As you navigate starting your new homeschool year, the time eventually comes to choose a curriculum that best fits the needs of you and your children. You may have noticed that homeschooling styles are becoming increasingly popular, which can make it a bit confusing on what curriculum resources to choose.
Let me help you take the guesswork out of what you should choose with my (semi) complete list of homeschool curriculum conveniently listed by style.
What is a homeschool style?
Do one quick Google search and you’ll find specific styles that have been coined by homeschool pioneers dating back as early as the 1800s. These styles are not something that have to be followed religiously, more than being a simple inspirational guide as you navigate educating your children at home.
From Charlotte Mason, Classical Education and Waldorf to Unit Study, Unschooling, and Eclectic – there’s a style for everyone!
Most homeschool styles are created from particular learning and teaching styles, which makes it easier to pick the best one(s) for your journey. May I also add that you don’t have to pick just one. You can actually combine several to fully grasp the uniqueness of the children you’ll be teaching.
My personal style is an eclectic, Charlotte Mason inspired method. It gives me the freedom to go beyond the academics and focus on the whole child – body, mind, heart, and spirit.
You can browse homeschool styles here: Different Types of Homeschool Styles
Once you’ve chosen a style, you’re probably wondering what curriculum and resources would best compliment that. Keep reading for a great list of suggestions to consider.
*Each curriculum type listed links to the curriculum
Complete List of Homeschool Curriculum By Style
Charlotte Mason
Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education involves embracing the whole child and focuses on individual progress. Therefore, a curriculum with this method at its roots will use living books, nature studies, and resources that educate the whole child. You’ll notice two lists for this style because some curriculum is purely aligned, while the others are inspired.
Purely Aligned Curriculum
Charlotte Mason Inspired Curriculum
Online Homeschool Programs
Abeka Academy Grade K5 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka / Abeka
Abeka Academy provides homeschoolers with a way to give students a quality education without hours of planning! Gain more family time and receive all the benefits of homeschooling without the burden of doing everything yourself.
Expert teachers draw on their years of experience (and their love for students!) to make difficult concepts simple, motivate students to do their best, and make all students feel like they’re part of the class. The video teacher addresses “boys and girls watching” to include your children in the classroom; they will also have a turn to participate in the games, contests, and drills. While enjoying the fun and expanded learning of the classroom experience, your children will have the benefit of your one-on-one guidance at home as you listen to them read and check their work.
The prerecorded video lessons give you the flexibility to set your own daily schedule, and you have a full 12 months to complete the 170 lessons, which take less than a half day each. Since the lessons are pre-recorded you can do school anytime, anywhere!
This “tuition & books” kit includes access to the video lessons, the Abeka books you’ll need, and the Abeka video manual that will help you stay on track with the video teacher (please see the Book List PDF for the full list of included materials).
After you purchase your enrollment redemption code from Christianbook.com, you’ll receive an email that will bring you to Abeka Academy, where you’ll complete your enrollment. There, you’ll chose whether you’d like to receive DVDs (which will need to be returned to Abeka after 12 months) or streaming videos (which will expire after 12 months), what begin date you’d like to set, and whether you’d like to participate as an independent homeschooler or as part of the accredited Abeka academy. The accredited option provides a free official report card, transcript, diploma upon graduation, personal dashboard with due dates/tests/quizzes, and 1 standardized test per year – in exchange, you’ll:
- Have due dates (quarterly in Grades 4-12, every 6 weeks in K-3rd)
- Fill out a proof of completion for enrollments in grades 2-9
- Send in transcripts of any previous high school courses for enrollments in grades 10-12
- Follow the accredited high school plan to meet graduation requirements
- Make sure your students watch the video lessons
- Send tests & quizzes to Abeka Academy for evaluation
- Return required course work to Abeka Academy within 6-12 months of your begin date
Those who choose the independent homeschooler option have more limited access to the dashboard; they can assign lessons, use a calendar, choose permissions, and keep track of hours. Independent homeschoolers simply proceed along the lessons at their own pace, and don’t need to submit any materials for grading/evaluation.
Please see the attached Scope & Sequence PDF for a list of topics covered in this K5 Kindergarten program.
Abeka Academy Grade 1 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 2 Tuition and Books Enrollment
Abeka Academy Grade 3 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 4 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 5 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 6 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 7 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 8 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 9 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 10 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 11 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Abeka Academy Grade 12 Tuition and Books Enrollment
By Abeka
Easy Peasy Online All-in-Homeschool
Monarch Online Homeschool
Switched-On Schoolhouse (Computer-based learning)
Traditional
A traditional style of homeschooling typically gravitates toward using grade-level appropriate curriculum and often mirrors a school-at-home approach. Resources for this style are textbooks, workbooks, and programs that offer familiarity to what most parents are used to from school.
Writing Through History series
Abeka Grade 1 Homeschool Child Full Grade Kit (Manuscript), Updated Edition
Classical Education
Classical Education approaches education in three levels – the grammar stage, the logic stage, and the rhetoric stage. Therefore, curriculum for this style will cover the core subjects and have emphasis on learning Latin.
- Memoria Press Classical Christian Education
- Veritas Press
- Classical Academic Press
- Classical Conversations
- Cyprus Classical Academy
- Well-Trained Mind
- Trivium Pursuit
- Cottage Press
- Canon Press
Waldorf
Waldorf inspired education is typically done in blocks over the course of 3-5 weeks in duration. During this time, children illustrate what they have learned in self-created textbooks, also known as notebooking (or lapbooking).
Unit Study
The unit study method is becoming a popular style among homeschoolers who are looking for innovative ways to teach multiple children spanning across multiple grades. Unit studies give you the ability to learn a variety of concepts all tied to one theme.
- Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
- Weaver Homeschool Curriculum
- Gather ‘Round Homeschool
- Across America
- BookShark
- Build Your Library
- Tapestry of Grace
Unschooling
Although unschooling adopts more of a child-led approach, there is still a facilitating of learning. Resources for this style encourage exploration and more meaningful learning experiences initiated by the child.
Nature Study
Ideally, your child is immersed in nature conducting close observations. It could be a monarch caterpillar inching the stalk of a milkweed plant. Watching as it climbs to the bridge where the leaf stem and plant stalk merge. Your child takes in all that s/he can which comes under all of their senses. They mentally process what they observe and if they should pick up the caterpillar, then they experience their nature observation through kinesthetic learning.
Young children should be let to explore in wonderment until their curious minds pose questions. The longer they observe, the more nature provides them with the answer. Often times this is followed by journaling their observations in a nature journal. What answers nature is unable to provide can be answered with a living book or field guide.
- Nature Worth Observing
- Nature Worth Observing Companion Journal
- Winter Nature Study
- Night Sky Nature Study
- Handbook of Nature Study
- Exploring Nature with Children
While there are several more styles and tons more curriculum to choose from, this list is enough to help get you started. To keep from getting overwhelmed, start by understanding the learning styles of your children. With those in mind, slowly start to navigate the different curriculum and resource options available.
Opt in to try before you buy and don’t hesitate to switch it up in the event something doesn’t work. That’s an incredible perk to homeschooling!
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