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Secular Homeschool Curriculum Packages
BookShark is a secular homeschool curriculum. It does not espouse or oppose any faith and is an excellent curriculum for religious and non-religious families who prefer that parents teach the origins of life and matters of spirituality.
Educate from Multiple Perspectives
Religion plays a role in the study of history and BookShark ensures students learn history from multiple perspectives. Instead of the singular view and bias of a textbook, BookShark’s secular literature based homeschool curriculum capitalizes on a wide variety of resources: historical fiction, biographies, classic literature, resource books, and nonfiction to provide context and a fuller understanding of content. The large array of titles enables a family to learn about the historical impact of religions from different viewpoints while students develop empathy by seeing history and science through the eyes of varying authors and characters.
Why Would Religious Families want Secular Curriculum?
Religious families may want a secular homeschool curriculum for a variety of reasons, including:
•They want to teach faith separate from academics.
•Their beliefs do not necessarily fit a specific mold or doctrine, and many faith-based homeschool curriculums weave doctrine into the history and science lessons.
•They feel that some faith-based curriculums are biased, making it difficult to learn about other cultures or beliefs from a neutral perspective.
You can view samples of our Instructor’s Guides as well as the Scope and Sequence for each program. You can also see samples of our secular homeschool curriculums by clicking on the Samples tab on any of our product detail pages. You can also view the contents and book titles of each package by viewing the various packages below:
Secular Homeschool Curriculum FAQ's
A secular homeschool curriculum should include comprehensive subjects like language arts, math, science, history, and social studies, all presented from a neutral, non-religious perspective. It should also promote critical thinking, evidence-based learning, and adaptability to diverse learning styles. Enrichment subjects like art, music, and physical education should be part of the curriculum, and many programs include optional subjects such as coding, world languages, or life skills to offer a well-rounded education.
The best secular homeschool curriculum for beginners is one that offers ease of use, clear lesson plans, and flexibility. Popular options include BookShark, which provides literature-based learning with detailed guides, or programs like Oak Meadow and Moving Beyond the Page, which are designed to be user-friendly for parents and children new to homeschooling. These programs focus on engaging content and structured but flexible learning paths, making it easier for families to transition into homeschooling.
Choosing a homeschool curriculum involves several factors: understanding your child’s learning style, considering your teaching preferences, evaluating the structure (whether it’s more parent-led or independent), and determining your educational goals. It's important to review sample lessons, assess how much time you can dedicate to instruction, and compare various programs to see which one aligns best with your family’s needs. Additionally, budgeting and whether you want a secular or religious curriculum will play key roles in your decision.
A complete secular homeschool curriculum package typically includes all the core subjects—math, language arts, science, and history/social studies—along with teacher’s guides, assessments, and lesson plans. Some programs also include literature books, hands-on activities or experiments (for science), and additional materials like workbooks or online resources. Packages often provide flexibility in choosing supplementary subjects such as foreign languages, art, or health, allowing parents to customize the curriculum to their child’s needs.
There are several strong contenders for the best secular homeschool curriculum, depending on the family’s needs. BookShark is highly rated for its literature-based, hands-on approach, while others like Torchlight focus on project-based learning and critical thinking. Oak Meadow is another popular choice, offering creative, Waldorf-inspired learning. The "best" curriculum is subjective, but these options stand out for their quality, flexibility, and strong support for secular education.