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Finding a secular homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming, but after years of trial and error, while educating my kids, I’ve gathered my absolute favorite resources for 2024. Here’s a curated list with personal insights, organized by subject, to make your homeschooling journey smoother and more fun.
Full Curriculum and Multi-Subject Options
Free Resources
| Resource | Description |
| PBS Learning Media | A treasure trove of free, high-quality videos, lessons, and activities across subjects. It’s engaging without being overwhelming. |
| Kennedy Center Resources Library | Arts-focused materials perfect for integrating creativity into lessons. Drama integration was a beautiful way to learn storytelling. |
| At Home Middle School | Structured yet flexible, this is ideal for middle schoolers. Comprehensive and keeps older kids on track without complaints. |
| Fishtank Learning | Rigorous, ready-to-use lesson plans for ELA and math. Simplifies planning while offering depth and clarity. |
| Oak National Academy | A no-fuss, free resource for K-12 with bite-sized video lessons. Excellent for reinforcing concepts in a straightforward way. |
| Khan Academy | Free, clear courses in nearly every subject. Interactive challenges and a structured progression keep learning engaging. |
| Discovery K-12 | A complete homeschool curriculum offering daily lessons for free. Great for families starting from scratch with diverse needs. |
Paid and Premium Options
- Blossom & Root: Focused on nature, art, and creativity, it’s a gentle and flexible curriculum for younger kids. I love how it balances academics with exploration and play.
- Torchlight Curriculum: A literature-based program with a heavy focus on global studies and critical thinking. It’s been fantastic for fostering meaningful discussions in our home.
- Build Your Library: Another literature-rich curriculum that ties in history and science seamlessly. My kids love the book recommendations, and it makes learning feel like an adventure.
- Time4Learning: This online platform is interactive and comprehensive, with lessons in all core subjects. It’s especially great for tech-savvy kids who thrive with digital tools.
- Outschool: Offers live, online classes on nearly any topic imaginable, from academics to hobbies. My kid took a class on shark biology, and it was a huge hit.
- Oak Meadow: A creative, Waldorf-inspired curriculum with hands-on projects that engage kids deeply. I found it particularly useful for fostering independence and critical thinking.
ELA
Free Tools
- Progressive Phonics: Offers free, printable phonics books that are simple and effective. My youngest went from struggling with letters to blending words confidently.
- Teach Your Monster to Read: A gamified approach to reading that makes learning fun and engaging. My kids thought they were playing a game, but their reading skills skyrocketed.
- Daily Grammar Archive: Free, concise grammar lessons perfect for quick practice. I use it as a refresher for tricky rules like verb tenses and punctuation.
- Common Lit: High-quality reading passages with comprehension questions that encourage critical thinking. It’s perfect for middle and high school students who need thought-provoking material.
- ReadWorks: A robust library of fiction and nonfiction texts with vocabulary and comprehension questions. I love how it aligns with different grade levels and learning goals.
Paid Options
- Brave Writer: Encourages creativity and emotional connection in writing, making it less intimidating for kids. I’ve seen such growth in my children’s confidence as writers using this program.
- Explode the Code: A straightforward phonics program that builds foundational reading skills. My child’s reading fluency improved after just a few months of consistent use.
- Reading Eggs: An interactive, game-based program that makes reading exciting for young learners. My kids loved earning rewards and felt motivated to keep learning.
- Logic of English: Comprehensive phonics, spelling, and grammar lessons in one place. It’s great for structured learners who benefit from systematic instruction.
Mathematics
Free and Low-Cost Favorites
| Resource | Description |
| Zearn | A free, standards-aligned math program with engaging practice problems. Perfect for reinforcing school concepts. |
| Prodigy | A math game where kids battle monsters by solving problems. Kids love it, making extra practice effortless. |
| ST Math | Teaches math concepts through visual problem-solving, puzzles, and games. Makes abstract ideas concrete and fun. |
| Math Dad (from Science Mom) | Free, quirky videos and activities that make math approachable. Ideal for engaging even the most math-resistant learners. |
Paid Programs
- Beast Academy: Comic-book-style math lessons that make complex topics accessible. My kids don’t even realize how much they’re learning because they’re having so much fun.
- Singapore Math: A rigorous math curriculum that emphasizes problem-solving and deep conceptual understanding. It’s challenging, but I’ve seen big leaps in my kids’ math confidence.
- Wild Math: Hands-on, outdoor activities that bring math concepts to life. My kids loved measuring tree branches and finding geometric shapes in nature.
Science
Free Resources
- Science Mom: Free experiments and lessons presented in an engaging and easy-to-follow way. My kids couldn’t get enough of the colorful demonstrations.
- NASA Kid’s Club: Space-themed games and activities that are perfect for young explorers. My kids loved pretending to be astronauts while learning about the solar system.
- Field Museum: Virtual tours and free educational materials from one of the world’s best museums. We “visited” ancient Egypt and dinosaurs without leaving home.
- Science Friday: Short podcasts and activities that inspire curiosity on diverse topics. It’s great for sparking dinner table discussions about science.
Paid Programs
- Pandia Press: Science programs that focus on inquiry and hands-on learning. I love how it encourages kids to think critically and ask big questions.
- Mel Chemistry: Monthly kits with cool experiments delivered to your door. It’s been a game-changer for keeping science fun and interactive.
- Generation Genius: High-quality videos and activities that align with science standards. My kids always come away excited about what they’ve learned.
History
Free Resources
- Smithsonian’s History Explorer: An extensive collection of history lessons and primary sources. My kids loved exploring artifacts from different eras.
- Big History Project: Connects history with science and global themes for a broader understanding of the world. It’s perfect for older kids who enjoy making connections across disciplines.
- Zinn Education Project: Offers lessons focused on social justice and underrepresented voices in history. It sparked some amazing discussions about the world’s complexities in our home.
Paid Resources
- History Quest: A narrative approach to history that captures kids’ imaginations. It’s like storytime, but with the added bonus of learning about ancient civilizations!
- Curiosity Chronicles: Bite-sized lessons that are perfect for younger kids. My child loved the playful tone and colorful illustrations.
Geography
- NatGeoKids: Interactive maps, videos, and games that bring geography to life. My kids loved learning weird and wonderful facts about different countries.
- Seterra: Geography quizzes that make learning locations fun and interactive. We turned it into a family competition to see who could master the continents first.
- Google Arts & Culture: Virtual tours of famous landmarks and cultural sites worldwide. It’s like traveling the globe without leaving the couch.
World Languages
| Free Tools | Paid Options |
| DuoLingo: A fun, game-like app that helps kids (and adults) learn new languages. My kids loved earning points and badges while learning Spanish. | Rosetta Stone: A comprehensive language program that immerses learners in real-world conversations. It’s a bit pricey, but we found it effective for building confidence in speaking. |
| BBC Bitesize Languages: Perfect for introducing younger kids to new languages with short, engaging lessons. It made French lessons a breeze for us. | Muzzy: Adorable animations make it perfect for younger learners. My preschooler picked up new words without even realizing it. |
Arts and Music
Free Resources
- Babble Dabble Do: DIY art and science projects that are perfect for all ages. We spent hours making colorful, marbled paper one afternoon.
- Chrome Music Lab: A digital playground for experimenting with sound and music. It kept my tech-loving kid busy for hours!
- Draw So Cute: Step-by-step drawing tutorials that are easy to follow. Even I got in on the fun and sketched a cat!
Paid Options
- Meet the Masters: An art appreciation program that introduces kids to famous artists and techniques. We enjoyed learning about Van Gogh and then recreating Starry Night.
- Legends of the Staff of Musique: A storytelling-based program for teaching music theory. It turned what could’ve been a dry subject into an adventure.
The Bottom Line
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be overwhelming or isolating. With these resources, you’ll have a wealth of ideas to create an engaging, well-rounded education for your kids. Start with what resonates most with your family, and remember—learning together is half the fun!
Jessica Giles
Hey there! I'm Jessica Giles, and I'm thrilled to be a author at Springfield Renaissance School. I graduated from Boston University with a degree in Education and have spent years teaching middle schoolers. My focus is on critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork.
When I'm not teaching, you'll probably find me with a good book, hiking through nature, or traveling to new places. I love sharing my adventures and the stories I pick up along the way with my students. I'm all about sparking a love for learning and helping my students reach their full potential.
