Digital Education Resources and Boredom Busters

Everyone Gets to Homeschool Thanks to the Coronavirus

In response to the COVID-19, Coronavirus outbreak, schools around the world are shutting down for an unknown length of time. Many school districts around us have provided online resources or digital classrooms for students to participate in, but we are still waiting to hear what ours will be doing. With the days and weeks ahead of us so uncertain, I’ve seen many parents scrounging for educational resources to use at home with their kids.

Basically, everyone gets to homeschool now! As a second generation homeschooling mom, with 2 of my kids attending public school this year, things just got real. Part of me is excited for the unexpected extra time I now have to spend with the 2 that went off to public school. The other side of me is frantically trying to come up with a game plan for keeping all 5 of my kids occupied and engaged while at home, without losing my mind!

A World of Digital Resources

As homeschooling has become an increasingly popular educational option, more and more digital options have become available. Online homeschooling curriculum is the sanity saver many moms are searching for! Whether you are looking for a complete curriculum, or something to supplement your child’s educational experience, there are so many options out there!

While I still love to use physical books, streaming digital curriculum that grades itself is super appealing and has really made my life easier.

Most curriculum will come as a digital membership with an expiration date. Some will include all digital content and others will provide video teaching segments that go along with a physical textbook. Some companies will offer the hard copy CD version of their program, which is great for passing down to younger siblings but not nearly as convenient in the moment.

Read: Our Homeschool Curriculum (2017-2018)

Teach your kids to sew!
Take our free dress making class for 18″ dolls. Find it HERE

Put together Blessing Bags with your kids to distribute to those in need!
Find my tips and printable cards HERE

Resources Specific to the Coronavirus

There have been numerous resources being shared in response to the immediate needs ahead of us. It has been great seeing so many people offer to help and share resources. I pray that continues over the weeks to come. Here are a few resources that have been circulating in response to the Coronavirus outbreak.

The people at Amazing Educational Resources have put together an awesome list of all the companies providing free memberships to online educational sites!
- Find their list HERE
- Find their facebook group HERE
Carly from Lipgloss and Crayons created a great, at home learning schedule to keep kids in a routine. Carly is a teacher and shares a lot of great tips! Find it HERE
My friend Britni over at Play Party Plan put together a great list of Boredom Busters!
- Find the list of boredom busters HERE
- Find all of Britni’s fun game ideas HERE
Fellow Michigander, Lauren from Mrs Weber’s Neighborhood has a great post about things for kids to do that don’t require parental involvement! Find it HERE
Krystyn from Really, Are You Serious? Shares activities for kids and families when you’re stuck at home. Find it HERE
Sally from Lovestalgia shares a great post for anyone that finds themselves suddenly homeschooling! Find it HERE
Kate from Highlights Along the Way created a great list of tips on how to homeschool when you are not a homeschooling family! Find it HERE

Other Great Ideas from Awesome Bloggers

Online Reading Programs from Lipgloss and Crayons
Best Educational Apps for Elementary Students from Love, Joleen
Learning Resources for Preschoolers from the Gray Ruby
Homeschooling Resources from Our Family Lifestyle
Why We Homeschool from the Domestic Life Stylist
Homeschooling Resources from the Crunchy Mommy
How to Have More Joy in Your Homeschool from a Mothers Random Thoughts
What Your Child Should Know Before Graduating from Meg For It

Find all my homeschooling resources HERE

Sad that Disney World and Disneyland are closed?
Have your kids try making their favorite Disney foods at home!
Frozen Night Blossom Recipe

Complete Curriculum

Here are some of the top companies offering comprehensive, online homeschooling curriculum. There are options for self-paced curriculum that are purchased and overseen by you (you set the schedule and end date), and there are options with less flexibility and more structure.

Monarch
- 3rd through 12th grade
- All digital content, no hard copy books or paper needed
- All reading and work is done online
- Automatic grading and report cards
- Bought as individual subjects or as a family subscription
- Hard copy CD version available called “Switched on Schoolhouse”
Bob Jones Homeschool
- Pre-K through 12th grade
- Video lessons presented by a teacher
- Students work out of physical books or downloaded ebooks
- Grading is done by the parent
Abeka
- Pre-K through 12th grade
- Video lessons presented by a teacher
- Students work out of physical books
- Grading is done by the parent
Easy Peasy All In One
- 1st through 12th grade
- All materials are downloaded and administered by the parent
- Grading is done by the parent
K12
- Kindergarten through 12th grade
- Schedule is set by the charter school that you enroll through
- All work is submitted to a teacher
Veritas Press Online Courses
- Specific start and end dates like enrolling in a private school

Stuck at home? How about building a treehouse?
Our DIY Up Themed Treehouse

Individual Subjects

Sometimes, piecing curriculum together makes more sense and feels more individualized. Here are some great individual subjects offered online:

Paint with “ice” and watch your creations freeze over!
Find instructions for this fun craft HERE

Educational Websites and Subject Mastery

In addition to a great curriculum, educational apps, websites and reinforcers can be great tools. Here are a few of the ones I know of or have used:

IXL – We use this and love it for reinforcing key concepts!
Starfall
ABC Mouse
PBS Kids
Prodigy
Math is Fun
Time 4 Learning
ABC Ya
Spelling City

Get your kids involved in some Spring cleaning!
Find my printable chart and games HERE

Coding

Which Ones Have You Tried?

This is obviously not an exhaustive list! What other programs have you tried?

The Best Digital Education Resources and Boredom Busters

Everyone Gets to Homeschool Thanks to the Coronavirus