The Ultimate List of Core Subject Homeschool Curriculum Reviews
Now that homeschooling has hit the mainstream over the past few decades, families who choose to home educate are no longer considered abnormal—for the most part. Thanks to its growing popularity, many families have gone before us and have graced the Internet with a plethora of homeschool curriculum reviews that we can use at our disposal. If the way we are teaching a particular subject does not seem to be working, we can simply go online and see what works for other homeschooling families—or doesn’t. Reading reviews are an excellent way to see which materials might (or might not) be a good fit for us. Now that many conventions have been either canceled or postponed, parents are looking more in-depth at homeschool reviews online before they complete the checkout process on an unknown homeschooling website. Let’s take a look at the core subjects that we generally teach our children.
English and Language Arts
Children either love language arts or despise it. No need to force it. I’ve noticed with my boys that if I have a designated English curriculum, they shy away from it. When I sneak it in under the guise of a family read-aloud or a hands-on project, I receive less resistance. You know your child better than anyone else. If your child is hesitant to do English projects, assign reading material and grammar activities using a gentle approach that works best for them. On the other hand, if your child thrives with language arts based materials, an exciting world can open up with the vast amount of literature-based resources available for homeschoolers. Here are some ways that several of our Crew members have been successful in the area of language arts:
Homeschool Navigator – Whiskey Lullaby
Picture Book Explorers – Creative Madness Mama
Progeny Press Literature Guides – A Nest in the Rocks
HelpTeaching.com – Counting Pinecones
MaxScholar Orton-Gillingham Software – Christine A Howard
Easy Grammar Systems – Homeschool on the Range
Math
Fear not. You need not be a math expert to teach this subject. The key to teaching math successfully is knowing your child’s learning style. It’s true. For most other subjects, your child can adapt and adjust if you are not approaching the subject according to their learning style—for the most part. Not so much with math facts. Your child will either get it or they won’t, and that is what can be so frustrating for parents. One child is rattling off their times tables with ease while the other is struggling with subtraction. They just don’t get it. Once you acknowledge each child’s learning style, you can use a curriculum that teaches according to that style. Is your child a tactile learner? Find a program that uses hands-on techniques. Does your child enjoy the challenge of memorization? There is a curriculum for that as well.
Accelerated Individual Master for Addition and Subtraction – Mommy Bunch
Times Alive! – Whiskey Lullaby
Math Shed (nd Spelling Shed) – Counting Pinecones
Critical Thinking Co. – Christine A. Howard
No Non-Sense Algebra – Christine A. Howard
Cash Crunch Career – Mommy Octopus
I Know It Interactive Math – Mommy Octopus
Science
Your child has most likely been exposed to science concepts from day one. Children are naturally curious, exploring the world around them. As parents, we simply nurture this curiosity. Set aside time each day to foster your child’s naturally inquisitive mind. Plan for not only reading and instruction but experiments and notebooking. Once you find a routine that works best for your family, stick with it, and you will be amazed at how quickly your child will grow in their scientific knowledge.
Apologia Anatomy & Physiology – Creative Madness Mama
Pitsco Education STEM Explorer Pack – A Blog for My Mom
Fermentools – Eccentric Eclectic Woman
Fascinating Chemistry – Homeschool on the Range
History
History can be intimidating for many parents: dates, names, facts, and dreaded memorization. When we approach history with drudgery, yes, it can be intimidating, but if we ask ourselves the question, “Why are we teaching history?” then everything changes. The reasons for teaching history can be eye-opening. Albert Einstein said, “If you want to know the future, look at the past.” We study history to know how to approach the future. If we want our children to be critical thinkers, sensitive to other cultures, have a heart for world missions, and an understanding of Christian civic duty, we teach them history. History lessons can be taught in a variety of ways and methods. Here are a few excellent examples:
Living Books for History – Mommy Bunch
Project Passport – Creative Madness Mama
HiGASFY Art History – A Homeschool Mom
Exploring the Life Saving Service by Rebecca Locklear – A Nest in the Rocks
Secret of the Hidden Scrolls – Mommy Octopus
St. Bartholomew’s Eve From Heirloom Audio – Mommy Octopus
Drive Thru History – Homeschool on the Range
Ancient Greece from Techie Homeschool Mom – Homeschool on the Range
Foreign Language
Did you know that 75% of the world does not speak English at all? Yes, there are many pockets of the world where bits and pieces of English are spoken, but if you really want to get to the heart of a person to share the gospel with them, knowing their language is the way to do it. Learning another language to reach others is truly a sacrifice and a labor of love. Instilling this discipline into our children’s daily lives can potentially reach the world. Here are some ways that other homeschoolers have implemented language learning into their daily routine.
Middlebury Interactive Languages – Whiskey Lullaby
Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek – Creative Madness Mama
Memoria Press Second Form Latin – Eccentric Eclectic Woman
