Ask the Experts: What are Your Favorite Homeschool Resources?

A Great Catholic Education…

We have been with Seton for twenty-five years. We have found it to be a great Catholic education for our children. Besides the solid curriculum, we have supplemented their education to enhance what Seton provides.

Throughout the years, from the Pre-K level, we have utilized various educational toys, workbooks, and videos. For the elementary ages, we have found many different readers and books from Catholic Heritage Curricula to give our kids more reading opportunities, especially during the summer.

For Catholic music, we have enjoyed the CD produced by Seton School in Manassas, VA, as well as other CDs from various religious orders. A significant resource we have used to help us in homeschooling at all levels is the various co-ops in which we have been members. The kids have gotten the opportunity for art, crafts, PE, STEM, and most importantly, socialization.

Our Catholic community has also been a resource for enhancing our liturgical celebrations and building lasting relationships. We are grateful for what Seton provides and the extras we have found along the way that make homeschooling a fulfilling education for our children.

Susan Brock – North Carolina

Countless Hours at the Library…

As an old-school homeschooler, I would have to say that the library was my favorite resource.

We spent countless hours in our local library scanning the shelves for relevant titles and partaking in the free events. Several of my older children became library volunteers, thereby extending the resource as an avenue to teach service and a work ethic.

Understanding that many local libraries are now a pale shadow of what they once were, I’d still suggest them as a viable resource.

However, I’d also recommend using free library resources, such as the Libby app, which allows users to access library books on electronic devices with a valid library card.

Other favored resources were museums, many of which are free in my local area. We also took advantage of local events like historical reenactments, holiday performances, and guest speakers. The name of the game for us was free or inexpensive, so I made sure to be attentive to offerings posted on homeschool social media pages or group sites.

Although you need to be discerning when choosing content on platforms such as YouTube or various podcast hosting sites, these are still great resources that provide a wealth of information.

Indeed, you need to be cautious, though, because just like “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” you can easily find yourself watching a video on quantum physics an hour after looking for the answer to the question “Can cats drink milk?”

Tara Brelinsky, North Carolina

Don’t Overlook…

I admit that when it comes to educational resources, my family is incredibly blessed.

My favorite resources are all the museums, monuments, historical sites, basilicas, and battlefields located within an hour of my home. (I live just outside DC in Northern VA.) These have provided countless hours of education, inspiration, and awe to my children over the years.

We have walked in the footsteps of our nation’s founders, read the original Constitution, viewed some of the world’s finest art, and listened to some of the most famous music pieces ever written. It has been invaluable.

However, not everyone has the same opportunities. But you might be amazed at the resources in your area. Start at your local library. Check out your historical society, county/state parks, and your local church.

Nature centers and science exhibits are always a hit. One local high school has a planetarium and lets homeschoolers come in on one Friday a month after school hours.

I have also found great help online for math, science, religion, and history with videos and discussions. They are not necessarily Catholic, and you should always preview before allowing your child online. Some are free, and others offer seminars for a fee for extra enrichment.

For example, a friend of mine’s son took a nine-week course on Tolkien and LOTR through Homeschool Connections. Other favorites are: Khanacademy.org, Smithsonianassociates.org, TeachingCatholickids.com, and Natgeokids.com.

Kristen Brown, Virginia