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COMPREHENSIVE: SECULAR, LITERATURE BASED
KEY:
Website
Cost
Video Instruction
Online Media
Textbook Coursebook
Literature
Based
Faith
Based
Review
Teacher Support
Important Note: most of the following curriculum options are "literature based," meaning they teach subjects in an integrated fashion using literature "spines" to teach, engage, and enhance learning. Many of these publishers offer a la carte subjects as well, so you can opt to teach some, or all, of the subjects in this integrated manner. One of the benefits of an integrated curriculum is that students can "kill two birds with one stone" so to speak, completing two subjects (i.e. literature and science) in one lesson. One downside is that there may be less "depth" offered in a specific subject due to the integrated nature.
OAK MEADOW (K - 12)​
Secular, literature- and activity-based curriculum
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"The Oak Meadow homeschool curriculum provides students and families with an accessible, well-rounded, and academically complete education. Each coursebook includes 36-weekly lesson plans, with a variety of assignments, activities, and readings. For the home teacher’s convenience, we’ve included assignment checklists, planners, materials lists, and learning assessment rubrics to track student progress. Many families enjoy the structure of our 36-week lesson plans, and others take advantage of the built-in flexibility of the curriculum design by adding, subtracting, or adjusting the material as needed or desired. Teacher manuals, craft kits, and supplementary materials are available for further guidance and enrichment." -Publisher
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This curriculum provides an organized approach to home learning, with a robust curriculum filled with authentic learning experiences that connect to literature, written work, and engaging hands-on activities. This modern approach encourages skill development, understanding, critical thinking, awareness through observation, and creativity.
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Cost: $500+ per grade level package; finance through Affirm
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SUBJECTS: Core + large range of electives
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INSTRUCTION: Guided coursebook + supporting literature​
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INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Parent
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: Packages available
BOOK SHARK (K - 12)​
Secular, fully comprehensive literature-supported curriculum
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"BookShark is a complete, literature-based, homeschool curriculum. Our curriculum uses a variety of educational resources including literary fiction and nonfiction, biographies, illustrations and hands-on experiments to deliver an engaging and complete education that extends beyond textbook memorization. Our curriculum is easy for parents to teach. All of the planning and preparation is done for you so you can enjoy learning together. We provide 36-week, 4-day schedules designed to save one day a week for sports, field trips or other extracurricular activities. BookShark combines a proprietary History, Science and Language Arts offering with a wide range of math options, including Math-U-See, Saxon, Singapore, and more to ensure you have everything you need for an entire school year." -Publisher
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This curriculum provides leveled learning in all core subjects, packaged into literature-supported bundles that provide a comprehensive learning experience. Of all the homeschool curriculum models out there, this one is probably the most similar in instructional resources and content to what you might find in a high-performing public or private school. This company blends resources from a few publishers, including their own, to ensure students receive a top-quality experience in all subject. Families can purchase all-subject or single-subject packages. A virtual option has recently been introduced.
Cost: $800+ per all-subject package; $45+ per subject
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SUBJECTS: Core subjects + limited electives
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INSTRUCTION: Subject coursebooks + supporting literature​
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INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Parent
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
MOVING BEYOND THE PAGE (K - 12)​
Secular, interdisciplinary (combined subjects), literature- and project- based
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"Creating a curriculum for gifted, creative, and hands-on learners takes a unique approach to curriculum design. The end result is a curriculum that is different from any other you will find in the homeschool or distance learning market. Utilizing an interdisciplinary curriculum can help your child discover connections among subjects. Math and science go hand in hand. Social Studies cannot be understood without reading authentic documents and literature from different time periods and different perspectives. Life does not isolate these subjects, and your child's curriculum should not teach them in isolation either. Moving Beyond the Page is the only curriculum that integrates the subjects of science, social studies, and language arts from preschool through middle school.
" -Publisher
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This curriculum is specialized for gifted learners, but appropriate and enriching for all. State standards are expertly integrated into each level, providing a well-organized approach to home learning, in a robust, thematically centered-curriculum filled with authentic learning experiences that are relevant and drive a high level of interest and engagement. This modern approach encourages skill development, understanding, critical thinking, awareness through observation, and creativity. *NOTE: all-subject packages are available through age 12. Current course offerings in high school are limited to Language Arts.
Cost: $1000+ per grade level package; $180+ per subject
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SUBJECTS: Integrated Science, LA & Social Studies; + Math
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INSTRUCTION: Guided coursebook + supporting literature​
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INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Parent
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
BUILD YOUR LIBRARY (K - 12)​
Secular, thematic, literature-based curriculum
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"Open and go. Homeschooling, simplified… literature-based, Charlotte Mason inspired lesson plans. Education is not one size fits all. I’ve spent years creating a secular homeschool curriculum that takes a literature approach to educating children in all the subjects you’d learn in public school – only better. My focus is on education with all the essential foundations built into a Charlotte Mason inspired curriculum that is progressive and fun. Your children will learn subjects like history, literature, science and language arts – just to name a few." -Publisher
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NOTE: This package may not fully address all standards, especially if modified in any way, but was worth including as an option for literature-based instruction. This curriculum provides age-leveled learning, packaged into thematic, literature-based coursebooks that guide the parent and student through a year of learning. Subjects are not stand-alone - they are integrated and center around a common theme, providing a cohesive and interesting learning experience. This type of curriculum allows for a lot of liberty in terms of tailoring to an individual student's needs and it tends to inspire creativity and deep levels of engagement. That being said, this curriculum is NOT for the faint of heart - it requires SUBSTANTIAL parent organization, planning, and involvement. The coursebook is inexpensive and available for download on the website, but keep in mind, the parent is responsible for acquiring or purchasing the "spine" texts (textbooks used for core learning) and abundant supporting literature, which are linked on the website.
Cost: $30+ per leveled coursebook + cost of literature
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SUBJECTS: Thematic curriculum that integrates core subjects
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INSTRUCTION: Guided coursebook + supporting literature​
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INTEGRATED ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Parent
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No