I know it does. As someone who has spent 13 years shaping their own children through life, and watching others do the same, I can't tell you the amount of success I've seen homeschoolers achieve. I've watched them become pilots, doctors, engineers, parents, and overall great people.
Our family is constantly on the go. Come along with us and read about our ups and downs as we explore new places around town, cook awesome food, read a ton of books, and learn about everything along the way!
The longer I homeschool, the more relaxed we get. The more I watch my children grow, the more I realize that their education is something they have more control over than I (or even they) realize.
Our journey began in 2012 when my oldest son "The Kidd" was in first grade. I was tired of the issues we were having at school. He was being told where and how to play on the playground, spending an hour on homework, lacking true support in areas he was struggling with, and the school's inability to be flexible about our travel schedule. I was working as a nanny at the time (and had been since before he was born), and negotiated bringing him to work with me with the family I was working for.
Over the years, and with more children running around now, our reasons for continuing to homeschool have grown and evolved, but ultimately, it all comes down to this being the best choice for our family.
"Didn't you used to be Hip Hop Homeschoolers?"
YEP! Evolution. But we still love hip hop!
~ TikTok ~
~ Facebook ~
~ Instagram ~
Weirdly domestic homeschooling, work-from-home mom of...hmm, I seem to have lost count. When not wiping noses, playing taxi, or washing a never-ending pile of laundry, I spend stolen moments in the bathroom reading as much as I can and drinking heavily reheated butter coffee.
Books are the backbone of not only our homeschool but our household. Books open the world to endless knowledge and imagination. Say it with me: "There's no such thing as twaddle!"
The homeschool collective has traditionally been white, Christian, conservative, and exclusive. We homeschool in the real world and believe that homogenous groups of any kind aren't ideal for learning.
Everyone can and should homeschool their child(ren) the way they want, even within the confines of federal and state laws, charter regulations, work situations, family dynamics, local demographics, financial circumstances, and more.
Abundant Freedom Homeschool recommends using fully secular and inclusive curricula,
and using #OwnVoices at every opportunity.
“Fully secular” curricula contain no religious references outside of discussions of world religions in an academic capacity. Science is fully and deeply explored and covers universal creation origins that center on the Big Bang Theory and include discussions on evolution.
“Neutral” curriculum is often sold as secular and is often written by faith-based authors. A neutral curriculum generally chooses to forego all discussion of creation and evolution in science topics, and many health courses tend to skip reproduction and related body systems.
I'm happy to add it once reviewed, should I feel it meets secular/inclusive standards. Please reach out to me via any of my social media channels, and I will get back to you.
Literature-based for preK-6
Torchlight uses the Socratic method to engage children and their learning partners in a process of discovery and thinking critically and organically.
Notes: The curriculum includes PDF files only -- you must print the guides yourself, as well as purchase or borrow all required/recommended books. A separate math program is needed.
Literature-based for K-12
"BYL" models the Charlotte Mason philosophy of homeschooling by incorporating general education subjects with nature studies and using narration, dictation, copywork, memory work, etc to support language arts learning.
Notes: The curriculum includes PDF files only -- you must print the guides yourself, as well as purchase or borrow all required/recommended books. A separate math program is needed.
Literature-based for preK-6
Blossom & Root is a hands-on curriculum that focuses on nature studies, literature, science, and art.
Notes: The curriculum includes PDF files only -- you must print the guides yourself, as well as purchase or borrow all required/recommended books. A separate math program is needed.
Workbook-based for preK-12. Online, teacher-supported academy available
Oak Meadow is a traditional education curriculum that includes textbooks, teacher guides, lesson plans, craft and science kits (elementary), and more. They also offer a teacher support option, and a full accredited academy if you enroll in their online school.
Notes: Oak Meadow's structure offers an all-inclusive "complete" curriculum in K-4 which require a single teacher guide and course book, then begins offering individual subjects for grades 5-12.
Online Only, preK-College
Khan Academy offers complete online curriculum in math and language arts for grades 2-12, as well as science, history, and test prep for middle and high school. Their mobile app 'Khan Academy Kids' offers beginning math and reading for PreK-2nd.
Workbook-based for preK-5
McRuffy offers language arts, handwriting, math, and science as fully printed, full-color workbooks. Online version available for level K as well as online practice games for k-3. Science is available until grade 3. Placement tests are available.
Note: McRuffy was originally written for use in Christian Private schools, and edited to create secular versions. While I have not personally found problematic material in the curriculum, I also have not reviewed any of the science.
Literature & workbook-based for K-9. Online option included in purchase.
Formerly "Moving Beyond the Page" the company offers complete curriculum for all subjects for grades K-9 (as of Spring 2024). Fully Printed workbook-style curriculum. Math is included until grade 6 and only Language Arts is available for the first year of high school.
Notes: Secular users of Beyond the Page have shown claims of problematic views regarding Indigenous Americans, women's roles, health topics, and assumptions of Biblical knowledge.
Unit Studies for K-5
Waldock Way offers basic unit study guides for a variety of subjects. Units can be done using the provided book lists and videos and are easy to add to. Student and teachers guides are included. PDF guide only. Must purchase or borrow all books separately.
Notes: Units include PDF files only -- you must print the guides yourself, as well as purchase or borrow all required/recommended books. The anatomy unit does not include a section on reproduction, and books listed in the space unit avoid talk of age-based origins. The Waldock Way Blog is NOT secular.
Literature-based for K-12
BookShark is a complete, literature-based, homeschool curriculum offering a parent and student guides for all subjects, and a full, detailed schedule.
Notes: Bookshark is the "secular versions" of Sonlight curriculum. The program has historically used non-secular book options for science and history. Recently, they have been working to update their curriculum packages to include more truly secular options and all-inclusive science.
Abundant Freedom unit studies are constantly in production. The following is the tentative release schedule for for 2025.
Please note that "life happens" and these plans are subject to some change. Items are not listed in release order.
✓ Picture Book Study - Bodies Are Cool
✓ Picture Book Study - The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story
✓ Short Vowels: A Workbook for New Readers
✓ Decodable Sentences: A Workbook for New Readers
X P̶i̶c̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ ̶B̶o̶o̶k̶ ̶S̶t̶u̶d̶y̶ ̶-̶ ̶G̶o̶,̶ ̶W̶i̶l̶m̶a̶,̶ ̶G̶o̶! SCRAPPED
✓ Picture Book Study - Signs of Friendship
✓ Handwriting Made Fun 3 (cursive)
✓ Keys to Comprehension 2
✓ 5 Minute Writing: Quick Write Exercises
✓ Reading w/ Heart: An SEL-Based Language Arts Workbook
✓ Word Warriors 2
✓ Slam Dunk Vocabulary: A Vocabulary Workbook
✓ Book Rewind - The Great Cake Mystery
Novel & Writing Unit - Cookies & Milk - DELAYED
Novel & Writing Unit - Cookies & Milk
Novel & Writing Unit - Stef Soto, Taco Queen
Novel & Writing Unit - Measuring Up
Book Rewind - Book Uncle & Me
Book Rewind - Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World
Novel Study - Zoe in Wonderland
Cultural California: A 6-week Unit Study on the Golden State
Wild & Wacky Weather
Picture Book Study - Looking for a Jumbie
Picture Book Study - Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story
A Jazzy Christmas: A secular study of the world’s most famous Christmas poem
A secular update to our long-time favorite preschool weather study
Sequential, beginner writing instruction & novel studies
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