As we are entering a planning time for another homeschool year, anytime we can find a favorite online homeschool resources and catalogs that bless our family it’s worth sharing the news! I hope this gives you a few ideas that may bless your family. As we find more gems, we will add them to this list. Click on the name of each to be taken directly to the mentioned website.
Just a note that these are not affiliate or sponsored links.
List of Homeschool Resources
Hoffman Academy– Free and paid online piano lessons
Joseph Hoffman Academy piano lessons has a free instructional part and a premium paid subscription. We have used this as the free version. Even though my kids are older, they are still fine with the little finger puppet post script. I find that his explanations are well communicated and not presented in a hurried manner which is good for processing.
Udemy – Individually purchased classes
We have used Udemy for a complete piano class based on playing chords versus a classical approach. If you have a child who would prefer to play this way, you can find a great class here. We have also purchased classes on Python, Digital Marketing, and First Aid.
Domestika – Art and Design classes
Domestika.org is an international buffet of art and design classes ranging from digital art to fiber and textile art. We have used this organization for architectural drawing with watercolor, botanical drawing, gouache painting, procreate skills, marker art, and journaling. The one thing to be aware of is to make sure the class is in the language you prefer. It will be listed in the class details. August is a great time to get in on some amazing deals for classes so you don’t have to pay full price.
Mathantics – Supplemental math explanation
Mathantics is one of those online homeschool resources to go to see a different style of explanation for a key math concept. He does a great job with his explanations in videos that are well labeled and free to watch. For a low fee of $20 per year, all his worksheet and exercises are included. Also included are answer videos that explain the answers to the exercises. Well worth the small fee.
Creativebug– Crafting and handiworks
Creativebug is a large archive of crafting and handiworks video tutorials from drawing to chocolate making. We found Creativebug through Joann Fabric and used them for inspiration and tutorials. If you go through their website, it is a small fee monthly subscription. You are also given credits to permanently have access to a certain number of classes that you love. They have recently teamed up with the library system for free so check with your local library website.
Sonlight– Reading List
Sonlight offers many options for your homeschool needs from full curriculum to individual subjects. We really enjoy referring to the books listed in their reading packets to get ideas for morning read-alouds for either living history or literature and requesting those books through the library.
Answers in Genesis– Creation science, apologetics, articles, and news
Answers in Genesis offers a wide range of resources for the science minded. Subjects ranging from the science of the eyeball to latest DNA discoveries. We have enjoyed delving into experiments that are listed for kids, following the Wild Brothers vlog, and looking up specific scientific articles.
Khan Academy– Free tutorials
Khan Academy is a no-nonsense free archive of tutorials that are well thought out and clearly done. We have primarily referred to math tutorials but there are a huge number of subjects. I have appreciated the clear description of trigonometry concepts as well as the pre-algebra lesson progression.
Ambleside Online- Free homeschool curriculum schedule
Ambleside Online is named after the area that Charlotte Mason lived in England and closely follows her style of teaching. This site is packed full of everything you need to know to schedule and plan your homeschool year. All years are listed from Kinder-Grade 12. Charlotte Mason emphasized dictation, narration, and living books as the main format of learning.
Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool – Free complete homeschool curriculum
Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool is a free homeschool curriculum and not just the schedulling. In each grade and subject, the assignments are laid out as well as the free links and worksheets. If you find yourself on a shoestring budget or just like the ease of having it all there for you, this is a great place to check out. I am currently perusing this as an idea for High School Spanish.
Canva– Graphic Design and Lay-out
This may seem like an odd addition to this list, but there are some interesting ways you can use this amazing free design lay-out website. We have used it to shake up the type of reporting by letting the kids design a flowchart or infographic for their reports. You can also use this to design report covers with Canva’s free book cover templates. The list is endless and the kids really enjoy being able to design a professional and visually interesting piece of work. There is a free version which is chock full as well as a pro version with a monthly subscription which I haven’t used.
NaNoWriMo– Writing challenge, book publishing, writing education
We participated in this free writing challenge organization through a homeschool co-op and it was very inspiring for our daughter who loves to write. At the end of the challenge, there is an option to have Blurb publish the finished product for you as a keepsake. This site also has a very in-depth free writing education series to help teach writing skills to go along with challenges. This is for young writers as well as adult writers.
Mango– Language learning
Mango is a language learning tool that is used as a light app similar to Duolingo or as a full monthly paid program. You may be able sign up for this app through your local library or at the app store. Our kids have preferred this over other apps for it’s simplicity. I am looking forward to checking out the full program. A side note: “Pirate” is listed as a language to learn!
Typetastic– Free typing program
When looking for a typing program, we were overwhelmed by the sheer number of options that are out there. This program struck a good balance with color, fun, and progression for our family. I appreciate that it is not overly loud with noise. Not frenetic and hyper as compared to other online classes that I have looked at. Even though our kids are older, we still started at the very beginning. This helps a dyslexic child with spelling issues be able to focus on typing skills.
Word of Promise– Audio Bible and Study
This is not a free resource but has been a huge blessing in our family. It is a well done audio version word for word Bible reading. A little bit of dramatic background music and sounds are added. There is not any added narrative to dramatize, just straight Bible. You can choose the Bible translation you wish as well as read along as they speak the words. Words are spoken with feeling and proper pronunciation of names. Passages can be bookmarked, highlighted, as well as hovered over to open a concordance and study notes.
This has been a game changer for my audio learner. I am not usually so excited to share a resource that is not free or almost free, but this one makes it on the list for sure.
Mystery Science– Science articles with lessons and experiments
Mystery Science is an archive and e-newsletter with ready made elementary aged science topics and simple experiments. They often will answer questions that kids have sent them like “Where does lightening come from?” The free e-newsletters have plenty of fun information as well as a few free units on their website. The full version is a paid subscription with a special homeschool sale rate each year.
Guest Hollow History Shelf– History book and media archive
Guest Hollow has a selection of free online homeschool resources as well as full subject curriculum to purchase. We have used the history shelf resource for book and movie ideas to go along with certain time periods. This year, we also purchased and am using the Botany course. I look forward to looking at their geography course coming out soon.
Internet Archives– Books, movies, slides, photos
This is a non-profit site of free resources for texts, books, movies, music, photos, etc. A great mega-resource if you aren’t sure if you want to buy that book. Helpful as well for supplemental activities for subjects.
Learning Corner– How does your child’s activity fit in core subjects?
A great question would be how does my child’s activites relate to core subjects? If you lean towards play school, unschooling, or just curious about the hobbies that your child loves to do in their free time– you can plug this in and the analysis will let you know what skills that translates related to core subjects.
The Homeschool Roadmap– Directory of curriculum to fit subjects and ages.
Want to know what curruculum is out there for a particular subject? This master directory lists available curriculums as well as defining characteristics for choosing which one. Contains curriculum choices for ages 0-5 and 5-18.
