My up-coming 1st grader is excited about our 1st grade homeschool curriculum choices. This past year, for kindergarten, we focused on math and phonics. He loved using BJU Press Distance Learning K5 math and Logic of English. Since these curriculums worked so well for him, we will be using them again in 1st grade while adding in heritage studies and science. We will continue our read aloud selections as well.
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1st Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices
Here are our 1st grade homeschool curriculum choices. Let me know what homeschool curriculum you are using with your child in the comments below.
Bible
I won’t be using a separate Bible curriculum with my 1st grader. I am reading through the Bible with all of my kids during lunchtime using various resources and my husband leads us in family devotions each night. Add in the biblical worldview presented throughout all of the BJU Press curriculum and I think we have Bible covered for 1st grade.
English
In 1st grade, I like to continue focusing on phonics, handwriting, spelling, learning to read and read alouds. Here’s what I plan on using to accomplish these goals.
- Logic of English: Foundations (phonics, handwriting, spelling and learning to read)
- Reading aloud to my 1st grader from books we have at home and from the library. I am getting read aloud inspiration from the Memoria Press First Grade Read-Aloud set. I’m not purchasing this set but looking over the book list for suggestions on what to read to my son.
Math
I cannot tell you how much my son loved the BJU Press Distance Learning K5 math curriculum this past year. He is excited to use the BJU Press Distance Learning program again for 1st grade math. An older child used BJU Press Distance Learning 1st grade math several years ago and it worked so well for us so I’m eager to use it again this coming school year.
- BJU Press Distance Learning 1st Grade Math (1 year course)
You can learn more about BJU Press math in this blog post review.
Science and Heritage Studies
One of the things I love about BJU Press is that they realize that 1st graders need to focus their time and energy on learning to read and understanding foundational math concepts. With that in mind, they have kept their science and heritage studies curriculum to one semester each. That means that my 1st grader won’t be bogged down doing too much school work. He will have lots of time to learn through play and exploration because school work will be kept to a minimum.
- BJU Press Distance Learning 1st Grade Heritage Studies (1 semester course)
- BJU Press Distance Learning 1st Grade Science (1 semester course)
Note: You can purchase Heritage Studies 1 and Science 1 from BJU Press as a set. This cuts the cost in half!
Keeping 1st Grade Work to a Minimum
My goal in the early years of education is to give my kids a solid foundation in language and math while developing a love for learning. I find that keeping 1st grade school work to no more than 2 hours is ideal. We usually finish 1st grade work in a little over an hour. That gives us enough time to learn the basics and still love learning.
Check out my other homeschool curriculum choices for 10th grade, 8th grade, 4th & 6th grade and preschool. And make sure to visit my homeschool curriculum page for help with choosing curriculum.
Hi, Janelle! Somehow I didn’t realize you were using LoE! This is the first time I’ve seen you not using SWR for the younger years. I’ve heard good things about LoE and from what I’ve seen, it looks in the same vein of SWR. I’ve always used the Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading and in recent years I’ve used the correlating SWR phonogram cards along with the OPG lessons for reinforcement. Also, I’m happy for you to be able to use lots of BJU DL again this year. It’s such great stuff! I continue to enjoy keeping up with you wherever you post. God bless you.
This is the first time I’ve mentioned that we are using LOE. I still love SWR. I’m using it with the older kids and plan to transition back to it with my 1st grader after we finish up LOE: Foundations. I just needed to listen to my own advice and use something I could implement in this crazy season of life instead of making SWR a curriculum idol.Thank you for keeping up with me all over social media.:)
Do you think LOE is better than SWR? I wanted to start using SWR for this coming up year 2nd grade level for my daughter, but have seen LOE and may be interested. Love to hear your opinion.
SWR and LOE are very similar. I think, overall, that SWR is a superior program and it is much more affordable. LOE is expensive! That being said, there are two areas where LOE beats SWR. One is ease for the parent/teacher. LOE is open and go. SWR takes time to figure. If/when the lessons plans for SWR come out, then that will help make SWR more teacher friendly. The second thing that LOE has is curriculum for the kindergarten level (or a child who is just learning letters/sounds and phonemic awareness). SWR tells you what phonemic awareness concepts to work with your child on and gives suggestions for activities but the parent/teacher has to plan that all out which can be difficult for those new to the program or moms juggling multiple children. Again, using Cursive First (a companion to SWR) can help with scheduling out teaching phonograms (letters/sounds) but LOE has it all laid out for young kids just learning phonics. You said your daughter was at a second grade level so I think SWR would work great. It is much more affordable but know that it takes time to figure out how to use and implement. LOE is expensive but takes the work out for the parent/teacher. I hope that helps. My plan is to use LOE for kindergarten and 1st grade (basically work through their Foundations books) and then switch back to SWR for 2nd grade and up.
Thank you so much for your advice!
Hello Janelle:
I’m new at this homeschool journey. After the opportunity that I had to homeschool my daughter during the pandemic, I found out that I want to continue. She loved it and even though it was difficult at the beginning, I loved it. She completed kindergarten this year and we did homeschool through her school platform. She was complaining every day because she was telling me that at school teacher don’t give her that amount of work. She’s was attending a Montessori School.
Do you know any curriculum that mixes academics with materials, like the Montessori style?
Thank you so much in advance for you’re reply.
Janelle,
I too was rather forced into Homeschooling during the Pandemic and it was eye-opening. My son is a rising 3rd grader and has been in a Christian school the past 3 years using Abeka Math.
I understand from your videos (as well as other HS moms) that Abeka is a year ahead. I really preferred BJU distance learning and am considering their full curriculum.
Do you feel that my son will be bored with BJU math after 2 years of Abeka?
Thank you!
I don’t think he will be bored. Plus, with homeschooling, you can move at his pace. So, if he already knows a concept then skip it or just have him do the review lesson to make sure he remembers all of it.
Thank you for all of your videos! I am new to homeschooling, we realized it was a great fit for our family during Covid 19. Thank you for the tip about heritage studies/science combo kit. It worked for grade 2 as well. I did notice also that BJU press is 1 grade level ahead in math, science and heritage studies from our public school. My daughter who would be in 3rd grade however is doing grade 2 with BJU press. Just something to keep in mind.