A

AAR – All About Reading
AAS – All About Spelling
Accredited – A course, program, or school that offers government-approved education or credits for completed work
ACE – Accelerated Christian Education
ADHD/ADD – Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder / Attention Deficit Disorder
AiG – Answers in Genesis
All-in-one – A curriculum option that includes everything you need in a single package
Answer Key – A section that provides the answers to problems within a textbook, workbook, or program
AO – Ambleside Online. A free, Charlotte Mason curriculum available online
AOP – AlphaOmega Publications, a Christian curriculum company offering multiple options including Monarch (online program), Horizons (spiral workbook approach), LIFEPAC (mastery workbook approach), Weaver (multi-age unit study approach), and IGNITE (online school)
AP – Advanced Placement classes for high school courses. These programs are more rigorous and academically focused, intended to help students work at a higher level and potentially earn college credit
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
Association – Generally, a homeschool association is a privately run state or regional organization that provides support and information to homeschoolers in their area, often through membership. Some run annual conferences, help members find local communities, and advocate for homeschooling rights
Audiobook – A story or book that is read aloud and recorded for listening
Auditory Learner – A learning style where someone absorbs information best by listening. Popular teaching methods include audiobooks and read-alouds

B

BA – Beast Academy, a comic-based math program for ages 6-13
Basket Time – Also known as circle time, morning time, or morning basket. An intentional time of day where families sit together and do lessons from a basket of materials. These often include group subjects that can be taught through read-alouds, but might also include subjects such as music, poetry, art appreciation, and more
BF – Beautiful Feet Books
BFIAR – Before Five in a Row
BJU – Bob Jones University Press curriculum
Block Schedule – A schedule where you set intentional periods of time for specific subjects. For example, from 9am until 10am is math, 10 until 11 is science, 11 until noon is language arts. This method is similar to a traditional school schedule
Boxed Curriculum – A complete package where you get everything you need for a single grade level in one box, commonly from one curriculum provider, allowing you to order all materials at once and move through grade levels sequentially
BW – BraveWriter, a language arts program
Burnout – A period of exhaustion caused by long periods of high stress and responsibility. Recovery from homeschool burnout can take significant work and time
Busywork – Work given to students to keep them occupied but offering little or no real educational value. Many worksheets are considered busywork because they don’t teach anything new but just fill time

C

CAP – Classical Academic Press
Carschooling – Also known as roadschooling. Using vehicle travel time (going to activities, running errands, or traveling) to provide educational opportunities through games, audiobooks, discussions, or workbooks
CC – Classical Conversations, a Christian homeschooling program that focuses on community learning using the Classical method
Charlotte Mason – An educator from the early 1900s whose approach to education has become a complete homeschool method involving living books, nature study, and habit training. Many of her philosophies are written in a series of books still available today
Child-Led – A method which allows the child’s interests and curiosities to guide the learning. Sometimes used interchangeably with delight-directed learning and unschooling
Circle Time – Similar to morning basket or basket time, this term refers to gathering together for conversation and group learning for a short period. Commonly used in preschool and early elementary education to start and end a day
Classical – A method which follows the concept known as “trivium” which focuses on logic and reasoning through three different stages of child development: grammar, logic, and rhetoric
CLE – Christian Light Education
CLP – Christian Liberty Press
CM – Charlotte Mason (shortened reference)
Conference – Either an online or in-person gathering of homeschoolers and companies which typically involves speakers providing information about homeschooling and a vendor hall to showcase curricula and programs
Co-op – A homeschool community group where parents typically take turns leading classes and activities. There can be varying degrees of involvement requirements or costs
Copywork – The practice of copying a piece of written work by hand to develop handwriting skills, reinforce grammar, and expose students to quality writing
Core Subject – The main subjects covered in an education curriculum. These usually include mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies. Sometimes referred to as the “core four” although specific subjects may vary
Credit – The value given to high school study. This can be based on time (typically 120-180 hours of combined learning, assignments, and hands-on opportunities) or on completion of a particular curriculum
Curriculum – The subjects that form the foundation of education. In homeschool terms, this generally refers to the various programs and materials used to provide instruction and learning resources

D

DD/DS/DH/DC – Although not homeschool specific, these abbreviations are often seen in parenting and homeschool forums. The first D stands for “dear.” The second letter refers to a family member: D for daughter, S for son, H for husband, C for child. Sometimes followed by a number indicating age (i.e., DD4 means “my daughter who is 4 years old”)
Delight Directed – Similar to child-led, this style of learning allows your child’s interests to guide education. Curriculum or study focuses on things that follow their curiosities
Deschooling – The process of changing beliefs, thoughts, and experiences related to how education should be. Essentially, it’s giving space to learn how to enjoy learning again. This is often recommended when transitioning from public school to homeschool. Many advocate taking at least a month off for each year spent in the public system before starting homeschooling. This period can involve a lot of free time and learning to change both parent and child mindsets about what learning is and how it happens
Dictation – An exercise where a teacher or parent reads a section of text aloud while the student writes it by hand. Good for developing memorization, handwriting, spelling, and comprehension skills
Digital Resources – Materials that you download to use, often including PDF files or printable worksheets. These are not physical products that are mailed to you
Diploma – A document issued upon completion of high school requirements. Homeschoolers may receive a state-issued diploma if they complete an accredited program, or they may create their own, which can be met with varying degrees of acceptance
Distance Learning – A method where the educator is in a different physical location than the student. Traditionally done through correspondence courses but now includes online learning and virtual classes
Dual Enrollment – When high school students complete college courses that give them credits for both high school and college simultaneously
Dyscalculia – A learning disability affecting a person’s ability to understand and work with numbers and mathematical concepts
Dysgraphia – A learning disability which affects writing skills
Dyslexia – A learning disability which affects reading skills

E

Eclectic – A method of homeschooling that combines different elements of multiple approaches to create a personalized learning experience
ETC – Explode the Code, a phonics program
EIW – Essentials in Writing. Often confused with IEW, which is a different writing program
Electives – Subjects and topics outside the core subjects. Typically used in high school as teenagers take more specialized courses. Electives can include a second language, computer programming, business, astronomy, journalism, etc.
EP – Easy-Peasy All-in-One Homeschool, a free online curriculum
Extracurricular – Activities outside regular academic subjects. These can include community clubs, sports, music lessons, hobbies, and volunteering

F

Facilitator – In some states, a professional who supports homeschooling families throughout the year, provides evaluations as required, and offers advice as needed
Faith-Based – A curriculum or program presented from a religious (usually Christian) perspective
FASD – Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Field Trip – An excursion away from your usual location to discover or experience something firsthand. Can also be done as a virtual field trip
Forest School – An outdoor learning experience involving child-led exploration of nature combined with opportunities to develop physical and social skills through play and healthy risk-taking
Freeschooling – A term often used interchangeably with unschooling, where there is no set curriculum. Students choose what and how they learn with adults serving as facilitators
Funding – Money provided by some states to homeschoolers for educational purchases (not available in most states)

G

Gameschooling – Using games (tabletop or video games, depending on the family) for learning. For example, practicing spelling with games like Scrabble, Bananagrams, or Boggle
GH – Guest Hollow curriculum
GR – Gather Round Homeschool curriculum

H

Hands-On – A learning method focusing on learning by doing. Examples include science experiments, making 3D models, using manipulatives for math, or cooking
High School – Typically the last four years of formal education before college. Usually encompasses grades 9-12
HSLDA – Home School Legal Defense Association. A non-profit organization offering membership for legal support, insurance, advice, and advocacy for homeschooling rights
HOD – Heart of Dakota curriculum
Home Education – Used interchangeably with homeschooling – where parents take responsibility for their child’s education
Homeschooling – The practice of educating children at home rather than in a traditional school setting
HS(ing) – Abbreviation for homeschooling
HS – Abbreviation for high school
HWT/HWOT – Handwriting Without Tears, a handwriting curriculum
Hybrid – A learning method where a child splits their education time between a traditional school and homeschooling
Hyggeschooling – A style of homeschooling that merges structured learning with child-led free learning. Also called minimalist or relaxed homeschooling