The Homeschool Packets Blog
Straight answers for K–8 homeschool parents anywhere in the US (and families abroad using US-grade materials): how to start, state laws and funding, what to teach, how to plan the week, and free printables to try tonight. Written by James, a homeschool dad and the founder of Homeschool Packets.
California-specific guide to instructional funds at homeschool (independent study) charter schools: who qualifies, what they can pay for, the rules, and how this differs from ESAs in other states.
A practical, secular 7th grade homeschool curriculum guide: what to cover in math, English, science, history, Spanish, art, coding and life skills, with a sample year plan and free resources.
Sample middle school homeschool schedules for 6th, 7th and 8th grade: how many hours a day, a daily timetable, a 4-day week, and a weekly plan by subject you can copy.
Practical, research-backed ways to keep homeschool kids motivated: personalization, choice, humor, visible progress and smart review, plus what to do when your middle schooler refuses to start.
A plain-English K–8 checklist of the key math, reading and writing skills kids are expected to have by the end of each grade, based on California and Common Core standards, plus science and history topics.
A free, printable 7th grade homeschool worksheet covering math, English, science and history, with a full answer key, plus how to choose good printable worksheets and where to find more free ones.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 U.S. states, but the rules differ. A plain-English overview of notice, testing, records and where to check your state's official law — not legal advice.
Which U.S. states have education savings accounts (ESAs) and other programs that may pay for curriculum? A careful overview with official sources — eligibility and expenses vary by state.
A practical, state-agnostic checklist for starting to homeschool: look up your law, withdraw from school, pick a level, choose curriculum, set a schedule and keep simple records.
What makes a printable homeschool worksheet actually useful at each grade from kindergarten through 8th — plus how to use packets with answer keys without drowning in random PDFs.
How to turn Minecraft, VR, coding and computers into fuel for math, reading, writing and science — without making every lesson a game, and without dropping grade-level skills.
A practical plan for homeschooling siblings in different grades: shared morning time, rotated one-on-one skills, independent work bins and separate personalized packets when levels diverge.
Can families in the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere use US grade-level homeschool packets? Yes — with a simple age-to-grade map, local legal checks and USD pricing for digital PDFs.