If you’re trying to homeschool while working from home, running a business, caring for a toddler, cooking dinner, or simply keeping the house functioning, having children who can do some of their schoolwork independently is amazing.
Sometimes, finding the right independent homeschool curriculum is genuinely the difference between homeschooling feeling manageable and feeling almost impossible.
I work from home myself, so I know how valuable it is when my children can watch a lesson, complete a workbook page, or move through part of their curriculum without needing me beside them every minute.
Of course, no homeschool curriculum is completely hands-off—especially with younger children.
But the right homeschool curriculum for independent learners can dramatically reduce your teaching load and help children gradually take more responsibility for their own learning.
Below are my quick picks for independent homeschool curriculum, followed by a closer look at each option.
- BJU Press – online video lessons with physical workbooks (we use this)
- Apologia – science and more
- Notgrass – history, and geography
- Compass Classroom – classical, fun education
- ACE Paces – physical paces to do offline
- Lifepac – like ACE but more rigorous
- Masterbooks – education through engaging narratives
- Monarch – online homeschool
- Veritas Press – face-to-face instruction and socialization online
- anything accredited like BJU Press, Acellus Academy, and Abeka
- and more!
Let’s dive in and take a closer look!
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BJU Press
BJU PressFormat: Online video lessons + physical workbooks
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Yes
Materials: Physical workbooks + online lessons
BJU Press is the independent homeschool curriculum we use and recommend.
I work from home for around 3–4 hours a day, and the video teachers make that much more manageable because I’m not personally teaching every lesson.
Younger children still need some help, but as students get older, they can work increasingly independently through the videos and workbooks (I’d say we’re 95% independent by the end of Grade 2!).
It’s a great fit if you want structured, Christian, teacher-led lessons with plenty of independence.
Who might not like it? Families wanting a very relaxed, screen-free or literature-only approach may prefer something else.
Apologia – Independent All-in-One Curriculum
Apologia is a popular self-paced Christian curriculum covering all grades and subjects.
As a parent, you can choose to be involved by reading the books yourself. Still, children can also read Apologia books by themselves as soon as they can read independently.
This program aims to teach children to think critically and logically while giving them an excellent education. Apologia is known for its great science offerings like zoology, earth science, and botany.
As children progress to middle and high school, the curriculum is designed to be completed independently, allowing for personalized learning experiences.
This is quite a hands-on homeschool curriculum, and the needed experiments for a lab credit are built into the program and only require standard household supplies.
Homeschool families will not need to invest in an expensive science laboratory to give their kids a complete education.
Students can choose between LIVE courses or a self-paced homeschool curriculum format depending upon their needs and learning styles.
In addition to science, Apologia now offers a range of subjects, including math.
Check out more about Apologia here.
Compass Classroom
Compass ClassroomFormat: Online, self-paced courses
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Yes
Materials: Streaming videos + PDFs
Compass Classroom is a strong choice for independent middle and high school students. It uses engaging video lessons and has a classical flavour, with courses in history, writing, Latin, Bible, philosophy, languages and more.
I’ve used Compass Classroom myself and really enjoy the teaching — I’ve even sat down and learned Latin alongside my kids because I found it so entertaining!
It’s a great fit for older students who enjoy video learning and can manage much of their schoolwork independently.
Who might not like it? Families with younger children or those wanting a heavily parent-led, hands-on curriculum may prefer something else.
Check out Compass Classroom here.
Abeka Academy
Format: Streaming/DVD video lessons + physical workbooks
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Yes
Materials: Physical books/workbooks
Abeka Academy is another strong option if you want teacher-led homeschool lessons without having to teach every subject yourself. Students watch pre-recorded classroom-style lessons and then complete the accompanying books and assignments.
It’s quite structured and traditional, which can make it easier for older students to know exactly what they need to do each day. Younger children will still need more help, but independence generally increases with age.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a Christian curriculum, plenty of structure and real teachers presenting the lessons.
Who might not like it? Families wanting a very relaxed, literature-based approach—or children who dislike a traditional classroom style—may prefer something else.
You can also buy the Abeka workbooks and textbooks separately here if you don’t want the full video program.
Masterbooks
MasterbooksFormat: Physical books/workbooks, self-paced
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Optional for more independence
Materials: Physical books/workbooks
Masterbooks is a gentle Christian homeschool curriculum that works well for independent learners, especially children who enjoy reading and literature-based lessons. Many courses use story-style texts and clear daily assignments that students can work through at their own pace.
It offers subjects including art, math, science, history and language arts, and it has a strong Charlotte Mason influence.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a gentle, flexible, literature-rich curriculum that doesn’t require heaps of parent prep.
Who might not like it? Families wanting a very rigorous, video-led or highly structured program may find Masterbooks too gentle.
Monarch
MonarchFormat: Online, self-paced curriculum
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Some multimedia, but not primarily video-led
Materials: Online/digital
Monarch is a strong option if you want an almost entirely online independent homeschool curriculum. It’s designed for grades 3–12 and lets students work through lessons at their own pace, with much of the scheduling and grading handled online.
It’s Christian and covers core subjects plus a large range of electives, so it can work well for families who want most of their homeschool in one place.
It’s a good fit for older students who are comfortable reading from a screen and working fairly independently.
Who might not like it? Children who struggle with lots of screen reading, or families wanting physical books and teacher-led video lessons, may prefer another option.
Veritas Press Self-Paced
Veritas Press Self-PacedFormat: Online, self-paced courses
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: Yes
Materials: Online lessons + some books/materials depending on the course
Veritas Press Self-Paced is a strong option for independent learners, especially if you like a rigorous, classical Christian approach. We’ve used it ourselves and found the lessons engaging and easy for students to work through largely on their own.
It’s a good fit for families wanting classical Christian education with strong academics and lots of independence.
Who might not like it? It isn’t a full all-in-one curriculum, so you’ll need other subjects alongside it.
You can book a free Veritas Press consultation through my link here.
Time4Learning
Time4LearningFormat: Online, self-paced curriculum
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Secular
Video lessons: Multimedia/interactive lessons
Materials: Online
Time4Learning is an online, secular homeschool curriculum that allows children to work through much of their schoolwork independently. It includes automatic grading and lesson planning, which can take a lot off a busy parent’s plate.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a flexible, largely independent online program with very little preparation.
Who might not like it? Families wanting a Christian worldview, physical workbooks, or lots of teacher-led video instruction may prefer another option.
ACE Paces
ACE PacesFormat: Physical, self-paced workbooks
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: No
Materials: Physical workbooks
ACE Paces is a highly self-directed Christian homeschool curriculum where students work independently through individual PACE workbooks. It’s also one of the more popular homeschool curriculum options for families wanting plenty of structure without constant parent teaching.
Students progress at their own pace and move forward after demonstrating mastery of the material.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a structured, affordable and largely independent workbook-based curriculum.
Who might not like it? Children who need lots of hands-on activities, video teaching or variety may find the workbook-heavy approach repetitive.
Check out ACE Paces here. It’s also one of the more affordable homeschool curriculum options.
LifePac
Format: Physical, self-paced workbooks
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: No
Materials: Physical workbooks + teacher guides
LifePac is a Christian, workbook-based homeschool curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications. Students work through individual units at their own pace, making it a good option for families who want independent learning without relying on screens.
It covers Bible, history and geography, science, language arts and math, along with a range of electives.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a structured, affordable and mostly independent paper-based curriculum.
Who might not like it? Children who need lots of video instruction, hands-on activities or variety may find the workbook-heavy format less engaging.
Beast Academy
Format: Online or physical books
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Secular
Video lessons: Yes, in the online version
Materials: Online program + physical books
Beast Academy is a secular, advanced math curriculum designed for children who enjoy puzzles, problem-solving and thinking deeply about maths. The online version includes videos, games and interactive activities, while the books use colourful comics and challenging problems.
It can be a great option for families who are homeschooling while working because capable students can work through a good portion of the program independently.
It’s a good fit for strong or enthusiastic maths students who enjoy a challenge.
Who might not like it? Children who already find maths frustrating or need lots of repetition and gentle instruction may find Beast Academy too demanding.
You can use the online program or buy the Beast Academy books here
Teaching Textbooks
Format: App-based, online or offline
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Secular
Video lessons: Yes/tutorial-style instruction
Materials: Digital/app-based
Teaching Textbooks is a very independent homeschool math curriculum. The program teaches the lesson, gives students practice, grades their work automatically, and provides solution tutorials when they get an answer wrong.
That makes it especially handy for parents who are homeschooling while working because students can often complete maths without needing you beside them.
It’s a good fit for families wanting low-prep, self-paced maths with automatic grading and built-in help.
Who might not like it? Families wanting a rigorous, advanced maths program or lots of physical workbook work may prefer something else.
Check out Teaching Textbooks here.
Notgrass
Format: Physical books + optional audio
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
Parent involvement: Low–Medium
Worldview: Christian
Video lessons: No
Materials: Physical books/workbooks
Notgrass is a colourful, book-based Christian curriculum that works well for independent learners, especially in history and geography. Older students can read the lessons and complete much of the work on their own, while younger children can use it more as a family-style curriculum.
We’ve used Notgrass for years and really like it. The books are engaging, and the audio option can make it even easier for children to work independently.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a strong Christian, literature-rich history curriculum with relatively low parent prep.
Who might not like it? Families wanting lots of video teaching, interactive online lessons or a full all-in-one curriculum may prefer something else.
Singapore Math
Format: Physical books/workbooks or online interactive lessons
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ with books / ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ online
Parent involvement: Medium with books / Low–Medium online
Worldview: Secular
Video lessons: Available through online options
Materials: Physical books or digital lessons
Singapore Math is a rigorous maths approach that focuses on problem-solving, critical thinking and understanding concepts deeply rather than simply memorising formulas.
The traditional books are excellent, but they do require more parent teaching, especially with younger children.
If you want a more independent, online Singapore Math option, you can also look at eSingaporeMath here, which gives students a more interactive, guided way to work through the material.
It’s a good fit for strong maths students who enjoy problem-solving and benefit from a structured approach.
Who might not like it? Children who need very gentle maths instruction or families wanting a completely hands-off program may prefer something else.
Acellus & Acellus Academy
Format: Online, self-paced
Independence: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Parent involvement: Low
Worldview: Secular
Video lessons: Yes
Materials: Fully online
Power Homeschool and Acellus Academy are secular, online homeschool programs for grades K–12 that use the same Acellus learning technology.
Lessons are video-based, interactive and self-paced, with the system adapting instruction when students appear to need extra work in a particular area.
It’s a good fit for families wanting a very independent, all-online program with little day-to-day parent teaching.
Who might not like it? Families wanting physical books, lots of hands-on learning or a Christian worldview may prefer another option.
Check out Acellus Academy here.
A Quick Caution About Independent Homeschool Curriculum
Independent homeschool curriculum can be wonderful, but independent doesn’t mean completely hands-off.
Some children will happily work through lessons on their own.
Others may rush, skip difficult work, or get stuck without saying anything—especially if no teacher or parent is regularly checking their progress.
So even with a highly independent program, it’s worth checking in, reviewing work, and making sure your child is actually understanding what they’re learning.
And independence doesn’t have to mean sitting alone at a desk all day. Add in some interest-based learning, read-alouds, outings and family activities to keep homeschooling enjoyable.
I think that adds useful balance to the article without undermining your recommendations.
What’s the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Independent Learning?
The best independent homeschool curriculum is the one your child can actually use successfully without needing you beside them for every lesson.
For our family, BJU Press is my top choice because the video teachers and structured workbooks allow my children to do a significant amount independently while I work from home.
But another family may prefer:
- Compass Classroom for older video learners
- Teaching Textbooks for independent maths
- Monarch for an all-online option
- ACE Paces for workbook-based independence
- Veritas Press Self-Paced for classical Christian learning
Why Independent Learning Matters
Independent homeschool curriculum can make homeschooling far more manageable when you’re:
💻 Working from home
👶 Caring for a toddler
🏠 Running a household
🍳 Cooking, cleaning, and doing normal family life
📚 Homeschooling more than one child
Sometimes, that extra independence really is the difference between homeschooling feeling sustainable and feeling completely overwhelming.
Still Not Sure What to Choose?
If you’re unsure which program will suit your child, try my homeschool curriculum finder here.
You can also read my guide on how to choose the right homeschool curriculum.
And if you enjoy curriculum reviews and practical homeschool help, subscribe to my How to Homeschool YouTube channel here.
Prefer Books?
Some families homeschool almost entirely through books.
📚 See my complete homeschool booklist for Grades K–12 here.
God bless you on your homeschool journey!
