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Language Arts encompasses so much. You have reading, writing, grammar, spelling, phonics, vocabulary, and more. I think this is the one area where my curriculum has changed the most over the years. So, I have tried a bunch of different things. Here is a variety of homeschool language arts curriculum and ideas to make learning fun.
In this part of my series, Homeschool Resources I Love, I will share my favorite reading and writing resources. If you want to read my previous post, Homeschool Resources I Love: Math Edition, read it here.
Table of Contents
- Homeschool Language Arts: Reading Curriculum and Resources
- Homeschool Language Arts: Writing Resources
- Homeschool Language Arts Options for Grammar and Spelling
Homeschool Language Arts: Reading Curriculum and Resources
Reading A to Z and Raz Kids
I learned about Reading A to Z and Raz Kids programs when I taught in public school. Both are very useful programs to help your child build good reading skills.
Reading A to Z includes lesson plans that guide you on what to do before, after, and during reading. For the lesson, you print out the book. My kids were able to highlight sight words, challenging words, or parts of words in their printed books.
It is a good program though a little pricey. Parents need to do a lot of teaching to get the most out of the program.
Raz Kids is the online version of Reading A to Z. Kids go online to read books. They take quizzes after they read the book. Parents can view their child’s scores in the parent section. Kids also do further assessments where they record themselves reading a book so you can hear them reading.
I enjoyed both programs, but my kids were quickly reaching the end of both programs’ reading levels. I needed to find other options.
Reading Eggspress, a Popular Homeschool Language Arts Program
Reading Eggspress is an online reading program we have been using for the last two years. I love it! Kids take a placement test to assess what level they are currently at and place them accordingly in the program.
The kids work on a series of books for each level. The books focus on a particular genre or subject and a certain reading skill.
The flow of the work is as follows: Pre-reading activities, reading the story, and taking a quiz. You can also print out worksheets that go with that lesson for kids to continue working on a particular skill after they finish reading.
I can go on my parent’s dashboard and see each child’s progress. It is great!
Reading Eggspress is the older kid version for kids that can read but need to work on comprehension.
Reading Eggs is the younger version that builds phonics and sight word skills for kids to learn to read. The company is known as Reading Eggs, though.
The great thing is Reading Eggs offers a Free Trial.
You can check out my full review HERE.
EdHelper
If you read Homeschool Resources I Love: Math Edition, you know I mentioned EdHelper there, too. It also has great reading materials, which is why the subscription price is well worth it.
EdHelper can be used in a few ways in reading. You can use it to practice various reading skills like cause and effect, making inferences, and story sequencing. Just print out short stories with questions that focus on a certain topic.
Another way you can use EdHelper is to download chapter questions, quizzes, and vocabulary for a book. They have a long list of books to choose from, which is so cool. It saves a lot of planning time.
If you have younger kids, there are plenty of resources that work on letters and phonics skills. Plus, it has easy stories and books for your child to practice reading.
It is a useful resource to help with reading.
Teachers Pay Teachers
I know I’ve mentioned this resource before, too. I enjoy it, though. Teachers Pay Teachers has a plethora of reading resources that other teachers have put together. Pick a book or reading skill, and you are sure to find resources someone has created. Some are free, and some are very reasonably priced.
I have used this site several times to download reading units on certain books like Wonder, Tuck Everlasting, and Frindle.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a great all-in-one curriculum option with lots of reading materials for PreK-Grade 12. One of the areas I use a lot is their Language Arts section. I use a lot of their reading and writing classes in our homeschool. I LOVE it!
You can read my reviews HERE and HERE about SchoolhouseTeachers.com.
Click the image below to go right to their site to learn more.
Progeny Press
Thanks to my work with the Homeschool Review Crew, I discovered Progeny Press. Progeny Press has WONDERFUL literature unit studies for elementary to high school level. They are very well put together with vocabulary, various types of comprehension questions, hands-on projects, writing assignments and more!
You can download units in PDF, buy physical copies, or do e-guides for the tech saavy. I happened to review Frankenstein and used the e-guide format. It was great. They have such fabulous unit studies and great quality literature. They are worth looking into.
Homeschool Language Arts: Writing Resources
Writing with Ease
The Writing with Ease series is a fantastic Classical-style writing curriculum. It is put out by Well-Trained Mind Press. There are four levels which would be for grades 1 through 4. I loved using this as part of our language arts curriculum.
The books focus on quality literature as a model of good writing. Kids begin with copy work and move on to narration and dictation. The lessons are scripted and provide ways to help your child.
Both my kids were writers at a young age and were working on stories in their free time, so I needed to include other writing resources in our homeschool.
Writing Strands
Writing Strands is interesting. It is a pretty independent program for kids to use. So if you are looking for something your child can do on their own, this program may work for you. It isn’t the most challenging program, but it does help build writing skills.
Kids are expected to work incrementally through each chapter. Each lesson builds on the previous day’s work. At the end of the chapter, the final assignment ties everything together that was worked on throughout the week.
Writing with Skill
The Well-Trained Mind Press also publishes Writing with Skill. It is the next step after the Writing with Ease program. It is designed for the middle school years.
My daughter has used this program. At this level, kids are developing writing skills for content areas like history and science. Children also learn how to analyze literature and write research papers.
Writing with Skill is challenging. It expects kids to begin working more independently. Parents are given instructions to help their children with assignments. I think kids will receive thorough instruction in writing by using this program.
The Creative Writer
The Creative Writer series is another set of books for the middle school years. We moved to this because my daughter loves creative writing. These books are perfect for developing writing skills such as dialogue, setting, character development, and so much more.
Not only does the book coach kids through developing their creative writing but also for poetry. Kids learn different poetry styles and work on their own.
If you have a writer in your house, check this series out.
Homeschool Language Arts with Night Zookeeper
Another great creative writing option is Night Zookeeper. When I first stumbled across this language arts curriculum, I was desperate to help my son with creative writing. He had become a reluctant writer, and I needed something that would help. Can you relate?
Enter in Night Zookeeper. With this program, kids create stories in a fun format, work on spelling and grammar, and get feedback from real people. It is so much fun. Take a look at the short video below.
https://www.nightzookeeper.com/parents?ref=sharonrowley2&tap_a=111713-d3dcc5
Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
Last spring, my son began using this writing resource. He needed something that gave a specific formula on how to write. This writing program was the answer! It is quite expensive, but it is SO worth it!
The lessons are in video format. The kids watch a lesson on a particular writing topic. It might be something like outlining or story sequencing. The lessons provide detailed instruction and guided practice. Students understand what is expected of them before they are asked to try it on their own.
After the lesson, the kiddos have a writing assignment. They are given a checklist to use while writing. Each list contains different stylistic techniques to help kids create better writing pieces. The checklist also provides parents with a clear way to assess their child’s writing.
To learn more about IEW: Structure and Style Writing Program, read my review HERE. You can also click the image below to go to their website.
My son became a more CONFIDENT writer and a much BETTER writer since starting this program.
Cover Story: An Engaging Homeschool Language Arts Program
Recently, I discovered Cover Story. Cover Story is a fun way to work on writing and grammar skills in which kids create their own magazine. This program is for kids in Grades 6-9. Believe me, it is such a clever way to teach about writing editorials, short stories, reviews, poetry, and more.
I wrote a review of Cover Story that goes into much more detail about the program. Be sure to check it out.
Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum- English Communication Skills
If you have middle school kiddos (or even high schoolers lacking in some skills), English Communication Skills may be of interest to you. This program is a solid homeschool language arts curriculum. Kids read short passages and then work on grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension skills based on the reading.
This program is very self-directed. Kids can easily work on this independently. So, if you need some language arts options that are a little more child-led than teacher led, take a look at this. I have a complete review of this particular curriculum, but the company offers many different language arts options.
Homeschool Language Arts Options for Grammar and Spelling
All About Spelling
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE All About Spelling! I love the multisensory approach and how thoroughly the program teaches the spelling rules and strategies. We have used every level of this program and would use it again in a heartbeat.
I have a complete review of this program that also includes a video that gives you a peak into the program. Make sure to check it out.
All About Spelling also has All About Reading. Though I have never used this reading program, I have heard wonderful things from friends that have used it. It really helped their kiddos learn to read. So, it is another option to look into.
First Language Lessons
Now, let’s move onto grammar curriculum. First Language Lessons is by Well-Trained Mind Press like Writing with Ease and Writing with Skill. Like those other programs, it is a very scripted program taking the guess work out of what and how to teach.
I find First Language Lessons to be a very thorough grammar program. It teaches all the fundamentals and makes sure kiddos master it.
Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind
Yup, you guessed it. It is the middle to high school continutation to First Language Lessons. Once your kiddo completes the four levels in this grammar curriculum, they will have a VERY strong mastery of all things grammar!
Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind is a very challenging grammar program that is great for kids needing higher-level grammar skills or those that want their kids to have a strong mastery of language.
It was wonderful for my daughter (who it a writer) because it helped with get a solid grasp on her writing skills. However, this is too challenging for my son.
Fix It! Grammar
Another grammar program that we have used and still use is Fix It! Grammar by IEW. My son uses this program and my daughter too!
With IEWs Structure and Style and Fix It! Grammar, you can have a complete homeschool language arts curriculum. This particular grammar program has six levels- two for elementary, two for middle school, and two for high school level. You can easily teach grammar in 15 MINUTES A DAY.
Check out my review of the program, or click the link below to learn more.
As you can see, we have used a variety of reading and writing resources in our homeschool. I have had to use trial and error to find what works. There is a lot of different language arts curriculum options out there. Maybe one of these can help you in your homeschool.
What are your favorite homeschool language arts curriculum and resources?
Happy Homeschooling!
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Hi, Thank you for sharing these helpful websites. My son really likes reading, and he spends a lot of time on it as well. So I need more resources to find him more reading materials, and your shared resources are absolutely good for me. I also use Beestar to find classic stories for my son. He is really enjoying it.
I’m glad this helped you out. My kids are readers, too. I haven’t heard of Beestar. I’ll have to check it out.