School is back in session! For many parents that means getting the kids fed and to the bus stop—or in the car—on time. Home schooling parents have a unique set of challenges when school starts again—like figuring out what’s on the curriculum for the year!
National Home Schooling Day is Friday, September 19. Whether you’re a new or a veteran home schooling parent (or if you’re just curious) these online resources might come in handy. Know of a good one we missed? Add it to the comments!
Click Schooling
A free email subscription service that sends one themed lesson per day, Monday through Saturday. Subject areas include math, social sciences, and ideas for virtual field trips.
ABC Mouse
This is a subscription-based site that utilizes progressive levels of teaching for Pre-K and Kindergarten-level students. A tickets and virtual rewards system incentivizes children to move on to the next lesson.
Reading Eggs
Children aged 3 to 7 learn to read (and enjoy it!) through interactive animations, fun games, great songs and lots of virtual rewards.
Life Learning Magazine
Available both in print and online, this magazine was started in 2002 with a focus on “life learning,” that is, teaching and learning fluidly, rather than the finite “in school hours”. Included are generalized lessons, personal articles and support materials on how to teach children to become life learners.
Cathy Duffy Reviews
Cathy Duffy gives unbiased reviews of every major curriculum and offers advice to narrow it down to the ones that will work best for you. If you’re willing to invest a bit of time to read and research her reviews, you’ll find that her lists and advice are quite comprehensive.
Your Local Library
While the digital age has many parents turning to online resources, the local library is overlooked often. First, there is often an extensive network of free books and audio materials which helps cut the cost of purchasing new materials each year. Second, the library is a connection to the community: meeting other children and parents, discovering ideas for field trips from the bulletin boards and attending classes and other cultural activities sponsored by the library.
New to home schooling? Here are a few resources to make sure you and your children get off to a great start:
Home Education Magazine
Started by third-generation home schoolers, Home Education Magazine provides up-to-date news and legislation in home schooling, but also groups important resources by state, including support groups for new home schooling parents.
Home School Legal Defense Association
The laws regarding home schooling differ from state to state. HSLDA allows home schooling parents to look up requirements and regulations by state to ensure they are compliant.
Great Home School Conventions
Get the chance to talk with other home schooling parents and learn from some of the best by attending conferences in your area, designed specifically to teach, enlighten and support home schooling parents.
Looking for some support from other home schooling parents? Check out these popular blogs detailing lessons taught, lessons learned and other life lessons of home schooling parents.
Confessions of a Homeschooler
Jimmie’s Collage
We hope these resources are helpful! And don’t forget to schedule in some fun time for the kids, too! We have a Homeschool Spotlight special going on at iPlay America Friday September 19! Blow off a little steam with family activities like go-karting, arcade games, a trip to a 4D theater and more, all available at iPlay America.