There are so many benefits of using online courses in your homeschool. In fact, I often call this one of the best homeschool hacks out there. In the beginning of your homeschooling journey, you may feel like you have to teach all the things. But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to!
5 Benefits of Using Online Courses in Your Homeschool
Online courses help alleviate stress around teaching.
One of the biggest concerns for new homeschoolers is how they are going to teach their children, and rightfully so. Most of us were put in classrooms with teachers who went to college to obtain a piece of paper that set the status quo of what’s “required” to be a teacher. So, taking that into your own hands can be frightening.
Becoming your child’s teacher comes with everything that entails. From finding curriculum to writing the lesson plans, there can be a lot of moving parts. When you use online courses, they can help you alleviate the stress of having to teach everything, all of the time.
Using online courses can help cater to your child’s interests.
The unique thing about homeschooling is the ability to focus on your child’s interests more than not. However, if you are not knowledgeable in something they want to learn, it may be brushed off. Instead of putting it on the backburner, find online courses that your kids can take for their interests.
There are lots of free and inexpensive online courses available for just about anything you can think of!
Most online courses work well flexible schedules.
When it comes to online courses, a lot of them are pre-recorded or self-paced. This means you can purchase the course and have your student take it any time and any day. Other courses may be time sensitive, which means you’ll have access for a set number of days or months. There are also online courses that are taught live. These aren’t as flexible as the aforementioned, but still a great option.
You can get extra help with certain subjects.
There are certain subjects I will never enjoy teaching, so I get help with those. And if you feel the same way, don’t stress yourself out! Use online courses, videos, or even tutors to help teach the subjects you don’t quite fancy. There is no homeschool rule that says you have to be able to teach all the things all the time!
Most online courses can count as credits for high (and college).
This is why I call online courses one of the best homeschool hacks. Most courses can count as credits for high school and/or college. Document each course your child takes, regardless of what grade they are in (but especially if they are in middle and high school). Many of online courses can be used toward credits for graduating or toward college.
10 Self-Paced Interactive Courses for Homeschoolers
Below is a list of courses I personally have available for homeschooling students (and families). There are several free courses and the others are very reasonably priced. As always, you can use these courses with all of your homeschooling kiddos and have unlimited, lifetime access.
Biblical Art History Student eCourse
This course will teach about the actual origin of art from an ancient Biblical perspective. We will start with the Ultimate Creator of the Universe and all within in and highlight some of the greatest kind of art ever created. From the Tabernacle and the furniture within to the construction of King Solomon’s house, art was something that started much earlier than what modern day teaches.
Biblical Fall Feasts Interactive Course (FREE)
Take your family on an interactive study about the Biblical Fall Feasts. The printables are designed to help your children create a memorable interactive notebook and have fun learning about Yahweh’s appointed times. Pair this with my Journaling Through the Holy Days journal for a full study.
Biblical Spring Feasts Interactive Study (FREE)
This course is designed to help teach about the Biblical Spring Feasts through instructional videos and building an interactive notebook at the same time. This method will allow your children to learn through creativity, reading and audio comprehension. All notebooking pages are provided for you, all you need are a few basic art supplies (scissors, glue, notebook, crayons, etc.).
Creepy Crawlies Course
This resource can be used to create an interactive notebook or lapbook with class videos included. Each week a different group of “big bugs” will be discovered: wonderful wings, lots of legs, big beetles, and strongest, heaviest, and longest.
First Aid Basics
This resource and course is meant to be a guide in teaching children basic first aid skills such as, but not limited to CPR, bleeding, burns, blisters, fractures, etc.
Legos with Alex Student eCourse
This course was taught by Alex Huddleston, son of Bryan & Michelle Huddleston. At time, he was an 11-year-old boy who was passionate about all things Legos and architecture. All ideas for this course came from Alex and he hopes that your kiddos have fun!
Science Experiments eCourse
These are Science Experiments That’ll Blow Your Mind! This eCourse has 4 experiments that can be broken down into weekly lessons:
- Balancing Forks
- Waterproof Paper
- Hold the Pepper
- Hey – No Pressure
Each experiment comes with:
- Detailed step-by-step instructions for conducting the experiment.
- Information for how the experiment works.
- Connection to real-life science.
- Q&A printable
- Experiment Notes printable
- A printable for noting the outcome of the experiment.
This course will help your student dive deep into a variety of scientific concepts and put together a cool learning notebook!
Study of Purim Interactive Course (FREE)
For the next four weeks, you will embark on an amazing adventure of learning about the Hebrew celebration known as Purim. This course has history, foreign language, geography, and social studies all wrapped up in one! You will not need extra resources; however, there may be some suggestions mentioned for further study.
Water in the World – Geography/Science eCourse for Kids
This virtual course is for the middle elementary to middle school-age homeschooler. The layout is a four-week, interactive notebooking course that comes with 4 videos (ranging between 35-50 minutes in length each), the complete interactive-notebook lesson pack, extra resources, and sample lesson plans.
Where in the World? Interactive Geography Course
Where in the World? is an interactive geography course that will take your homeschoolers on a journey to 8 places across the world that they’ve probably never heard of.
This course comes with 118 printable pages to create a fascinating interactive notebook filled with information from their “travels.”
It’s meant to be taught over the duration of 8 weeks, featuring one location per week. There are enough lessons to stretch each lesson to a full week or longer. Simply print the pages to go with the video lesson and provide your students with basic art supplies for completing the lessons.
I’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve read this far, I have a special discount for you! Use coupon code 50off to receive 50% any and ALL of my self-paced interactive courses for your homeschooling students. In the meantime, I’d love to know if you already use online courses in your homeschool? If so, what are some of your favorites? What benefits of using online courses have you experienced?