My dream at the end of every school year is to be organized and ready with curriculum and tools for the next. But how do you get there? I start by going through my end of year checklist, talking with other parents about what worked for them, incorporating curriculum that is already working for my family. But when it comes to finding new tools, it takes time and searching, which for me means a lot of googling and a lot of reading reviews.
Here’s the good news: there are countless resources built for homeschoolers. Here’s the better news: From those, I’ve compiled a curated list of consistently highly rated resources for you. Think of this article as a curated list to help jump start your searching. While I haven’t used every single resource on this list in my homeschool personally, if it’s on this list, I consistently found positive reviews affirming that these virtual homeschool resources actually work for many families. Happy searching!
Top-Rated Digital Homeschool Resources That Actually Work
My favorite thing about Typelit is that not only are you practicing typing, you are doing so by reading and typing some of the best classic books ranging from 1984 to Alice in Wonderland; you can even import your own book if they don’t have it. This makes the typing AND the reading more fun! This is a pretty simple website, which cuts down on potential distractions, and they provide data as you go to visualize through graphics how your typing is improving.
Cathy Duffy has been reviewing curriculum for the homeschooling community since 1984. Her extensive collection of reviews makes her website and book many families go-to for thorough, objective, and thoughtful insights on homeschool curriculum. The website has a list making feature to help you save resources you like and has a search function to help you sort through resources. Because her book and website have been around so long, there are multiple “how-to” video explainers to get the most out of her work, like this step-by-step tutorial.
If you’re looking for an easy way to supplement your child’s reading practice, ReadWorks is a resource that provide read-aloud options, visuals, and grade adjusted reading content on a variety of subjects ranging from professions to animals and everything in between. The set up is intuitive and simple, and you can easily assign content for your student, or have them choose their own paragraphs to read using in the library section.
Khan Academy is a nonprofit whose goal is to provide free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. My household loves Khan Academy, and their videos have actually helped me help my kiddos.
We’ve recently ventured into the world of statistics, and their explainers have allowed me to grasp concepts that I needed brushing up on. They also have a simple and easy-to-use website that has pre-made lesson arcs, that follow most core curriculum arcs. I’ve never used this as my main learning source but it has always been a wonderful supplement to grasp difficult subjects.
This resource is geared towards newer homeschooling parents who are looking for templates and resources to help simplify the logistical and planning side of homeschooling. The site provides free planning templates and guides and was created to take the guesswork, time, and cost out of embarking on at-home education. You can find supply lists, a “how-to” on getting started for homeschoolers, and even step-by-step tutorials for their curriculum.
Project Gutenberg is a free virtual library with over 75,000 eBooks. They provide epub and Kindle eBooks, which you can download or read online. They have many of the classics, with a focus on older works for which U.S. copyright has expired. I was delighted to find a “frequently downloaded section” which highlights the better-known works popularly used.
If you are hoping to update the computers or electronics you use to homeschool, check out Note Books for Students, a nonprofit offering heavily discounted electronics and laptops for students attending Primary, High School, College, Homeschool, & Virtual Schooling.
Teachers Pay Teachers is my go-to resource for affordable, ready-to-use educational content across all subject areas. I like to think of it as “Etsy for Teachers” and I love that I’m supporting traditional and nontradition educators in my community. I mainly use Teachers Pay Teachers as a source for scaffolding worksheets, but you can find a range of activities and curriculum.
If you have been looking for personalized support or are currently transitioning from a school setting into homeschooling, My Homeschool Expert can help launch you into a stress-free homeschooling experience. I love that they tailor curriculum for each student, and provide hands-on guidance for parents!