Amazing Catholic Homeschool Curriculum (and more!)

Inside: Easy to use, affordable, excellent Catholic homeschool curriculum (and other great curriculum)

I often get asked what Catholic homeschool curriculum I suggest for particular subjects.

While I do share our curriculum plans every year, I thought it might be helpful to break it down a bit further and share our favorite Catholic homeschool curriculum.

See our homeschool plans here:

2021-2022 Homeschool Curriculum Choices (9th, 4th, 3rd, 1st)

2020-2021 Homeschool Curriculum Choices (8th, 4th, 2nd, 1st)

2019-2020 Homeschool Curriculum (7th, 3rd, 1st, PreK)

2018-2019 Homeschool Curriculum (6th, 2nd, K)

2017-2018 Homeschool Curriculum (5th, 1st, PreK)

2016-2017 Homeschool Curriculum (4th, K)

Now onto my favorite picks! You’ll find a mix of Catholic and non-Catholic alike.

Preschool

Rod and Staff workbooks (Preschool)

These little books are a standby for our family. They are so simple, affordable, and the perfect gentle introduction for little ones who want to “do school.”

Get ready for the Code

These are a gentle approach to phonics that we have used with our last 3 kids. Very simple, no contraptions, grab and go!

Mathematics

I may get some grief over this choice because Abeka is a known anti-Catholic publisher. Of course, I’ve never found anything in their math books that is anti-Catholic, but I don’t appreciate supporting a known anti-Catholic organization.

That said, I’ve looked far and wide for an early math program that comes close to the ease of use and rigor of Abeka Arithmetic. We use their affordable workbooks (no teacher book necessary) for grades K – 3rd.

Rod and Staff (Grades 4-6)

This is a new to us resource that I am loving. It is rigorous but has lots of practice problems so I’m not left trying to make up practice problems. We previously used Saxon for our oldest son, but I much prefer the traditional approach of these no-nonsense textbooks.

Memoria Press Mathematics (Pre-Algebra, Algebra I & II, Geometry, and beyond)

Memoria Press is a new curriculum for us. Many of their courses can be taken through the Memoria Press Online Academy.

It’s been a relief to our family to hand off these more intense subject to an outside source as well as let our son experience learning from someone other than me.

Their courses and books are traditional and rigorous.

Phonics, Reading & Spelling

Memoria Press Phonics Flashcards

These flashcards are a great way to quickly review phonics facts.

Little Angel Readers

We were blessed to be gifted with these Little Angel Readers. They have provide great practice for my beginning readers. They have accompanying workbooks if you are interested, but we don’t use those.

Bob Books

By now you are surely familiar with the Bob Books. You can never have too many easy readers for your beginning readers.

Seton Spelling series

Once our children become established readers, we move into spelling. I’ve tried lots of different spelling programs over the years but have come to love the affordable and easy to use workbooks from Seton.

Penmanship

Seton workbooks

The Seton handwriting workbooks provide a lot of practice and we rarely complete a book in a year’s time. My children enjoy the timeless art and learning about the saints in their books.

Good and Beautiful

I had one student who wasn’t ready to move completely into cursive. The Good and Beautiful Grade 3 has been the perfect balance of cursive and print.

Grammar

Seton English Workbooks (Grades 3-5)

The Seton English workbooks provide lots of drill for students who are just learning the basics of English. We use them for grades 3 through 5.

IEW Fix-It Series (Grades 6-9)

While I like to start my kids in Seton English, I move them to applying the principles with IEW Fix-IT series.

Not only does my oldest have a great handle on the English language, but I’ve learned a lot as well!

Writing

Institute for Excellence in Writing

This is the program that took my son from staring at a blank page to writing beautifully! I never question where I will shop for our writing curriculum.

Mr. Pudewa breaks down the writing process in an incredibly easy to understand process.

Religion

Baltimore Catechism

The Baltimore Catechism is where we start for the foundation of our children’s education in the faith.

It is affordable and easy to use.

You can find out how we use this resource and print a weekly schedule here: Baltimore Catechism: A Step by Step Guide

Our Lady of Victory Religion Series

For middle school, our children continue to work through deeper levels of the Baltimore Catechism with this series. The child reads it and we have discussions once a week.

Science

Reading and nature study (elementary)

We keep science very, very simple in elementary. The children read widely and study things that are interesting to them. We save formal science for 8th-12th.

Memoria Press (middle school and high school)

Again, Memoria Press materials are quite new to our family but I am loving the organization and rigor for upper level classes.

Our oldest is currently studying self-paced Modern Biology. We will likely utilize Memoria Press Academy for Physics and Chemistry.

History

Story of the World (elementary)

What do you do when your kids get sick or when you have a long car trip? In our home, it’s Story of the World audiobooks to the rescue.

My children (and husband) love them too!

They are more affordable on Memoria Press’s website.

Story of Civilization (elementary)

Guided by a sweet reader, our family has picked up the Story of Civilization audiobooks. This series is very similar to Story of the World but done by a Catholic company.

Memoria Press History series (high school)

Again, we love the ease of using Memoria Press and the rigor they provide for upper grades.

Geography

States and Capital flashcards

In 3rd grade our children memorize the states and capitals. We then review in 4th grade paying attention to spelling and abbreviations.

Flashcards make this quick work!

Memoria Press World Flashcards

Also in 4th grade (and some of 5th) we move in to memorizing the countries of the world.

Memoria Press has a wonderful set of flashcards for this purpose!

Latin

Latin for Children (6th – 8th)

My oldest son enjoyed learning a bit of Latin in middle school. I wouldn’t call this course rigorous, but it has helped with his high school courses and with his understanding of English grammar.

Memoria Press Henle Latin I, II, III (9th-11th)

For high school, we are enjoying the ease of Memoria Press Academy for our son’s Latin studies. It is nice to hand this subject off to the experts!

Computer

Typing.com

All my children (except for the youngest two) have used the free Typing.com program to learn basic typing skills. Free and easy!

Top Tech Boy

This is a find from engineer Husband. Our oldest LOVES programming and LOVES the teacher too! Many of the courses are free except for materials.

Memory Work

Harp & Laurel Wreath

If you need a bit of inspiration for memory work, The Harp and the Laurel Wreath is an excellent resource. It is also a wonderful collection of poems to read aloud.

Piano

Hoffman Academy

Our oldest has really enjoyed his time with Hoffman Academy. He was not thrilled about learning piano but has thoroughly enjoyed the program.

I hope to have the younger children start sometime this year with Hoffman Academy.

Agree or disagree with some of my choices? I’d love to know what works for your Catholic homeschool family!