Homeschool Help For High School Math

October 1, 2022
Written by:
Jamie Gaddy

For the average homeschooling parent, teaching high school math can be a bit intimidating. Mention homeschooling the high school maths like Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry and you see their eyes begin to glaze over. Sure, not everyone enjoys math, but homeschoolers take heart… even math haters can homeschool their children successfully. That’s why we’ve pulled together an All in One Homeschool High School Resource for Teaching Math.

Homeschooling math has been made so much easier over the past decade by the numerous high-quality resources that are designed specifically for homeschoolers with little or no math background. With that in mind, let’s look at how to homeschool high school math.

What Do High School Homeschoolers Need for Math?

The suggested course of study for college preparatory high school math typically begins with Algebra I and then proceeds to Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, and Pre-Calculus. For those that know they will not be attending college, two of their typical four required math credits can be the math of a more practical nature such as discreet math or accounting.

We felt that we should include the typical “suggested order” of high school math courses. Although, as a homeschool family you can choose whichever courses in whichever order you prefer. Courses usually follow this order:

  • Freshman, Algebra I
  • Sophomore, Geometry
  • Junior, Algebra II
  • Senior, Trigonometry or Advanced Math/Calculus

High School Math Curriculum Examples

There are several ways to go about teaching math in the high school homeschool.  Each family has its own experience and training, and therefore each will also have different needs when it comes to curriculum.  The following is a list of various methods that can be used to teach math in the homeschool high school.

  •  Use a packaged online or textbook and video program. These can be purchased by subscription or as a set and are usually pretty easy to implement in the homeschool. Aleks math, Tablet class, ABEKA video program, and even Thinkwell Homeschool to name a few. Teaching Textbooks curriculum is a favorite by many homeschoolers and also has coordinating video lessons. TT is great for students who struggle with math. Saxon math is also another homeschooler favorite, however, for high school maths, the texts present scattered topics instead of grouping and teaching them in broader more connected categories. This is a good curriculum but may not present the subject as it will be studied in college. However, these courses are typically ready for the student to jump right in as independent study, and therefore require very little help from the parent. Five stars for making it easy on the parent with little or no math background.
  • The use of a regular textbook in conjunction with videos from various sources on the web. Another amazing resource that has come into existence within the last few years is the wealth of information in video form on various free websites.  You could choose a solid high school math textbook, and then pair it up lesson for the lesson with free videos.  Here are a few suggestions…

Textbook                            Videos

Glencoe High School Math                            Khan Academy
Foerster Maths                                                HippoCampus
Prentice Hall Maths                                        Prentice Hall videos
Houghton Mifflin Math series                     Houghton Mifflin videos by yourteacher.com
Singapore Math

 

  • You could go with a completely online textbook. Kinetic books Algebra I is a good example of this.
  • Finally, you could use a textbook that you like, and hire a math tutor. This is exactly what I do for homeschoolers in our area. As a tutor, they typically come to me once a week and I teach them the lessons that will be covered during the week.  They then do the drill and practice problems each day until we have class again the next week. I will send home any tests and quizzes to be proctored by the parent, or taken online using Schoology.
  • You could also enroll your high school student in a local college basic algebra course.Mr D Math homeschool videos
  • There are numerous other online sources for helping your high school student learn algebra AND pass an exam to earn college credit.  A great source for study help is the Math 101: College Algebra site (see below). Some call this dual enrollment or dual study courses. Either way, students review these tutorials to prepare to take the College Board’s College Algebra CLEP exam. If passed, your student could earn inexpensive college credit.
  • Finally, here is just a sampling of all the great (mostly free) resources available to help homeschoolers teach their students high school math.

High School Math Tutorials and Online Courses

Time4Learning High School Math is one of our favorite high school options for teaching the more difficult math subjects. Real teachers teach the lessons and then interactive drill and practice sessions follow.

Mr. D Math is another favorite homeschool math curriculum with our Homeschool.com team.

West Texas A&M College Algebra FREE
Purple Math
The Math Page
Interactive Mathematics – Tutors
Free Math Help
Visual Math
Feel free to use these All-in-One Homeschool resources in whatever order best suits your student. You see homeschooling high school math is possible, and you CAN do it!

Visit our Homeschool High School Section for more help!

Jamie Gaddy

Jamie Gaddy, B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D. has been a college education professor for over 17 years. Education has been a part of her life in both the classroom and as a principal. Six children later found her dissatisfied with traditional school and homeschool became the better fit. She is also a pastor’s wife, editor, and entrepreneur who now homeschools four of her six children in Georgia. Jamie loves to share about her homeschool experience to help other homeschoolers find success. Connect with her at [email protected].