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| Our "Kiddo" during Language Arts |
When I started my path as a homeschool educator five years ago, I didn't even know there was such a thing as "free" curriculum. To me, free curriculum meant that someone gifted it to me or handed it down to me. I spent the next few years buying the least expensive options I could only to find that most of the program did not work and I was unable to sell any of the remaining program. I bought resources that I thought would work, only to find that my son didn't do well with that learning style.
Last year I had a breakthrough. Well, a breakthrough isn't exactly true. I had a crying jag at nearly midnight one night from the frustration and opened my laptop. My plan was to play around with my Pinterest board until I was so tired I couldn't stand it. What happened was, I began finding free homeschool resources. Some were hits and a lot were misses. Some were supplements, some were apps, and often there was a hidden fee to them. Finally, I found 4 options that were full curriculum and free (okay, you have to print some stuff, but all in all the downloads were inclusive and free).
To save you the hunting and the guess work, I'm putting all four here, with links. I'm also going to review them and let you know what you are getting upfront. The pros and cons. The good, the bad, and the often time ugly. Full disclosure. No sugar coating.
So, if you are ready to see if one of these free programs is for you, keep reading.
Miniature Masterminds is at the top of my list for a very good reason. It includes literally everything. There is no guess work to this program. They cover Pre-K through 2nd grade currently, and it is truly a complete curriculum. Though you can supplement if you would like, no books are necessary. Everything is explained, the printouts include the worksheets, and there is room for your student to do any writing or other work on the printouts. One of the key benefits that stuck out to me when I first saw this site was the lesson plans! Yes, not only do you get the curriculum you also get a detailed lesson plan for each subject and grade. You literally print it out, follow the lesson plan, and you are good to go.
Pros:
Lesson Plans are Included.
Math, Reading, Language Arts, Science, History, Art, and Health are all covered.
You can choose what you use and leave the rest.
No books are required.
It is 100% free. All you have to do is download what you want and print it out.
All of the printouts are clearly labeled in the top corners with the subject, the week, and the day of the week the page corresponds to. There is no guessing.
Cons:
The program only goes to 2nd grade. At this time there is no program for 3rd grade and higher.
You do need an attendance method of some kind. (See my blog "Affordable Attendance Tracking Options" for some ideas.)
You have a lot to print out. (If you need a printing option that is affordable, check out my "Affordable Printing Options for Homeschoolers" post for ideas.)
Discovery K-12 is really hard to beat when it comes to free curriculum. They cover Kindergarten to 12th grade. You don't have to print out everything and you are notified when there is something you need to print. Most of the work can be done on a tablet or laptop. You don't have to buy additional books. It really is an all in one curriculum option and may be ideal if you have children from various age levels and grade levels.
Pros:
Covers grades K-12
No books needed.
Reduced printing than other programs
Everything is mapped out by day and by subject.
They offer a weekly STEM project for each grade level.
They stick to the normal school year.
Lesson plans are mapped out for you and can be viewed ahead of time to prepare you for what's coming up.
Cons:
No transcripts, attendance records, or report cards are offered. You need to either do this on your own or pay $99 for the parent upgrade package each year.
Login issues during 2020
Long wait times for passwords and customer service response. (This did not start being a problem until 2020 during COVID, so be patient as this may be due to the increase in interest in this option.)
Connections Academy is a virtual public school option. It is free. All of the books and most of the supplies are provided. This is the closest thing to a traditional public school option at home that you are likely to get. Your child does need to be on a routine with this option as there are classes they must attend online. They will have a teacher, weekly classes, and daily work. You will need a webcam, headset with microphone, and a computer for your child to use.
Pros:
Is a public option and operates a like lot your public school in your area. This is ideal for students who do well in a public school environment.
Everything is included and books are e-books or shipped to you.
Classes are chosen based on age and ability.
IEP's are accepted if necessary.
All paperwork, attendance, report cards, and transcripts are included.
You have a teacher to check in with. You act as a teacher assistant to ensure your child is on track.
There are group field trips and extracurricular activities and clubs.
Cons:
It doesn't work for everyone.
There is no flexibility with what you can teach and how you teach it.
They stay with a standard school year. If your child falls behind and misses a class, they must make it up and the absence can count against them.
Easy Peasy is a well known free curriculum that ranges from K-12. They offer printables, links, and resources that are all free. This is an ideal choice if you want something that has a Christian faith based, is free, and can be done on a tablet or laptop.
Pros:
Ranges from K-12
Everything is included along with resources.
You can choose to use your tablet or laptop.
You can print out items as needed.
They are faith based so you can find Bible related homeschool curriculum alongside the rest of the curriculum.
They are well known, so finding a social media support group is fairly easy.
Cons:
May be difficult to follow and figure out at first.
Christian faith based which could be an issue for Jewish (like us), Muslim, or non-Christian families.
Attendance is something you have to handle as you see fit.
**I am not an affiliate with any of these curriculum options. All links are direct links**
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