I spent yesterday working to set up our classroom space, creating workbooks, and cutting and laminating new works for the kids. And since I’ve been working on pulling together all of what I need to start the school year strong, I thought I’d share some of my favorite online homeschool resources.
These are websites I’ve used for years, first as a teacher and now as a parent. A lot of them are entirely free. Others offer paid digital downloads, but have at least some freebies always available. All of them are print and go, meaning you don’t have to wait for anything to be mailed to you or have additional materials in order to make use of them.
The Math Worksheet Site:
My favorite online resource for creating math worksheets.
I first discovered this site when I was teaching a small Montessori school with limited resources. I was also the lead in a classroom spanning from 1st-6th grade. This meant that I was teaching everything from basic addition to advanced algebra at any given time. Following a Montessori curriculum meant that we didn’t have math textbooks, but I did need a way to easily make problems for my students, at their individual levels. This site makes that a breeze.
The homepage lists clearly the different types of worksheets you can create, organized by category and then broken down further by specific types. Once you click on a worksheet, you have the option of choosing the number of equations, the wording of the problems, any specifics you want included or excluded, and how many different worksheets you want to create with the parameters you’ve set. You can also choose whether or not you want to include an answer key.
This is a paid site, but they do allow for a 3 week test drive, so if you’re looking to create some math worksheets for your kids, this is one online homeschool resource you don’t want to miss.
Handwritingpractice.net
My go to online resource for creating handwriting practice pages
Gianna is learning to write using the D’nealian style. This is a common style used in Montessori schools. It’s letters are slanted and contain more curved lines than typical printing. This is great because it’s both easier on little hands to write curved lines as opposed to straight, and it also will make for an easier transition to cursive down the road.
We do have a D’nealian handwriting workbook for her to use, and this most amazing handwriting practice board from Mirus Toys (I drool over everything she creates!), but sometimes I like to add handwriting practice to other subjects. When I do, I turn to this free page. It allows me to type in the content I want, and it creates a dotted practice page for G. I recently used it during our literacy activities for the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Teachers Pay Teachers
My favorite online homeschool resource for just about anything
The idea behind this wonderful site is that teachers are constantly creating new resources for their own classrooms, and they should have a platform for sharing and selling what they’ve made. On this site you’ll find resources on every topic. You do have to become a member, though there is no fee. There are plenty of free resources available- in fact, one of the requirements for any teacher seeking to sell a pdf on the site is that you have to provide one free item in addition to a paid item.
You can search by topic, grade level, and price. There are lesson plans, worksheets, printable activities, assessments, and classroom decorations. You’ll even find a few resources created by yours truly.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
An online treasure trove of free coloring pages
Coloring pages are always a favorite around here. I stumbled across St. John the Baptist’s website searching for a coloring page of Pope Francis, and discovered that they have tons and tons of fabulous coloring pages! If you need something to occupy your littles while you give an older child a lesson, or need an extension for a religion lesson, look no further!
Montessorimaterials.org
A fabulous online homeschool resource for free Montessori materials
If you’re looking to expand the Montessori works on your shelf, look no further. This site contains lots of free three part cards, separated out by subject. It’s easy to navigate and use. Many of the resources have been donated by the teachers who created them. The science section is particularly full of great resources.
k12reader
My favorite online homeschool resource when I need a lesson extension or reading comprehension worksheet
I don’t use a ton of worksheets in our homeschool. The kids are young and for the most part learn best with hands on activities. But G really enjoys worksheets. I think it’s because they have a clear start and finish. k12reader was a site that I discovered while teaching elementary. What I love about this site is that the reading comprehension worksheets are non-fiction reading, about various science, math, history, and geography topics. It’s so nice to be able to extend a lesson on how to estimate numbers with a reading comprehension article. I’ve always found a cross-subject approach to be so helpful in solidifying knowledge.
On this site you’ll find spelling worksheets, reading comprehension, and worksheets for various grammar skills, as well as writing skills and storytelling information. You can search by grade level, which makes it even easier to find just the right worksheet.
Montessori Print Shop
My favorite online homeschool resource for Montessori digital downloads
Montessori teachers spend a lot of their time making materials for their classrooms. Creating something from scratch takes a tremendous amount of time and effort, and sometimes it’s nice to have a lot of the work done for you. The site is always my go to for items that I don’t have the time, energy, or ability to create. Sometimes it’s not worth reinventing the wheel.
All of the materials on Montessori Print Shop are high quality and beautifully made. You can find just about anything you’re looking for. The prices are reasonable, and they often run sales. They also have a freebie section that is updated regularly. I’ve purchased many of their geography resources, especially the cultural cards, for our continent boxes.
From the Archives
If you’re looking for more about what Montessori materials we love and what works will be on our shelves this year, you might like these posts:
Hands Down My Favorite Montessori Baby Item
Our Favorite Works Right Now: Practical Life
Our Favorite Works Right Now: Precise and Self-Correcting
Our Favorite Works Right Now: Counting and Internalizing Knowledge
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter! September will have more school-related resources in addition to the monthly feast day key lessons and resources.