Secular Homeschool Curriculum I Actually Recommend

One of the questions I get most often from families new to homeschooling is some version of: "What curriculum should I use?"

My first answer is always: start simpler than you think you need to. Read together, learn through life, and add curriculum when you feel grounded and ready.

But when families are ready to explore their secular, inclusive options, here's where I point them.

A Note Before You Dive In

Every child and every family is different. This list reflects what I've seen work well for the families I work with and in our own homeschool, but it's a starting point, not a prescription.

Start with the subject your child loves most and choose a curriculum to start with and lean into. Wait until you're in a solid rhythm with that before you add anything else.

And if something on this list doesn't work for your family, set it down. Curriculum is a tool that needs to work for you. Just because you started it doesn't mean you're obligated to continue.

Comprehensive

The options in this section give you a clear path to follow for a full year’s worth of learning. Some require adding in math or purchasing additional history books, but they give you the general plan.

Torchlight is a literature-based curriculum with a beautiful, book-centered approach. It integrates history, language arts, art, and science in a way that feels cohesive and well put together. We've been a Torchlight family since kindergarten, and we're still going strong. The guiding philosophy for Torchlight is the Socratic Method, so if your family prefers deep discussion to comprehension questions, this might be a great fit. They also do a great job of incorporating own-voices books when possible, and curating book lists with diverse characters.

Build Your Library is another strong literature-based option worth exploring. It's a secular Charlotte Mason-style curriculum, so it uses living books and real literature rather than textbooks. There are more BYL levels than there are Torchlight, which can be a selling point. Take a look at the book lists for each of these options and think about which might be a better fit for your family. We've landed on Torchlight as our primary option, with a few BYL books mixed in.

Blossom and Root is another solid comprehensive curriculum that goes through sixth grade. It's definitely built on the Charlotte Mason Model, but I love that Blossom and Root gives you options based on your family's values and learning style. Do you love read-alouds? There's an option for that. More of a hands-on crew? There are projects you can choose, too. Blossom and Root covers Language Arts, Nature Study, Science, and Art.

Oak Meadow is an all-in-one, Waldorf-inspired option that goes through high school. It has never been number one on my list, but I know it works for some families, and it's one of the options available for high school. Actually, I have heard positive things about Oak Meadow's high school program. That's when I'd start actually considering this one as an option for my family.

Meadowlark Learning is a new one! It's an open and go curriculum, currently available for Pre-K and Kindergarten. I'm including it on this list because it's similar to The Good and the Beautiful (gets recommended all the time in facebook groups, but isn't actually that strong of a choice and is definitely not secular), but it's a secular choice. If I had young children and I truly needed the support of an open and go curriculum, I would definitely look at this one.

Language Arts

Logic of English is a comprehensive, structured language arts program that covers phonics, spelling, and grammar in a way that actually makes sense. It doesn't just teach spelling words, it identifies and teaches the rules of the English language. I learned so much from using it to teach my daughter, and I know that it gave her a really solid foundation. It's great for kids who need explicit instruction and a clear system. My daughter still quotes some of the rules from time to time!

All About Reading is a thorough, multisensory reading program that works beautifully for kids who need a methodical approach. It is similar to Logic of English in many ways, but it's more colorful and has a whole student book full of materials (games!) that you can cut out and use.

Hearth and Story is great for older kids who are strong in language arts. If you use the appropriate grade level, it's a pretty advanced curriculum. We used it for fifth grade, and I loved that all of the lessons were bite-sized, and that my daughter could do her work independently (mostly). It covers spelling, writing (strong emphasis on essays in fifth grade level), novel studies, poetry, grammar, and brain food. You can mix and match the components, too, so if your child is a strong reader but hasn't had much writing instruction, you might place them in third grade for writing but fifth for literature. Hearth and Story is currently available for third through eighth grade, with second grade in production.

Michael Clay Thompson goes deep on grammar, vocabulary, poetry, and writing in a way that genuinely challenges advanced learners. If you have a gifted learner who's strong in language arts, I'd encourage you to explore it — at least as a supplement. We've done a year of it and may revisit. Start where you're comfortable and go as deep as feels right.

Math

Beast Academy is my personal favorite for the right kid. It's a comic-book style math curriculum from the Art of Problem Solving team that's challenging, creative, and fun for kids who love math and like to be pushed. Not for every child, but magical for the ones it fits. They also have an online version, and that's what we use. My daughter appreciates focusing on one problem at a time (rather than staring down a whole page full of them).

Art of Problem Solving is the upper-level counterpart to Beast Academy. If your child is mathematically gifted and ready for a real challenge, this is where to go.

Math with Confidence is a gentler, more sequential math program that works well for kids who need more repetition and a slower pace. It's clear, straightforward, and low-stress. It uses household materials for manipulatives, and includes a lot of different games that help reinforce math skills.

Singapore Dimensions is a rigorous, conceptually strong math program that builds deep understanding rather than just procedural fluency. This is what we used after our deschooling period, and it was a perfect fit for that phase of our journey.

History

Mint and Bloom is new on the scene, but we love it! It's a thorough, engaging history curriculum that takes a broad, humanistic view of the world. It checks all of my boxes for secular and progressive, though it can be a bit overwhelming if you take all of the weekly assignments as mandatory. It's helpful to remember that you can pick and choose, or take more than a week to complete each section. We are currently working our way through their elementary/middle school US History curriculum and have been very happy with all of the different perspectives presented.

Curiosity Chronicles is a thoughtful, well-researched history curriculum that approaches the past with genuine curiosity and inclusivity. This is one of my favorites to recommend, and it's been the core of our history studies since first grade. It's the Torchlight history spine, and we love it.

Science

Blossom and Root Science is a nature-based, hands-on science curriculum that fits beautifully with a slow, intentional homeschool. It's great for families who spend time outdoors and want science to feel connected to the real world. Each year focuses on a specific scientific discipline (e.g., zoology, botany, earth science). If your child is deep into any of the disciplines they cover, it can be a great choice.

Scientific Connections Through Inquiry is a rigorous, inquiry-based science program, and its upper-level counterpart is Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding. They were both created by actual scientists, and I personally love the way they approach a year of scientific study. My daughter was not the biggest fan, but the fact that it covers several different disciplines and topics over the course of the year worked really well for us since she does not want to study the same topic all year long.

Class CrunchLabs is Mark Rober's homeschool science curriculum. It’s free, easy to sign up for, and created by someone who is passionate about science (and who kids LOVE). A quick Google search will lead you straight to the sign-up page.

A Word on Bookshark

You might see Bookshark recommended in general homeschool communities as a secular option. I want to offer some nuance here.

Bookshark is "neutral," not secular. That distinction matters. Neutral means it doesn't present overt religious perspectives, but it also quietly omits a lot that secular, progressive families would want included, particularly in science and history. If you're looking for truly secular curriculum, keep looking.

One More Thing

This list isn't exhaustive. New curricula are always emerging, and what works changes as your child grows. The best curriculum is the one your child will actually engage with, so stay curious, stay flexible, and don't be afraid to change course.

Have a secular curriculum you love that isn't on this list? Share it inside Road Less Traveled Homeschool — I'd love to hear what's working for your family.

Julia McGarey is a parent coach and secular homeschool educator specializing in gifted and twice exceptional learners.