What to Know for First Grade Homeschool Curriculums
Let’s explore your options for first grade homeschool curriculum (hint: it should be simple, fun, and affordable!)
Author
Kristy Howard
Published:
March 2025
Key takeaways
- • Not sure how to homeschool 1st grade? Keep reading for tips from a homeschooling mom of five!
- • Take a peek at my sample homeschool schedule for 1st grade (and how to make it work if you’re homeschooling more than one child).
- • Best tips and resources for 1st grade science curriculum, math, reading, and more!
Preparing to homeschool 1st grade can feel both exciting and intimidating. As a mom, I wondered, “Can I teach my child to read? What should a homeschool schedule for 1st graders look like? And what will I use for a first grade homeschool curriculum”?
After homeschooling five kids through first grade and beyond, the secret I learned to homeschool first-grade stress-free is to keep things simple. I hope that this article, written by a seasoned home educator, will give you a boost of confidence and lots of helpful resources on your homeschool journey!
If you’re brand new to homeschooling, make sure you also read our guide on how to start homeschooling.
Let’s dive in with the obvious question:
How do I homeschool my 1st grader?
There’s good news! There isn’t one “right way” to homeschool 1st grade. The right way is whatever methods, schedules, styles, and curriculum work for you and your child.
Here are three steps to give you a strong start:
- Figure out your teaching style
- Join a homeschool Facebook group to connect with other moms
- Find a weekly class or activity to enroll your child in
Let’s look at each of these steps, and how they can set you up for success as you homeschool 1st grade.
Figure out your teaching style
Regardless of your previous education or work experience, the minute you decide to homeschool your kids is the minute you become a teacher. So become the best teacher you can be!
A fun and helpful way to do that is to learn about teaching styles, and which one you lean toward the most. Here’s a fun and free homeschool style quiz you can take to help you determine what your teaching style is.
The eight most common types of teaching styles when it comes to home education:
- Traditional homeschooling
- Montessori homeschooling
- Charlotte Mason Methods
- Waldorf homeschooling
- Worldschooling
- Classical homeschooling
- Unit studies homeschooling
- Eclectic homeschooling
Chances are, you’re a mix of one or two of these styles, and it’s helpful to know where your strengths and creative streaks lie.
Not sure what any of these homeschooling types mean? That’s okay, too! Being a homeschooler means that you also signed up to be a lifelong learner, not just a teacher. Take the quiz, see what your results are, and then do some reading up on the types of homeschooling you score high in.
This knowledge will help you when it comes to picking out a first grade homeschool curriculum, which we’ll talk about very soon.
Want to take it a step further? Learn about your child’s learning style, too! Read “7 Learning Styles That Every Parent Should Know.”
Join a homeschool Facebook group
Even if you can’t attend a homeschool event, find a Facebook group for homeschoolers! Chances are there are groups just for home educators in your area, so make sure you do a simple search on Facebook to find out.
Table of contents
Find a weekly class or activity for your first grader
If you’ve plugged into a Facebook group or attended a homeschooling event, chances are you’ve heard about a local co-op you can join. If not, take the time to join a Facebook group (or some kind of online forum if you’re not on social media), or do a Google search for “homeschool co-ops near me.”
Joining a homeschooling community for weekly classes, lessons, and play dates can be a highly beneficial part of homeschooling. Your child will have the opportunity to make friends and have lots of fun while learning new things, and you’ll hopefully find a support group of moms to connect with.
Bonus step: invest in a few supplies for yourself!
Here are a few things you’ll need to homeschool 1st grade well:
- Planner
- Access to a printer and computer
- A 3-ring binder
- A few folders and notebooks
- General school supplies
- Learning games (read more about game-based learning!)
- A library card
- Coffee and chocolate
Now let’s talk about what you’ll be teaching!
What subjects are covered in 1st grade?
First grade is a time of rapid growth for kids and includes everything from improving motor skills and hand-eye coordination to developing emotional regulation and social skills.
Keep in mind that for most first graders, attention spans can be short and curiosity is high! Subjects should be taught with lots of visuals, hands-on activities, and plenty of time for asking questions.
From an educator’s point of view, here is a list of subjects that are age-appropriate for teaching a first grader:
- Reading and Writing
- Spelling
- Science
- History and Geography
- Math
- Physical education
- Music
- Art
A lot of these subjects can easily be combined, and not every subject needs to be taught every day (more on that in the schedule section of this article).
Let’s look at some of your options for homeschool curriculum 1st grade (believe me, there are quite a few!)
What are the best first grade homeschool curriculums?
If you’re a list-lover and need specific recommendations, here’s a list of top notch first grade homeschool curriculum:
- All About Reading Level 1
- Ambleside Online Year 1
- BJU Press 1st Grade
- Classical Conversations Foundations Program
- The Critical Thinking Company (First Grade Thinking Skills and Key Concepts)
- Easy Peasy Homeschooling 1
- Handwriting without Tears (1st Grade Bundle)
- Master Books (Grade 1 Basic 4 Subject Set)
Reading first-grade homeschool curriculum
A lot of homeschool moms worry about teaching their children to read in first grade. Here are my thoughts and experiences on that.
I’ve homeschooled five children, and only one of them learned to read early. Another child was a pretty solid reader by the end of third grade. The other three have dyslexia, so their reading journeys took years (and lots of patience and trial and error.)
What I learned is that no two kids are just alike. If you get started with phonics and early reading skills in kindergarten and your child is “getting it” as quickly as you’d like, don’t panic.
Lots of kids struggle with reading, and just because your child doesn’t learn to read in first grade doesn’t mean there’s an underlying problem.
Your reading curriculum should focus on teaching letter recognition and sounds by lots of repetition, and lots of fun. I’ve tried a variety of phonics and reading programs over the years, and here are the only two I loved enough to use for several of my kids:
- All About Reading
- All About Spelling
Check out All About Learning Press and download a few of the free worksheets to try out. I can’t recommend this reading program enough!
Writing first-grade homeschool curriculum
Don’t fret if your first grader isn’t great at writing or other motor skills yet. Boys especially need some extra time to master motor skills, like writing their names or remembering how to “draw” letters. I personally love the “1st Grade Handwriting Without Tears” workbook for early elementary.
Math first-grade homeschool curriculum
You have lots of options for first grade math! Here are a few of my top recommendations:
- Math Lessons for a Living Education (Master Books)
- Easy Peasy Math 1
- Math-U-See 1st Grade
- Horizons Math 1st Grade
- Singapore Math 1st Grade
- Mathematical Reasoning, Level B (The Critical Thinking Company)
If you want to beef things up a bit, check out this first grade math help and 30 first grade math problems you can work on at home.
Science first-grade homeschool curriculum
For science at this age, nothing beats picture books and reading aloud!
Here are some of my favorite 1st grade science curriculum homeschool resources:
- Biology Levels 1 – 4 (Easy Peasy)
- Science A (Sonlight)
- Experience Astronomy Level A (Journey Homeschool Academy)
- Experience Biology Level A (Journey Homeschool Academy)
- Earth Science Elementary (Journey Homeschool Academy)
Social Studies first-grade homeschool curriculum
Here are some of our favorite books and resources for exploring history:
- My Story 1 (Master Books)
- Early American History (Easy Peasy)
- Exploring American History Grade 1 (Sonlight)
- Classical Conversations Foundations Program
Sample homeschool schedule for 1st grader
Especially during the early years, homeschooling is more “home” than “school.” The academics are gentle and paced to suit your child, and what they need more than anything else is security, lots of fun, engaging with stories and ideas, and repetition.
What is “Morning Time?” (And how it benefits a homeschool schedule for 1st grader)
For years, my kids and I started every day with “Morning Time.” I can honestly say that this was the single most important habit I implemented into our daily schedule as a homeschooling family!
You can learn more about Morning Time, and how to create a homeschool morning basket, by tuning into Pam Barnhill’s blog and podcast. But for the sake of this article, I’ll explain how I used the Morning Time idea to create structure and simplicity for my homeschool routine.
Morning Time is simply gathering together with your kids (the dining room table was our gathering spot) at the start of the day to read, work on activities, and learn together. The beauty of Morning Time is that it creates a regular space for your kids to learn together, which is helpful if you’re homeschooling multiple ages!
Is your first grader learning about planets in science? Let the toddler sit in and listen while you read aloud or work on a project.
If you have older kids, Morning Time is the perfect chance for your first grader to listen in on the history lesson or literature readings.
So much learning is absorbed during Morning Time, especially if you give your kids a snack and something to color or play with while they’re listening.
Here’s an example of subjects and activities you can explore during a typical Morning Time:
- Reading aloud – any subject!
- Flashcard or fact reviews
- Math games
- Crafts
- Science and history lessons
- Handwriting practice
- Art and music
First Grade Homeschooling Tips & Ideas
Homeschooling first grade can be challenging, but also so much fun! Here are my top best tips for making the most out of this school year:
- Read lots of picture books (every day)
- Use a supplemental math app for homeschool math practice
- Show up for weekly library story times
- Play fun review and memory games
- Learn facts to the tune of catchy songs
- Finger paint
- Create a sticker book
- Practice math problems on an abacus
- Build with building blocks and LEGO
- Make letters, numbers, and shapes with homemade playdough and cookie cutters
- Create a book basket
- Stock a dress-up box with fun costumes
- Invest in a play kitchen (and child-size apron)
- Build forts with quilts and blankets
- Visit parks, libraries, zoos, and museums
- Have a daily nap or quiet time
- Listen to audiobooks
- Join a homeschool community and make friends
FAQs about First Grade Homeschool Curriculums
How much time you must spend homeschooling your child will depend on your state homeschool laws. Do a quick online search for “homeschool laws in [your state]” and do some reading. Generally speaking, one hour to 90 minutes per day, four days a week, is an ideal amount of time to successfully homeschool 1st grade.
Most first grade homeschool curriculum will focus on mastering the skills of sounding out words and reading simple sentences, storytelling, and comprehension, counting to 100, addition and subtraction, and identifying basic shapes. A robust curriculum might include art and music, simple literature to read aloud, colorful maps and history stories, and fun science activities or facts.
Three things to remember as you homeschool your first grader: Attention spans may still be short; motor skills are still a work in progress; a child’s curiosity is at an all-time high at this age. Focus on short lessons and lots of fun repetition; lots of reading aloud together; make sure your child is getting physical activity and movement; and focus on the Three Rs, as those are the foundation of a solid elementary education.
That’s a great question! The answer depends on if you’re looking for a faith-based or secular approach, and what teaching and learning styles look like for your family.
A few top homeschool curriculums out there include Easy Peasy Homeschooling 1, Sonlight , Ambleside Online Year 1, BJU Press 1st Grade, Classical Conversations Foundations Program, The Critical Thinking Company (First Grade Thinking Skills and Key Concepts), Master Books (Grade 1 Basic 4 Subject Set) and All About Reading Level 1.
About the Author
Kristy Howard
