This is a master list of all the curriculum and resources I have used during the elementary years that I can highly recommend. The link will go to my review, if I’ve written one, or to where you can purchase the product online. Feel free to e-mail me with questions, if you have any. Everything is secular except where noted.*

For middle school and beyond, please check My Store for my curriculum recommendations and more. (Our 7th grade curricula can be found here.)

Reading

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
Starfall.com
Usborne Very First Readers – set of 15 books

Language Arts

writing & grammar

Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Student Writing Intensive Level A (I would recommend this curriculum for children who are struggling to write. If you have a child that is naturally drawn to writing, you may have more success with a less formal approach.)
Fix It! Grammar: The Nose Tree: Student Book 1 with Teacher’s Manual
Michael Clay Thompson’s Language Arts Program, Level 1 and Part of Level 2

poetry

Vintage Poetry for Modern Kids
Music of the Hemispheres (part of the Michael Clay Thompson’s Language Arts Program)

spelling

All About Spelling — This is a solid program, and I really liked it. However, my son hated it, so we stopped after Level 1.

handwriting

Calligraphy Set & an Instruction Book (makes learning to write fun)
Handwriting Without Tears My Printing Book
Handwriting Without Tears Printing Power
Beginning Traditional Cursive
Cursive Writing Practice: Inspiring Quotes

Free Typing Lessons

Math

Life of Fred* elementary series
Life of Fred* intermediate series
Life of Fred: Fractions*
Life of Fred: Decimals and Percents*
Khan Academy
Mathantics
Spectrum Workbooks
Singapore Math (U.S.) (Level 1A & 1B)

General 

Workbooks are good for extra practice, to make sure you are covering the basics, or for preparing for standardized tests, but I mostly prefer working with other resources that are more engaging. If you want a workbook, I recommend:

— If your child likes Star Wars, check out the Star Wars workbooks.
— Spectrum workbooks are good. (These are sold on Amazon.)

Also, Ducksters.com is a helpful website for basic information on history, science and geography in elementary school.

If you have a mature middle school student or high school student, I highly recommend Great Courses Plus streaming service.

Social Studies

my husband’s history lectures
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia
The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History
One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship
The Kids Books of World Religions
Documentaries!
Follow my history lesson logs…These list the resources and library books that I use for each history topic.
Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales

Science

Documentaries!!!
Magic School Bus Books
Let’s Read and Find Out Science Books
My Citizen Science Projects
See my homeschool science posts for more ideas.
Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding — This is a very good curriculum, and it’s secular. However, it requires A LOT of reading and prep work on the part of the parent!

Spanish

Risas y Sonrisas
Salsa
Mango (free via public library)

Chinese

Better Chinese

Art

Developing a Sketchbook Habit (doing this has been invaluable)
Cave Paintings to Picasso
Georgia Museum of Art (field trips to)
Carla Sonheim online art classes (link goes to her free stuff)
Drawing for Older Children & Teens by Mona Brookes

I also recommend my resource, The Everyday Homeschooler’s Guide to Teaching the Early Years, for anyone with a child up to eight-years-old. It will get you started in creating an atmosphere at home that will promote independent learning. It also has a big list of secular resources in the back. And tons of other tips and practical advice. I hope you’ll check it out.

 

* The author of the Life of Fred  series is religious, and this is apparent in the books, but there are few references and nothing preachy. It was a non-issue for us. However, this is a controversial issue in some secular online forums where followers don’t want to support an author with his views.