So, though I absolutely do not consider myself the arbiter of what will work for all children in all families, I decided that putting together shorter lists of possibilities for those interested in my opinion might be helpful. I used The Roadmap as my starting point and homed-in on a few guiding principles to facilitate a sorting process:
- Though The Roadmap is designed to be "agnostic" in regards to the common core standards (CCS) and its related initiatives - I've gone to great lengths to present a "just the facts, ma'am" approach there so that users can find what they are seeking in terms of CCS, whatever that might be - I am not. In fact, I'm quite opposed to all things CCS. Thus, choosing only that which is wholly independent of the CCS became my first parameter. And if a provider I currently suggest decides at some point to connect with the CCS, I will edit the lists to remove it no matter how much I may have liked it before;
- Via its Deluxe Charts, The Roadmap classifies resources in a number of other ways beyond CCS, including worldview/religious perspective. As a Christ-follower, I've included a large percentage of Christian providers on my lists, but that's not all. I also felt comfortable listing a couple of Jewish resources and quite a few that I call "Non-Sectarian," by which I mean "material that doesn't obviously promote any other perspective - i.e., it is as 'neutral' as possible where worldview is concerned - and, thus, might be comfortably used by people who embrace a variety of...other perspectives." In my life and on The Roadmap, I distinguish "Non-Sectarian" from "Secular," and I have chosen in my lists here to eschew anything I've determined to be "Secular," as well as anything espousing other worldview perspectives;
- I hold strongly to young-earth creation science so cannot in good conscience suggest old-earth-oriented material. Of course, in many cases on The Roadmap, provider websites haven't specified a position on origins - or it's not relevant to the content in question - but where it might come into play, I list only resources that are young-earth or consciously neutral;
- In terms of other classification categories - i.e., homeschool style/approach, recommended age range, whether or not something is online, has an app, or is free - I've tried to include a wide variety of options;
- Within those parameters, I've listed everything I've actually used and enjoyed over the years - or am otherwise familiar with - marking each with an asterisk;
- As you'll see, though, the lists include a lot more than I could ever personally use...because I wanted to suggest multiple good options in as many categories as possible. So, in compiling the suggestions with which I don't have direct experience, I've relied upon information gleaned from wise homeschoolers I know in real life and in the large online group I moderate, as well as studying company websites as I've built The Roadmap. And everything I list is something I'd at least consider for my own kids.
As you browse the lists, you'll notice that some are still quite long; for example, the Elementary Math list has 90 suggestions and Elementary Science has 128! But I wanted to include everything I felt worth considering and, given that both original lists have over 800 total options (!), including longer lists here seemed appropriate. In contrast, you'll notice a few categories with very few or even no suggestions; that's generally because the original category - which you can view here - has few options, none of which I felt met my parameters.
Will you like everything on these lists? Surely not. Would your parameters for making similar lists be different than mine? Quite possibly. I want to reiterate that these lists are merely suggestions based on my personal experience and study, not prescriptions of what is "best" for "everybody."
Though the lists are copyrighted, I offer them freely for downloading and printing; simply click on a link to open a PDF list. I ask only that you link to this post when sharing the lists with others.
May these ideas be a blessing to many.
*****
NOTE:
Most of the lists
(other than the ones for PRESCHOOL and PARENT RESOURCES)
link to resources for use with "school-aged" kids (i.e., Ages 5-18).
Most of the lists
(other than the ones for PRESCHOOL and PARENT RESOURCES)
link to resources for use with "school-aged" kids (i.e., Ages 5-18).
PRESCHOOL
(Ages 0-5) Multi-Subject Packages Art Bible Character/Manners Community-Based Youth Organizations Culinary Arts Educational Games & Toys Educational Media Foreign Language Health & Fitness History & Geography Language Arts Math Music Science "Social Studies" Worksheets/Printables Special Needs |
Multi-Subject Packages Traditional/School-Style: Print-Based Traditional/School-Style: Online/Video Charlotte Mason/Living Books Classical Delight-Directed/Guided Unschooling Montessori/Reggio/Waldorf Principle Approach Project-Based Learning
Unit Studies: Bible-Based Unit Studies: Geography-Based Unit Studies: History-Based Unit Studies: Literature-Based Unit Studies: Math-Based Unit Studies: Music-Based Unit Studies: Science-Based Unit Studies: Thematic |
Art
Appreciation/History Integrated Technique Crafting Drawing/Illustration Filmmaking Graphic Design Painting Photography Printmaking Sculpture/Ceramics |
Health & Fitness
Integrated First Aid Growth & Development Hygiene/Personal Care Nutrition Physical Education Safety/Prevention |
Home Management
Integrated Automotive Upkeep Child Care Cosmetology Culinary Arts Hospitality & Tourism Interior Design Maintenance/Repair Metallurgy Textile Arts/Fashion Design Woodworking/Carpentry |
Language Arts Integrated Composition Drama/Theater Grammar Literature - Texts Literary Analysis Penmanship Public Speaking
Reading/Phonics Spelling Vocabulary |
Math
Elementary Secondary Integrated Algebra 1 Algebra 2 Calculus General Math Geometry Pre-Algebra Pre-Calculus Statistics Trigonometry |
Religious Education
Apologetics/Worldview Bible Study/Theology Christian Living Devotional Scripture Memory Sunday School/VBS Denomination-Specific Tenet-Specific |
Science
Elementary Secondary Astronomy Secondary Biology Secondary Chemistry Secondary Earth Science Secondary Forensics Secondary General Science Secondary History of Science Secondary Origins Secondary Physical Science Secondary Physics Secondary STEM |
Social Sciences
Civics Criminal Justice Economics Logic/Critical Thinking Philosophy Psychology Sociology "Social Studies" |
Special Subjects
Academic Competitions Accredited Programs Advanced Placement (AP) Dual Enrollment MOOCs |
Technology
AutoCAD/Engineering Coding/Computer Programming Drafting/Architecture Electronics/Robotics Game Design Web Design |
Academic Support
Brain Training Career Exploration Research Tools Standardized Test Prep Study Skills Tutoring |
Educational Games & Toys
Activity Books Board/Card Games Digital Games Puzzles Subscription Boxes Toys |
Special Needs
ADD/ADHD Autism/Aspergers/PDD Cerebral Palsy Cognitive Disabilities Emotional Disturbance Epilepsy/Seizure Disorders Gifted & Talented Right-Brain Learners Sensory Disorders Speech & Language Disabilities |
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