Best Online Tools for Homeschooling Parents

Did you know homeschooling numbers in the U.S. have risen to about 3.7 million children in 2025? This growing number shows that parents today expect flexibility, simplicity, and support in how they teach and manage learning at home. More families are seeking tools that help them organize their time, track progress, and find quality materials without overwhelming their day.

This is where homeschooling software comes in. These online tools simplify lesson planning, portfolio maintenance, scheduling, and resource sharing, allowing you to focus on helping your child learn rather than managing paperwork. 

So, are you also feeling the pressure of choosing the right tools, managing lesson plans, and balancing screen time with hands‑on learning? If so, this blog explores what homeschooling really means, how digital tools can enhance your homeschooling experience, what to look for in the best homeschooling software, and which tools are worth trying.

TL;DR

• With 3.7 million homeschoolers in the U.S., more families are looking for flexible, inclusive, and well-organized learning tools.

• Look for software that’s easy to use, works for Pre-K through 6th grade, supports hands-on/non-screen learning, and aligns with your values.

• Tools like Quizizz, HowToSmile, K12Reader, Evernote, Duolingo, and Meetup offer a mix of interactive, printable, language, community, and organizational benefits.

• Features include progress tracking & portfolios, live support/community, customizability, secular inclusivity, and cost‑effectiveness

What Is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling means you teach your child at home (or somewhere you choose) instead of sending them to a traditional public or private school. You plan their lessons, pick what they learn, and decide when and how they learn, so you can match their pace, interests, and style. 

When you homeschool, this often means:

• You pick or adapt the curriculum to match how your child learns best.

• You decide what mix of reading, hands‑on projects, field trips, stories, crafts, and nature fits your child.

• You take on the roles of teacher, planner, progress tracker, and sometimes counselor.

• You manage schedules and routines in a way that suits your family and your child, possibly allowing for more flexibility than a typical school day.

• You keep records or portfolios of your child’s work, progress, and learning outcomes (this is especially helpful for assessing growth).

If you’re looking for a program that supports you through every step of this journey, The School House Anywhere (TSHA) is here to help. TSHA offers a comprehensive, developmentally-aligned American Emergent Curriculum (AEC) for pre-K to 6th grade. 

AEC’s secular approach ensures the content is inclusive for families from all backgrounds to spark curiosity and help children make connections through storytelling, experiential learning, and projects. By focusing on critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, AEC fosters a deeper, more meaningful learning experience.

Now that you understand what homeschooling looks like, let’s explore how the right online tools can make your experience even better.

Also Read: Homeschooling Tips: Expert Advice & Key Questions Answered

How Online Tools Make the Homeschooling Experience Better

Online tools can help you bring order, clarity, and support into your homeschooling journey. They let you plan lessons more smoothly, track your child’s progress, and reduce stress, all while giving you more time for hands‑on learning, creativity, and connection.

Here are the ways that show how the best homeschooling software makes your experience better:

• Keeps everything organized in one place.: You can store lesson plans, printable worksheets, schedules, and student work all in the same dashboard instead of juggling papers, notebooks, and multiple apps.

• Helps you track progress and meet legal or reporting requirements: Many states expect homeschoolers to keep records of attendance, hours, work completed, etc. A good software tool can simplify this with digital logs and portfolio features. 

• Saves you time on repetitive tasks: Tools can auto‑generate reports, send reminders, let you duplicate lesson plans, and allow you to reuse resources. That frees you up so you can focus on teaching and doing more interactive, hands‑on activities.

• Allows flexibility and personalization: You can adjust the software to your child’s pace, style, and interests. Some tools let you mix digital modules with hands‑on/unplugged work, choose which subjects to emphasize, and skip or accelerate material as needed.

• Provides support and community: Many tools come with parent or educator forums, support materials, or Q&A sessions. These resources enable you to exchange ideas with other homeschooling parents, share effective strategies, and collaborate on solving problems together, rather than trying to figure everything out alone.

Online tools don’t just make life easier — they help you give your child a richer, more personalized learning journey. By using the best homeschooling software, you free up time, reduce stress, and stay in control of your child’s growth and learning.

Now that you know how online tools can support your homeschool journey, it’s important to understand what features to look for before choosing the right one.

What to Look For in the Best Online Tool

When choosing an online tool, you want something that makes your life easier, supports your child’s learning, and aligns with your teaching approach. The right features mean you spend less time fighting tech and more time helping your child grow.

Below are the features you must look for in the best homeschooling software: 

• Customizable to different ages/grades: You should be able to adjust the content, difficulty, or pace depending on whether your child is in Pre‑K, 2nd grade, or 6th grade. This ensures the software grows with your child’s learning.

• User Friendly. The best homeschool apps boast intuitive interfaces, making them easily navigable by students and educators. This ensures a smooth, frustration-free learning experience for all ages.

• Helps with progress tracking & portfolios. You’ll want software that lets you record what your child has done, log their progress, save work examples, and pull them together into a portfolio, especially if you need to meet state or legal standards.

• Offers community or live support: Whether it’s parent forums, educator Q&A, or live office hours, having someone to ask when you’re stuck makes a big difference. You’re not alone in this.

• Compatible with secular, inclusive values: Ensure the tool respects diversity, avoids promoting religious content if you prefer not to, and treats all children and families fairly. It should align with your values.

• Affordable/free options available: Budget matters. You want tools that offer good value, with free trials or low costs, so you can try them out without risking too much.

If you are looking for more than a tool that checks every box?

The School House Anywhere (TSHA) is an education program that includes a fully customizable, secular curriculum, printable resources, record-keeping tools, and 24/7 live support. TSHA is designed to simplify your day and enrich your child’s learning without unnecessary screen time or complex tech.

Now that you know what to look for, let’s explore some of the best online tools that can support your homeschooling journey.

Top Online Tools for Homeschooling Parents

Finding the right online tools can make your homeschooling journey smoother, more organized, and more enjoyable for both you and your child. The best tools support your teaching while keeping learning flexible and engaging.

Here are some great options to explore:

1. Quizizz

Quizizz is a tool you can use to create or use existing quizzes that are fun and interactive. You can use them live, or let your child do them at their own pace. It provides feedback on their answers, allowing you to see where your child excels and where they need more help.

Key Features

• Quiz library + quiz creation: There are many pre‑made quizzes you can use, and you can also design your own quizzes to match what you’re teaching.

• Gamified and interactive format: Quizzes include timers, fun graphics, game mode, leaderboard, etc., which help keep young children engaged and motivated. 

• Analytics and reporting: You can see which questions your child missed, how long they took, areas of strength or weakness—so you can adjust what you teach next. 

How It Helps You

Using Quizizz helps you check understanding regularly in a fun way, which can reduce your worry about whether your child is keeping up. You don’t have to create every quiz from scratch, which saves you time. 

And when you use the feedback it gives, you can spot trouble areas early, so you can reinforce concepts with stories, manipulatives, or offline work (which fits your goal of minimizing screen‑only learning).

2. Howtosmile

Howtosmile is a free online collection of over 4,000 STEM‑related activities, curated from science museums, public television, universities, and educational organizations. You can filter by your child’s age, the time available, or material cost to find activities that suit your homeschool day. 

Key Features

• Filtered Search by Age, Time, and Materials: You can narrow down activities by how old your child is, how long the activity takes, or how much it costs (or what supplies you have), so you find something that fits your schedule and budget.

• Wide Variety of STEM Topics & Hands‑On Projects: Topics include energy, life sciences, astronomy, climate, ocean literacy, etc. The activities are practical and hands‑on, not just theory.

• Free Access & High‑Quality Sources: All content is free. The resources are selected from reputable science museums and educational partners.

How It Helps You 

Using HowToSmile puts dozens of hands‑on STEM activities right at your fingertips, many of them free and using materials you probably already have. You can pick experiments that match your child’s age, the time you have, or the cost you want, which makes planning easier and less stressful. 

Because the activities are interactive and often low‑preparation, you get more time to focus on guiding, talking, and doing together instead of wrestling with paperwork or screen fatigue. Overall, it enriches your homeschool days, making them more enjoyable and aligned with your child's true interests.

3. K12Reader

K12Reader offers a large collection of free, printable worksheets and lesson plans focused on reading, writing, grammar, spelling, and comprehension. You can browse by subject, grade level, or theme (like story elements, parts of speech, etc.). The content is designed for parents and teachers to use at home or in classrooms, making it easy to get started without a subscription. 

Key Features

• Wide Range of Grade Levels & Topics: You’ll find resources from early grades through later elementary, covering topics such as reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, writing prompts, and spelling.

• Printable Worksheets & Low‑Prep Lessons: Since most of the materials are printable, you don’t need complicated software or long training to use them. Just download, print, and use.

• Themed & Custom Search Filters: You can sort by subject, grade, theme, or topic. That helps you quickly find what matches your child’s current learning focus (for example, main idea, context clues, story elements).

How It Helps You

Using K12Reader means you get instant access to quality printables that support your child in reading and writing without leaning heavily on screen time. Since you can filter by topic and grade, you save planning time and find exactly what your child needs when they need it. Because it's easy to use, it helps make your home curriculum richer, more flexible, and more aligned with your child’s pace.

4. Evernote

Evernote is a note‑taking and organization app that works across your laptop, phone, tablet, and the web. You can make notes with text, images, audio, scanned documents, and even clip content from web pages. It syncs across all your devices, so whatever you capture gets saved and is available wherever you are.

Key Features

• Advanced Search & Organization: Evernote lets you organize notes into notebooks and find what you need fast.

• Multi‑Format Notes & Web Clipper: You can use text, voice recordings, images, or scanned documents inside notes. The Web Clipper lets you save pages (educational material) directly into Evernote.

• Syncing Across Devices + Task/Calendar Integration: Your notes stay in sync across devices, so you can work from your phone, tablet, or computer. Evernote also includes features for tasks, reminders, and integrates with calendar‑type workflows. 

How It Helps You 

Evernote can keep lesson ideas, reference articles, field trip notes, and schedules all in one place, eliminating the need to hunt through papers or bookmarks. You can take a photo of something hands‑on, scan worksheets, or record voice memos when your child is experimenting, then organize and tag them so nothing gets lost. 

Because everything syncs, you can plan teaching in the morning on your computer, update notes using your phone while you're out, and review feedback or student work later. It helps reduce clutter, keeps your records neat, and gives you more time to focus on learning together.

5. Duolingo

Duolingo is a language‑learning app and website that lets you and your child learn new languages with short, interactive lessons. ( It’s built around things like quizzes, speaking, listening, translation, and rewards to keep you motivated. Many languages are supported, and there are free and paid versions. 

Key Features

1. Gamified and Self‑Paced Lessons: Duolingo designs its lessons like games, earning points, levels, trying mini‑quizzes, and seeing progress bars, so your child can advance at their own speed. 

2. Wide Variety of Languages: There are many languages to choose from, common ones like Spanish, French, and German, and others that are less common. This gives you flexibility if you want your child to explore different language skills. 

3. Progress Tracking & Optional Subscription Features: You can see how far your child has come, track their mistakes, review earlier lessons, and, with the paid version (Super Duolingo), remove ads, get unlimited retries, and access additional practice tools.

How It Helps You 

Duolingo gives you a flexible, low‑pressure way to add language learning to your homeschool schedule without needing to build everything from scratch. You can let your child work in short bursts, which is helpful if you want to limit screen time, yet still give them consistent exposure to listening, speaking, and vocabulary. 

Because it tracks progress, you can see where your child is doing well or where they need extra help, so you can pair digital practice with hands‑on or spoken activities at home. 

6. Meetup

Meetup helps people find or create groups of like‑minded folks in their area or online. You can join groups based on your interests, such as parent-led education, nature walks, or children’s book clubs, and attend events or gatherings. It’s designed to build community, whether through in‑person meetings or virtual events. 

Key Features

1. Local & Virtual Groups/Events: You can search for groups near you or online so you can participate or host educational meetups (science, art, nature, etc.). 

2. Community Discussions & Support: Meetup offers group discussions, event comments, and announcements, making it easier to connect with other members and share advice.

3. Organizing & Hosting Ability: You (as a parent) can start a group about homeschooling, plan events, invite others, and even use scheduling tools. There are also premium options (like Meetup+) for added perks like priority waitlists or full access to member/event‑attendee lists. 

How It Helps You 

Meetup gives you a chance to find fellow homeschooling families, both in-person and virtual, so your child can socialize, participate in group learning, or field trips, while you get support from others doing what you’re doing. You can host or join workshops, book clubs, or project‑based learning groups that match your child’s interests. 

Meetup also lets you stay connected with local educational communities, share resources, lessons, or experiences, which can reduce your planning load and give you fresh ideas.

While these tools can support your homeschooling journey, it’s also helpful to have a complete program designed with your needs in mind.

Also Read: Personal Education Plans Key Facts and Guidance

How TSHA Supports Homeschooling Parents

When you homeschool your child, having the right support makes all the difference. That’s where TSHA comes in. The School House Anywhere (TSHA) is an educational program designed to provide high-quality, flexible, and portable learning experiences for homeschooling families. 

TSHA offers a comprehensive, developmentally-aligned American Emergent Curriculum (AEC). This curriculum is designed to meet the diverse needs of parents by offering flexible, secular, and engaging learning experiences. When enrolling in TSHA’s AEC curriculum, users gain access to:

• Packaged 6-Week Sessions: Dive deep into complex topics with structured, six-week learning modules that allow for extended focus and exploration.

• Custom AEC Printable Materials and Worksheets: These resources are specifically designed to complement the AEC curriculum, allowing educators and parents to reinforce learning in engaging and practical ways.

• Access to Online Progress, Organizing & Portfolio Management Tool: A tool that helps parents and educators keep track of students' progress, organize lessons, and maintain portfolios, ensuring smooth management of the learning process.

• Access to the TSHA Member Site: A dedicated portal that provides exclusive access to additional resources, tools, and the broader TSHA community.

• LIVE Educator & Founder Online Gatherings: Weekly online sessions with TSHA educators and founders to discuss the curriculum, share insights, and answer any questions, fostering a sense of community and continuous professional development.

• Live Scheduled Office Hours: Real-time support for parents and educators, ensuring they can get personalized help whenever needed.

• Online Social Media Network & Support: A network for connecting with other TSHA users for guidance, ideas, and community support, enabling collaborative learning.

Conclusion

Now, with the right tools, homeschooling has become more manageable. From tracking your child’s progress to planning interactive lessons and joining communities, online tools can take the pressure off and give you more time for what matters most. The key is choosing software that supports your goals and values as a homeschooling parent.

If you’re looking for a complete, hands-on, and flexible solution that supports both your teaching and your child’s growth, The School House Anywhere (TSHA), an education program, is here to help. With a developmentally aligned, secular curriculum, printable resources, progress tools, and live support, TSHA gives you everything you need to homeschool with confidence.

Start your journey with TSHA today in creating a rich, connected, and joyful learning experience at home.

FAQs

1. Do I need many different tools or just one good software?

You don’t need dozens of tools. One strong, flexible tool can cover planning, progress tracking, schedules, and resource access—especially if it meets your child’s needs, keeps hands‑on learning alive, and aligns with your values.

2. How can I balance screen time when using digital tools?

Set clear limits (e.g., daily or weekly time caps), choose tools with printable options, and mix in offline, hands-on, or project‑based work. Use screen tools for planning and tracking more than for direct instruction when possible.

3. What if I’m not tech‑savvy? Can I still use homeschooling software effectively?

Yes. Look for tools with simple interfaces and abundant support (video tutorials, live office hours, forums). Also, tools with low learning curves allow you to spend more time teaching and less time figuring out the software.