Fantastic Online Homeschool Programs & Courses For PK – Grade 12
When it comes to juggling work and homeschooling, online homeschool programs and courses emerge as invaluable tools for busy moms.
As a full-time working mom who also homeschools her children, I fully understand the challenges this presents. However, with a bit of creativity and flexibility, it’s possible to find a harmonious balance.
One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is the freedom it provides. You’re not confined to traditional textbooks, workbooks, or the limitations of a physical classroom.
Instead, you have the opportunity to explore a wide range of resources that best suit your family’s needs. This is where online homeschooling programs truly shine, offering a smart and effective way to enhance your homeschooling journey.
But let’s be honest there is so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out what is best for you and your family.
In this blog post, I’m sharing five key advantages of incorporating homeschool online courses and programs into your routine.
Additionally, I’ll address the common question of identifying the best online homeschool program that aligns with your unique needs. Furthermore, I’ll discuss important factors to consider when searching for homeschool online courses.
Whether you’re seeking full online homeschooling programs, faith-based options, online unit study programs suitable for all ages, or secular-based alternatives, I’ve got you covered.
Lastly, I’ll also touch upon free online video-based homeschool programs, providing you with a wide range of choices to explore.
So, let’s delve into the world of online homeschool programs and unlock their incredible potential for your family’s homeschooling adventure.
Benefits of Using Online Courses in Your Homeschool
When I resumed working, there was one crucial element that rescued my homeschool: Online Homeschool Courses!
Let’s be honest, trying to do it all can be overwhelming. And, truth be told, sometimes children thrive more when learning from someone other than their parents.
Incorporating online homeschool programs and courses into my children’s education turned out to be a fantastic solution for us.
Here are five benefits of utilizing homeschool online courses and programs:
- Focus on Your Job, Knowing Your Kids are Learning: Homeschooling with online programs allows you to concentrate on your work, confident that your children are engaged in productive learning.
- Continuous Learning On the Go: Online programs enable your children to continue their education while on the move! All they need is a device and an internet connection, and they can learn anytime, anywhere.
- Access to Specialized Subjects: Online programs offer your children the opportunity to learn subjects that you may not be equipped to teach, such as a foreign language, advanced math, or even building a spaceship! They can explore a vast array of topics beyond what is typically covered in public schools.
- Varied Teaching Methods: Online programs often employ diverse teaching techniques, incorporating audio, video, and printed materials. This multi-modal approach ensures a well-rounded learning experience for your children.
- Personalized Learning Experience: Lastly, online programs empower your child to learn at their own pace and according to a flexible schedule. They can progress through the material at a speed that suits them best, fostering individualized growth.
By integrating online homeschool programs into your educational journey, you can enjoy these remarkable advantages and witness the positive impact they have on your family’s homeschooling endeavors.
What Is The Best Online Homeschool Program?
As parents, we naturally strive for the best when it comes to our children’s education. And when it comes to finding the best online homeschool program, the answer is simple: it’s the one that works best for your child.
Throughout my years of homeschooling, I’ve come to realize that homeschool moms are incredibly passionate about discussing various homeschooling programs, courses, and curricula. Everyone has their own opinion, and they are eager to share it!
However, it’s important to remember that just because a program is someone’s all-time favorite doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the perfect fit for your child. In addition to the questions listed below, I highly recommend reading our article on “Questions to Ask When Choosing the Right Homeschool Program ” to assist you in making an informed decision.
What to Consider When Searching for Homeschool Online Courses
Performing a quick Google search will undoubtedly overwhelm you with the vast number of online programs available for homeschooling. Trust me, I’ve been there!
To save you from sifting through an endless sea of options, I reached out to fellow working moms who have had positive experiences with various programs. Below, you will find a compiled list of their recommendations.
As you navigate through these choices, here are a few essential questions to ask yourself. These will help you narrow down the selection and find the most suitable online homeschool courses for your family:
- Grade Levels and Subjects: Determine the grade levels that the course is designed for and ensure it aligns with your child’s educational needs. Additionally, check if the program covers the subjects you wish to teach.
- Live Classes or Self-Paced: Find out if the classes are conducted live, requiring your child to be online at specific times, or if they are self-paced, allowing your child to access the materials whenever they are ready.
- Membership and Cost: Understand what the membership includes and evaluate the associated costs. Some programs may offer additional resources or benefits as part of their membership package.
- Course Access and Materials: Consider how long you will have access to the course and its materials. Additionally, clarify if the program provides offline materials such as textbooks or printables and whether these are included or require separate purchases.
- All-in-One Program or Subject Selection: Determine if the program is an all-in-one curriculum covering multiple subjects or if it allows you to pick and choose specific subjects to study according to your preferences.
- Support and Help: Find out if the program offers access to tutors or additional help if needed. Having support available can make a significant difference in your child’s learning experience.
- Parental Reports and Tools: Inquire about the reports and tools available for parents. These can provide valuable insights into your child’s progress and assist you in effectively managing their education.
By addressing these key questions, you can narrow down the options and find online homeschool programs that cater to your specific requirements.
Full Online Homeschooling Programs & Courses
Here is a compiled list of “full” online homeschooling courses and programs that cover all subjects. Full programs provide a comprehensive curriculum, but you have the flexibility to select specific components that suit your child’s needs.
Remember, it’s essential to test and evaluate these programs for yourself. Use your own judgment to determine if the content is appropriate for your child’s age and educational requirements. Keep in mind that each child is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. As responsible homeschooling parents, it is crucial to adapt and tailor the curriculum to suit your child’s individual learning needs.
Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
15 Faith-Based Online Homeschool Programs
If you’re seeking faith-based online homeschool programs, here is a list of options for your consideration:
- Virtual Homeschool Group: A free online homeschool course co-op that covers K-12 education.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool: A comprehensive and free curriculum for grades K-8.
- Easy Peasy All-in-One High School: A complete and free curriculum for high school levels 9-12.
- Alpha Omega Academy: A flexible, Bible-based homeschool curriculum for grades K-12.
- SchoolhouseTeachers.com: A resourceful platform providing high-quality, self-paced homeschool materials grounded in a Biblical worldview. It offers a wide range of online courses with no textbooks required.
- Bright Ideas Press: Offers both self-paced student classes and live collaborative classes. Please note that their focus appears to be on middle school and high school courses for Christian homeschooling families.
- Abeka: A comprehensive Christian curriculum that aims to inspire learning and teach biblical values. It includes textbooks, video lessons, and more for preschool through Grade 12.
- Compass Classroom: A video-based program catering to K-12 students, along with digital downloads.
- Monarch: A program offering 50 courses with four budget-friendly plans. It covers grades 3-12.
- BJU Press: Known to provide quality distance-learning video lessons for grades Pre-K-12.
- The Critical Thinking Co.: Offers complete grade-level solutions in all subjects for grades PK-12. Additionally, they provide a free online playroom filled with learning games for children.
- Time4Learning: An online education program for PK-12 students. While it comes highly recommended, it is essential to determine if it aligns with your child’s learning needs. Visit their homeschool page to evaluate if Time4Learning is the right fit for your family.
- Home Learning Institute: They have 150 courses available from PreK-12. Self-paced a tailored to fit any learning style. Includes grading and reporting for parents.
- Colosky Connections offers WASC-accredited online math courses ranging from 5th Grade Math through Trigonometry. Check them out here.
- Miacademy -Learning, Fun & Friends for Kids! A working mom said, “It’s more from a neutral point of view but also offers optional Jewish/Christian Bible classes. But it doesn’t push evolution. So if someone is interested in that, this may not be the one for them.”
- Study.com: K-12 program including SAT, CLEP, and more. You can read my review here: Homeschool High School College Prep Tips: Save Time & Money (And Get Your Child Into Upper-Level Courses Faster!)
They now have online programs specifically for homeschool families. This dedicated homeschool resource page is aimed exclusively at homeschool families. Get answers to your questions here!
Remember to explore each program thoroughly to ensure it aligns with your family’s values and educational goals.
Online Unit Study Programs For All Ages
Online unit study programs offer a versatile approach to incorporating multiple subjects into a single study. While they are not full curricula on their own, they provide an excellent opportunity to explore your child’s personal interests, delve deep into new topics, and engage in hands-on learning experiences.
- K12O Online Curriculum: Ideal for homeschool moms who enjoy teaching but prefer to minimize planning, K12O offers a range of features. These include live group lab sessions, hybrid online courses, a homeschool support portal, and courses developed by certified teachers. Parents can use K12O to supplement their existing programs or adopt it as a fully comprehensive curriculum. Learn more about it here: K12O Online Curriculum.
- Literary Adventures For Kids: These “done for you” online book clubs for children are truly exceptional! They not only encourage deeper exploration of literature but also facilitate rabbit trails and add an element of adventure to the learning experience.
Are Literary Adventure Online Unit Studies Christian or Secular?
Are Literary Adventure Online Unit Studies Christian or Secular? To address this question, let’s hear from Dachelle, the program’s creator: “According to the definition of secular, they are secular. However, some people might perceive them differently. I would describe them as neutral. If a book involves discussions about religion or quotes from the Bible, it may have references (for example, ‘Number the Stars’ discusses Jews in WW2, so there will naturally be religious references).”
Explore the complete list of Literary Adventures for Kids Literary Adventures For Kids and use our special discount code “WHMC” at the checkout and save an extra 20% off!
Online unit study programs provide flexibility and an immersive learning experience for children of all ages. They allow you to tailor your homeschooling journey to match your child’s unique learning style and interests.
11 Secular Based Online Homeschool Programs
When it comes to finding secular-based online homeschool programs, the process can be challenging. However, I’ve done my best to compile a list of options for you.
While I’ve consulted with other homeschooling moms in the Secular, Relaxed, Eclectic Homeschooling with Older Kids group, I still recommend double-checking each program to ensure it aligns with your specific requirements.
Here are 11 online homeschool programs suitable for secular homeschooling families:
- Discovery K12: Online homeschool platform & curriculum for pre-k to 12th grade. You get access to 7 standard courses: Language Arts, Reading/Literature, Math, Science, History/Social Studies, Visual/Performing Arts, and Physical Education.
- Oak Meadow: Creative distance learning for grades K-12.
- Magic Forest Academy: A unique nature-based education promoting imaginative and seasonal learning. Inspired by nature for grades K-12.
- Outschool: Small online classes for K-12, live online classes only provided by independent teachers.
- Acellus Academy: This is one of the most popular among working homeschool moms. These courses are online, and video-based, and include tutoring for grades K-12.
- MobyMax: Offers personalized learning to help find, fix, and fill in the gaps. For grades K-8.
- FunCation Academy: A homeschool program online K-12 Pre-College Prep. Your child has the opportunity to participate in online clubs, discussion groups, and study groups.
- Calvert Education: Providing a time-tested curriculum with all the tools and support for Grades K-12. Free placement tests are available.
- Connections Academy: Connections Academy is a tuition-free online public school for grades K–12.
- Education.com: A K-12 Program, based on Common Core and is secular. There is a free option with ads or a paid monthly option that includes worksheets, guided lessons, trackers, and more!
- Dolphin STEM Academy: Personalized 3rd – 12th Grade Online Program. Choose the grade level that is right for YOUR child! Feel free to mix and match! Do you want 6th-grade Math, 7th-grade Science, 8th-Grade Language Arts, 7th-grade History, and a Coding elective? No problem–you choose your courses, grade levels, and electives!
- Science With Mrs. Collins: Mrs. Collins is a certified science teacher with 22 years of experience. She created www.onlinescienceteacher.org to help serve the homeschool community. She offers K-12 live, flex and unit-based classes. She even tailors science classes by interest. Reach out today and schedule a science class.
For more information on secular homeschooling resources, Nadine has a massive list here: Ultimate Guide to Secular Homeschool Curriculum
Remember to thoroughly research each program to ensure its compatibility with your secular homeschooling approach. The diverse range of options allows you to find the program that best suits your family’s values and educational goals.
7 Free Online Video-Based Homeschool Programs
The following online programs are free (at the time of writing this) and video-based:
- Retro Videos: Free Classroom and Homeschool: Educational films and videos for your classroom.
- NeoK12: Educational games and videos for grades K-12.
- edX Courses: Online video courses for all ages for grades K-12.
- Khan Academy: This program is free. Most people think math, however, Khan Academy covers arts, computers, science, and more. Totally worth checking out. K-12 They even made my son’s favorite Free Math Help Sites list.
- CK-12: Create digital classrooms, customize textbooks, and learn K-12 STEM concepts truly is a great resource! For grades K-12.
- Crash Course: Youtube Channel for Educational Videos. My kids love these!
- WatchKnowLearn: Free educational videos for K-12.
Fantastic Online Homeschool Programs & Courses For PK – Grade 12
I want to express my gratitude to all of you who contributed to compiling this list of fantastic online homeschooling resources. The insights and recommendations from busy moms who use these programs day in and day out are invaluable. While I may not have personally utilized every program mentioned above, the ones I have used have proven to be exceptional assets to our homeschooling journey.
Now, I’d like to hear from you! Do you incorporate online homeschooling courses in your homeschool? If so, I would love to know your favorites.
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Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!
