BookShark Bookshark delivers a complete literature-based homeschool curriculum where children read approximately fifty carefully selected books each year across history, science, language arts, and math, making it ideal for families who want their children to learn through engaging stories and real books rather than textbook memorization. This secular, faith-neutral curriculum spans pre-K through high school with fully planned instructor guides that follow a four-day weekly schedule, giving families built-in flexibility while covering more material in four days than many programs cover in five.
The all-subject packages arrive as comprehensive boxes containing every book, map, timeline, and resource needed for the entire year, requiring minimal parent preparation since each day's lessons are scripted with discussion questions, reading assignments, and activity instructions clearly laid out in the instructor guides. History lessons integrate geography and culture through historical fiction and biographies following Charlotte Mason principles, while science includes hands-on experiments with supplies provided. Parents spend focused time reading aloud and facilitating discussions with younger students, though upper levels transition to more independent reading with guided comprehension questions. The curriculum works well for multiple learning styles and can accommodate siblings close in age who share history and science while completing math and language arts at their own levels.
Families appreciate the open-and-go convenience and high-quality book selections that engage even reluctant readers, though the significant upfront investment and heavy reading load may feel overwhelming for families with children who struggle with chapter books or prefer workbook-based learning. Some parents note the curriculum requires active parental involvement for discussions and read-alouds rather than independent student work, which may not suit working parents seeking self-directed options. The BookShark Virtual add-on provides digital access to schedules and auto-graded assessments for families who travel frequently. Sample instructor guides are available on the website to preview the teaching approach and daily structure before purchasing.
Christopherus Homeschool Christopherus Homeschool brings Waldorf education into the home through a comprehensive curriculum rooted in Rudolf Steiner's developmental approach, where learning unfolds through storytelling, artistic activities, and hands-on experiences tailored to each stage of childhood. Created by experienced Waldorf teacher and homeschooler Donna Simmons, this curriculum addresses the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of children grades K-8, making it ideal for families drawn to holistic, arts-integrated education that honors imagination and natural rhythms over screen-based academics.
Each grade's curriculum includes complete lesson plans for all subjects—not just main lessons—covering language arts, math, science, history through mythology and stories, plus detailed guidance for handwork, painting, drawing, form drawing, music, movement, and seasonal crafts. The materials are rich with full-color artwork, teaching strategies, and practical advice for adapting lessons to individual children and multi-age households. Parents appreciate the extensive preparation support and curated resource lists that reduce planning time, though the curriculum still requires dedicated parent involvement to present lessons, guide artistic work, and understand the anthroposophical philosophy underlying the developmental approach.
The deeply philosophical foundation resonates with families seeking screen-free, nature-based education emphasizing beauty and wonder, though parents should know the curriculum's spiritual worldview may not align with all religious beliefs. Some find the artistic and preparatory demands intensive, while the story-rich, sensory approach can feel less academically rigorous compared to traditional programs. Exploring the curriculum overview book and free resources helps determine if the Waldorf philosophy and time investment match your family's needs and values.
Crash Course Crash Course delivers high school and college-level content through fast-paced, engaging YouTube videos that condense complex topics into digestible segments, making it ideal for visual learners and independent students who need supplemental material for AP courses or struggle with dense textbooks. Created by bestselling author John Green and science communicator Hank Green, this free video platform covers over 45 subjects from world history and biology to economics and computer science with witty hosts who transform traditionally dry academic content into entertaining lessons perfect for sparking curiosity in reluctant learners.
Each course consists of multiple videos running between ten and fifteen minutes, requiring no parent prep since students simply watch and absorb the content through the platform's YouTube channel or website. The secular curriculum works well as a supplement to traditional homeschool programs rather than a standalone complete curriculum, and the self-paced format allows multiple children at different grade levels to access age-appropriate courses simultaneously. However, the passive video format means students need additional worksheets, discussions, or activities to move beyond surface-level understanding and truly master the material.
Families appreciate the completely free access and the entertaining presentation that keeps teenagers engaged, though some note the rapid delivery can overwhelm students who need more time to process information or prefer hands-on learning experiences. The content occasionally includes mature topics suitable for high school audiences that younger students should skip, and without built-in assessments or accountability, parents must create their own structure for ensuring comprehension. Consider pairing Crash Course videos with tools like EdPuzzle to add interactive questions, or use the videos as introductions before deeper study through traditional methods.
