On the time of scripting this, I’ve been homeschooling for about 15 years (except we’re counting from beginning… after which it’s 18!) After a number of years of homeschooling and instructing a number of kids, I’ve discovered that not each curriculum turns into a long-term match.
Some sources work effectively for a season and a few are useful for one little one however not one other. That’s completely effective and I benefit from the selection and adaptability! Some, in fact, look fantastic once we first purchase them however don’t find yourself being one thing we preserve round for the lengthy haul.
Then there are the homeschool curriculum picks and sources that we simply preserve utilizing yr after yr. They’re gold! And right now I’m going to share my high listing with you.
Disclosure: *This publish might embody affiliate hyperlinks. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Learn the disclosures and phrases for extra data.
This publish is sponsored by Christian Mild Training, and it could include sponsored and/or affiliate hyperlinks. CLE Math is included right here as a result of it’s actually one of many curriculum decisions now we have used the longest in our homeschool!
Our Longest-Used Homeschool Curriculum Picks
Now, I’m the primary individual to see a shiny new curriculum and go off researching it. I like to know what’s on the market and what choices can be found to my household and yours!
However what makes a curriculum *stick* in our homeschool? They’re those which have lasted as a result of they’re sensible, versatile, efficient, and lifelike for actual homeschool life.
Whether or not we’ve used them completely or with completely different youngsters for various wants, these picks have had the longest keep on our homeschool cabinets.
So, listed here are the high 12 longest-used homeschool curriculum picks and sources for our household!
1. Christian Mild Training Math
Christian Mild Training’s Sonrise Math sequence has been one of many steadiest curriculum decisions in our homeschool.
One of many issues I admire most about CLE Math is that it’s clear, constant, and thorough. If I’ve to make a giant manufacturing over a topic on daily basis and pull out all types of supplies to prep, it’s much less prone to occur in any respect. CLE Math retains issues easy and simple.
My youngsters additionally like this math curriculum, particularly my two math-minded boys. The workbook format helps them develop in independence, they usually benefit from the feeling of a number of “wins” that occur once they full every workbook in a stage.
Every lesson introduces a brand new idea that after which offers them ample follow in what they’ve already discovered. The incremental steps and built-in spiral assessment has been a fantastic steadiness.
Major Options of Christian Mild Training Math:
- Builds a powerful mathematical basis
- Incorporates Christian values
- Easy and efficient design, with out distracting colours
- Introduces new ideas in bite-sized, incremental steps
- Makes use of a spiral method for steady assessment
- Makes use of a spiral incremental method,
- Structured into LightUnits, that are small, manageable booklets that stop overwhelm and offers youngsters simple milestones to attain.
>> Learn my full assessment of Christian Mild Training Math right here!
2. Bible Street Journey
Bible Street Journey has been one of many most-used sources in our homeschool and household discipleship. It’s a 3-year survey of the Bible Pre-Ok via twelfth grade that helps us keep intentional about studying and discussing Scripture collectively. There are completely different ranges of studying so youthful kids and older college students can all examine the identical portion of Scripture at their very own stage.
Additionally it is what I’d name a “buffet curriculum.” There are a lot of actions, notebooking pages, reminiscence playing cards, initiatives, movies, books, crafts, analysis assignments, and different concepts out there, however we don’t attempt to do all the things. We use what suits our household’s targets and the season we’re in. If nothing else occurs in our Bible time, the muse is easy: learn the Scripture and discuss it.
Major Options of Bible Street Journey:
- 3-year survey of the Bible for Pre-k via twelfth
- Helps households learn and focus on Scripture collectively
- Can be utilized as homeschool Bible curriculum or household discipleship
- Consists of Bible studying, dialogue, reminiscence playing cards, notebooking, actions, movies, books, crafts, initiatives, and analysis choices
- Works effectively for family-style homeschooling with a number of ages
- Versatile “buffet curriculum” format so you should use what suits your loved ones
>> Learn my full assessment of Bible Street Journey right here!
3. Music in Our Homeschool
I like Music in Our Homeschool as a result of it’s a simple (simple simple) option to embody music appreciation, hymns research, and extra into our homeschool with out having to plan forward in any respect. Plus it’s FUN! My youngsters have loved all the programs and nonetheless discuss concerning the “Classical Music with Cartoons” one. 🙂
I like that Music in Our Homeschool is simple to only plug into our homeschool rhythm. We will use it throughout morning time, as a part of our Friday “riches,” or as an impartial enrichment choice for older youngsters (there’s even a Shakespeare course certainly one of my daughters took).
Major Options of Music in Our Homeschool:
- Helps households embody music appreciation and effective arts extra constantly
- Presents ready-to-use classes with minimal prep
- Works effectively for morning time, loop schedules, enrichment, or impartial studying
- Consists of subjects resembling hymn examine, composer examine, music appreciation, and music historical past
- Versatile sufficient to make use of with a number of ages
- Useful for mothers who worth music however want a easy plan to make it occur
4. Notebooking Pages
We’ve used notebooking as a instrument in our homeschool throughout a number of topics and grades. It’s used to assist youngsters course of, talk, and doc what they’re studying a couple of explicit matter.
For instance, we’d use notebooking pages to report details, biblical rules, map work, and vital take-aways from a historical past lesson. The identical sort of factor could be executed for classes on Bible, science, artwork, literature, and extra!
Notebooking Pages is a large on-line repository of notebooking web page templates for quite a lot of homeschool topics and subjects. I find it irresistible as a result of I can rapidly seek for a subject and infrequently discover the notebooking pages I would like for the lesson I’m doing in 10 minutes! It really works particularly effectively for family-style homeschooling as a result of a number of kids can examine the identical matter whereas utilizing pages that match their stage.
Might I make my very own notebooking pages? Certain! However I actually like having the Notebooking Pages membership available and it saves me time over making my very own. If I can’t discover what I used to be searching for, our membership consists of the Web page Generator function that enables me to create pages that completely suits my wants. Fairly slick!
Pst… if you wish to test it out, there’s a free library of pages you’ll be able to strive right here.
Major Options of Notebooking Pages:
- Massive on-line library of printable notebooking pages
- Straightforward to look by matter or topic
- Useful while you want a notebooking web page rapidly for a lesson
- Versatile layouts for various ages and writing skills
- Can be utilized with curriculum you already personal
- Helps narration, copywork, analysis, map work, summaries, and written responses
- Saves time in comparison with making your individual notebooking pages from scratch
>> Learn my full assessment of Notebooking Pages right here.
5. All About Spelling
All About Spelling makes use of the Orton-Gillingham methodology with a multi-sensory, step-by-step method. It teaches phonograms, spelling guidelines, and patterns as an alternative of assuming kids will merely take in spelling by seeing phrases typically sufficient.
Now, we’ve bounced round fairly a bit with spelling. A few of my youngsters didn’t want additional spelling help however a number of of them did. We simply preserve coming again to All About Spelling, particularly for the kiddos with dyslexia. The primary time I attempted it I didn’t prefer it as a result of I couldn’t deal with the tiles (we lose issues… I do know, now we have points). However once I discovered concerning the tiles app they supply, it was a game-changer and we’ve been utilizing it ever since.
It does require father or mother involvement, however the classes are brief, the scripted trainer’s handbook is useful, and the flashcard assessment system makes it simple to implement. It’s hands-on as a result of college students can construct phrases with letter tiles or use the Letter Tiles App, along with writing phrases which can be dictated.
Backside line: it really works! It has been well worth the effort to make use of it constantly.
Major Options of All About Spelling:
- Makes use of the Orton-Gillingham methodology
- Teaches phonograms, spelling guidelines, patterns, dictation, and assessment
- Makes use of a multisensory, step-by-step method
- Brief classes normally take about 15–20 minutes
- Features a scripted trainer’s handbook and flashcard assessment system
- Makes use of letter tiles or the Letter Tiles App for hands-on follow
- Works effectively for quite a lot of ages and ranges
- Useful for struggling spellers, dyslexic college students, and youngsters who want specific spelling instruction
>> Learn my full assessment of All About Spelling right here.
Watch the Video: 5 Homeschool Curriculum Favorites We’ve Used the Longest
I shared concerning the first 5 sources the video beneath, together with why Christian Mild Training Math has been such a gentle, long-used alternative in our homeschool.
Now listed here are seven extra homeschool curriculum picks and sources now we have used for years!
6. Sound Phrases for Youngsters: Classes in Theology
I created Sound Phrases for Youngsters: Classes in Theology for our circle of relatives. I wished a useful resource that helped us be extra intentional with biblical doctrine and discipleship in our house with out making it overly difficult. It was additionally vital to me that it labored for a number of ages.
The Sound Phrases for Youngsters curriculum teaches the necessities of the Christian religion to kids and can be utilized for household devotions, homeschool curriculum, or in Sunday faculties and co-ops. The curriculum follows a catechism model, that means it makes use of a questions and reply format to assist youngsters memorize every lesson’s important level.
Major Options of Sound Phrases for Youngsters: Classes in Theology:
- Teaches theology and foundational truths of the Christian religion to kids
- Makes use of a catechism-style question-and-answer format to assist youngsters memorize every lesson’s important level
- Consists of Scripture reminiscence and dialogue
- Versatile sufficient to make use of with a number of ages
- Every unit focuses on a particular theology matter, resembling God, creation, salvation, Christ and His work, God’s Phrase, baptism, communion, and extra
- Consists of copywork, actions, and elective Scripture & Theology Playing cards for memorization help
- Accessible with ESV and KJV choices within the full curriculum
7. The Thriller of Historical past
We’ve bounced round fairly a bit with historical past, however we’ve had The Thriller of Historical past from the start and it continues to make common appearances in our homeschool (a few of my youngsters can be utilizing it once more within the fall for co-op).
What I admire most is that it weaves biblical historical past and world historical past into one chronological story. We additionally just like the writing model, the truth that it may be used with a number of ages, and the brief however significant classes. We a use it as our important curriculum, together with different sources, or to tug collectively our personal crash course for a selected time interval over the summer season.
I additionally admire that it may be adjusted with out shedding its usefulness. Some years, now we have used it as our important historical past backbone with timeline work, maps, notebooking, read-alouds, and initiatives. Different years, now we have saved it easy with the lesson readings and dialogue. For our household, it has been a stable option to train a number of ages, preserve historical past related, and method the previous from a biblical worldview.
Major Options of The Thriller of Historical past:
- Chronological world historical past curriculum
- Connects biblical historical past and world historical past
- Written from a Christian worldview
- Works effectively for family-style homeschooling with a number of ages
- Consists of, timeline work, maps, actions, quizzes, and checks, if desired
- Versatile sufficient to make use of evenly or extra absolutely relying on the season
- Helps narration, notebooking, analysis, initiatives, and dialogue
- Useful as a historical past backbone with elective supplemental books and actions
8. Train Your Little one to Learn in 100 Straightforward Classes
Every of my kids have gone via Train Your Little one to Learn in 100 Straightforward Classes. Whereas 2 of them (dyslexic) wanted additional help and studying applications after that, the opposite 4 took off on their very own and thrived as readers.
It has been certainly one of our long-used early studying sources as a result of it’s easy, cheap, and simple. It offers you a transparent path for instructing phonics, mixing, and starting studying with out requiring lots of prep or additional supplies.
Ideas to be used: Skip the handwriting half. Additionally, print off a “tons of chart” and use stickers to mark progress, with a enjoyable prize when all the teachings are accomplished.
Major Options of Train Your Little one to Learn in 100 Straightforward Classes:
- Easy starting studying program
- Direct, scripted classes
- Teaches phonics, mixing, and early studying expertise
- Requires little or no prep
- Cheap and open-and-go
- Might be slowed down or adjusted as wanted
- Consists of studying follow throughout the classes
9. A Motive for Handwriting
A Motive for Handwriting has been certainly one of our long-used handwriting sources as a result of it’s easy, regular, and Scripture-based. The teachings are simple to assign, and I admire that the handwriting follow typically leads into writing out a Bible verse.
Handwriting will not be probably the most thrilling topic in our homeschool, however it’s nonetheless vital. This has given us an easy option to follow letter formation, neatness, and cautious written work with out including lots of additional planning.
Major Options of A Motive for Handwriting:
- Easy handwriting curriculum
- Scripture-based copywork
- Straightforward to assign and use constantly
- Helps college students follow letter formation and neatness
- Consists of common handwriting follow with out lots of prep
- Accessible for a number of handwriting ranges
- Helpful as an impartial or evenly supervised topic
10. Character Ideas
Character Ideas has remained a favourite in our homeschool as a result of it teaches biblical character via memorable tales youngsters get pleasure from. As an alternative of feeling like a lecture, the teachings give kids examples they will bear in mind, discuss, and connect with real-life decisions.
I admire that the tales give us a pure option to focus on obedience, diligence, honesty, accountability, kindness, self-control, and different character traits from a biblical perspective. After all, no curriculum can change a baby’s coronary heart. Solely the Lord can do this. However good tales can assist open the door for significant conversations about coronary heart points, decisions, penalties, and progress.
Major Options of Character Ideas:
- Story-based biblical character coaching
- Memorable tales youngsters get pleasure from and bear in mind
- Consists of Scripture, dialogue, and sensible utility
- Helps train traits resembling obedience, diligence, honesty, accountability, kindness, and self-control
- Works effectively for household discipleship, homeschool, or morning time
- Helpful for a number of ages
- Encourages conversations about coronary heart points and on a regular basis decisions
- Helps join character classes to real-life conditions
- Versatile sufficient to make use of frequently or as wanted
11. Earlier than 5 in a Row / 5 in a Row
My absolute favourite curriculum for tots via early elementary is 5 in a Row (and Earlier than 5 in a Row for the littlest ones). They’ve been such a candy sources for the youthful years as a result of they’re constructed round fantastic kids’s books and easy, memorable classes. As an alternative of juggling a separate curriculum for each topic, you learn the identical image e book a number of days in a row and use it as a springboard for dialogue, actions, and studying.
I admire how mild and relational it’s. The teachings can embody literature, social research, science, artwork, language arts, Bible, and hands-on actions, nevertheless it nonetheless appears like studying and studying collectively quite than forcing a heavy faculty day on younger kids. It has been a great match for these early years once I wish to construct a love of studying, get pleasure from good books, and preserve issues easy.
Major Options of 5 in a Row:
- Literature-based curriculum for younger kids
- Makes use of high quality image books as the muse for studying
- Light, relational, and straightforward to adapt
- Covers topics like literature, social research, science, artwork, language arts, and Bible
- Encourages dialogue, commentary, narration, and hands-on actions
- Might be expanded with additional books, notebooking, area journeys, or initiatives
- Useful for constructing a love of books and studying
- Works effectively for family-style homeschooling with youthful kids
12. Doorposts
Doorposts has been one of the crucial sensible helps in our house for biblical parenting and discipleship. I particularly admire For Instruction in Righteousness, Vegetation Grown Up, Polished Cornerstones, and the habits charts as a result of they offer me Scripture-based instruments for the actual points that come up in household life.
For Instruction in Righteousness is a topical Bible reference for fogeys, organized round frequent areas of sin and character struggles. It helps me rapidly discover Scripture, instructing concepts, and sensible methods to deal with coronary heart points as an alternative of simply reacting within the second.
Vegetation Grown Up and Polished Cornerstones go deeper with Bible research, initiatives, and sensible actions for serving to little children develop in godly character and life expertise.
The charts (just like the If/Then Chart and the Brother Offended chart) are particularly useful for on a regular basis use as a result of they offer easy, visible reminders for self-discipline, reconciliation, diligence, laying aside sin, and placing on righteousness.
NOTE: The identical firm makes Mama’s Refill, an internet Bible examine useful resource for busy mothers. It’s VERY good. Extremely suggest! Most of the research embody youngsters actions as effectively.
Major Options of Doorposts:
- Bible-based parenting and character coaching sources
- Useful for addressing coronary heart points, habits, sibling battle, diligence, obedience, and accountability
- Works effectively for household discipleship, homeschool, parenting, and character coaching
- Can be utilized frequently or pulled out as particular points come up
- Encourages mother and father to deliver correction and coaching again to Scripture
Closing Ideas
Curriculum is a instrument. It can not do the work of homeschooling for us. It can not disciple our kids for us. It can not exchange faithfulness, relationship, prayer, consistency, or knowledge. However the suitable instruments can help the work!
What homeschool curriculum or useful resource has your loved ones used the longest? Why do you find it irresistible?
~ Tauna
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