Homeschool Reviews on Popular Books and Curriculum
Hopefully these homeschool reviews will help you in your homeschool journey. With so many book and curriculum choices, it's hard to know what to pick and what not to pick. I've been homeschooling for 13 years and I still get confused sometimes. I like to go to used curriculum sales and book stores, so I have been able to look over quite a few books over the years. I was also a member of the TOS Homeschool Crew and did lots of homeschool reviews over the course of a year on all the products and books that were sent to me.
A good homeschool planner can really help organize all your curriculum choices for the year for each student. You can download my free homeschool planner and view all your options for the year in one place.
If you need some individual help and advice, you can always get an hour of coaching and talk to me personally at homeschool coach.
When choosing books and curriculum here are a few things I look for:
1. Clear straightforward explanation of the book or system. I don't like anything too wordy here though.
2. Simple page layout.
3. Interesting material for both student and parent.
4. For me I like books that I can pick up and use right away. I don't like a lot of teacher preparation. My goal is for my children to be self-taught. If I have to do a lot of preparation, then my children are not able to teach themselves.
Homeschool Reviews I have done:
Homeschooling ABCs - Start Homeschool Learning Course.
How to Homeschool Kindergarten
Maverick Books - Hank the Cowdog Series
Sonlight Curriculum , Sonlight - Pros and cons
Spellquizzer - Great way to enhance any spelling program or list
Startwrite - Customized Handwriting Program
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Turn Back the Pages of Time - little history resource
Web Design for Kids (....And Curious Grown Ups)
More Homeschool Reviews on my blog:
- ABC Teach - 35,000 pages of printable materials
- Aleks - Online Math program
- All About Spelling - Best Spelling program I have seen.
- All About Spelling Beehive Reader - Great readers!
- Amazing Bible Timeline
- Americas Heritage - Free homeschool History program
- Apologia Homeschool - The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling by Debra Bell.
- Artistic Pursuits
- AVKO - Online multi-sensory program for anyone including dyslexics.
- Beginning Handwriting - Best book on forming letters that I have found. Not sure if it's still free, but it's definitely worth the price if it isn't.
- Beeyoutiful - Natural health and body products.
- Cerebellum Corporation - DVDs you can use for AP test preparation.
- Childrens Bible Hour - Bible stories applied to today.
- College Prep Genius part 1 and College Prep Genius 2 - SAT test preparation program.
- Critical Thinking Company
- Family Mint
- Financial Accounting Course - Great High School/College Accounting course. No textbooks!
- Graphics Toolbox
- The Great Latin Adventure
- Guardian Angel Publishing - Unique and very useful ebooks you can print off or view on your computer.
- Homeschool in the Woods - Great map resources.
- Homeschool Physical Education Gymathtics - PE DVD Gymathtics Get Math and PE in at the same time!
- Ideal Curriculum - Monthly curriculum kits available for homeschoolers.
- Lapbooks from Journey Through Learning - Lapbooks you can use that you don't have to figure out on your own.
- Keyboarding Lessons - Lessons designed for Christian Schools for both Elementary and High School.
- Kinderbach - Fun music instruction for ages 3-8.
- Kregel Publishing
- Lesson Planet Tons of online lesson plan ideas.
- Lobster Network Online lending library for homeschoolers.
- Math Facts Factsfirst by Saxon
- Math Galaxy
- Mathletics - Great online math service.
- Math Mammoth - Great self teaching math books.
- Mathscore
- Math Tutor DVD
- Mystery of History, Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space, Christian Kids Explore Chemistry - Three great resources from Bright Ideas Press included.
- Moon Sand
- Nature Friend Magazine - Great magazine with NO advertisements!
- Growing Healthy Homes Nutrition 101 - Health and nutrition program for all grades
- Rays Math
- Roots and Fruits - K-12 vocabulary program teaching Greek and Latin roots. Very valuable resource.
- Sarah's Wish - Wholesome books written by a homeschool grandfather.
- Study Pod - Nifty book holder you will love.
- Sue Patrick Workbox System - Homeschool system that has helped lots of homeschool families get organized.
- Super Star Speech - Learning games that we loved!
- Terrestria
- Virginia Soaps and Scents - Great soaps made by a homeschool family.
All of the above reviews can be found on my blog Home Schooling Resources.
How to Get Started with Homeschooling - Free ebook Download
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What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Field Trip for Homeschooled Kids – Let Them Explore Nature
While educational toys and activities for homeschooled kids play a big role in their learning, extra activities like field trips also go a long way when …
MySchoolYear.com online homeschool organizer
I am a homeschooling mother of 9. My husband created MySchoolYear.com initially for me to keep track of our homeschool record keeping 10 years ago. This …
Time 4 Learning program; geared to pre-school to Middle school
I am homeschooling my son who is 9 years old. He tests in all subjects multiple grades ahead of his age. He has ADHD, high functioning aspergers, and a …
Sonlight is my favorite
My favorite homeschool resource is Sonlight . This is my second year using it and I love the whole thing.
The Instructor's Guide tells me what pages …
The Mystery of History
We began this year with The Mystery of History for, obviously, our history curriculum. And...we...LOVE IT !!! There is so much great learning packed …
Mammoth Math
I live in Zimbabwe Africa, and after our education system collapsed with so many teachers having left, we decided home schooling was the best way to go. …
A2 (A Squared) Curriculum
A2 (A Squared) from http://www.accelerated-achievement.com/ is a complete kindergarten through 12th grade program for only $99.
My first thought was …
School of Tommorow ACE
I love this curriculum because you work through each concept repetitively and then test and move on to the next book. My children really feel they are …
Review of Starfall
One of my favorite sites online to use with youngster is www.starfall.com. It covers from K-2 grade and teaches them to read, count to 100, learn the days …
First Language Lessons
We have been using First Language Lessons for six years. We began with the first level for grades one and two. I have used it with three of my children …
HOOKED ON LEARNING
I've used many different homeschool resources, but the one that I like the most and that my son enjoyed the most was the Hooked on Phonics and Hooked …
Teaching Textbooks Math 3
This is the first year we've used Teaching Textbooks Math 3 . This program works great for my 8 year old, third-grader! He works real well with the CD-ROMS. …
The Lion Storyteller Bedtime book
This book contains 40 folk tales from around the world, each tale teaching a moral lesson in the most creative way. The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book …
Systematic Mathematics
My daughter has struggled with math since I pulled her out of parochial school. She did well in math until fourth grade. She scored well on standardized …
The Well Trained Mind.
I know its not a "curriculum", per se, but this book is the single reason I decided that I COULD homeschool my kids.
This book is written by a mother-daughter …
Ambleside Online
We began homeschooling 4 years ago and about 2 months into our first year I discovered Ambleside Online.
Ambleside is a free, online curriculum based …
Teaching Textbooks for Math
My daughters HATE Math! We tried many different programs, but when we heard about Teaching Textbooks, we thought we would give it a try.
While my daughters …
Hands of A Child Lapbooks
We have used Hands of a Child Lapbooks to go along with anything we are studying at the time. These are a great supplement to what my girls are learning. …
Sonlight & The Well-Planned Day Homeschool Planner
I am trying Sonlight for the first time this year for my 7, 9 & 10 year old and LOVE it! I paired it with The Well-Planned Day Homeschool Planner and …
Abeka Math
I really like Abeka for Math for grades 1 - 4 (I get grade 1 for my kindergartner). The lessons are very user friendly - my kids like the pictures too. …
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
I have used this book with my two older children (12 & 10) when they were about 4 or 5 years old. They both continue to read well beyond their current …
Startwrite 50
We love this handwriting computer program! With Startwrite you can type and print out handwriting practice sheets in a variety of print and cursive fonts. …
Bill Nye the Science Guy
I have viewed almost all of the Bill Nye the Science Guy videos or DVD's from my local library. They are entertaining, and Bill explains science in an …
Brain POP
Brain POP is an educational website. A one year subscription costs $99. It includes free lesson plans, video tutorials, and professional development …
Tapestry of Grace
Tapestry of Grace is a Christian classical history/literature curriculum. It is based on a four- year plan, which can be repeated twice as your children …
Madsen Method
I have two sons who have struggled with dyslexia, one more than the other. Last year I began using Madsen Method, after going to a workshop by the Madsens, …
Considering God's Creation
This past year I began using Considering God's Creation for my younger childrens science. The curriculum is is designed for once a week for 1 1/2 hours, …
Teaching Textbooks
I just switched one of my sons, who is ready to go into pre-algebra, from another curriculum, to Teaching Textbooks .
We have only been using it …
Teaching Textbooks, Apologia Science and Christian Liberty Nature Reader
For the first time, we have been using Teaching Textbooks for Math with my 7th grader. She is dyslexic and ADD and so we have had many frustrations in …
Story of the World
I personally feel that though this author may claim to be Christian, she caters too much to the secular crowd for our family to feel comfortable using …
Winter Promise
I have tried using two theme programs from Winter Promise, three levels of Language Arts, and one science level. Yes, you can call me a sucker for great …
Heart of Dakota
I have used Heart of Dakota for three levels now (pre-k, K and 1st). I have used Little Hands to Heaven, Little Hearts for His Glory and am currently using …
Science Wiz is fun, education and convenient!
My husband found the Science wiz kits at a homeschool convention. The kit contains everything you need to conduct several experiments for a Unit study …
Right Start Mathmatics was sooooooo Right ON!
I love this math curriculum. After trying a few others, my child was still struggling. We decided to make the investment in the curriculum and related …
Scaredy Cat Phonics is SUPERB!
This unique phonics programs combines a variety of teaching styles and allows the parent to pick and choose what works best for their child.
It include …
Saxon Homeschool Math - Internet resources
We do not use Saxon Math. However, the website for Saxon homeschool www.saxonhomeschool.com has a resources page. It is a good review of basic facts. We …
Book Adventure
www.bookadventure.com is a free reading comprehension quiz website. It is very similar to Accelerated Reader program used in a lot of public and private …
Time for Learning
Time for Learning is an online math and language arts program for grades pre-k to 8th grade. There is also science and social studies available for one …
KONOS Unit Study Curriculum Review
We have been using this for the last 6 years. Unit study, great curriculum. It takes some time for planning the supplies and activities you want to do, …
Teaching Textbooks 5
I'd like to tell you about a math curriculum that has really worked WELL for us! I homeschool my 11 year old son, and we have really struggled with math …
Alphaphonics
I recommend this book for beginner readers. My 5 year old is quickly learning to sound out words after starting this program. My older child, age 7 and …
Homeschool Science Academy
Greg Landry offers online science classes which can be used with students grades 6-12. He is a homeschooling dad of 14 years and also a professor of science …
Rosetta Stone Latin Spanish
I really like this program. They teach really slow and repeat a lot. I am a little disappointed that my daughter is having problems more with the microphone …
Learning Adventures
I really like this curriculum. It is easy to follow, and it begins you on a unit study adventure easily. The day is laid out so that you spend as little …
Times Tales
My 13 year-old granddaughter has never mastered her times tables. We tried everything from flash cards to writing them over and over, and finally recording …
Nature Friend Magazine
What a wondrous thing appeared in my mailbox recently! I had never before heard of Nature Friend magazine until I received TWO issues to review for the …
Hank The Cow Dog
I have had the pleasure recently of perusing some items from Maverick Books Inc. the distributors of the Hank The Cow Dog series written by John R. Erickson. …
Web Design For Kids
What an interesting product! Web Design For Kids(...and Curious Grown-Ups!) came across my desk recently to review and I was intrigued. I have always wanted …
Times Attack - Great Times Table Game!
My son loves Times Attack. It has really been a blessing getting him to work on multiplication tables. He is in second grade and has almost mastered …
Abeka Science and Social Studies
My son is 5 and currently using Abeka Grade 1 curriculum. We have been somewhat disappointed with the science/health and social studies curriculum. It …
Handwriting without tears
I recently bought my 5 year old son handwriting without tears first grade level. I bought the first grade level because he is doing Abeka Grade 1 and …
Saxon Math
We used Making Math Meaningful in the early grades. At fourth grade we transitioned into Saxon Math and it was a perfect fit. The repetition in Saxon was …
Apologia Science Books
We have graduated two homeschoolers from high school. Apologia was a huge help in getting them through the sciences part of some of the courses I was not …
Math U See
4 of my kids were a breeze to teach reading, however one is dyslexic. I have needed an assessment and a special system to help him.
For math he's really …
Abeka History Curriculum in general
Abeka history curriculum has always been one of my favorite choices. They give a firm, TRUE foundation of the history and how things really took place …
Handwriting without tears
I have been using this curriculum with my almost 4 year old daughter. It is a lot of fun and she is learning at the same time. There is a song to go …
Saxon Grade 1
My K aged son took a pre test and this is the level this company recommended for him. He loves this math!
I also like the fact that it uses supplies …
Abeka K4
I used Abeka K4 with my four year old son last year. I thought the math moved way too slow for him and the handwriting was too much.
With that said, …
What your Kindergartener Needs to Know
I just love the book "What your Kindergartner needs to know" to help guide what we learn. It's full of information and very easy to follow.
My Comment: …
In the Hands of a Child
I love the products from "In the Hands of a Child"! The studies are put together very thoughtfully, completely, morally, and the activities are easy to …
How to teach abeka curriculum
I am using abeka for k4. I have used it since my son was 3 and daughter was 3.
Initially it was discouraging after the first month or so because of …
A² Curriculum
This is an awesome curriculum! There is only one disc to deal with, not 22. All the books you need (except higher math, science and history after WWI) …
AGS books
My daughter was diagnosed as special ed just as she started high school. We switched from CLE to AGS books and it made a tremendous difference. Our previous …