BEST First Grade Homeschool Curriculum // 1st Grade Picks [2024]

Choosing the right curriculum for your first-grade homeschool journey is a crucial decision that sets the foundation for your child’s educational path. As the primary educator, you have the unique opportunity to tailor the learning experience to suit your child’s individual needs, interests, and learning style. With a plethora of options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the best 1st-grade homeschool curriculum.

In this article, we will explore the top ten first-grade homeschool curriculum choices for 2023.

These carefully selected programs offer a diverse range of approaches, ensuring an engaging and effective learning experience for your child.

Homeschool programs we’ll look at are:

1. BJU Press – teach it yourself with teachers’ manuals or video lessons to save time (for busy parents)
2. Schoolhouse Teachers – full curriculum with a huge range a tiny price
3. Masterbooks – a popular Charlotte Mason option
4. Lifepac – paper-based, self-paced workbooks by AOP
5. Horizons – teacher-led for younger preschool early learning
6. Rod and Staff – rigorous homeschool curriculum (workbooks)
7. Easy Peasy – free Christian program
8. A Gentle Feast – Charlotte Mason curriculum
9. All About Reading/All About Spelling – hands on phonics/reading/spelling program
10. Five in a Row – unit studies curriculum

Let’s delve into the world of first-grade homeschool curriculum and discover the ideal fit for your child’s educational journey.

Affiliate links are used in this post. 

BJU Press offers one of the best first-grade homeschool curriculum options.

Their educational materials are designed with a biblical worldview, offering a unique perspective for young learners.

Their curriculum ensures academic rigor while promoting critical thinking skills.

BJU Press also has a great first-grade science curriculum that is hands-on which sparks curiosity.

They also offer a fine first-grade social studies curriculum homeschool which joins history and geography together (Heritage Studies).

The program also incorporates appropriate educational technology in its blended curriculum to enhance the learning experience for first-grade students.

Check out a review here or go directly to BJU Press here.

Masterbooks curriculum is a comprehensive, easy, Charlotte Mason first-grade homeschool curriculum that provides a solid foundation for young learners.

It’s widely regarded as it teaches children mainly through stories or narratives.

Based on a Christian worldview, this curriculum offers various subjects, including math, language arts, science, history, and more, all infused with engaging, age-appropriate content.

With its interactive and visually appealing approach, Masterbooks keeps young minds actively involved in the learning process.

The curriculum’s emphasis on critical thinking and character development helps foster a well-rounded education, making it a top choice for parents seeking the best first-grade homeschool curriculum for their children.

Check out a review of Masterbooks here or the curriculum here.

LIFEPAC is a popular self-paced homeschooling curriculum that offers a unique approach to education through individualized workbooks designed for kids to complete independently and offline.

Developed by Alpha Omega Publications, LIFEPAC covers various subjects, including math, language arts, science, history, and more, divided into manageable units.

Each unit has its own workbook, providing clear instructions and exercises for students to complete at their own pace.

This format allows children to take ownership of their learning journey, fostering self-discipline and time management skills.

With LIFEPAC’s structured and self-directed approach, it has become a trusted choice for parents seeking an open-and-go homeschool curriculum for their first-grade students.

Check out a review of Lifepac here or the curriculum here.

The Rod and Staff Curriculum is a renowned homeschooling program that’s been around for many years.

It has a conservative Mennonite Christian affiliation, offering a rigorous education across various subjects like math, language arts, science, social studies, and Bible studies.

It emphasizes traditional teaching methods, including repetition and drill exercises, to ensure thorough understanding and mastery of concepts.

With a deeply integrated Christian worldview, the curriculum aims to instill strong academic and religious values, making it a favored and affordable choice among Christian homeschooling families seeking a structured and faith-based approach to education.

Check out their curriculum directly here.

The Free Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool Curriculum is a comprehensive Christian-based homeschooling program that offers a self-paced and free educational solution for families.

Designed for children of all ages, including first-grade students, it provides a complete curriculum covering various subjects such as math, language arts, science, history, Bible study, art, music, and more.

The curriculum is structured so children can work independently, making it an excellent choice for parents seeking a flexible approach to homeschooling.

Easy Peasy’s self-guided format allows kids to progress at their own pace and explore the material with minimal supervision.

As a Christian curriculum, it incorporates biblical teachings throughout the lessons, helping children develop a strong spiritual foundation alongside their academic growth.

The fact that it is entirely free makes it a valuable resource for families on a budget or those looking for high-quality, accessible homeschooling options.

With its ease of use, Christian values, and cost-effectiveness, the Free Easy Peasy All-in-One Curriculum has become a reliable choice for first-grade homeschooling.

A Gentle Feast curriculum is a wonderful first-grade curriculum homeschool pick.

It is a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooling program that immerses students in a rich and captivating educational experience.

Based on the principles of 19th-century educator Charlotte Mason, this curriculum prioritizes living books, nature study, art, music, and hands-on activities to cultivate a genuine love for learning and a holistic education.

With a gentle and flexible approach, children are encouraged to progress at their own pace, allowing for deep exploration of subjects.

Emphasizing literature over traditional textbooks, A Gentle Feast uses living books authored by passionate writers to captivate young minds.

Nature study is pivotal, fostering observation and appreciation of the natural world.

Art and music appreciation add to the cultural exposure, and short lessons maintain attention while instilling good habits and character development.

This comprehensive and heart-centered approach nurtures curiosity, wonder, and character, making A Gentle Feast a valuable choice for families seeking a truly fulfilling and inspiring homeschooling journey.

Check out their curriculum directly here.

The All About Learning Curriculum is a popular homeschool program for first-grade students, focusing on spelling, reading, and phonics.

It offers 20-minute parent-friendly lessons, a Mastery-Based approach for self-paced learning, lifetime support, and multiple levels to cater to diverse needs.

Free placement tests are available, and the hands-on package includes letter tiles, magnets, dividers, flashcards, and a tote bag.

Check out their website for more information here.

Five in a Row is a unit studies homeschool approach that revolves around high-quality children’s literature as the core teaching tool.

Developed by Jane Claire Lambert, this curriculum offers a unique and immersive educational experience for students, allowing them to explore various subjects, including language arts, social studies, science, art, and more, through captivating books.

Each week, students delve deep into a different book, engaging in suggested activities and discussions related to the story, characters, and themes.

This hands-on and literature-based approach fosters critical thinking and creativity, making lessons engaging and memorable.

Moreover, the unit study format enables children of different ages to learn together, making it an ideal family-style homeschool curriculum.

Five in a Row provides a flexible and enjoyable way to homeschool, centered around literature and unit-based exploration, creating a well-rounded and enriching educational experience for students of all ages.

Look at their curriculum here.

ACE – 1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum

ACE (Accelerated Christian Education) PACEs is a Christian curriculum designed for first-grade students, offering a self-paced and individualized learning experience.

The curriculum focuses on integrating faith-based teachings with academic subjects, providing a comprehensive and values-driven education.

Each PACE (Packets of Accelerated Christian Education) is a consumable booklet that covers a specific subject, such as math, language arts, science, social studies, and Bible studies.

Students work through the PACEs independently, following clear instructions and completing various exercises and activities.

One of the key features of the ACE PACEs curriculum is incorporating Bible verses and Christian principles throughout the lessons.

This integration aims to nurture students’ spiritual growth and character development as they progress through the academic material.

The self-paced nature of ACE PACEs allows students to advance at their own speed, promoting a sense of mastery and confidence in their learning.

Additionally, the curriculum offers diagnostic assessments to determine the appropriate starting point for each student, ensuring a personalized learning path.

ACE tends to be on the less rigorous side of academic learning.

This makes it a good option for less academic students or students with special needs, which makes learning a little more tricky than usual.

Check out this 1st Grade homeschool curriculum directly here.

Secular 1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum Options

There are also a number of 1st grade curriculum options that are secular. These include:

1. Beautiful Feet Books
2. Great Books Homeschool
3. The Waldock Way
4. Juni Learning
5. Acellus
6. Under the Home
7. K12
8. Reading Eggs
9. Oak Meadow
10. Connections Academy 
11. Khan Academy
12. ABCmouse
13. Moving Beyond the Page
14. Bookshark
15. Beast Academy

Check them out in more detail here.

First-Grade Homeschool Curriculum Books

Many parents choose to supplement their existing curriculum with appropriate books that teach literature, character, and other subjects.

Here is a list of some 1st Grade homeschool books:

• BJU Press Journeyforth books – teach character (FREE shipping)
  • If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover. 
  • They Didn’t Use Their Heads by Jo Ann Stover. 
  • Very Like a Star by Dawn L. Watkins. 
  • Play Fair, Little Bear by Kathleen Allan-Meyer.
• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
• The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman
• Winnie the Pooh series by AA Milne and Ernest H. Shepard.
• Beatrix Potter series (23 Books)
• The Little House by Virginia Burton
• The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
• The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
• Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
• Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
• One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
• Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
• Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall, illustrated by Barbara Cooney
• Stone Soup and other folk tale retellings by Marcia Brown
• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
• Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit by Joel Chandler Harris
• Various animal stories by Thornton Burgess
• Poems and Prayers for the Very Young by Martha Alexander
• A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
• The Three Billy Goats Gruff
• Aesop’s Fables, illustrated by Milo Winter
• The Real Mother Goose illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright
• Poems for Young Children compiled by Caroline Royds
• A Child’s Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa
• The World Treasury of Children’s Literature selected by Clifton Fadiman.

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