Free Online Resources for Successful Homeschooling

Free online resources for successful homeschooling can be a parent’s dream come true. Many options are available to provide a quality experience. As many know, homeschooling can be a daunting undertaking. Among other concerns, the need for curriculum and affordable materials to use throughout the year may be overwhelming. Knowing that there are numerous aids circulating the internet to assist with such a responsibility can bring ease and comfort to many parents. 

Finding Free Materials on the Internet  

Below is a list of free homeschooling resources available online:

- TeachersPayTeachers: This website is an excellent source for activities, particularly for young students. Users can sort by grade level or subject and are guaranteed to discover a combination of over three million free and paid resources. Through the program’s materials, learning environments are created to support interactive learning, stimulate discussions, and enhance awareness of current topics and events. Among the items available to parents include:

• Whole study units
• Homework 
• Activity worksheets
• Assessments

Parents can provide a full year homeschool curriculum through the above items, as well as special education, project-based learning, informational videos and digital assignments. Files are downloadable and available for print. 

- NASA STEM Engagement: Looking for a science supplement or STEM extension to enhance your homeschool experience? Look no further. This online program allows users to search by grade level and find articles geared toward science education. Topics range anywhere from space travel to flight operations to the solar system. Webinars, online tutorials and interactive games can be accessed through the website to provide a hands-on learning experience. Activities, including puzzles and coloring pages, are also available for download. 

- Khan Academy: Free online courses are available for children ranging from pre-K up to high school level through this learning center. Academic subject content is assembled by experts and entails Math, Science, Reading, Language Arts and Social Studies. Life Skills courses include social/emotional learning, finance, growth mindset and career choice. Instructional tools are tailored to support appropriate acceleration of learning based on the child’s individual pace. Parents can sign up for their own account and add children and courses. Educators are able to monitor progress to determine where children may need assistance or further study.

- TEDEd: This free online database features Ted Talks on a wide array of subjects. The purpose is to stimulate and support the ideas of both learners and educators. Users can create video-based lessons, and students can develop talks from home on their own. Learning videos are organized by themes and are appropriate for all age levels. Subjects such as math, literature, science, social studies and health are at the user’s fingertips. Nature-based learning is also accessible.  

- Duolingo: This app is available on smart phones for Apple and Android users. The program offers interactive lessons in over 30 languages. Courses include writing, reading, and speaking in an effort to promote fluency in the language. Duolingo is ideal for homeschooling since children are exposed to easy lessons and rewarding games for fun learning. While options are available for additional paid membership features, full access to the app is available at no charge.

When the United States was initially affected by the Covid-19 virus, many companies reached out to offer free or deeply discounted educational resources. In fact, some of those offers are still in existence. In addition to the list provided of homeschool materials at no cost, do not forget that YouTube is a great resource for educational videos. Other streaming programs offer documentaries on different topics, as well. The app store on your smartphone can be valuable for gathering free and affordable educational resources. Do not rule out Pinterest and your local library as quality sources that offer free tools for homeschool learning. Finally, check in with local preschools to hear what teachers and other professionals recommend for online educational programs.