Homeschool math curriculums can cause you to question all of your life choices. Or at least questions your ability to homeschool well.
Whether you are a math genius or feeling like you are just scrapping by let’s talk homeschool math curriculums. I confess this is not my favorite subject, especially as I get into the older grades and I can’t remember anything. But math is necessary, and so we need to do it.
On of the best things about homeschooling is that we get to tailor curriculum for our individual kids. One of the hardest things about homeschooling is that we get to tailor curriculum for our individual kids.
There can be a lot of trial and error to find the right curriculum for your tribe. Sometimes you can find the right curriculum right away, but other times it takes testing and sampling. You can follow all the trends, pick the homeschool math curriculums that everyone is raving about, and it just doesn’t work for you.
But here is the good news. There is homeschool math curriculums out there that will work for you. After all my years of homeschooling, we’ve tried a lot of different math programs. This post is all about the homeschool math curriculums we’ve used to help save your sanity as you pick curriculum.
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Help! My Homeschool Math Curriculums are Failing Me
This happens with any subject, but I think math and science is where it happens most often. Math has a special way of making everyone cry before noon. It can become a daily battle, and you start to doubt yourself and lose your patience (let’s be real).
Math can quickly be the subject that drains your confidence and your sanity. But struggling with math doesn’t mean you’re failing. More often than not, it simply means your curriculum isn’t a good fit.
Even if it is the one everyone recommends. Singapore Math is a curriculum that I heard rave reviews about it. I have friends who use it and absolutely love it. We used it our first year of homeschooling, and I felt like I was going to meltdown. It just didn’t work for us.
There might be homeschool math curriculums that your best friend loves, and you despise with every fiber of your being. And that’s ok, we homeschool to tailor curriculum for our kids not our friends kids.
If your homeschool math curriculums are failing you, then let’s talk homeschool math curriculums that work for real families—where moms work from home, kids learn at different speeds, and sanity matters.
And, yes, you can change your homeschool curriculum mid-year.
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What Makes Homeschool Math Curriculums Sanity Saving
There are a few things that I always look for in a homeschool curriculum: easy to use, easy to be independent, and the instructions are clear. I don’t think I’m asking for a lot here.
Not all homeschool math curriculums are created equal. Some seem designed to break a parent’s spirit. Yes, I’ve used that curriculum too. But you don’t have to. Let’s avoid the frustration of picking the wrong math curriculum. Here are a few things to look for.
Make sure the instructions are in the student book or there are videos. The important thing is that kids can find the steps to the problem without asking you all the time. This also helps to teach them to be independent learners. You want the instructions student-facing.
You want to include regular reviews without drowning your kids in repetitive problems. If the review is too much it can lead to burnout and frustration on your part. Your kids got the concept last week and now they can’t do it. I was that student. There was so much repetition, I was burned out and just done.
The homeschool math curriculums should also be designed for independent learning. This is always at the top of my list. If you are homeschooling multiple grades and working from home independence is a requirement. If will also build your child’s confidence and responsibility over time.
Mastery Math vs Spiral
There are basically two methods of teaching math—mastery and spiral. Neither is inherently better, but one may work better for your kids. Or work better for one child and not for the other two…yes, that happens.
Mastery-based math focuses on one concept at a time until it sticks. Students practice a skill thoroughly before moving to the next topic.
This approach works well for kids who learn through repetition.
The spiral approach constantly reviews sold concepts while introducing new ones. Skills reappear regularly, which supports long-term retention.
This approach works well for kids who thrive off learning new concepts while reviewing old ones.
9 Homeschool Math Curriculums for Any Grade
Here are my homeschool math curriculums recommendations in no particular order.
1. Math-u-See
We have used this for lower elementary and high school. There is a video lesson and then a worksheet. The video lessons are usually very short, focusing on one concept, and the worksheets usually have 15 questions on them for the upper grades and 10 questions for the lower grades.
This is my go-to curriculum for kindergarten-2nd grade. For homeschooling kindergarten through second, I will piece the curriculum together and in 3rd grade we switch to an all in one curriculum.
Math-u-See is a mastery-based curriculum.
2. Abeka
Most of my kids have used Abeka Academy for 3rd grade and up. The math is more traditional. It will remind you of being in a classroom, but the kids learn a lot. There is always a learning curve when I switch them from Math-u-See to Abeka math. But it is one that they’ve easily overcome.
Abeka math used the spiral learning approach.
3. Mr D Math
This is one of my favorite math courses to recommend for high school math because it is online. While we haven’t used the math courses, my kids have taken other courses from Mr D Math and enjoyed them.
If you are struggling with high school math, you know because you can’t remember any of it, then check out Mr D Math.
Mr D Math is mastery-based.
4. IXL
While this isn’t a full curriculum, but designed to enhance what you are already using, it is a great way to reinforce concepts that kids can do independently. My youngest enjoys using it every day. She gets on it herself.
It isn’t always easy balancing working from home and homeschooling, IXL is a tool to help with that balance.
IXL is mostly spiral, however it is intended to be an adaptive skills-based platform, so kids can jump around various skills.
5. CTCMath
This is another online learning platform that we’ve used. I like it because kids are completely independent, and it grades for you. That is always a win.
The only drawback I found was how they teach the circumference of a circle. We ended up changing math curriculum when we reach that point. The explanations weren’t clear. What I’ve heard is that the math problems are intended to use pi beyond two decimal places. Pi was always 3.14, but I believe they use it until the sixth decimal place. This wasn’t clear in the lessons, and I was getting frustrated with it. I knew I was doing the equation correctly, but it kept saying I had the wrong answer. So we changed homeschool math curriculums.
For everything else, I really like the math curriculum and the online learning platform.
CTCmath is a mastery-paced approach. Students work through lessons at their own speed and focus on understanding concepts before proceeding.
6. Teaching Textbooks
While we’ve never used Teaching Textbooks, I have a friend who uses it and raved about, so I thought it was worth a mention. It is a math app, so it is available wherever you go. And it also keeps grades for you. That is a big win in my book. They do offer a free trial. It is always a great way to test out homeschool math curriculums.
Teaching Textbooks is a spiral-based approach. It introduces new concepts and regularly revisits old ones.
7. Saxon Math
This math has been around forever. This is what I used when I was homeschooled. In my junior year of high school, I went to the local community college and took a college-level math class. The teacher told me that I had the highest grade of the class. And I don’t even like math. But this more than prepared for college math.
On the other hand, my sister hated this math. She calls it the drill and kill because there is so much repetition in it.
I did try this for one of my kids and it wasn’t a good fit. It is one of those homeschool math curriculums that you are going to really love or really hate.
It is a rigorous curriculum, but it is very repetitive. When I used it I finally convinced my mom to let me do every other problem. And that worked.
Saxon math is also a spiral-based learning approach.
8. BJU Math
This is another math that I haven’t used, but my sister has used the online math program and liked it. It is the best of both worlds. You get the online teaching as well as the textbook.
I really like online math courses, especially for the upper grades. It is a reality that I can’t spend hours helping my kids understand concepts. It is also a reality that I don’t remember most of my high school math…I’ve never used since high school.
BJU math is more spiral-based with built-in review rather than strict mastery.
9. Life of Fred
This is a unique math program. I’ve used it to supplement some of our Algebra curriculum. My child who used it said it helped him to grasp the concepts better. It is a complete math program, I just haven’t used it that way.
The curriculum takes an informal approach and is designed to engage students in a fun narrative without repetitive drills.
If your student is struggling with traditional math curriculum, then this out of the box curriculum might be the perfect fit.
Life of Fred is mostly spiral-based.
Conclusion: How to Choose the Right Homeschool Math Curriculums
The best homeschool math curriculum is the one that fits your real life, not someone else’s Instagram homeschool.
Consider your load. Be honest about how much daily involvement you can realistically give. A curriculum that requires constant one-on-one teaching may not be sustainable long-term.
Choosing a program that supports independence can dramatically improve consistency and reduce stress.
When you’re teaching multiple kids, easy becomes paramount. Curriculums that share a similar structure across grade levels make planning easier and days smoother.
Your comfort level with math matters. A curriculum that supports you as the teacher will lead to better outcomes for everyone. It is ok to outsource subjects that you struggle to teach, don’t like to teach, or don’t have time to teach.
What’s your favorite homeschool math curriculum? Drop a comment below.
FAQs: Homeschool Math Curriculums
Q: How long should homeschool math lessons take?
A: Most math lessons should take 20–45 minutes, depending on age and focus. Longer sessions don’t always mean better learning.
Q: Is it okay to switch math curriculums mid-year?
A: Yes. If a curriculum isn’t working, switching can actually improve consistency and confidence.
Q: What if my child is behind in math?
A: Being “behind” is less important than mastering concepts. Focus on understanding rather than grade level.
Q: Can online math replace parent teaching entirely?
A: For many families, yes—especially with older students. Younger kids may still need occasional guidance.
Q: Do I need manipulatives for homeschool math?
A: Manipulatives can be helpful, especially for visual learners, but they’re not required for every child.
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