Best Homeschool Curriculum for 1st Grade (2026)

Planning a first grade year at home starts with books a 6 or 7 year old can follow. This list of the best homeschool curriculum for 1st grade compares four workbooks by what each listing publishes, for parents choosing one all-subject book or single-subject titles.

ShelfAnswers earns a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Complete First Grade by Carson Dellosa	9.8/10	Buy
2	180 Days Science by Homayoun	9.6/10	Buy
3	180 Days Social Studies by Flynn	9.6/10	Buy
4	Language Arts 1st Grade by Spectrum	9.6/10	Buy

1

Complete First Grade by Carson Dellosa

Carson Dellosa Education·9.8/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family that wants reading, math, writing and spelling in a single book, and is less suited to a single-subject plan.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• The listing states it covers grade 1 math, reading comprehension, language arts and writing
• Includes 120 stickers and a motivational poster, as the listing states
• Answer key is included in the back of the book

Cons

• Published April 15, 2021, and the listing does not state a newer edition
• Several subjects share 256 pages, so each gets less space than in a single-subject book
• The listing does not mention a teacher guide, so the lesson plan is left to the parent

2

180 Days Science by Homayoun

Lauren Homayoun·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family that wants one daily science page, and skip it if you want a full science program.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• One page of practice for every day of the school year, as the listing states
• Activities aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, as the listing states
• Answer key included to record progress along the way

Cons

• Published April 2, 2018, and the listing does not show a newer edition
• Practice spans life, physical, and Earth and space science, so each topic gets fewer pages
• No series position is stated on the listing

3

180 Days Social Studies by Flynn

Kathy Flynn·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family adding daily social studies practice, and skip it if you need to start from Book 1.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Book 3 of 8 in the 180 Days of Social Studies series, as the listing states
• Weekly topics rotate between history, economics, civics and geography, per the description
• Answer key included, as the listing states

Cons

• Published April 2, 2018, and the listing does not state a newer edition
• Book 3 of 8 means the series runs beyond this volume
• Teacher-trust claims in the description are the publisher's own, not independent results

4

Language Arts 1st Grade by Spectrum

Spectrum·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Suits a family who needs grammar, vocabulary and spelling practice, and skip it if you need math or science in the same book.

Check price on Amazon

Pros

• Fourth edition dated March 14, 2024, the newest publication date of the four
• Lesson reviews and parent support pages at the start of each chapter, per the listing
• Answer key included in the back, along with a Writer's Guide

Cons

• Covers language arts only, so math, science and social studies need other books
• The overview line says Kindergarten Mastery, which conflicts with the grade 1 level in the same listing
• Reading age of 6 to 7 years is marked as from customers, not stated by the publisher

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 16 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for a first grader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or grade level. All four picks list both, and the Spectrum overview line about Kindergarten conflicts with its grade 1 listing. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best homeschool curriculum for 1st grade

Choose one subject or all of them

Single-subject titles such as the Spectrum language arts workbook or the 180 Days science book focus on one area. The Carson Dellosa Complete Book of First Grade covers reading, math, writing and spelling in a 256-page volume. For math alone, see our best math book for 1st grade list.

Check the series and the publication date

The 180 Days social studies listing states it is Book 3 of 8, so check where a volume sits before you start a series. Both 180 Days titles are dated April 2, 2018, while the Spectrum listing gives a fourth edition dated March 14, 2024.

Match the level to the reader

All four listings give a reading age and a grade level. The 180 Days titles give 5 to 9 years and Carson Dellosa gives 6 to 7 years, while the Spectrum reading age is marked as from customers. For early readers, also check a phonics workbook list for 1st grade.

Before you buy

• Check the publication date and any edition line: the Spectrum listing states a fourth edition dated March 14, 2024, and the 180 Days titles are dated April 2, 2018.
• Confirm the answer key: the listings for all four state that one is included.
• Compare the listed reading age and grade level with your child, and check the series line on the 180 Days social studies listing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these covers the most subjects?

The Carson Dellosa Complete Book of First Grade covers reading comprehension, spelling, parts of speech, math and writing in one 256-page workbook. The other three focus on science, social studies or language arts.

Does each one include an answer key?

Yes, all four listings state that an answer key is included. The Carson Dellosa and Spectrum books place it in the back.

What reading age do these workbooks list?

Both 180 Days titles list 5 to 9 years, and Carson Dellosa lists 6 to 7 years. The Spectrum listing gives 6 to 7 years, marked as from customers.

Still deciding? Our top pickComplete First Grade by Carson Dellosa

Check price on Amazon

Related lists

See every Homeschool Curriculum list and all Workbooks and Homeschool lists.

More lists: reading comprehension workbooks, kindergarten homeschool curriculum and ELA homeschool curriculum.