There’s a lot of information out there about working while homeschooling at the same time, especially in the wake of the developing COVID-19 pandemic.
But, for some of us more seasoned homeschoolers, not all of it passes the sniff test.
To help parents decide what’s worth reading and sharing—especially when it time to explore one’s options is limited, we’ve prepared a well-curated list.
Please be sure to stay tuned to the How to Work and Homeschool Facebook page as well, where we’ll be sharing out additional information to support families who find themselves suddenly working while homeschooling at the same time.
Note that there are six sections to this page:
- General information for Homeschool Families
- Homeschooling High Schoolers
- Homeschooling Middle Schoolers
- Homeschooling Pre-K and Elementary Children
- Homeschooling Special Needs Learners
- Family Health and Wellness While Homeschooling
General Information for Homeschool Families
This is a wonderful resource to get acquainted with general homeschooling concepts - and, if you’re exploring different homeschool approaches, there’s even a handy quiz.
A clearinghouse of resources for new and veteran home educators. Their blog offers encouragement from several veteran homeschooling moms with a variety of perspectives, and the resource area provides links to educational resources, online lesson plans and worksheets, online unit studies, and other helps for supplementing or creating a homeschool curriculum. TheHomeSchoolMom also offers free homeschool planners.
A2ZHomeschooling provides information about homeschooling, a place for homeschooling families to connect, and free and low-cost educational materials for all students. The site includes activities, support groups, an overview of homeschool laws by state, and more.
Typically known for its ratings of movies and TV shows, Common Sense Media also provides information about online learning, games, apps, and more. They even have a special section to help parents navigate coronavirus information and resources.
Homeschooling High Schoolers
Class Central is an online clearinghouse for Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). They aggregate courses from providers such as MIT, Harvard, Coursera, Udemy, and more, in a searchable database that provides course content and schedule information. Set up a free account with them to receive notifications about content areas you are interested in studying. This site will save you massive amounts of time over searching MOOC provider sites individually!
Beginning in 2018, Khan Academy became the official practice partner for AP, offering free instructional videos, articles, and practice exercises designed to build the knowledge and skills needed for AP-level courses. Lessons for many AP courses are available for daily classroom activities, homework, and independent learning.
HippoCampus.org is a free, core academic web site that delivers rich multimedia content (videos, animations, and simulations) on general education subjects to middle-school and high-school teachers and college professors, and their students, free of charge.
Free resource for middle and high school where students can learn, practice, and quiz themselves on 5,000+ skills in math and science, compete in real-time multiplayer matches, and win badges for a top spot on the leaderboard.
Homeschooling Middle Schoolers
The Smithsonian Learning Lab is a free, interactive platform for discovering millions of digital resources, creating content with online tools, and sharing in the Smithsonian's expansive community of knowledge and learning. While it has resources for all grade levels, many are of particular interest for middle grades learning. Be sure to check out their Tween Tribune for current events aimed at middle grades learners.
Founded after a young man started tutoring his cousin online, Khan Academy is now known far and wide as a reliable education resource. Khan Academy has instructional resources appropriate for elementary, middle and high school students.
ReadWorks provides reading comprehension activities using interesting topical articles for learners of all ages.
Homeschooling Pre-K and Elementary Children
This popular app is used in homeschool and school settings to great success because it breaks down complicated topics into easy-to-digest pieces. There are two versions, with one more appropriate for younger kids.Looking for fun, free, downloadable projects and lessons in several topics? In operation since the mid-1990s, this website is a reliable go-to for parents.
Although most people are familiar with Khan Academy courses in relation to older kids, the reality is that the popular website also has courses for lower elementary and preschoolers.
PBS keeps a useful collection of resources available to educators - and homeschool families. Parents may find some videos useful and may even want to utilize lesson plans. Useful when working with older kids, too.
For an affordable annual fee, parents of lower-elementary kids can access effective online lessons that align with state standards.
Homeschooling Special Needs Learners
One of the most comprehensive websites devoted to supporting homeschooling families with students that have special needs or struggle with learning or behavior.
This website supports families with twice exceptional (aka 2E) learners. Twice exceptional is a term used to describe the wildly varied combinations of children who are both gifted and have learning disabilities and/or behavioral challenges.
A new online toolkit from an interdisciplinary team at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to assist families and caregivers supporting individuals with autism during the COVID-19 epidemic. The toolkit provides user-friendly, evidence-based resources for people supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
A free webinar replay from ADDitude Magazine to assist parents to manage your child’s academics during the coronavirus outbreak. ADDitude has a host of resources for addressing the needs of students with attention difficulties.
Family Health and Wellness While Working and Homeschooling at the Same Time
This section is written with the current pandemic in mind.
Timely information from Doreen Marshall, Ph.D., Psychologist and Homeschooling mother.
Tips for talking to children of all ages about the current pandemic, from the National Association of School Psychologists.
Free Social Emotional Learning (SEL) resources for preschool through high school. Second Step is an SEL program widely used in schools and other agencies that serve children.
Resources to address anxiety and other mental health issues in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Child Mind Institute shares resources to cope with the pandemic, manage anxiety, and deal with behavior/discipline. Resources include Facebook Live chats with clinicians twice daily.
Kathryn Grogg, Ph.D., is a school psychologist, educational consultant, and veteran home educator. You can find and follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
Thank you so much for your hard work for us parents new to homeschooling.
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