Where to Find Christian Homeschool Curriculum
If you're new to homeschooling, you may be a bit overwhelmed with where to start. You may have had a curriculum recommendation or two from a friend but are not really sure which options are a good fit for your family.
Or maybe you've been homeschooling for a while and are just now wanting to try something a bit different. Maybe you've always done things a certain way, and the idea of sifting through new options is exciting and overwhelming.
Wherever you are in your journey, I want to encourage you to pray for direction before you ever start your search. The world of homeschool curricula is a great blessing, but it can also be all-consuming and push you in all sorts of directions.
I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to consider a vision for your homeschool. Think about what you'd like your homeschool to be like. Consider whether you prefer something more teacher-centered or student-centered, more hands-on or independent. The options are endless, so taking the time to do this will ensure that the curricula you select will serve you and your goals for your family . . . and not the other way around.
Another thing to consider is the subjects that you will be covering throughout the upcoming school year. Click A New Homeschooler's Guide to Homeschooling to watch a short video on specific subjects for each grade level. A FREE download of the Guide, including the subject overview and a blank form for record-keeping is available for all members. Sign up for FREE Member Access.
Now if you're ready to dive in, here are some good options to consider!
Homeschool Conventions
The best way to shop homeschool curricula is at a homeschool convention. Sadly, this option is not as readily available because of current restrictions. If a homeschool convention comes to your area, however, I strongly encourage you to visit the vendor/exhibitor area. There, you can view the curricula, flip through the books, and often receive a convention discount.
A couple of homeschool conventions in the United States are Teach Them Diligently and Called To Teach (Texas). Click on the links to find out convention dates and exhibitor information.
Online Resources
This is a FANTASTIC resource for finding and purchasing homeschool curriculum. It is my personal favorite because they have some of the best prices available, and free shipping is often offered for their email subscribers.
The search option allows you to search by curriculum, subjects, grade levels, best sellers, and more. You can view curriculum and book samples, along with thorough descriptions and reviews.
Click here to go straight to their homeschool section.
On this site, you can view a listing of homeschool curricula by subject. The website offers recommendations, along with a thorough description and overview of each curriculum.
All-Subject Curricula
The resources above are very helpful when looking for a specific subject or grade level, but if you're just starting out, you may find it much easier to look up a "big-box" curriculum. Each of the curricula below provide instruction for the core areas, including Bible, history/geography, and science, along with recommendations and options for the fine arts and independent studies.
My Father's World curriculum combines the Charlotte Mason philosophy, classical education model, and unit studies with a "Biblical worldview and global focus." It includes both a basic and deluxe package for each grade level, along with a themed booklist for each week.
For the early grades, children have their own individual curriculum that teaches all subject areas in an engaging and hands-on way. In grades 3-8, the children enter the "Family Learning Cycle," where they gather together to learn Bible, history, geography, science, and art and music (deluxe package). Additional activities are also provided for older students in the cycle, before working independently at the high school level.
My Father's World also offers curriculum options for language arts and math, along with enrichment activities and games.
We have personally used My Father's World in our homeschool for many years, and I will be sharing reviews for those interested in learning more. Click here to watch what is available now.
Sonlight is a literature-based curriculum with a Biblical perspective. Each year, students work through specific spines in the areas of Bible, history/geography, and literature. Through living books, students are introduced to a variety of topics and historical events.
Leveled readers are included in the bulk package for practice and further application. Additional subjects can also be purchased through Sonlight, including science, math, language arts, etc.
Sonlight does offer the opportunity for group learning if children are close enough in age and/or ability. Independent studies, such as math and English language arts and reading are then be done separately.
Masterbooks offers a variety of homeschool curricula with the goal of increasing the student’s "faith in God, our Creator, and the authority of His Word." Their products are affordably priced and easy to implement and include the following subjects: math, language arts, history and geography, science, electives, and additional resources.
The curricula are inspired by the Charlotte Mason philosophy and include living lessons, captivating pictures, engaging stories and assignments. Click here to find out more.
Heart of Dakota offers Christ-centered curricula with an integrated approach. Each day, children work through about 9-10 boxes, including Bible, history, math, language arts, dramatic play, story time, and more. Everything is scheduled by grade level, and it is recommended that each child has his own curriculum to work through. The curriculum offers a variety of book choices to best accommodate your children and includes plenty of opportunities for engaging and hands-on instruction.
Gather Round Homeschool is a unit-based curriculum, offering multiple grade-level workbooks centered on a specific topic or theme. Children of all ages and abilities can "gather round" each day to learn together, while completing their individual assignments in all subject areas--excluding math. Find out more here.
Traditional Homeschool Curricula
If you're looking for more of a traditional model of instruction, including textbooks and workbooks that can be done independently, the following options may be a good fit for your family. Each offers curricula for each of the subject areas across all grade levels.
More options, such as Alpha Omega, can be explored at Christianbook.com.
History Curricula
Some curriculum companies specialize in a particular subject or content area. Many of these can be found on sites, such as Christianbook.com. Others, however, must be purchased independently by the curriculum company. The following are a list of history curricula that have a Biblical worldview and engaging lessons.
Beautiful Feet Books is a literature-based curriculum that offers a variety of history and geography courses, centered on literature. Each literature pack comes at a discounted rate and includes a Teacher's Guide for easy implementation. Click here to find out more.
Free Online Resources
The following resources are available for free online. These offer a great starting point for those wanting a more affordable option. Select the parts that work for you, tweak it a bit, or use it all as is. Find out more below.
Educational Philosophies
In Christian home education, there are a couple of educational philosophies that have risen to the top as beloved favorites. Parents, who subscribe to these methods, research the ideologies of the philosophy in order to put together their own curriculum that best suits the needs of their children.
The Charlotte Mason philosophy is one of them, centered on the idea that children are born whole persons. Educators are advised to build relations between the child and God, others, and the world around them. This is done through nature study, picture study, living books, and short-focused lessons. Many of the "big-box" curricula that I shared above are inspired by Charlotte Mason's ideas. To find out more about the Charlotte Mason method of education, check out the books below.
The following websites also provide more information, along with specific resources to implement the method in your homeschool.
Another favorite educational method is the Classical Model of Education. This is based on the trivium, suggesting that children work through a specific process of development. These include the grammar stage, logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. Curriculum and resources are selected to cater to the unique developmental stage of the child. These are often more traditional in nature, but also include Charlotte Mason-inspired approaches, such as note booking, recitation, and dictation. The following resources can provide more information on this philosophy if you are interested in finding out more.
Classical Conversations is a curriculum centered on the Classical Model of Education that offers local community meetings for children. Click here to find out more.
Eclectic Homeschooling
Many homeschoolers find that combining multiple homeschool styles and curricula best meets the unique needs of their families. They might use a "big-box" curriculum for the core, and then more traditional approaches for language arts and math. Some purchase individual curricula for each subject, and then put it together in a way that works best for them.
If you lean more toward this style, I want to encourage you to check out my Bucket Planning System.
This includes subject Master Lists with key indicators to help you identify your specific homeschool goals in each area. Then, you can fill the accompanying "buckets" with resources and ideas that include curricula, field trips, videos, and more!
The Pre-K/Kinder system comes with video tutorials that guide you through the process, vision planning, and lesson plan sheets to help you create the homeschool of YOUR dreams. Watch NOW for free in Member Freebies!
Click here for more information on Grades 1-12.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the vast world of homeschool curricula is enormous! There has never been more available for the homeschool community than now. I hope this list helps you filter through the options in order to find the resources and curricula that best support your homeschool goals. If you'd like to see a review or need any help, please feel free to reach out! Happy planning, Friends!
What are your favorite Christian Homeschool Curricula? Please share in the comments below!
.jpg)
