Curated guide

Best Homeschool Language Arts Curriculum

8 curricula in this guide

Language arts covers a lot: phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, writing, vocabulary, and literature. Most homeschool families piece together one or two dedicated programs rather than relying on a single all-in-one. Our top picks span structured Orton-Gillingham programs ideal for beginning and struggling readers, writing curricula with proven frameworks, and integrated programs that bundle multiple subjects together.

Review each curriculum's grade range carefully — some focus on early elementary, others on middle and high school. Match the program to your child's current reading level rather than their chronological grade for the best results.

Editor's selection

Our picks

All About Reading

All About Learning Press

Featured

Orton-Gillingham-based multi-sensory reading and phonics program using letter tiles, decodable readers, and scripted lessons. Effective for all learners including those with dyslexia.

PreK K–2 3–5

$120–$160/grade

IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Structured writing curriculum using the Structure and Style method with engaging video instruction. Teaches reluctant writers to produce organized, stylistic prose through nine structural models.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$169–$289/grade

Logic of English

Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham-based phonics, reading, spelling, and grammar program that teaches the rules behind English spelling. Effective for struggling readers and dyslexia.

PreK K–2 3–5

$88–$227/grade

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IEW (Institute for Excellence in Writing)

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Structured writing curriculum using the Structure and Style method with engaging video instruction. Teaches reluctant writers to produce organized, stylistic prose through nine structural models.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$169–$289/grade

Khan Academy

Featured

Free, nonprofit, mastery-based online learning platform spanning PreK through college. Short video lessons paired with adaptive practice and unit tests, especially strong in math and SAT prep.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

Acellus Academy

International Academy of Science

Fully accredited online K-12 school with WASC accreditation, AP courses, NCAA-approved cores, and military Tier I status. Same video content as Power Homeschool but with diploma, transcripts, and teacher support.

K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$2000–$4500/year

BrainPOP

Animated explainer videos with Tim and Moby covering 800+ topics in science, social studies, ELA, math, and arts. Strong supplement for visual learners and topic intros.

K–2 3–5 6–8

$295–$430/year

Compass Classroom

Streaming video classical Christian curriculum with engaging master teachers. Features Visual Latin (the flagship), history, writing, literature, science, and more.

3–5 6–8 9–12

$490–$890/year

Outschool

Marketplace of independent teachers offering 140,000+ live small-group video classes, 1:1 tutoring, and self-paced courses for ages 3-18. Supplemental enrichment, not a full curriculum.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$480–$2880/year

Power Homeschool

International Academy of Science

Self-paced video curriculum sharing identical content with Acellus Academy but without enrollment, accreditation, or teacher support. Significant 2025 price increase from ~$31/mo to $99/mo.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$948–$1188/year

Time4Learning

Secular self-paced PreK-12 full curriculum with animated lessons, automated grading, and recordkeeping. Most popular secular all-subjects digital subscription.

PreK K–2 3–5 6–8 9–12

$335–$479/year

Common questions

Frequently asked

What does homeschool language arts actually cover?

Phonics, reading, spelling, grammar, writing, vocabulary, and literature. That is a lot to hold in one program, which is why most families run one or two dedicated programs rather than a single all-in-one. A common setup is a structured phonics or reading program in the early years plus a separate writing curriculum starting around third or fourth grade.

Do I need a separate writing curriculum?

Usually yes, from about third or fourth grade. Reading and spelling programs rarely teach composition well, and writing is the skill colleges and employers notice most. A dedicated writing program gives you a framework to teach from rather than assigning essays and hoping. Before third grade, copywork and narration usually do the job.

How do I choose a language arts program for a struggling reader?

Look for explicit, systematic phonics, usually described as Orton-Gillingham based. These programs teach the code directly and in a fixed order rather than relying on exposure, and they include built-in review. They are the standard recommendation for dyslexia and are also simply effective for any child who is not picking reading up incidentally.

Should I match the program to my child's grade or reading level?

Reading level, every time. Language arts programs place by skill, not age, and starting a child above their actual level is the fastest way to make reading feel like failure. Most publishers offer a free placement test. Use it, and be willing to start lower than the grade on the box.

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