With all the school closures right now, we know so many of you are looking for the best homeschooling resources. (Like, a lot of you!) We hear you! So first, I suggest you read my post on a homeschooling mom's tips for teaching your kids at home during school closures. It's a great overview to get you started, and maybe even take off some of the anxiety you might be feeling.
(I can't say it enough...you can do this!)
Once you've considered your big-picture approach to the upcoming weeks or months ahead, I wanted to put together a list of fantastic online resources you should bookmark. I know it's a lot -- don't get overwhelmed. But you might scroll through and find a homeschooling resource that will be just what you're looking for, or even spark an idea for an activity that will excite your kids. And you.
You have to enjoy this too, right?
I also suggest you check this Google doc that's been making the rounds among parents. It features more than 100 educational companies that are offering free resources to kids stuck at home right now -- and a huge THANK YOU to all of them! (Just know it may be slow to load.)
Beyond that, here are some of my favorites.
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The very best homeschooling resources for kids of all ages
My son taking an Outschool class at home. © Kate Etue
The best homeschooling resources for reading and ELA
- If you aren't on full quarantine, visit your library (with a tub of Clorox wipes) and check out your max number of library books to read. With a lot of libraries closing, download the hoopla app and borrow books digitally.
- An Epic! ebook subscription (at top) is like having a full library on your iPad for pre-K through elementary aged kids. Or if you're looking for anything from books for older kids or yourself to sheet music, you can get a free 30-day trial subscription at Scribd right now.
- we found 17 awesome reading apps for kids of all ages
- and 12 more reading apps for kids of all ages
- here are 10 great reading apps just for brand new readers, if your preschool is closed.
- our favorite reading apps for older kids
- 3 great free audiobook apps, so you can listen along while you read (or play)
- You can make your own vocabulary study sheets and worksheets at Wordsmyth
- Worksheet fans, visit the the EReading Worksheets website. You can search by grade, and each assignment includes the complete literary selection as well as questions, answers, and more.
- If you're looking for more structured analysis for older kids, the Glencoe Literature Library has free full study guides for many classic novels you might have sitting on your shelf already.
- You can find printable study guides on nearly any subject at Teachers Pay Teachers, all written by teachers (with their credential listed). You can search by grade, topic, or a specific subject or book title. I've also found great resources for kids with special needs here.
- For kids who love both geography and literature, I found this fun literature guide by state at Our Journey Westward. Could you challenge your most avid readers to read one book for every state?
- If you need handwriting practice, you can print blank handwriting pages or load in your own text (I love using fun song lyrics or funny Tweets for older kids) for your kids to practice their penmanship.
- Give your older kids a chance to learn writing from Judy Blume or Neil Gaiman online via MasterClass.
- * Khan Academy & Pixar have a course on The Art of Storytelling that walks your kids through the process of creating their own story
The best homeschooling resources for math
- awesome YouTube channels that help kids with math
- 18 great math apps for kids, from counting to Calculus
- 14 more great math apps for kids of all ages
- Khan Academy has math courses from early math skills to advanced high school courses.
- Prodigy is a curriculum-aligned math learning platform used by tons of teachers and homeschooling parents.
- Math Playground allows you to to do math work online, and you can search for work by grade or by type of problem
- Let them get lost in WooTube -- Eddie Woo's fun, engaging math videos on YouTube
- My kids have loved the game-like Pizzaz math worksheets at Mr. Hilburt's Class
- Print math worksheets at WorksheetWorks to stay fresh on your skills. The puzzles here are also great for stretching logic and reasoning skills.
- You can find superhero-themed math games at Legends of Learning.
The best homeschooling resources for history and social studies
- For American History, the Heart of Wisdom blog had a great Netflix "history through movies" timeline you can use!
- Travel & Leisure rounded up 12 world-class museums that offer virtual tours of their collections, so you can experience them from home.
- Crayola has fun coloring pages for every US State and territory, with fun facts like the state bird and flag included.
- If you sign up for the free emails at Kitchen Table Classroom, you'll get access to dozens of amazing free printables on art history, geography, and more.
- Data nerds will love the interactive history maps at GeaCron—you can put in a date and see political boundaries throughout time.
- At Ancient History Encyclopedia, you can put in a date and check different categories—from Arts & Culture to Warfare—to see what was going on at that time.
- Teens can learn specialized history classes at The Great Courses Plus
- It's a perfect time to download these 16 Women's History Month printable coloring pages and have your kids learn about our favorite sheroes.
- * One of my all-time favorites, Rebel Girls, is offering so many free resources in exchange for your email address right now. Totally worth it.
The best homeschooling resources for science
- This is a fantastic list of science activities just for teens that we put together on Cool Mom Tech, and we have science activities for pre-K through middle school as well, all sorted by age. Within each article you'll find a dedicated list of resources.
- This 2017 roundup of the best Earth and Space documentaries on Netflix still has some great recommendations your kids will like.
- You can find superhero-themed science games at Legends of Learning.
- Great apps and YouTube channels to help kids with science.
- Watch videos at the Science and Star Wars Facebook page
- 15 awesome science apps for kids of all ages
- Teens can learn specialized science classes at The Great Courses Plus
- *The Weather Channel has created a space for kid-friendly educational content all about weather
- * All resources are temporarily free at America's Test Kitchen, including their cooking-based science experiments for kids
We'll continue adding to this list with an asterisk next to them as more resources pop up, and feel free to share your own in comments!
