**This blog post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I may earn commissions if you click the link and make a qualifying purchase. By clicking the link provided you are stating that you understand and are agreeing to these terms. **
If I had to choose which grades so far are my favorite to teach my kids, it definitely would be the elementary years. Everything is fun and much simpler. 🙂 (These high school courses are no joke).
When I started homeschooling, my kids were in kindergarten and 3rd grade. We spent the first couple years finding what curriculum worked for us and finding our rhythm. Homeschooling is no overnight success. You HAVE to be open to being flexible and making changes as you go. We’ve tried several different curriculums and countless resources over the years, and while they all had their own positive qualities, some of them just weren’t right for my kids, or as my children advanced in age, we needed something more.
Since then, we’ve landed on curriculums and resources that we’ve seen great improvements with, enjoyed using and stuck with them. Keep in mind when anyone (including me) is recommending curriculum or resources, that every family and child is different. It’s not a one size fits all and I cannot stress enough to really investigate what works best for you and your family. This is just what I’ve found that worked for us & could work for you too. I’ve also included some other popular recommendations that I may not have used myself but feel confident enough to suggest them. I’ve done my fair share of research & have taken into account what has worked for others.
The Good and the Beautiful – I love this curriculum for so many reasons. The first being, it’s effective and stands on high moral/Christian values. All of the core subjects incorporate so much more than just Math, Grammer and Language Arts. You will also find art, history, poetry and so much more. It’s also very parent friendly, including everything you need to teach your children well. Their history and science lessons are also very family friendly and make it simple to teach these subjects to multiple kids at one time. No matter what grade level you are teaching, they offer curriculum from kindergarten to high school. I really can’t say enough about it.
Master Books is another favorite in our house for a lot of the same reasons that we love The Good and the Beautiful. It’s very parent-friendly for stress free planning as everything is planned out for you, from lesson plans and reading to tests. The also offer an online course that corresponds with some of their workbooks which is very helpful if you find some of the subjects hard to teach or may your child responds better with a video lesson. Another thing I love about Master Books is how they incorporate a Christian world view into the curriculum.
Alpha and Omega Publications – Lifepac was one of the first curriculums we ever tried out and ended up using it for a couple of years after that. We loved the simplicity of it & how it was open and go type of curriculum. They offer free placement tests to find the best suited level for your child. They are also known for their Horizons Math program which is also great. In addition to those, you can also access their online program called Monarch. They offer more than enough to build the perfect curriculum for your child.
Evan Moor – We’ve used our fair share of Evan Moor’s workbooks throughout our elementary years, both as full curriculum for the year and as supplement. You can find anything from your core subjects to critical thinking and STEAM activities. They also offer daily practice workbooks that would work great for independent morning work.
Abeka – We’ve used Abeka for subjects like Health and Science and really enjoyed them. Their lessons are very thorough, and my kids soaked up the information like sponges. The material is so in depth that you could probably do their courses over again and learn even more! You can find a range of subjects and grade levels with their curriculum.
Hooked on Phonics – Hooked on Phonics has been a household name for years and they’ve come a long way since they began. They now offer Spelling and Math in addition to their trusted reading programs. You can access them over all devices and are an all-around great option, especially in those early years.
BrainPop – This is another online option that offers online learning through interactive games and movies. Deepen learning, build core knowledge and inspire learning confidence. BrainPop is very engaging for kids and would be a fun addition to any homeschool curriculum.
K12 – If you’re looking for an online private school option for your homeschool. K12 offers high quality curriculum with support from teachers, counselors and academic coaches to help your children reach their full potential. This would be a great option if you don’t have as much time as you would like to teach your children but still want to ensure a high-quality education at home. K12 has more than enough to offer.
Not Consumed – If you’re looking to add a Bible Study to your homeschool morning routines, I highly suggest Not Consumed. They have a variety of Bible Studies to choose from, along with reading journals, prayer journals, and so much more. You won’t be disappointed with anything you choose from their website!
Teachers Pay Teachers – This is a great option if you are looking for specific topics and/or worksheets to supplement into your lessons. You can find free and paid printables on their website, endless amounts of resources here! I also have several printable resources available there as well. Including reading logs, state study bundles and people of the Bible worksheets. Check them out here.
YouTube – This might seem like an odd thing to include in homeschool resources, but you can find a ton of educational channels on YouTube. Add an educational video into a science or history lesson, or use it as an art class, the possibilities are endless. A couple of our favorites are HomeschoolPop and ArtforKidsHub.
Tuttle Twins – The Tuttle Twins books are a popular option for all things History. So many books to choose from and so much learning to happen! They offer paperback books, audiobooks and more to learn about the history of our country in a fun, engaging way.
Books, Books, Books – One thing I will always advocate for in homeschooling is reading. Read together as a family, no matter what age your children are. Find books for them to read individually as well. READ READ READ! It makes such a difference in all other subjects.
Choosing the right curriculum for your children can make all the difference in your homeschool. I hope this information has helped you in that process. Remember to do your research to find what works best, and don’t be afraid to try something else if what you are using isn’t work. Stay Tuned for a future blog post on tips to choosing curriculum.