Eclectic / DIY approach

Piece Together Your Own Curriculum

Instead of one all-in-one subscription, choose resources subject by subject — a math spine here, a living-books list there, a free video course for science. More control, often lower cost, and more planning on your side.

See the building blocksOr compare all-in-one platforms

How the approach works

Think in subjects, not in a single box. For each subject you pick a spine — the main resource that drives the year — then layer in readers, practice, and projects.

  1. 1List the subjects each child needs this year.
  2. 2Choose one spine per subject (a book, a workbook, an online course, or a free video library).
  3. 3Add readers, practice, and one weekly hands-on or project activity per subject.
  4. 4Track what you actually covered and keep a few work samples for records.
  5. 5Review each term: keep what's working, swap what isn't.

Building blocks by subject

A starter shape for each core subject. Pick one spine and keep the rest light.

Math

Pick one spine — a workbook, an online practice tool, or a video course — and stick with it for the year so concepts build in order. Add a short daily practice loop and a weekly challenge or game.

Language arts

Combine reading (real books), writing (short daily or weekly pieces), and grammar/spelling in small doses. A read-aloud plus copywork covers a surprising amount for younger kids.

Science

Alternate hands-on experiments with living books and short videos. Keep a simple notebook of questions, observations, and sketches. Decide early whether you want secular or faith-based framing.

Social studies

History and geography pair well as a single loop. A spine (textbook or video series) plus historical fiction, maps, and timelines keeps it cohesive without a heavy daily load.

Electives

Foreign language, art, music, coding, and life skills slot in as the year allows. Free apps, library kits, and short online courses each cover one elective at a time.

Free & low-cost resources worth knowing

A few well-known starting points. Worldview varies — confirm fit before adopting any of them wholesale.

Khan Academy

Secular

Free, secular. Strong for math (K through calculus) and science. Video lessons plus practice with progress tracking.

CK-12

Secular

Free, secular. Digital flexbooks and practice for math and science across many grade levels.

Ambleside Online

Christian

Free Charlotte Mason curriculum built on living books. Christian framing — confirm fit before adopting wholesale.

Easy Peasy All-in-One

Christian

Free full curriculum across subjects. Christian worldview throughout — review before use.

Local library + interlibrary loan

Neutral

Free living books, audiobooks, documentaries, and museum passes. The single best resource for an eclectic year.

Used bookstores & thrift

Neutral

Low-cost workbooks, reference books, and literature. Stock a home library for the price of one month's subscription.

Recommended programs by subject

A curated starter list for each subject block. Pick one spine per subject — the free options above plus one paid pick is often plenty for a full year.

Math

Math-U-See

Neutral

Mastery-based with manipulatives and short video lessons.

Approx. $45–$140/level

Singapore Math

Neutral

Concrete–pictorial–abstract sequence with bar modeling.

Approx. $15–$35/book

Saxon Math

Neutral

Spiral approach: new concept daily plus constant review.

Approx. $30–$100/level

Teaching Textbooks

Neutral

Self-paced video math with auto-grading.

Approx. $40–$70/level

Math Mammoth

Neutral

Affordable mastery worktexts with strong mental math.

Approx. $40–$50/grade

Beast Academy

Neutral

Comic-book rigor for math-strong kids.

Approx. $15–$20/month

RightStart Mathematics

Neutral

Abacus-based, hands-on, conceptual math.

Approx. $90–$200/level

CTCMath

Neutral

Online video lessons across all levels, one family plan.

Approx. $15–$30/month

MobyMax

Neutral

Adaptive practice that diagnoses and fills gaps.

Free; premium ~$7–$10/mo

Reading, Phonics & Language Arts

All About Reading

Neutral

Explicit, multisensory phonics with scripted lessons.

Approx. $80–$120/level

All About Spelling

Neutral

Rule-based spelling that explains the 'why'.

Approx. $30–$70/level

Logic of English

Neutral

Systematic phonics and spelling; strong for dyslexia.

Approx. $40–$90/level

IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Neutral

Structure-and-style writing with clear rubrics.

Approx. $129–$169/course

Brave Writer

Neutral

Gentle, literature-rich writing for reluctant writers.

Approx. $79–$199/program

Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts

Neutral

Rigorous, idea-rich grammar, vocab, and poetics.

Approx. $30–$70/book

Essentials in Writing

Neutral

Short daily video lessons; little parent teaching.

Approx. $50–$110/grade

Night Zookeeper

Neutral

Story-world creative writing with prompts and feedback.

Approx. $6–$10/month

Reading Eggs

Neutral

Level-based reading program with built-in library.

Approx. $10–$14/month

Science

Mystery Science

Neutral

Open-and-go video lessons with household activities.

Approx. $69–$99/year

Generation Genius

Neutral

Scientist-hosted videos with DIY activities.

Approx. $95–$145/year

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey

Secular

Hands-on secular science with weekly labs.

Approx. $25–$45/level

Science Mom

Neutral

Friendly video science with experiments and journals.

Free; courses ~$10–$15/mo

Elemental Science

Secular

Classical-model science with encyclopedic reading.

Approx. $20–$40/level

Noeo Science

Neutral

Literature-based science with books in the box.

Approx. $40–$70/level

History & Social Studies

History Quest

Secular

Narrative world history with a travel-guide style.

Approx. $25–$50/volume

Story of the World

Neutral

Four-year narrative history with activity guides.

Approx. $15–$40/volume

Curiosity Chronicles

Secular

Secular, inclusive chronological world history.

Approx. $30–$50/volume

Beautiful Feet Books

Neutral

History through curated living books and discussion.

Approx. $40–$80/guide

Notgrass History

Christian

Christian, literature-based history with Bible woven in.

Approx. $50–$70/level

History Odyssey

Secular

Secular, literature-rich four-year history cycle.

Approx. $30–$40/level

Charlotte Mason / Nature / Literature-Based

Blossom and Root

Secular

Gentle, secular, nature-and-literature-rich.

Approx. $50–$90/level

Torchlight Curriculum

Secular

Secular, inclusive literature with a global book list.

Approx. $50–$100/level

Build Your Library

Secular

Secular, literature-based with daily lesson plans.

Approx. $45–$80/level

Harbor + Sprout

Neutral

Themed unit-study bundles across all subjects.

Approx. $50–$100/level

Wild Learning

Neutral

Nature-based, outdoor, seasonal learning.

Approx. $30–$50/level

Supplemental Online Learning

IXL

Neutral

Deep adaptive practice with detailed analytics.

Approx. $9–$20/month

ABCmouse

Neutral

Gamified early-learning enrichment.

Approx. $10–$13/month

Adventure Academy

Neutral

Gamified virtual world for ages 8–13.

Approx. $13–$15/month

Prodigy

Neutral

Fantasy game for math and English practice.

Free; ~$5–$9/mo

Outschool

Neutral

Live, small-group online classes by interest.

Per class ~$10–$30+

BrainPOP

Neutral

Short animated videos with quizzes across subjects.

Approx. $16/month

Education.com

Neutral

Worksheets, games, and guided lessons by skill.

Free; ~$8–$15/mo

Already listed above in Free & low-cost resources: Khan Academy and AmblesideOnline.

When it shines — and when it doesn't

Honest trade-offs versus an all-in-one subscription platform.

What you gain

  • Total control over what each child studies and how.
  • Often significantly cheaper than a full all-in-one subscription, especially with free resources.
  • Easy to swap one subject without rebuilding the whole year.
  • Lets you match each subject to a child's level and attention span.

What you carry

  • More research and planning time on the parent every year.
  • No built-in grading, transcripts, or record keeping — you track it.
  • Patching five subjects can feel like managing five small projects.
  • Gaps are possible if you're not tracking scope and sequence per subject.

A planning checklist

Seven questions to answer before you start buying or downloading.

  1. 1

    List the subjects your state requires at each child's grade level.

  2. 2

    Pick one spine (paid or free) for each core subject — not five per subject.

  3. 3

    Decide a worldview frame (secular, neutral, or faith-based) up front and note it per resource.

  4. 4

    Map a rough weekly rhythm so no subject is forgotten.

  5. 5

    Set up a simple record-keeping system: books read, topics covered, work samples.

  6. 6

    Budget per subject rather than per child — some cost nothing, some cost more.

  7. 7

    Build in one 'gap' check per term: did each subject actually move forward?

Prefer someone to do it for you?

If piecing it together sounds like more planning than you want, an all-in-one online subscription handles the spine, grading, and often records for you. Compare the seven platforms side by side — or grab the printable PDF guide.

Compare all-in-one platformsDownload the PDF guide

These listings are independent editorial reviews. Prices and details are approximate and may change — confirm them on each publisher's own website. Homeschooling Smart does not sell, resell, or take orders for any of these third-party programs; links go to the publishers, who handle their own sales. The only products sold on this site are our own digital downloads and tools, listed in the Shop.