There are many different ways that homeschool software can help you in your desire to take on the task of teaching your own children.

First there is software that can help you. Do you struggle to stay organized? Then some planning software may be what you’re needing. You could use something general like a time management program or you could get some class planning software that public school teachers use – assuming that you have enough students to make that worth it. Or you could opt for software specifically designed to meet the demands of the homeschool setting. You can find programs to keep track of homework you’ve assigned and weigh and score work, quizzes, and tests. You can also find programs that focus on laying out lessons and scheduling activities.

The next area of software is probably what most people think about. Computer based assistance in areas where the child needs to learn. There are programs to increase math skills and reading skills. There are also programs that cover a number of topics based on an age group or grade level. However, there are a class of games that most people see as just that – games. But they teach other, sometimes unexpected, lessons. I mentioned them in the previous post.

Lastly, there are types of homeschool software that help prepare students for entrance to high school or even college. These would be things like ACT and SAT preparation. There are programs that cover single topics for preparation and comprehensive programs that help you cram for the whole exam.

Maybe there are other categories of homeschool software, but I think these three categories are broad enough to encompass anything you might come across or want. Can you think of any other type? What kind of software are you planning to use in your homeschool this year? Let me know by adding a comment.