NZ Homeschooling Made Simple: Our Go-To Curriculum Essentials
Choosing homeschool curriculum isn’t just about what suits your child — it’s also about leaning into who you are as a homeschooling parent. Some parents love crafts, themed units, and pulling together resources from all over the internet. That’s wonderful — but that’s not me.
I’m not the Pinterest-project type, and I don’t enjoy spending hours stitching together bits and pieces to create a coherent plan. I like curriculum that’s easy to use, well-structured, and complete — something I can open and teach from with confidence. Where possible (and within reason), I also prefer to stick with one company or publisher across subjects. I find that when the curriculum is designed to work together, our learning flows more smoothly and I spend less time troubleshooting gaps or overlaps.
In this post, I’ll share the core curriculum programs we rely on to keep learning meaningful, manageable, and enjoyable for our large Kiwi family. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to refresh your approach, these essentials have made all the difference for us.
All About Reading & All About Spelling
Reading and spelling are the foundation of learning, and I’ve found All About Reading and All About Spelling to be incredibly effective and gentle approaches for my kids. Both programs break down these skills into manageable, multi-sensory steps that help build confidence and competence.
The step-by-step phonics and decoding strategies in All About Reading make reading accessible for even reluctant learners. Meanwhile, All About Spelling complements this with clear rules and plenty of practice, helping my children not just memorise words but understand the patterns behind them. I appreciate that these programs are engaging and avoid rote learning, which keeps my children motivated.
Although these are American programs, they work well for a Kiwi family. I haven’t found anything else that’s anywhere near as comprehensive. The company even provides guidance on how to adjust the materials for British English, which is a helpful bonus.
Pr1me Maths
Math can be tricky to teach, but Pr1me Maths has made it simpler and more enjoyable. It’s a hands-on, concrete approach that focuses on understanding concepts before moving on to abstract calculations. This has helped my children develop a strong number sense and problem-solving skills.
I like that Pr1me Maths uses practical activities and real-life examples, so maths doesn’t feel like just numbers on a page. It suits children who need to see and manipulate materials to grasp concepts fully.
Pr1me Maths is also one of the curricula used in New Zealand schools, so it makes for an easy transition for children moving into or out of the public school system. It’s readily available through Scholastic NZ.
Alongside the Pr1me Maths books, I use integer blocks. Ours are the Math-U-See blocks (left over from an earlier, less successful attempt with that curriculum), but any basic set with single units, tens, and hundreds will do the job.
Targeting Handwriting
Good handwriting is still an important skill, and Targeting Handwriting is my go-to program for developing neat, legible writing. It’s straightforward, progressive, and provides clear guidance on letter formation and spacing. We use the NSW Foundation Style books.
I specifically wanted a curriculum that would teach my children how to link letters for fast, legible handwriting — but that didn’t rely on a highly decorative cursive script. Targeting Handwriting does this really well. I also needed a program that gradually eased children into linking letters and didn’t assume I already knew how to teach handwriting. Some handwriting books just drop kids in it. Targeting Handwriting does a great job of clearly guiding both the teacher and the child as they develop their writing skills.
Using this curriculum means my kids practise handwriting regularly without it feeling like a chore. The structure helps them improve steadily, and I’ve noticed their confidence with writing grow over time.
IEW Structure and Style
When it comes to writing, I use IEW Structure and Style to guide my children in developing strong, clear, and engaging written communication. This program breaks writing down into manageable chunks, focusing on organisation, sentence structure, and stylistic techniques.
I love how IEW doesn’t just teach what to write, but how to write it — with flair and clarity. It’s helped my children become more confident writers who can express their ideas logically and creatively. The structure also makes the writing process less overwhelming for both the kids and me.
This is the one part of our homeschooling curriculum where we use video lessons rather than me teaching it directly. Call me old-fashioned, but I love that these lessons are available on DVD — it means my kids can watch them on the TV without needing a device. I don’t have to worry about monitoring computer use or online distractions, which gives me peace of mind and keeps things simple.
Fix It Grammar
Fix It Grammar is, in my opinion, a standout example of what great homeschool curriculum should be. It has a clear, progressive structure that breaks grammar into short, daily lessons — just a few minutes a day — yet it delivers real results. Despite the brevity, it’s incredibly effective at teaching key grammar concepts and, more importantly, helping my children retain what they’ve learned. The step-by-step approach builds strong grammar skills in a way that feels calm and manageable — never overwhelming for the kids or for me.
Curiosity Chronicles
Curiosity Chronicles is hands-down my children’s favourite part of our homeschool curriculum. Of everything we use, this is the resource they most look forward to — and I can see why.
It’s designed to be listened to as an audiobook, with an engaging dialogue between two characters who explore history and culture together. Unlike some programs that are written as textbooks and later adapted to audio, Curiosity Chronicles is created from the ground up to be heard, and that really shows. The conversational format is lively and accessible, and it pulls my kids right into the story.
We always listen together — usually with snacks — and it’s become one of our most enjoyable shared routines. It sparks great discussions, encourages curiosity, and adds warmth and personality to our learning. It also beautifully complements the more structured parts of our homeschool by offering something that’s both educational and genuinely fun.
Why I Chose These Particular Curricula
Choosing curriculum is a big decision, and I’ve been very intentional about the resources we use. Here are the key reasons these particular programs made the cut:
- Accessible in New Zealand: It’s important to me that the curriculum is easily available here in NZ, whether through local suppliers, downlaods or international shipping without huge delays or costs.
- Full Curriculum, Not Just a Book: I avoid one-off workbooks or resources that assume I already know how to teach a subject. These programs provide clear, comprehensive guidance so I feel confident delivering lessons without having to create everything from scratch. This also allows my children to be more independent in their learning.
- Clear Purpose in Our Homeschool: I don’t use curriculum as filler or just to “keep busy.” Every program we use has a clear role in building essential skills or nurturing curiosity, so our learning time is meaningful and focused.
- Engages My Children: My kids are more motivated and learn better when the materials are interesting and hands-on. These curricula have activities, stories, and methods that capture their attention.
- Doesn’t Overwhelm Me: As the primary teacher and parent, the curriculum has to be manageable for me too. I chose programs that come with good support, clear instructions, and reasonable preparation time so I can keep homeschooling sustainable and enjoyable.
I hope sharing our favourite curriculum picks helps show that homeschooling a big Kiwi family can totally work without all the stress. Finding the right tools makes such a difference! If you’ve got questions about any of these, or if you want to swap ideas and favourites, drop me a comment — I’d love to chat!