What We Use for Homeschooling: Our Favorite Books and Curriculum

Why We Chose Homeschooling (and How It All Began)

When we first started homeschooling, I had no idea just how many curriculum choices were out there. I must have opened 200 browser tabs—comparing phonics programs, reading reviews, and asking friends for recommendations—yet still felt unsure. Should we do classical or Charlotte Mason? Workbooks or unit studies? Online or unplugged? It was completely overwhelming.

But our “why” was always clear.

By the time my oldest turned five, he could already read and write in two languages. I knew that sitting in a classroom for 6–8 hours a day, repeating letter sounds and doing the same worksheets as everyone else, would bore him to tears. And more than that—I didn’t want him spending his childhood stuck indoors when he could be outside climbing trees, building blanket forts, helping in the kitchen, or playing with his siblings.

So, we jumped into homeschooling—nervous, excited, and very much learning as we went.

Now, several years later, we’re still at it—and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My kids are currently in 6th grade, 3rd grade, 1st grade, and we also have a curious and talkative 3-year-old who thinks she’s part of every lesson. Our days are busy, a little chaotic, and full of learning in every direction.

We chose homeschooling because it gave us freedom: the freedom to move at our kids’ pace, to follow their interests, to prioritize family life, and to keep learning joyful. It hasn’t always been easy (especially when it came to actually choosing curriculum!), but it has absolutely been worth it.

Over the years, we’ve tried a variety of programs—some that worked beautifully, and others that flopped. We’ve slowly found what fits our rhythm, our values, and our kids’ personalities.

This post is a mix of the most popular homeschool curriculum options you’ll see recommended everywhere—and what we personally use and love in our own homeschool.

If you’re feeling unsure or overwhelmed about where to start, I hope this helps you take a deep breath, get inspired, and build a plan that truly works for your family.

{This post contains affiliate Amazon links. That means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you choose to make a purchase through one of these links. I only recommend products I genuinely love, have personally used, or have thoroughly researched and would confidently use for my own family.}

Popular & Highly Recommended Homeschool Curriculum

If you’re just starting out or browsing what's most loved, here’s what often tops the homeschool recommendation lists:

Language Arts:

The Good and the Beautiful – All-in-one LA program (phonics, grammar, handwriting)
All About Reading – Great for struggling readers
IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) – Structured writing for older kids
Grammar Galaxy – Story-based grammar that’s actually fun
First Language Lessons – Classical grammar for younger kids

Math:

Saxon Math – Spiral-based with strong repetition
Math-U-See – Hands-on and visual with video lessons
Singapore Math – Builds deep problem-solving skills
Beast Academy – For advanced/gifted learners

Writing & Spelling

IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing) – A top pick for grades 3+. Video-based, highly structured, and teaches writing in a step-by-step format.
All About Spelling – Very hands-on, phonics-based, and great for kids who need multisensory learning.
Spelling You See – Color-coded, gentle, and great for visual learners.
Writing With Ease (by Susan Wise Bauer) – Classical approach to narration, copywork, and dictation.
The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts – Includes spelling and writing in their all-in-one program.

But What Do We Actually Use?

We’ve tried a few of the above—and they have their strengths—but here’s what has really worked for our family. These are simple to use, effective, and the kids genuinely like them (which makes a big difference!).

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann, Phyllis Haddox, and Elaine Bruner

This is hands-down the best reading curriculum we’ve ever used — and honestly, the only one we needed. We’ve taught all three of our kids to read with this one book, and each time it worked like magic. No apps, no flashcards, no expensive programs — just this simple, structured, and incredibly effective method.

The book is designed for parents with no teaching experience. Each lesson is fully scripted and takes about 15–20 minutes a day. It starts with letter sounds and gradually builds up to full sentences and short stories. By the end of the 100 lessons, your child will be reading at a solid second-grade level.

Language Arts / Grammar

Easy Grammar (starting in 3rd grade)
This has been our go-to once the kids hit 3rd grade. It’s clear, straightforward, and not overwhelming.

Short daily lessons
Strong focus on prepositions and sentence structure
Great for independent work

➡️ Easy Grammar on Amazon

Math

Grades 1–2: Singapore Primary Mathematics
For early math, I love the way Singapore Math lays the foundation. It’s visual, logical, and builds real number sense without a ton of busywork.
➡️ Singapore Primary Mathematics 1 & 2 on Amazon

Grades 3–6: Mathematics LightUnit by CLE (Christian Light Education)
This has been a winner for us in upper elementary. It’s affordable, simple, and open-and-go.

Lessons are short and well-paced
Very independent-friendly (perfect for multiple kids!)
No flashy extras—just solid math
Comes as a set of 10 LightUnit workbooks per grade, which makes it really easy to track progress throughout the year
You can also just buy one workbook for just $5 to try it out and see if it’s a good fit for your child before committing to the whole set

➡️ LightUnit 3 from Rainbow Resource

We tried a few other math programs over the years, but these are the ones that my kids don’t complain about—and that’s saying something!

Spelling

Pretty much any spelling books that we find in Half Price Books (They also have a homeschool discount!)

Evan-Moor Building Spelling Skills

Clear explanations and step-by-step writing instruction
Covers sentences, paragraphs, grammar, and writing structure
Great for independent work or light guidance

➡️ Writing Skills Workbook (we use this)

History

We like to keep history engaging by using living books, timelines, and discussions instead of just dry textbooks.

Story of the World – A favorite among homeschoolers. It’s narrative-style and easy to pair with coloring pages, maps, or audiobooks.

Sometimes we just grab a good historical novel and let the kids get lost in a different time period. It counts!

➡️ Story of the World on Amazon

Reading:

I let the kids choose their own books often, which keeps their love of reading strong.

You can find a list of books that my kids ACTUALLY read HERE!

YouTube Channels We Love for Homeschooling

Sometimes the best way to explain a tricky concept—or bring a topic to life—is through a well-made video. These are some of our favorite kid-friendly, educational YouTube channels that we use in our homeschool. All of them are free, engaging, and safe for curious learners.

Science, Nature, & Curiosity

SciShow Kids – Fun, bite-sized science lessons for elementary ages.
Amoeba Sisters – Hilarious and clear biology videos (best for upper elementary and middle school).
National Geographic Kids – Gorgeous nature videos, animal facts, and world exploration.
Peekaboo Kidz – Animated science and health topics explained in a simple way.
NG Science – Another great Nat Geo science channel with longer-form educational content.

History & Social Studies

Crash Course Kids – Covers science and history with humor and energy (best for grades 3–6).
Liberty’s Kids – A full animated series that teaches early American history in an engaging, story-driven format.
Free School – Gentle, informative videos on everything from art to biographies to world cultures.

Read-Alouds & Audiobooks

Audio-Books – A collection of classic books and stories read aloud.
LibriVox Audiobooks – Public domain classics read by volunteers; great for carschooling or quiet time.

Books that my kids actually read

0 Comments

Previous Post Next Post