Budget-Friendly Homeschool Tools for Early Elementary (K-2)

Looking for homeschooling ideas for your early elementary homeschool? Try these budget-friendly resources!

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For Kindergarten through 2nd Grade, our family focuses heavily on learning how to read and mastering basic math skills.

Outside of those goals, we keep homeschool fun and simple! The little ones learn during Morning Time, and we focus on outdoor play, educational games, and read-a-loud books. (Don’t forget those educational shows on hard days!)

Learn How to Read (Early Elementary)

We don’t follow a particular curriculum for learning how to read. In my experience as a homeschooler and homeschool teacher, every child learns at their own pace. One day, they are sounding out every single letter like they’ve never seen this word before, and the next day, they are burning through books like it’s their job.

In my opinion, my job as a teacher is to present my kids with the tools to read until it clicks. No pressure. We practice for a few minutes a day (whatever my kids can handle before they get bored), and suddenly, without warning, they start reading.

I know this isn’t the case with everyone, but I challenge you to try keeping it simple before assuming you need to invest in an expensive reading curriculum.

• Workbooks like Brain Quest! (for reading, phonics, math, and other skills)
• Explode the Code (my favorite phonics series)
• Free Printables for learning (tons of ideas here)
• The Bob Books (Reading)
• Storybook Treasury of Dick and Jane and Friends (bought this at a thrift store on a whim – it’s been amazing for teaching my kids to read.)
• Channie’s Quick & Neat Writing Pad, Practice Handwriting & Printing Workbook (game-changer for handwriting!)

Homeschool Math (Early Elementary)

• Workbooks like Brain Quest! (for reading, phonics, math, and other skills)
• Life of Fred (makes math concepts very fun and entertaining – we use it as a supplement to our Math curriculum and borrow them from the library)
• Math Lessons for a Living Education (great early elementary math book!)
• Montessori Math Activities

Books for Early Readers

My early readers loved these books – most of which we found at the library

• Elephant & Piggie Books (by far our favorites!)
• Frog & Toad series
• Little Bear series
• Amelia Bedelia books

Morning Time (for Early Elementary)

Because Morning Time is for all ages, I keep my expectations for early elementary learners extremely chill. They pick up a lot simply by listening and participating a little bit.

Typically, after I read aloud, I’ll ask my early elementary learners to give me an “oral narration” while the older kids write in their notebooks. Oral narration is a Charlotte Mason concept that is simply a retelling of what they remember from what we read. I might ask a few questions, but that’s it. Sometimes they remember the most random details, and it’s hysterical.

If they’re artsy, I’ll have them draw something about our story. Every kid is different, so some might prefer to doodle while others prefer to talk.

During morning time, my kids also have a chance to practice any memory work the older kids are working on. Occasionally, we do a craft or watch a YouTube video that relates to what we’re learning.

Learn more about Morning Time here!

Read Aloud Books for Early Elementary Homeschool

These books have incredible lists of read-aloud books full of diversity, beautiful illustrations, and fun writing! We use the books in the lists to help us learn about History, Science, Geography, and Social Studies. Look for the books at the library!

Once our kids are reading well, we use these lists to find good books they can read on their own as well.

• Five-in-a-Row (shows you how to take a read-aloud book and turn it into a week’s work of learning for all different subjects)
• Give Your Child the World (I applied the 5-in-a-Row concept to the books here)

In addition to what we read during Morning Time, my K-2nd graders also enjoyed these read-aloud books:

• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series
• Winnie-the-Pooh books
• Geronimo Stilton books (the font is varied and fun and keeps new readers engaged and learning!)
• Roald Dahl books
• Boxcar Children series
• What Should Danny Do? (awesome book about making choices!)

Homeschool Ideas for Early Elementary

In addition to the math, reading, and other ideas I shared, we used these for budget-friendly Early Elementary learning!

• Play outside! All the time.
• Montessori Trays (tons of ideas here)
• Learning games and printable unit studies (Science, Geography)
• Busy Boxes
• Kids Cook Real Food (Get the best class for $7 here!)

Educational Games & Toys for Early Elementary Homeschool

These games and toys went a long way in teaching our kids important skills in early elementary grades. They also keep kids learning and playing so I can work.

We found a lot of these games at thrift stores or asked for them for birthdays and Christmas, but a few of them we bought new because they were just so perfect for hands-on learning!

• USA Puzzle with pieces the shape of States
• Scrabble Junior
• Monopoly Junior
• Boggle Junior
• Pattern Play
• Montessori Sandpaper Letters (plus how to use them)
• Melissa & Doug Letter Matching Game/Puzzle
• Pattern Blocks & Boards
• Melissa & Doug Lace & Trace
• Wooden Geoboard Mathematical Manipulative
• Magnetic Tiles Building Set
• Splash Learn (Online – free Math games!)
• ABCYa (Online – free games for multiple subjects!)

Educational Shows & DVDs

Most of the DVDs we get from the library!

• Signing Time
• WhistleFritz Spanish Immersion
• Duolingo (free! But not always good for kids who are just going to click around for answers and won’t try to learn the language)
• Global Wonders (there’s a whole series! So good)
• What’s in the Bible
• School House Rock
• Peg + Cat (Math! Also, it’s hysterical.)
• Super Why
• National Geographic or Disney Nature Documentaries
• Magic School Bus
• Crash Course Kids (YouTube!)

Online Curriculum

Personally, I don’t prefer online learning for kids in early elementary grades. Hands-on, tactile learning is fun and engaging and helps them develop fine motor skills. However, these are fantastic free curriculum guides for homeschoolers.

• Ambleside Online
• Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

The Early Elementary years are super fun! You’re just stepping into structured learning, and you get to watch the lights go on as they learn to read and do basic math. Keep it simple, plan for lots of playtime and short lessons, and you’ll do great!