Homeschool Resources

These are homeschool resources we’ve used, loved, and recommended after more than fifteen years of homeschooling. From curriculum and educational websites to school supplies and family activities, I hope these trusted resources equip and encourage your family!

Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I earn a commission (at no extra cost for you!). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.

🏆 Homeschool resources we’ve used on a daily or weekly basis are tagged with a trophy. These have had a significant impact on our school days.

You can jump to any section:

• Homeschool Resources for Learning
• Homeschool Organization
• Free Homeschool Resources: Downloads
• Homeschool Conferences and Classes
• Homeschool-Friendly Organizations
• Family-Friendly Entertainment
• Faith-Filled Encouragement
• Seasonal and Holiday Resources

 🪴 Homeschool Resources for Learning

🎧 Audiobooks

Audiobooks 🏆
My kids listen to audiobooks almost every day using the FREE Libby reading app. We have it downloaded on an old phone, and often use headphones. In my experience, younger children will sit and listen for an extended time, as long as they have something to keep their hands busy. I set up activities such as puzzles, playdough, or craft supplies. There is often a waitlist for classic books (Charlotte’s Web, The Boxcar Children, Little House on the Prairie, etc.). But having this quiet time makes it worth the wait! LibriVox is another option, where you can find FREE public-domain audiobooks.

Explore Libby.
Explore LibriVox.

📚 Curriculum

🌐 Educational Websites

Answers News
My teenage son and I often listened to the FREE Answers in Genesis broadcast, Answers News. The hosts address news headlines (i.e. aliens, abortion, and transgenderism) from a Biblical worldview. We sharpened our critical thinking skills while discussing these issues. At the same time, we completed the workbook “The Art of Argument.” It was a fantastic study of informal logic.

Explore Answers News.

Live Animal Cams
There are lots of FREE live animal cams. One of our favorites is in the San Bernardino Mountains, where the eagle pair Jackie & Shadow nest. My girls were mesmerized watching the eagle pair care for their eaglets. They’ve also seen bears catch salmon at Brooks Falls in Alaska. And they’ve explored the underwater ecosystem of a kelp forest near Southern California. Animal cams are a great pastime for those days when you’re stuck inside!

View eagles at FriendsofBigBearValley.org.
Explore hundreds of live cams at Explore.org.

🧩 Games and Puzzles

6-Pack of Kellogg’s Cereal Puzzles
This set of six puzzles is typically priced at less than two dollars per puzzle! They have a traditional cardboard back, but have held up well for us. With one hundred pieces each, they are great for elementary-age students. When my youngest was in kindergarten, I helped her get started so she wasn’t overwhelmed. But by first grade, she could complete a puzzle on her own. They were often put together while listening to an audiobook. These are fantastic, inexpensive time-fillers!

View 6-Pack of Kellogg’s Cereal Puzzles on Amazon.

Story Time Chess
☑️ No chess experience required
☑️ Teaches critical thinking
☑️ For ages 3+
☑️ Award-winning game

You don’t need to understand chess to play this game. Each piece is assigned a storybook character. This helps you remember how that character can move. My seven-year-old’s favorite was Queen Bella. She is the CFO (Chief Friendship Officer). I love that our kids sharpen critical thinking skills as they consider various moves. This game is designed for children as young as three! Story Time Chess is the most awarded children’s board game in history (over 17 awards). We’ve enjoyed it!

View Story Time Chess on Amazon.

💻 Online Classes

Berean Builders Homeschool Science 🏆
When it was time for my teenage son to take physics, I knew it was time to outsource. I was so glad to find that Dr. Jay Wile offers live, online classes (now offered through Memoria Academy). I was familiar with Dr. Wile, as he wrote some of the Apologia Science curriculum we had used many years ago. Dr. Wile has now written the Berean Builders Homeschool Science Curricula. My son did well in the online class, and he enjoyed Dr. Wile’s gregarious personality. This suggested course sequence (and prerequisite list) is helpful. Science and math are often the hardest classes to teach in the high school years. If you can’t teach them well – outsource!

Find Online Classes Through Memoria Academy.

Shormann Math 🏆
After completing a Shormann Math Algebra 2 course, my son was able to CLEP out of College Algebra. The (Christian) Shormann curriculum was developed based on Saxon Math methods. But it’s been modernized to include concepts found on the PSAT, SAT, & ACT. If you need to lighten your load as a homeschool parent, consider Shormann Math. They offer self-paced eLearning courses as well as live classes! (I wish I had outsourced math sooner!)

Explore Shormann Math.

🌍 Online Subscriptions

World Watch News
Our teens (now adults) enjoyed watching World Watch News. It’s been a well-respected, Christian news source for homeschool families for many years.

Explore World Watch.

📙 Reading Material

Books effortlessly fill our hearts and minds. So I’m unapologetically particular about what we read. (I hope you are too!)

Kids Answers Digital Magazines
Years ago, we subscribed to the Kids Answers Magazine from Answers in Genesis. It was fun for our children to anticipate mail that was just for them! With the changes in how content is consumed, the magazine has been discontinued. However, you can now access these digitally, for FREE. I so appreciate that my kids enjoy this content and I don’t have to worry about whether it’s appropriate!

View Kids Answers Digital Magazines.

Polly and the Screentime Overload
There aren’t many books for little ones that tackle the subject of screen moderation, but this one is for ages 3-7. (I think it’s great for older kids too!) Polly loves visiting her grandparents’ farm until she is mesmerized by an “iTab.” Then she learns about God’s intention for the gifts He’s given us. This book is part of The Gospel Coalition’s TGC Kids series. View a FREE read-aloud video at Crossway.org. You can find this book on Amazon, as well as the author’s FREE printable download: “44 Activities for Kids That Don’t Involve Screens.”

View Polly and the Screentime Overload on Amazon.

 🗃️ Homeschool Organization

📂 Organizing Your Homeschool Area

Bedroom Loft Bed 🏆
We’ve always lived in a somewhat smaller-than-average home. I tell myself it’s a blessing when it comes to cleaning (there’s less to clean)! But it can be a struggle to find space for everything. Our absolute biggest space-saver has been loft beds. They’ve all had a long, built-in desktop underneath, which has worked perfectly. Consider a loft bed if you need more space!

View Loft Beds on Amazon.

Caddy 🏆
Any desk caddy will do, but we use ours a lot. We get our caddy off the bookshelf every school morning. It’s nice to have something cute. There are some awesome color options on Amazon.

View Caddy on Amazon.

Three-Tier Organizational Rack 🏆
This is another item we use daily. We have SO many school papers. Everyone knows that schoolwork needs to be filed. There’s no reason for it to be left lying around the house. Each tier of this organizational rack can be labeled for one of your children. Or you can label the tiers based on the status of schoolwork (e.g., “needs corrected,” “corrections need reviewed,” or “done”). Make it work for your family! These come in some fun color options!

View Three-Tier Organizational Rack on Amazon.

✏️ School Day Supplies for Kids

Kids’ Headphones 🏆
A set of kids’ headphones can help your school day run more smoothly. My youngest kids often had more downtime during the school day. They enjoyed listening to an audiobook with headphones while working on an activity. When an older sibling needed focused attention, this quiet time was priceless. (Consider what device your child will be using and if you’ll need an adaptor for wired headphones.)

View Kids’ Headphones on Amazon.

Prayer Cards for Kids
These cards from Not Consumed are a great way to encourage kids to grow in their prayer life. We mostly use them at lunchtime. But they could also be used at the start of your day, during Bible time, or anytime you want to develop a habit of prayer. Each one includes Scripture, and they’re beautifully made!

View Prayer Cards for Kids at Not Consumed.

Washable Watercolor Paint Set
Painting is a great time-filler for younger children during the school day. My kids have spent many hours painting while listening to an audiobook. We love the vibrant watercolors in this Blablaovy 48-color paint set. (Once you use these bright colors, you won’t go back to Crayola watercolor paints!)

View Washable Watercolor Paint Set on Amazon.

✏️ School Day Supplies for Parents

Brother Compact Laser Printer
For many years, we had a color inkjet printer. We frequently had to replace the cartridges, which got expensive. Then we switched to a Brother laser printer. We chose a monochrome printer because the color printers were outside of our budget. Now, for us, the toner only needs to be replaced about once a year, which has saved us a lot of money. It just keeps plugging away, and we’ve been really happy with it. Our current model is old enough that it’s been discontinued. When it spits out its last piece of paper, we’ll order this recommended replacement, which is nearly identical.

View Brother Compact Laser Printer on Amazon.

 🖨️ Free Homeschool Resources: Downloads  

⬇️ Free Curriculum Sample Downloads

Answers Bible Curriculum (ABC)
This Bible study curriculum from Answers in Genesis is a great way to start the day! Check out my Answers Bible Curriculum Review to consider if it’s a good fit for your family. This includes a thorough overview of the curriculum, how we used it, and a suggested schedule. I also share what prompted us to make Bible study part of our school day. (I wish I had started this sooner in our homeschool journey!)

Download 2 Free Answers Bible Curriculum Lessons from AiG.

📎 Free Downloads Created by SoH

 📒 Homeschool Conferences and Classes   

🖊️ Conferences

FREE Online Homeschool Summits
These free, online, Christian conferences can provide the encouragement you need. Join a Summit to watch videos from national homeschool leaders. Be equipped as you disciple your children for Christ.

Check Homeschool Summits for Free Online Events.

State Homeschool Conferences
My husband and I have been significantly influenced by the speakers we’ve heard at our state homeschool conferences. I’d say their impact was only second to the impact of our church. We were strengthened in our efforts as parents and homeschoolers. You might also connect with co-ops, find extracurricular activities, and browse curriculum. You’ll leave refreshed and ready for your season of homeschooling. These Christian state conventions are generally scheduled from February through July.

Find Christian State Homeschool Conferences.

🗓️ In-Person Classes/Clubs

National Christian Forensics and Communication Association (NCFCA) 🏆
This speech and debate league helps students develop critical thinking and communication skills. When our oldest participated in a club, we traveled to other states for tournaments, developed some dear friendships, and certainly made some memories. Every club will be as unique as the volunteers who run it. But training materials are provided with a rigorous framework. Students can find their niche within two debate styles or ten speech events. My husband and I learned a lot as we judged at tournaments. Our season of speech and debate was a bit “all-consuming,” but also worth the effort.

Explore NCFCA.

TeenPact
These classes teach the political process in a hands-on way. One-day classes are offered for younger kids (ages 8-12), and four-day classes for teens (ages 13-19). Our kids have done both. Homework is assigned before the first day. This is a great opportunity for Christian homeschool families! Our whole family has learned from the TeenPact experience.

Explore TeenPact.

 🤝 Homeschool-Friendly Organizations 

📳 Healthy Screen Habits

ScreenStrong
I heard a ScreenStrong ambassador present at a homeschool group meeting. I’m grateful for the clarity that provided. We have parented three children who are now adults. We’re now committed to handling screens differently with our younger kids. I love what the (non-profit) ScreenStrong organization is doing for families. Our kids need us to be informed and equipped. We need to understand the impact of toxic screens (video games, social media, and pornography).

Explore FREE ScreenStrong Resources.

🏛️ Homeschool Advocacy

Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
From the HSLDA website: “(HSLDA) is the nation’s largest, most trusted homeschool advocacy organization. We’re here to advance and protect your freedom to homeschool.” Our state’s annual homeschool conference routinely has a speaker from HSLDA. Their website offers a wealth of information (although some articles are for members only).

Learn More About HSLDA.

State Homeschool Organizations
State organizations are in the trenches, helping families just like yours. They want to equip you with homeschool resources and help you find connections in your community. They might also be advocating for you legislatively. I volunteered for five years with my state’s homeschool organization. These passionate leaders are at the forefront of homeschooling in your state. They can be a valuable resource for you.

Find State Homeschool Organizations.

 🎥 Family-Friendly Entertainment

🍿 Movies

David
This is a recent favorite movie for us. It was awesome to watch this as we were learning about David in our Answers Bible Curriculum. My big kids and my little kids enjoyed it. (Mom and Dad did too!)

View David (DVD) on Amazon.

More Family-Friendly Movies
We don’t watch many movies, but I’ve curated a list of our favorites from over the years (lots of “oldies but goodies”).

Read the SoH Blog Post: The Measure of Movies: Finding Family-Friendly Flicks.

🎶 Music

Slugs and Bugs
My adult daughter introduced us to Slugs and Bugs! My girls love it, and I appreciate that they’re learning Scripture. Win-win!

View Slugs and Bugs on Amazon.

🎭 Theatre

Sight & Sound
If you haven’t been to a Sight & Sound live theatre production, it should be on your bucket list! We took our big kids and little kids to see Queen Esther, and it was amazing. Families today spend so much money on extracurriculars with little or no eternal benefit. Consider the value of seeing the Bible brought to life on a panoramic stage. The stage sets are truly phenomenal. Imagine the delight of our seven-year-old when Queen Esther (in all her splendor) passed right by her aisle seat, on a horse! Consider seeing a show if you are anywhere near Missouri or Pennsylvania!

Explore Sight & Sound.

 🩷 Faith-Filled Encouragement

📖 Bible Studies

 ☀️ Seasonal and Holiday Resources 

🎄 Christmas

Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent
We start this story shortly after Thanksgiving each year. There’s a schedule provided in the book, so we can plan to finish on Christmas morning. Ishtar’s adventures fill our minds with what it might have been like living in Bible times. This prompts good questions and discussion, and helps us prepare our hearts for Christmas. We have many sweet memories of reading this book during the Christmas season.

View Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent on Amazon.

✝️ Easter

Easter Activity: DIY Resurrection Egg Set
☑️ Christ-centered
☑️ Simple
☑️ Inexpensive
☑️ Hands-on
☑️ Easy-to-find supplies
You can find a kid-friendly Easter activity in this post, with a FREE download of the instructions. If you teach Sunday School or Children’s Church, this is a fantastic Easter lesson!

Read my post: Easter Activity for Kids: (Simple DIY) Resurrection Egg Set.

Easter Sticker Activity Book
This sticker book was a perfect Easter basket gift!

View Easter Sticker Activity Book on Amazon.

Resurrection Eggs
Opening our set of Resurrection Eggs has become a family tradition. As we near Easter, our kids take turns opening one egg a day, for twelve days. Then we read and consider the related Scripture. This activity is simple, but it prompts thought and conversation. We eagerly anticipate Easter morning when we open the last egg and find it empty. He is risen – He is risen indeed!

View Resurrection Eggs on Amazon.

🎁 Gift Ideas

Dutch Blitz
We were first introduced to this game at a homeschool speech and debate competition. Since then, my kids have played Dutch Blitz with many friends. It’s a classic card game, great for traveling.

View Dutch Blitz on Amazon.

Farkle
Just saying the name of this game makes me laugh. Which makes my husband laugh. Which makes our kids laugh. And it’s a great game. Enjoy!

View Farkle on Amazon.

You’re God’s Girl! Coloring Book
We’ve purchased this coloring book for friends, for ministry, and for Easter baskets. The pictures are fun, and the Biblical reminders are appreciated! Take a peek at this adorable coloring book.

View You’re God’s Girl! Coloring Book on Amazon.

🌞 Summertime Supplements

Cup of Caterpillars
Did you know you can order a cup of caterpillars? My girls loved seeing them form their chrysalises. After many days of anticipation, we saw butterflies emerge. Fun summertime memories!

View Cup of Caterpillars on Amazon.

Summer Bridge Activities Workbook
If you’re looking for something simple to keep the kids learning through the summer, consider this workbook. I first learned about these when our children were in private school. They were highly recommended by the teachers. They’re definitely a lightweight version of our usual schoolwork. However, the exercises are presented differently, so we have to work through them in a new way – which has been good. Look for the newest edition of these workbooks.

View Summer Bridge Activities Workbook on Amazon.