Welcome to my Gather ‘Round Homeschool curriculum review—the deep dive you never knew you needed but are now totally here for. This isn’t just another boxed set with a mile-high pile of worksheets. Nope. Gather ‘Round is like the “cool aunt” of homeschool curriculums: creative, flexible, gospel-centered, and just a little artsy.
After years of reviewing curriculum (and building a small mountain of samples in my closet), Gather ‘Round popped up on my radar—and not just because of the gorgeous illustrations or the whole “teach all your kids at once” promise.
I’d heard buzz about it, and being a longtime curriculum nerd (and proud of it), I knew I had to check it out.
Also, full disclosure: I totally admire Rebecca Spooner, the mom and mastermind behind this curriculum. She’s like the cool homeschool mom who’s part artsy, part organized, and somehow manages to make unit studies look effortless.
So, I grabbed a cup of coffee, a couple of sample lessons, and got ready to dig in.
Here’s what I found.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.If you want to do my course on how to homeschool, click here.
Heads up: This Gather ‘Round Homeschool curriculum review contains affiliate links—because mama’s gotta fund her coffee and curriculum habits somehow. If you buy through these links, it won’t cost you extra, but it helps support this site. Thanks! ☕📚
What is Gather Round Homeschool?
Gather ‘Round Homeschool is a Christian unit studies curriculum designed to make homeschool life a whole lot simpler—and dare I say, even enjoyable.
It covers every subject except math, which is actually a win for families who want flexibility to pick their own math program (aka, the one your child doesn’t cry over).
Instead of teaching five different subjects to five different kids (while reheating your coffee for the fifth time), you get to teach all your children together—same topic, different levels.
It uses a thematic, integrated approach, which means everything connects: history, science, language arts, Bible… all wrapped into one beautiful lesson.
And the best part?
No crazy prep or Pinterest-worthy supply lists required. Just grab the teacher’s guide and go.
It’s basically the open-and-go dream of every exhausted homeschool parent.
Pros and Cons of Gather Round Homeschool
Like any homeschool curriculum, Gather ‘Round has its die-hard fans… and its “meh, not for us” crowd. It all comes down to your family’s vibe.
So let’s break it down.
The Pros: Why People Love It
✨ Creative Freedom Galore Gather ‘Round is the opposite of rigid. If your kids suddenly get obsessed with volcanoes during a lesson on Earth science—you can run with it! No one’s going to stop you.
⏰ Time-Saver Approved Whether you’re juggling toddlers or running a side hustle, this curriculum flexes with your day. Short on time? Keep it simple. Got extra energy? Dive deep.
🔍 Expand As You Like There’s room to add in extra books, art projects, rabbit trails, or YouTube wormholes. (Let’s call that research, shall we?)
🎯 Kid-Directed Topics Let the kids take turns choosing the next unit. Suddenly, they’re emotionally invested in school—and you get fewer groans and more grins.
💸 Budget-Friendly At $30 a unit, it’s way cheaper than many all-in-one programs. And best of all, one purchase works for all your kids. No need to sell a kidney for curriculum.
📦 Format Flexibility Love the smell of fresh-printed pages? Prefer everything digital and instant? You can have it your way—physical or digital, plus audio files too.
❌ The Cons: Why It Might Not Be Your Cup of Herbal Homeschool Tea
🚫 Not Accredited If you need that official stamp of approval for transcripts or legal reasons, you’ll need to supplement or use another option alongside it.
📺 No Video Lessons If your dream homeschool day involves your kids watching pre-recorded lessons while you sip coffee in peace… this ain’t that. It’s parent-led, not screen-led.
🌀 Too Loosey-Goosey? If you crave structure and live by detailed schedules, Gather ‘Round might feel a bit like organized chaos. You can add structure, but it’s not built-in.
In a nutshell?
Gather ‘Round is fantastic for creative, flexible families who love to learn together, chase interests, and keep costs low. But if you’re looking for accreditation, strict schedules, or video teachers—this might not be the one.
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Rebecca Devitt
Most adults don't particularly want to relive their schooling experience on a daily basis. They would gladly move on to a new life devoid of homework and teachers. Very, very few adults will passionately blog about their schooling some 15 years after graduating. This makes Rebecca Devitt somewhat unique. As it happens, she was homeschooled. And she loved it. Still does. And she wishes every kid could get a taste of homeschooling at its very best. Her website How Do I Homeschool, is a springboard for parents to see what a life of homeschooling could be for both them & their children. When she's not blogging Rebecca is still homeschooling her-adult-self by learning Latin, growing weird vegetables and most importantly looking after her two children Luke & Penny. She has a husband Tristan and is a participant at Wollongong Baptist Church. She's also written a book about why parents should homeschool called 'Why on Earth Homeschool'.