My Favorite Homeschool Resources
Welcome to My Favorite Homeschool Resources Section!
When it comes to working and homeschooling, the goal is to keep as much money in your pocket as possible! Right?
Often times I get asked what my very favorite resources for running my homeschool are. I absolutely love checking out resource pages, so I thought I would create one for you!
If you have a friend who might find some help with this page, you can tell them by copying the URL above and sending it to them in an email. Let’s work together to keep our money in our pockets where it belongs.
Please note: I have used all of these products at one time or another. However, some are large K-12 resources containing over 300+ videos, courses, and resources. I have not used or watched every single resource provided by that company. As always, read the reviews, check it out, and keep you, your family, your homeschool in mind!
Before digging into the awesome resources, I know and trust, an important disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. This comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these resources, and I recommend them because they are helpful, useful, fun, or I just fell in love with them. As always- do what is right for you!
My Favorite Books About Homeschooling:
Are you homeschooling high school?
If so, you are going to love this book called Cure The Fear. Ann walks you through every single step. As a mom who is busy teaching two teens, “fear” was putting it mildly. I had no idea what to look for if they decided to go to college or how to keep transcripts or (insert fear of the day). After reading this book, I felt confident that I can homeschool high school.
Cure the Fear of Homeschooling High School: A Step-by-Step Handbook for Research & PlanningFor the Record: How to Give Grades and Organize Documentation while Homeschooling High SchoolTaming The Transcript: The Essential Guide to Creating Your Teen’s Homeschool Transcript from Scratch (without overwhelm)
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home
This book is my absolute favorite. I found it using the Internet, borrowed it from my library and then bought it! I wish I owned it from the beginning.
The one I purchased is now outdated, but there is now a newer version available (linked below) which has been extensively updated and revised.
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at HomeThe Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home (Third Edition)
My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool
My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool, is designed to help new homeschoolers to overcome fears, doubts, or questions we might have about the process.
I love that Jennifer wrote this book to fill a need she had when she started homeschooling.
My favorite part is when she breaks down Homeschool Styles and Methods (chapter 3, page 19) because I jumped into doing school at home and wish I hadn’t.
If you don’t do anything else, check out that chapter so you can see there really is a style for everyone.
Recommeded Homeschooling Books
These are some of the best books about homeschooling.
Home Education: Volume I of Charlotte Mason’s Original Homeschooling SeriesThe Unhurried Homeschooler: A Simple, Mercifully Short Book on HomeschoolingTeach Your Own: The John Holt Book Of HomeschoolingThe Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education, A New Way to HomeschoolThe Four-Hour School Day: How You and Your Kids Can Thrive in the Homeschool LifeTeaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable PeaceThe Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life
Time Mangement Help:
As working moms who juggle homeschooling and life, managing our time is essential. I have a one-stop page of time magement help for busy moms but here are a few self-paced time management courses designed for working homeschool moms:
- How To Tame Your Hectic Schedule & Get Things Done!
- How To Identify Time Suckers In Your Life
- Take Charge of Your Life (Self Guided)
- Conquer Your To-Do List
- Home Management Binder
- The Cleaning Planner For Busy Moms
Planners For Homeschooling:
A planner is one tool I highly recommend for every working mom. I’ve tried many over the years. Here are 3 I recommend:
1. Homeschool Planner For Working Moms
I designed this printable planner based on the needs of years of juggling my work and homeschool. I like a printable planner because it is the most flexible. Print off the pages you need and go.
Click here to get your planner.
2. Digital Planner – Homeschool Planet
Are you looking for an easy, flexible, full-featured online planner that doesn’t require hours to learn? If so, Homeschool Planet is the answer you are looking for.
This planner is for LIFE – not just homeschooling.
A few clicks and Homeschool Planet automatically reschedules your entire year. You can read all about our experience with Homeschool Planet and how we use it for our homeschool and life here.
Sign up for the Free Trial here. Bonus the free trial has no credit card required or ads.
3. Printed Planner
If you don’t like printable planners but still want customization, I highly recommend a Happy Planner.
The Happy Planner uses the disk system; you can add and remove pages as you want. They are a bit on the pricier side but worth it. The Happy Planner comes with a lot of options and different kits to make it easier to put together the right planner for you.
My teen also enjoyed using their student planner kit.
The Happy Planner Classic Sized Undated 12 Month – Disney Mickey & Minnie Mouse Everyday Beauty – Undated – Vertical Layout – Weekly & Monthly Disc Bound Pages – 7Happy Planner Disc-Bound School Planner and Calendar, 12-Month Daily, Weekly, and Monthly July 2023–June 2024 Planner, Vertical Layout, Mail Call Theme, Big Size, 8 1/2 Inches by 11 InchesAug 2023-Jul 2024 Lite Teacher Lesson Planner Notebook 8.5×11 Daily Weekly Monthly Organizers – Includes 7 Periods, Dated Calendar, Page Tabs, Bookmark, and Planning StickersHappy Planner 2023 Daily Planner and Calendar, 18-Month Daily, Weekly, and Monthly July 2023–Dec. 2024 Planner, Vertical Layout, Smiley Face Theme, Classic Size, 7 Inches by 9 3/4 InchesHappy Planner Disc-Bound Notebook, Back-to-School Essentials, Office and School Supplies, 60 Sheets of Dotted Journal Paper, Teacher Notes Theme, Big Size, 8 1/2 Inches by 11 Inches
Favorite Planning Supplies:
Because I love the freedom and flexibility of a printable planner, I have a slew of favorite planning supplies. These also allow me to print off printable tools to help my kids learn, stay organized and have fun.
Recently I invested in a Epson Printer, linked below. My favorite feature is that I don’t have to flip the page over. It costs more to get this model at lease in Canada but it has made printing my planners and resources so much faster!
Here are a few of my must-have planning tools:
Epson EcoTank ET-4850 Wireless All-in-One Cartridge-Free Supertank Printer with Scanner, Copier, Fax, ADF and Ethernet – The Perfect Printer Office – Black502 High Capacity (4 Bottles) Compatible Refill Ink Bottles Replacement for Epson 502 Ink Refill Bottles Work for EcoTank ET-2850 ET-3830 ET-3850 ET-2760 ET-3760 ET-15000 ET-2803 ET-2750 ET-3750Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper, 20 Pound, White, 96 Brightness, 8.5 x 11 Inch, 1 Ream , 500 Sheets Totalme & my BIG ideas Metal Expander Discs, Gold – The Happy Planner Scrapbooking Supplies – Add Extra Pages, Notes & Artwork – Create More Space for Notebooks, Planners & Journals – Expander SizeThe Happy Planner Big Paper Punch Puncher Pink 11 Hole PunchPilot, FriXion Clicker Erasable Gel Pens, Fine Point 0.7 mm, Pack of 10, Assorted ColorsSTAEDTLER triplus fineliner, 0.3mm metal-clad tip, ergonomic triangular barrel, for writing, drawing and coloring, set of 20 fineliners, 334 SB20Avery Mini Ultra Tabs, 1
I actually have a full list here on Amazon but these are the ones I use the most.
Homeschool Curriculum:
History
We love this series of history books. We used all 4 volumes. I highly recommend if you are a “done for you” person (like me!) to purchase the activity books as well. They contain questions, map work, activities, crafts, etc.
Story of the World, Vol. 1 Bundle: Ancient Times; Text, Activity Book, and Test & Answer KeyStory of the World, Vol. 2 Bundle: The Middle Ages; Text, Activity Book, and Test & Answer KeyStory of the World, Vol. 3 Bundle, Revised Edition: Early Modern Times; Text, Activity Book, and Test & Answer KeyStory of the World, Vol. 4 Bundle, Revised Edition: The Modern Age: Text, Activity Book, and Test & Answer Key
Spelling
This spelling program worked amazing for my kids. We love it because the lessons are short and easy to use. Each lesson begins with an engaging story using the list words, has the list words in cursive and printed, includes grammar, and has puzzles, fill in the blank, etc.
Spelling Workout on Amazon Pick the level that suits your child.
SPELLING WORKOUT HOMESCHOOL BUNDLE LEVEL G COPYRIGHT 2002SPELLING WORKOUT HOMESCHOOL BUNDLE LEVEL A COPYRIGHT 2002SPELLING WORKOUT HOMESCHOOL BUNDLE LEVEL C COPYRIGHT 2002SPELLING WORKOUT HOMESCHOOL BUNDLE LEVEL B COPYRIGHT 2002
Langauge Arts
This is one of those resources I wish I had found when the kids were younger. We did use one of these books and loved it. So easy, everything is right there for mom.
First Langauge Lessons On Amazon. Pick the level for your child.
First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained MindFirst Grade Writing and Grammar Bundle: Combining Writing With Ease and First Language LessonsFirst Language Lessons Levels 1 & 2: Audio CompanionFirst Language Lessons Level 2First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind: Level 3 (First Language Lessons)
Science:
One of my favorite books (and so beautiful!!) for sparking fun in our homeschool. We had a blast learning from this book. It breaks each activity down and has checklists.
STEAM Kids on Amazon. Be sure to check out their other books. The cooking one was a blast!
STEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for KidsSTEAM Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Hands-On Projects for Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and MathSTEAM Kids in the Kitchen: Hands-On Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math Activities & Recipes for Kids (STEAM Kids Books)
Another program I wished I had found earlier. You can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that they had a subscription for older kids. Everything you need comes in the box except household items. No worries, an email comes a few days before with a list just in case!
Visit Little Passports and pick the right one for your family.
Little Passports Animals Wild – Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 3-5Little Passports Science Expeditions – Science Experiment Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 9+Little Passports World Edition – Subscription Box for Kids | Ages 6-10
Online Homeschool Programs:
Online programs are a great way to outsource your homeschool and allow your kids to learn wherever and whenever they are. While I have a complete list of online programs for all ages here, the ones below are the ones we’ve loved.
Offering over 300+ videos, lessons, courses, and more. We pick and choose depending on the interest of the children. K-12 is one price for the whole family!
Full online language arts program that checks all the boxes. We loved using this for high school.
Visit Literary Adventures For Kids and pick the level for your child.
We don’t notebook, and yet I use Notebooking Pages almost weekly. As “print and go” worksheets. 😉 We love my Lifetime Membership.
This was the only math program that worked for my child, who hated math.
Online video lessons and offline options.
With technology’s role in our lives, it is important that our children learn to type.
Typesy teaches kids to type in a fun, engaging, and non-childish way.
Visit Typesy Homeschool or read more here.
Original audio stories for kids about other countries and cultures.
A fun program that includes resources for parents and kids. Spark further learning with discussion topics, printables, recipes, and activities.
Visit Around The World Stories today.
Other Homeschooling Help:
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