products because of their quality and my experience with them and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you. I love and appreciate you regardless! You can review my full disclosure here. xo, Tessa
But Don’t Be Fooled… Not All Curriculum is Created Equal
With so many options out there, it’s easy to fall into a rut when it’s time to make a decision. There are many types of curriculum publishers and content because there are many types of learners. One curriculum may work for one child, but not for another. As the parent, this is where paying close attention to how your child works through the curriculum and how they respond to the layout of the lessons comes into play because it will help you make future decisions in what works best for them.
But always remember that even if you buy something thinking it will be a good fit, only to find out it’s not after a couple of weeks, that doesn’t mean you have to continue using it. Once you see that something isn’t working, stop, and reevaluate why it’s not working so you can have a clearer direction when making an alternative, better fitting choice.
There are many reasons why a curriculum choice doesn’t work. It may be too fast-paced, too slow-paced, too advanced, not advanced enough, not tactile enough, too much preparation work on the parent’s end, etc. Whatever the reason is, make sure you jot down that specific curriculum and the reason it doesn’t work so you can be sure to watch out for this in the future when making new choices.
I have purchased curriculum and found out after a few weeks or a couple of months that it’s not really working and I’ll never buy it again. Usually, if a curriculum takes too much time to prepare daily lessons or is just simply over the top on conducting lessons, it is a major turn-off for me because I’m a mama and I don’t have that kinda time. I look for a curriculum that is simple to implement and that doesn’t require a lot of time or effort to prepare.
More importantly, I pay attention to how my children respond to it. I make note of whether or not there is any improvement in the specific skill or area they were struggling with before. And finally, I look at whether or not the directions are kid-friendly enough for them to read and understand without my help 100% of the time because as they grow older, I want them to be more independent in completing certain tasks.
So with that said, let’s move on to the best curriculum for beginning homeschoolers that have worked for my family that I’m sure you’ll find great success with as well.
Best Curriculum for Beginning Homeschoolers that Work!
- Alpha Phonics
- Subject: phonics and reading
- Format: paperback book
- Grade Level: preschool-elementary
- When to Use it: when your child can recognize and pronounce the letter sounds confidently
- Why I LOVE it: I used this curriculum with both of my oldest children. I love the way the lessons are formatted and how short and to the point they are. There are NO fancy pictures and it is printed in B/W. My children did wonderful in this book. I observed how they developed more fluency over time with the daily completion and practice of these lessons. After a while, I didn’t have to sit and tell them what to do. They knew to flip to the next lesson and read. This beginning phonics program will set your child up for great reading success. Everything you need to teach the lessons is in ONE book. There are also instructions to give you ideas on how to implement the lessons.
- Bob Books
- Subject: phonics and reading
- Format: books (you may be able to find ebooks on Amazon too)
- Grade Level: preschool-elementary
- When to Use it: when your child can recognize and pronounce the letter sounds confidently
- Why I LOVE it: Bob Books have been a cherished resource since my first child (who is now 8 years old) began reading when he was 4 years old. I love them because there is hardly any color (maybe a splash of red, green, or blue), and it’s mostly B/W. I have specifically used all three beginning reading sets. These books focus on mastering consonant vowel consonant words (mat, hat, etc.). The repetition embedded within the books is an excellent way to help your child develop CVC blending and segmenting fluency. They are short and to the point and will help your child become confident when reading!
- Carson Dellosa
- Subject: ALL subjects
- Format: paper and digital
- Grade Level: preschool-high school
- When to Use it: when your child is ready for certain skills and when you want to supplement with your main curriculum
- Why I LOVE it: Carson Dellosa has a conglomerate of resources for you to choose from for every subject at really affordable prices. I have used countless resources from them and have never been disappointed. I will continue to use their resources for my children’s entire homeschooling journey.
- Evan-Moor
- Subject: ALL subjects
- Format: paper and digital
- Grade Level: preschool-grade 8
- When to Use it: when your child is ready for certain skills and when you want to supplement with your main curriculum
- Why I LOVE it: Evan-Moor is another homeschool curriculum giant that I have used for years and will continue to use for years to come. They even offer homeschool sets so you don’t have to piece it all together on your own. I love using their books to supplement certain subjects like grammar, reading comprehension, or math critical thinking. I do not purchase the entire curriculum sets because I may not want to use all of the books that are in the set. But there are so many unique homeschool resources. You will for sure find something suitable for you and your children.
- Explode the Code
- Subject: phonics, reading, and writing
- Format: paper and digital (digital format can be found HERE)
- Grade Level: preschool-grade 8
- When to Use it: when your child begins writing and learning their letter sounds
- Why I LOVE it: WE LOVE EXPLODE THE CODE! I cannot say enough good things about this phonics curriculum. It is simple, to the point, and my kids LOVE completing these books. Explode the Code introduces beginning and advanced phonics skills to promote phonics mastery. The lessons in Book 1 and beyond are set up in a way that you complete 1 lesson (which is usually about 8-10 pages) in 1 week. It is B/W and easy on the eyes. I also love how some lessons have humor in it, which it makes it really fun for your kids when completing it. The pre-reading books are Books A, B, and C. Once your little one is ready to start reading, they will start in Book 1. If you had to choose one curriculum resource to complement your phonics instruction, THIS is the one!
- Generation Genius
- Subject: science
- Format: digital (there are print at home and video options available for the science lessons)
- Grade Level: kindergarten-grade 8
- When to Use it: when your child enters kindergarten or shows a keen interest in specific science concepts
- Why I LOVE it: I initially discovered Generation Genius via YouTube and stumbled upon it again over a year later when I was looking for an alternative science curriculum for my kids. I was looking for something simple to follow and exciting for my kids to explore each week. This was the one. I am so happy to have found them because not only do they offer many free science videos to go along with their printable lesson plans, but you can also purchase an annual subscription. You will have access to grade-level standards, video lessons, printable quizzes and projects, reading material, Kahoot! games and so much more! This is a great supplement or full-on science curriculum for your kiddos that they will love and look forward to each week just like my kids. THEY LOVE science days… more than me. (cringe emoji)
- Handwriting Without Tears
- Subject: writing
- Format: books (they also have digital tool options, but I’ve never tried them.)
- Grade Level: preschool-grade 5+
- When to Use it: when your child is ready to begin writing letters
- Why I LOVE it: I actually started using this program when my children were already writing lower and uppercase letters just fine. But one HUGE thing I noticed was the more they practiced in these books, the neater and smaller their handwriting became. (Picture this: big giant letters, spaced out on a page for every word VS smaller letters that are closer together when forming a word) We have used the regular printing program and the story writing program. They have both worked wonders in helping my children (elementary-aged) collect their ideas to compose a written piece. This program really helps them see how some letters fall, other letters are tall, and some are small. We will continue to use it until they grow out of it.
- Homeschool Spanish Academy
- Subject: foreign language (Spanish)
- Format: digital and printables (lessons are online and you will also receive lesson materials from the teacher)
- Grade Level: preschool-adult
- When to Use it: when you want your child to learn Spanish!
- Why I LOVE it: My kids really enjoyed their Spanish learning time each week. They took 30-minute classes separately because I felt like they learned better that way, but you can also request to take group classes. I enjoyed hearing them speak Spanish during class as they followed the lead of their teacher. It was a great, positive experience with their teacher who was very kind and knowledgeable and had experience working with younger children. But I also took classes myself and I have to say, my Spanish grammar REALLY improved while learning with my instructor. I also became more confident in my Spanish speaking skills. So it was a win-win for us. I recommend Homeschool Spanish Academy if you would like your children to learn with an authentic Spanish speaker to learn vocabulary, grammar, and cultural Spanish traditions.
- IXL
- Subject: ALL subjects, including Spanish!
- Format: digital
- Grade Level: preschool-high school
- When to Use it: when you want to supplement your child’s learning with a thorough and standards-based online program
- Why I LOVE it: IXL was one of the best homeschool investments I have made thus far. It has really helped me keep track of what my kids should be learning based on their grade level. You sign up for their monthly subscription and you have access to everything! When they complete a specific lesson, they get stars and certificates too! They will love it and you will enjoy seeing what they accomplish. It will also help you see what skills they need more practice with.
- KinderArt
- Subject: art
- Format: online printable lesson plans (subscription option)
- Grade Level: preschool-grade 8
- When to Use it: when your child shows an interest in art concepts or to introduce fun, age-appropriate art projects to inspire them
- Why I LOVE it: I have used KinderArt for art project ideas for months. It has really saved me time and effort when planning our weekly art projects. From painting, sculpting, crafting, drawing, etc, there are hundreds of project ideas. Many of these are available on their website for free. But if you would like exclusive access to lesson plans, you can subscribe monthly or annually for a really affordable price. We will continue to use KinderArt projects for years to come because my kids LOVE art time!
- Kumon
- Subject: ALL subjects
- Format: books
- Grade Level: preschool-high school
- When to Use it: when your child is ready for certain skills and when you want to supplement with your main curriculum
- Why I LOVE it: I have used Kumon for many years with my children. My favorite series is the letter and number writing books. These books really help my kids develop fluency in writing their letters and numbers and counting from 1-120. I use Kumon as a supplemental resource to help my children in skill areas that they need more practice in (like addition word problems, reading comprehension, etc). Kumon is not new to the game. They have been around for a long time and are trusted by many educators and parents because their system really works! I will continue to use Kumon products for years to come.
- Math Mammoth
- Subject: math
- Format: paper books, ebooks, online games, and instructional videos
- Grade Level: 1st grade-high school
- When to Use it: when your child is ready for a math program beyond kindergarten
- Why I LOVE it: I love Math Mammoth. The instructor and creator of the program, Maria Miller, is such a sweet and knowledgeable woman who obviously loves math but also loves teaching it. She has built a spectacular math program that progressively introduces new concepts to your child and revisits them throughout the program as applicable. Her approach has worked wonders for both my children. We pull out our books every day and we discuss the day’s assignment. We usually complete 2-3 pages a day from the workbooks. If I ever have a problem explaining a specific skill to my child, I can quickly pull up a video of Maria explaining it. My child can watch the video or I can watch it and teach it to them. She also provides tests that you can administer to see where your child may still be struggling, which helps you target those specific areas with them. I highly recommend this math curriculum. It is complete and you won’t really need anything else to go along with it.
- Outschool
- Subject: ALL subjects and more!
- Format: Zoom classes
- Grade Level: preschool-high school
- When to Use it: when you want to supplement learning time with fun online classes
- Why I LOVE it: Outschool is a wonderful platform to find so many unique, fun, and academic online classes for your children. Many of these classes are below $10. They offer a few types of classes like subscription classes that you can opt-in and out of when you’re ready, multi-day camps, one time classes, and flexible schedule classes (which is great if you like a class that doesn’t work well with your homeschool schedule). My children have taken several stem classes via Outschool and the teachers were AWESOME! They learned cool science facts and these classes helped spark their inner scientist even more. I was very pleased with my Outschool experience and I’m confident you will be too. So if you’re looking for a specific academic class or a really random weekend class to keep your children busy, I highly recommend you check out Outschool. Receive a $20 discount off of your 1st Outschool class!
- Disclosure: Hey! Just a quick note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase or to join, I will earn a commission. But just know that I recommend these companies and their products because of their quality and my experience with them and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you. I love and appreciate you regardless! xoxo, Tessa
- Starfall Education
- Subject: language arts and math
- Format: books and digital
- Grade Level: preschool-3rd grade
- When to Use it: when your child is entering preschool and when you’re looking for an enriching supplement
- Why I LOVE it: I have used many Starfall digital products and I know many parents who have used Starfall phonics books and math and reading workbooks. You can subscribe to gain access to all of their computer learning games and you can also order products from their website. They have lots of great reading and math resources to supplement your curriculum. Many of these games are fun and engaging for children. I also love using their screen projectable books during our story read-aloud time. I usually project them on our big screen and each of my children takes turns reading. Starfall has really come in handy in our home!
- 180 Days of _________
- Subject: ALL subjects
- Format: books
- Grade Level: kindergarten-6th grade
- When to Use it: when you want to supplement your curriculum with short, daily assignments
- Why I LOVE it: I love using these books because, for the most part, my kids can read the directions and complete the daily pages on their own. If you like a book that tells you exactly what to do on a specific day for a specific week, this is the one for you. A typical school year is 180 days so you will have 180 worksheets divided up into about 36 weeks. Your kids complete one sheet a day in the specific subject of the book. It’s super simple to keep up with and it’s totally grab, flip and go. That’s why I love these books and will continue to use them to supplement any areas that would benefit my children.
Most Common FAQs About Homeschooling
First, you should check with your state’s educational department before deciding to homeschool to get acquainted with any laws or requirements homeschoolers must adhere to. Then, you can check out my tips below:
- Does homeschool curriculum need to be accredited?
- There are homeschool programs that do offer an accredited program, but some programs don’t. This doesn’t mean that it isn’t good or acceptable. Accreditation just means that the program went through a process based upon specific standards given by an accreditation program. Accredited schools must continue to meet these standards. Your homeschool program DOES NOT have to be accredited to be legit.
- How many hours a day do I have to homeschool?
- You create your own schedule. But I do recommend you limit formal homeschooling activities (like workbooks and online school) to a minimum with younger children.
- We formally homeschool for about 3-4 hours each day for my current 3rd and 4th grader. The rest of the day is free play, free choice, or project time.
- How do I prepare for homeschooling?
- Do homeschoolers get a diploma or GED?
- Most colleges and universities do accept homeschool diplomas. Here are some ideas on how to create a diploma for your soon to be graduate.
- But take note! Some states may have special requirements about homeschooling diplomas so please make sure to check with your state first.
- What subjects do I need to teach my child?
- Your primary focus should focus on ELA (phonics, reading, writing, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency), and math.
- You could also sprinkle in science, social studies, history, geography, art, music, foreign language, and whatever else your kids are interested in.
- More importantly, keep it fun and relatable for your kids.
Last thoughts…
If there is anything I have learned in the last 8 years, it is to avoid stressing as BEST I can. I try to focus on taking each day as it comes and not beating myself up if things don’t go as planned. Sometimes we don’t get to everything on our daily to-do list, and I have learned to accept that with joy.
As you continue on your homeschooling journey, you will learn and you will grow. It’s all a part of the process. And when you do learn and grow, you will be able to share your experiences (good and not so good) with others who will need and appreciate it.
You will learn how to find the best curriculum that works for your family as time moves forward.
I pray you well, and if you have any questions about your curriculum search, you can message me at hello@mstessasclassroom.com.
Share this post with someone you know who needs it! Go head, go head!
With lots of mushy-gushy love,
xo, Tessa