The Ultimate Guide to the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Special Needs Students

Embarking on the journey of homeschooling a special needs child can be both exciting and daunting. As a parent, you want the very best for your child’s education, and you might be wondering how to find the best homeschool curriculum for special needs students.

There are so many different special needs homeschool curricula that it can make any parent feel overwhelmed.

Rest assured, you’re not alone, and there is a wealth of resources available to support you on this unique educational path.

In this article, we are going to discuss the best special needs homeschool curriculum options broken down by subject — reading, writing, spelling, grammar, and math. We’ll also touch on some great homeschool curricula for special needs children that can focus on multiple subjects.

We’ll also share additional learning resources like Outschool that provide specialized online courses to children ages 3 to 18 in one-on-one and small group settings with a real instructor, offering a great alternative for homeschooling families of children with special needs.

Regardless if you are looking for a special needs homeschool curriculum that is in book format or online, there is a homeschool curriculum for your special needs child stated in this article to meet his/her needs.

This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

The Best Homeschool Reading Curriculums for Special Needs Students

There are a lot of reading homeschool curricula for special needs students out there but we have narrowed it down to five. The best five reading homeschool curricula for special needs students are the following: Right Brain Learning System, Explode the Code, Nessy, All About Reading, and BookShark. Let’s take a look at each one.

Right Brain Learning System

The Right Brain Learning System was created by Dianne Craft, a special educator with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in special education. She created a reading program to help students with special needs.

The Right Brain Learning System teaches special needs students how to read with a visual approach. Her materials provide instruction in a colorful way to help reading instruction to “stick.”

This program is great for any special needs child who is struggling with reading and it is affordable.

Explode the Code

Explode the Code teaches students with special needs phonics. Phonics is the skill of learning how to take the sounds of letters and put them together to read a word. This is a foundational step in teaching students how to read. Explode the Code not only teaches students phonics but as they progress through the curriculum will learn vocabulary, reading fluency, and basic reading comprehension. Explode the Code can be found in both book and online formats.

Nessy

Nessy is an online reading program for students with special needs who are struggling with reading. This program is aimed at students ages 4 to 14. This online program will teach students with special needs the following skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, reading fluency (i.e. how quickly a student can read), vocabulary, and reading comprehension. This program is geared toward students with Dyslexia, but any child with reading difficulties would benefit from this program. There is a monthly fee to use it.

All About Reading

All About Reading is a reading program with four different levels. It starts with teaching letter sounds. Then it progresses to teaching additional phonetic skills, reading fluency, and comprehension. It is done by using a multisensory approach by using books with visuals, letter tiles, and hands-on activities. Students with special needs would benefit due to this approach and parents would benefit due to its reasonable cost and open-and-go setup

BookShark

BookShark is a different reading program that focuses more on reading comprehension in regard to history. When you go to their website, look for “Reading with History.” Their reading program is for any student with or without special needs from kindergarten through high school. Their reading program includes books for read-aloud (where the parent reads aloud to their child), readers (books that students can read independently or with minimal assistance), and an instructor guide for parents.

If you have a student with special needs who loves history, this is a great engaging reading program.

Best Homeschool Writing Curriculums for Special Needs Students

There are many homeschool writing curricula out there, but we have found the best five for your homeschooling family. The best writing homeschool curriculum for special needs students includes the following options: Brave Writer, Essentials in Writing, WriteShop, Learning Language Arts through Literature, and Institute for Excellence in Writing. Below is a description of each one.

Brave Writer

Brave Writer is a writing program for students who struggle with writing. Their writing program is divided into three parts: original thought, mechanics (i.e. grammar, punctuation, capitalization, complete sentences, etc.), and writing projects. Brave Writer provides the following five writing programs: Beginning Writers for ages 5 to 7, Emerging Writers for ages 8 to 10, Middle School Age Writers for ages 11 to 12, High School Writers for ages 13 to 14, and College Prep Writers for ages 15 to 18. Each program provides a manual for parents, handbooks, and writing projects. Brave Writer does provide online classes.

Essentials in Writing

Essentials in Writing is a writing program that is designed for first through twelfth graders. This writing program provides writing instruction in a format where skills are broken down into smaller skills. For example, instead of teaching the three types of sentences within one lesson, three lessons have been created (one for each type of sentence).

This writing program provides a video lesson (either on DVD or online), a teacher manual, and a writing textbook or workbook. You can purchase a printed or digital version of these materials (the digital version costs less though).

Essentials in Writing also provides parents an option of having their student with special needs take a placement test as well as provide free support. Online writing courses are another option for this writing program.

WriteShop

WriteShop is a writing curriculum that uses a multi-sensory approach for kindergarteners to high schoolers. There are three different programs that are offered: WriteShop Primary (for students who are just learning how to write and focus on the skills of planning, writing, and editing), WriteShop Junior (for students who are learning how to brainstorm, write different genres or styles of writing, self-editing, and revising), and WriteShop I and II (for high school students that are continuing to work on brainstorming, composition writing, self-editing, and revising).

WriteShop provides free placement assessments and samples of the different programs to help families of children with special needs find the right program.

Learning Language Arts through Literature

Learning Language Arts through Literature is a language arts program that teaches writing through an integrated approach with literature (first grade to twelfth grade). For first grade through eighth grade, the writing books are identified by color instead of grade level (i.e. The Blue Book is for first grade, The Red Book is for second grade, etc.) and the high school writing books are based on the different types of literature (i.e. world literature, American literature, British literature, and literary criticism).

Learning Language Arts through Literature also provides parents with a placement test for their special needs student, samples, as well as a scope and sequence of their program (i.e. identifies which specific skills are being taught throughout the program). A complete program can include the following (this varies depending on the grade level): teacher book, student activity book, readers, and a materials packet.

You don’t have to purchase a complete program instead purchase only what you believe your child with special needs will need. This will help you save a little money. If you have a special needs student who loves to read or be read to, this is a great writing program to use.

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Institute for Excellence in Writing is an easy-to-use writing program for students with special needs in grades K through 12 who struggle with writing. This writing program teaches students with special needs the following skills: learning different writing styles, note taking, improving their writing through editing, and creating sentence openers. Video instruction is provided to introduce each writing lesson regardless of the level that was chosen. This writing program includes the following materials: videos (online or on DVD), a teacher’s manual, a student binder, and a student packet of class handouts. With this writing program, there are no grade levels assigned to each program. There are, however, four different programs within the Institute for Excellence in Writing program. These four programs are the following: Level Primary (grade K-2), Level A (grades 3-6), Level B (grades 6-8), and Level C (grades 9-12). It is important to note that this writing program does have a special needs section that can provide additional guidance on recommended materials and questions that homeschooling families may have.

These best writing homeschool curriculums can provide great options for parents of students with special needs seeking curriculum in this subject area. All five also provide an opportunity for families to contact and find additional support when it comes to choosing and how to implement their chosen writing homeschool curriculum.

Best Homeschool Spelling Curriculums for Students with Special Needs

As with reading and writing, there are a lot of great spelling homeschool curriculum options out there. We have found the best five spelling homeschool curriculums for you. The best five spelling homeschool curricula for special needs are the following: Spelling You See, Sequential Spelling, All About Spelling, A Reason for Spelling, and Spelling Workout. A description of each is listed below so that you can find the right one for your student with special needs.

Spelling You See

Spelling You See is a spelling program created by the same creator of WriteShop. There are seven different levels that focus on the developmental stages of spelling rather than a grade level. This spelling program is different due to it does not enforce memorization in the traditional sense but rather develops spelling skills naturally. Each level focuses on a theme and incorporates it through the student workbook.

This spelling program is developed for any student, especially those with special needs, who struggle with spelling. Each level consists of an instructor’s handbook and a student workbook. Some levels will include sticker packs and other materials that students might need to complete different activities and assignments.

A placement test is offered to help families find the right level for their students with special needs.

Sequential Spelling

Sequential Spelling is a spelling program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach that uses a multi-sensory approach for students ages 6 to 13. This spelling program focuses on the following skills: phonology, word families, rhyming, syllables, and morphology (i.e. the study of forming words). There are seven different levels that have a student book and a teacher’s guide for each one.

This is a great spelling program that does not emphasize memorization, but rather learning how to spell by practicing spelling skills daily. Families can purchase this spelling program either in book format or online.

All About Spelling

All About Spelling is a spelling program with a multi-sensory approach that was created by the same company as All About Reading. This spelling program consists of seven levels. Each level consists of materials, a review box, and tiles.

This spelling program is unique due to it having a hands-on approach versus traditional workbooks and worksheets. If your child is a hands-on learner, this is a great spelling program that also uses the Orton-Gillingham approach. In addition to the curriculum, the following are also provided for this spelling program: placement tests, supplementary materials (materials to use to provide extra review), and an E-book (free of charge), Six Ways We Make Spelling Easy.

A Reason for Spelling

A Reason for Spelling is a comprehensive spelling program for first through sixth graders. This spelling program has six levels, one per grade level, that is in a workbook format. There is a student worktext and a teacher guidebook for each level.

This spelling program is in an open-and-go format for families of students with special needs (i.e. the teacher guidebook tells families what to say as well as provide a key with answers). It is important to note with this spelling program that there are some scripture-based stories within the student workbook.

A full scope and sequence is provided on their website for each level to help families determine which level is appropriate for their student with special needs.

Spelling Workout

Spelling Workout is a spelling program that was developed for grades 1 through 8. This spelling program was based on phonics and slowly shifted to vocabulary and word origins at the junior high level. There are seven levels, levels A to G, with a student edition workbook and a teacher edition workbook for each level.

This program focuses more on traditional instruction where students are given a pretest, an opportunity to correct their misspelled words on the pretest, activities to learn about phonic concepts that are intertwined into each lesson’s spelling list, and a final activity (i.e. proofreading, writing activity to use the lesson’s spelling words, etc.).

It is important to note that even though this spelling program was developed in a traditional sense; it can be modified to meet the academic needs of your special needs student. Some modifications that can be used are the following: lessen the number of words for the week (i.e. instead of doing all twenty spelling words, do five or ten), only do activities that your student can do (instead of doing all four activities, just do two), or create additional opportunities to practice spelling words (i.e. flashcards, write sentences, tell sentences out loud, etc.).

The best spelling curriculums come in a wide array of instruction, materials, and activities. With these many options, it should help you find a spelling program that works best for your student with special needs.

Best Homeschool Grammar Curriculums for Students with Special Needs

We have come to the last component of English, grammar. Grammar is just as important as reading, writing, and spelling. It is important to find a grammar curriculum that will work best for your students with special needs. We have narrowed it down to the following best special needs grammar homeschool curricula: Analytical Grammar, Fix It! Grammar, Growing with Grammar, Giggly Guide to Grammar, and The Winston Grammar Program. Below is additional information about each grammar curriculum.

Analytical Grammar

Analytical Grammar is a grammar program that is easy to use with notes, activities, and a worktext. There are five levels for this program based on different skills that will be addressed per level. The skills that are addressed for each level are as follows: level one – grammar basics, level two – mechanics, level three – parts of speech, level four phrases and clauses, and level five – punctuation and usage. There is a free placement test that parents can use to assess their special needs student to determine which level should be chosen. Each level consists of an instructor handbook and student worktext.

Fix It! Grammar

Fix It! Grammar is a grammar program that was developed by the same company as the Institute for Excellence in Writing. This writing program uses a unique approach where students hunt for grammar mistakes in ongoing stories and fix the errors. As they fix the errors, they learn how to apply the different grammar rules for each lesson.

The following are the five parts to each lesson: learn it (learn the new grammar skill), read it (read the ongoing story), mark it (mark the errors), fix it, and rewrite it with the corrections. With the final step, if your student is unable to rewrite it by hand you can use modifications such as allowing him/her to type it or dictate it back to you with the proper corrections. There are six levels of Fix It! Grammar.

Unfortunately, there are no placement tests, but if you look at their website, there is a student and teacher sample of each level. Another great thing to know is that you can try any level for free for four weeks. Each level consists of a teacher’s manual and a student book.

Growing with Grammar

Growing with Grammar is a grammar program that was developed by a homeschooling mother and was designed for students in grades 1 to 8. There are eight levels, one per grade level. Levels 1 and 2 (first and second grade) are designed to provide instruction in one book or a worktext whereas levels 3 through 8 consist of a student manual and a student workbook. It is important to know that in levels 3 through 8, the lessons in the student workbook correspond with the lessons in the student manual. Families can assist their students with special needs with additional review if needed by taking another look at the student manual.

Giggly Guide to Grammar

Giggly Guide to Grammar is a grammar program that is unique with funny illustrations that are age-appropriate. This grammar program is geared toward students in sixth to twelfth grades. This grammar program only consists of one book. The deluxe teacher package consists of a book that has a QR code inside of it. These QR code writing exercises, posters of the different grammar rules, and an answer key for all of the different writing exercises. Giggly Guide to Grammar is divided into three different sections: grammar, usage, and mechanics. If you have an older student who struggles with grammar, this would be a great grammar program for him/her.

The Winston Grammar Program

The Winston Grammar Program is a grammar program that uses a multi-sensory approach with color-coded clue cards and an exercise book with different activities. There are two different levels for this grammar program: basic level and advanced level. Both levels include a student workbook, a card set, and a teacher’s manual.

The basic level focuses on the following grammar skills: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases, coordinating conjunctions, interjections, subjects, direct and indirect objects, and appositives.

The advanced level focuses not only on the skills taught during the basic level but also the following skills: possessive adjectives, possessive pronouns and nouns, reflexives, interrogative pronouns, present and past participles, correlative conjunctions, infinitives, gerunds, relative pronouns, compound and complex sentences, and embedded noun clauses. There is a placement test that families can use to determine which level is appropriate to meet their students’ needs.

Finding the right grammar program can be difficult, but with the best five grammar programs described above, we are sure that you will find one that will be a great fit for your student. It is important to take into consideration how your special needs best learn and where he/she is instructional. These factors will help you make the right decision.

Best Homeschool Math Curriculums for Students with Special Needs

There are tons of math programs for homeschool students and we have found the following best five homeschool math curriculums that will work great for special needs students: Teaching Textbooks, Math U See, Denison Math, Right Start Math, and Math Lessons for a Living Education. All five of these recommended math curriculums provide a unique approach to teaching math. To find out more, please read the description of each one below.

Teaching Textbooks

Teaching Textbooks is a math curriculum for third graders through high schoolers. There are ten different math courses (one per grade level for grades 3 through 7, pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, algebra 2, and pre-calculus). Each math course includes a video (DVD or online on their website), student workbook, and answer booklet.

Originally this curriculum was in book format (you can still purchase the book format, DVD, etc. on Amazon and eBay), but now has transitioned online as an app. The app allows students to complete their assignments online, grade their assignments automatically by the program, and record grades in a printable grade book.

If your special needs student needs a hard copy of the worksheets, you can still use the app by clicking on 6 lessons at a time and printing them off. There is a placement test to discover which math course to start with and a free trial of 15 lessons per math course. This is a great way for homeschooling families of students with special needs to try this program for free and determine whether or not it is a great fit.

Math U See

Math U See is a math curriculum that uses a multisensory approach to teach, practice, and review new math skills. It was created by the same company that created Spelling You See, Analytical Grammar, and WriteShop. Math U See was developed for students in kindergarten through twelfth grades. Each class, especially for grades 1-7, is not identified by grade level, but rather by the Greek alphabet (i.e. grade 1 – Alpha, grade 2 – Beta, grade 3 – Gamma, etc.). For grades 8 through 12, the math course is identified by the course name (i.e. pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, etc.).

Each lesson, regardless of the math course consists of a video (DVD or online) to introduce the new skill and instructions with full solutions (i.e. answers to assignments, quizzes, and tests). In addition to this, there are manipulatives for each math course (i.e. Primer through Delta: Integer Block Kit,  Epsilon: Fraction Overlay Kit, Zeta through Algebra I: Algebra/Decimal Insert Kit). These manipulatives provide a hands-on learning experience for special needs students.

In addition to manipulatives, this math program provides multiple opportunities for students to practice newly learned skills. This is great for special needs students who need repetition to learn, master, and generalize newly learned skills. Math U See also has free placement tests and resources.

Denison Math

Denison Math is a video-based math program developed for secondary students who are learning about the following math concepts: pre-algebra, algebra I, geometry, algebra 2, and advanced algebra and trigonometry. For each math course, there is a video per lesson (online on their website) and a student textbook. The notes that are discussed and shown in each lesson video are also shown within the student textbook, so there’s no need for your special needs student to take notes. This is a great approach because homeschooling families can help their students with special needs not only learn new math skills but also master and generalize them.

Right Start Math

Right Start Math is a unique multi-sensory math curriculum that was developed for elementary and middle school/junior high students who struggle with math. There are 8 different levels, levels A through H, that are not based on grade level, but rather on math skills that are being taught. For each level, there are lessons, worksheets, and solutions (i.e. answer keys). Some levels have additional materials and activities. In addition to the worksheets, solutions, and lesson books, there is an abacus to provide visual and hands-on opportunities to learn and practice different math skills.

There is a placement test as well as opportunities for online classes for levels G and H. If you have a nontraditional learner who thrives on visual and hands-on activities, this would be an excellent math curriculum for your special needs student.

Math Lessons for a Living Education

Math Lessons for a Living Education is an interesting math curriculum that teaches math to students through stories, hands-on activities, and math assignments. This math curriculum was designed for first through sixth graders. For all six grades, there is one workbook per grade level. In addition to these workbooks, for grades 1-5, there is a practice sheets and quizzes workbook.

MasterBooks, the creator of the Math Lessons for a Living Education math curriculum, has just created an online class for the fifth and sixth-grade levels. There is a free readiness test to help homeschooling families of students with special needs determine which workbook to start with. If you have special needs students who love stories and find out how math is incorporated into their daily lives, this is a great homeschool math curriculum for them.

Many think that math curriculums have to be dull and boring, but the best homeschool math curriculums that we have stated above are not. They provide a wide array of methods on how to teach, review, and generalize different math skills at all grade levels. The important thing is to look at how your special needs student learns the best and use that knowledge to help you find the right one.

Best Multi-Subject Homeschool Curriculums for Students with Special Needs

If you are looking for special needs homeschool curriculums that have more than one subject within them, we have found the best 5 multi-subject curriculum options worth considering. The best 5 multi-subject homeschool curriculums that we recommend are the following: Oak Meadow, Layers of Learning, Time4Learning, Thinking Tree Books, and Move Beyond the Page. Each of these multi-subject homeschool curriculums teaches various subjects in a fun and unique way. Read the description of each curriculum below to determine which one would work for your student.

Oak Meadow

Oak Meadow is a multi-subject curriculum for students in grades PreK-12 that uses a nature-based approach. The subjects that are offered for this multi-subject curriculum are the following: English (reading/literature/writing), math,  health and nutrition, science, history, and fine arts. This curriculum is developed by grade level.

For students with special needs, it is best to find out where they are instructional (i.e. can learn a new skill with little help and causes no frustration). You may need to buy different grade levels per subject and this is a possibility due to the offering of different subject matters at different grade levels. If your special needs are instructional at the same grade level for all subjects, Oak Meadow does provide packages for grades PreK-8. At the high school level, there are different packages per subject.

You can purchase printable materials from Oak Meadow or on other online websites (i.e. Amazon, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.). This multi-subject curriculum provides special needs students an opportunity to learn a wide array of subjects. It is also great how homeschooling families can pick and choose what works best for their students with special needs.

Layers of Learning

Layers of Learning is a multi-subject homeschooling curriculum that was designed for first through twelfth graders. It was developed for families of two or more students (but can still be used to teach one student) to teach the following subjects: history, geography, science, arts, and language arts.

This homeschooling curriculum uses a mixture of a traditional and hands-on/kinesthetic approach. There are multiple unit studies that are offered with an emphasis on the following three steps: library research (go to your local library to find books to use with each unit), explore, and show what you have learned. For each unit, there are color-coded activities and reading books recommended for the library list (i.e. to be used for step one, library research) for each grade level (i.e. yellow is grades 1-4, green is for grades 5-8, and blue is for grades 9-12).

This is a wonderful option for families of multiple children whether or not they have special needs. For example, if you have a son who is functioning in second grade, you would implement the books and activities that are marked with yellow and then if you have a daughter who is functioning at a fifth-grade level, you would use the green-coded books and activities. This curriculum provides a lot of flexibility for families of children with special needs and only one book per unit is needed. This makes Layers of Learning affordable too.

Time4Learning

Time4Learning is an online multi-subject curriculum for PreK-12. This online homeschooling program provides instruction on the following subjects: language arts, math, science, social studies, electives, and foreign language.

Time4Learning offers online instruction that is colorful and interactive. Homeschooling families can choose which subjects and at which grade level to accurately meet their special needs students’ academic needs.

There is a monthly payment to use it with a 14-day money-back guarantee if it is not a good fit for your student. There is a tab at the top of their website that is labeled, “homeschooling.” When you click on this tab, it provides you with the following information: information for parents, how to get started, tools and resources, and community support (i.e. blog and newsletter). This homeschool curriculum also provides the following features: engaging lessons, activity planning, adjustable grade levels, and automated grading. If you have a student with special needs who rather learn and complete assignments online, this is a great option.

Thinking Tree Books

Thinking Tree Books is a multi-subject homeschool curriculum developed for students with special needs in preschool through high school. Some of the subjects that are covered are science, history, language arts, math, and electives. Sarah Brown created this curriculum to help students with special needs, especially those with Dyslexia and other learning disabilities, ADHD/ADD, etc.

There is one book per subject. Each book consists of creative assignments, activities as well and opportunities to discover and research the subject being taught. This curriculum allows homeschooling families to teach not only core subjects but also those that might be of interest to students with special needs.

Many of the Thinking Tree Books tell students to look for books and movies to assist with learning more about the subject. Homeschooling families can find these resources that are instructional and age-appropriate for their students. This curriculum provides a fun and unique way to teach about a wide array of subjects in a nontraditional manner.

Moving Beyond the Page

Moving Beyond the Page is a multi-subject homeschool curriculum that was created for ages 5-13. The subjects that are taught within this curriculum are math, spelling, reading, language arts, social studies, and science. This homeschool curriculum is literature-based with creative and hands-on activities. There are several options for this curriculum: full-year packages (includes everything that is needed for the student’s age level or instructional age level), single subjects, nine-week and semester packages, three-week unit studies (i.e. learn about a topic and incorporate multiple subjects into it), and individual items. This allows homeschooling families to pick and choose what will work for their special needs students.

They also offer free online access to their curriculum per every hard copy purchase. If your student with special needs enjoys reading or being read to and learning through hands-on activities, this curriculum would be a great fit for them.

There are so many options out there for multi-subject homeschool curriculums, but we are sure that you will be able to find one that fits your special needs student’s academic needs. Using a multi-subject homeschool curriculum allows families to utilize a curriculum that is consistent, yet provides flexibility to meet each student’s needs.

Online Classes for Special Needs Students

The special needs homeschooling curriculum options above are more than enough to provide you with a great foundation for working with your child. But sometimes you might find yourself in need of additional resources or lessons to supplement your homeschooling program.

Outschool is another fantastic resource for homeschooling families of children with special needs. This online learning platform has both group classes and one-on-one tutoring sessions for ages 3 to 18, with a ton of options created exclusively for special needs students.

Outschool offers online courses for kids in all the major subject areas as well as in niche subjects like coding and tech, games and hobbies, health and wellness, life skills, music, and world languages.

Click here to browse their selection of online classes specifically for special needs students.

Final Thoughts on the Best Homeschool Curriculum for Special Needs Students

It’s amazing that there are so many different homeschool curricula for families of children with special needs.

For many, teaching a student with special needs or disabilities may seem like an overwhelming task, but with so many great homeschool curriculum options, you’ll have a great blueprint to follow.

Remember that each student with special needs is different and has different abilities, needs, and learning styles. When you take this into account and what each special needs homeschool curriculum offers, you will be able to make the right decision for your student.

Have any questions about our guide to the best homeschool curriculum for special needs students? Leave us a comment below so we can help you out.

You also might be interested in our article on classroom setups for children with autism.