New to Gather 'Round? Start Here: Getting Started Guide
New to Gather ’Round? Start here…
Welcome. Let’s do school together.
One topic. Every age, preschool through high school. All your subjects except math. Read the lesson aloud, let each child work in their own notebook, and you’re done.
Watch this first…
Getting started, in a nutshell.
How it works…
Teach every age, together.
One simple rhythm carries you through all 20 lessons of a unit: preschool through high school, same lesson, different notebook.
Pick a unit you love.
Choose by interest: birds, space, the Vikings, the human body. There’s no required order.
Read it aloud, together.
Everyone gathers while you read the day’s lesson from the Teacher’s Guide. Little ones can color while they listen.
Set each child’s level.
Each child works in a student notebook written for their age, tied to what you just read.
Close the books, go live.
Most families are done in 2–4 hours, with the rest of the day left for real life.
The words you’ll hear…
A quick glossary, so nothing is confusing.
Unit
One topic, studied for about 4–5 weeks. Every subject connects back to it.
Full unit
20 lessons, all your subjects except math. Do 4 days a week for 5 weeks, or 5 days a week for 4.
Mini unit
A shorter, topic-focused add-on that may have fewer lessons or fewer student pages. Great alongside a full unit, or as a lighter break.
Teacher’s Guide
The actual content: the lessons you read aloud, discussion prompts, and devotionals.
Student notebook
Each child’s own book of daily pages, one for each level so everyone works at the right depth.
Level
Which notebook a child uses. Levels follow age and ability; see the chart below.
Seatwork
Daily writing mechanics, in manuscript or cursive: simple, open-and-go grammar, spelling, vocabulary and handwriting practice.
Ready to Read
A full year of everything for K–grade 1: all subjects included, built for new readers.
Letters & Numbers
A complete preschool program, from A to Z: letters, numbers, shapes, colors, cutting practice and more. Pre-Reader notebooks tag along with your unit; Letters & Numbers is a full program all on its own.
Modular Math
Our complete K–9 math curriculum. Choose a topic and a level, open the workbook and go, with seven “steps” instead of grade levels. Do the whole series for around 2–3 math credits.
A peek inside a Teacher’s Guide
Levels & ages…
Which notebook is right for my child?
Ages are a guide, not a rule. Everyone studies the same lesson; only the notebook changes, and you can always move up or down.
Not sure where to start? Take our quick quiz and we’ll tell you where to start with all of it: find your level.
Pre-Reader
For little ones not yet reading. A coloring page and an activity page every lesson, so they can tag along with big siblings.
Early Reader
Very little writing: light, traceable copywork and one writing project that builds all month.
Early Elementary
Still light on writing, with untraced copywork, deeper thinking and more map work.
Upper Elementary
More writing in the answers, targeted questions and bigger projects, like a report instead of a paragraph.
Middle School
Answers in paragraph form, plus some research on their own.
High School
Open-ended “what do you think?” questions that spark curiosity and ownership. A credit is 120 hours.
New: Modular Math…
Math that fits your child.
A complete K–9 math curriculum you customize to each student: choose a topic, choose a level, open the workbook and go.
- Seven “steps” per topic instead of grade levels, so every child starts right where they are (placement tests help you choose)
- Short daily lessons, about two workbook pages a day, with the teaching written right to the student
- Do the whole series and earn around 2–3 math credits on your transcript. Algebra 1 is covered. Just add Algebra 2.
- Answer keys as digital downloads, and a Bible Break in every lesson
Want more support…
Want grading support or video classes to go with your lessons?
Academy Insider is one membership for your whole family: every live course, the full on-demand video library (including Modular Math and Ready to Read), parent and student community hubs, and 15% off optional grading support.
Try it free to see what we offer and how it all works.
Using your Teacher’s Guide…
Two things people ask first.
The color coding
Teacher’s Guide reading is color-coded by level, so you can read just the sections that fit your students.
- Yellow: Pre-Reader to Early Reader
- Teal: Early Elementary to Upper Elementary
- Purple: Middle School to High School
Only have younger students? Read the yellow sections and skip the rest. It’s a helper, never a requirement: use the colors as a shortcut, or ignore them and read it all. To see how it works, flip through the first few pages of a Teacher’s Guide like Life Skills. Try a free sample.
Where are the answer keys?
Some of our units have the answer keys in the back of the books, or after the lesson as a day at a glance.
We are working toward having all of our answer keys as a separate digital download, with the answers overlaid so it’s clear and easy for families to adapt however they want.
Digital answer keys
Digital answer keys are available right here on the site. Click the account icon at the top of the screen and log in. Any digital files you purchased will be visible in your library to download or view.
Free & included…
Your helpful extras, all in one place.
Binder spines, book lists and lesson resources all live in the Gather ’Round app. Head over and have a look around.
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FREE
Binder spines
Printable binder spines for each unit, so your shelf looks as good as your school feels. Find them in the Gather ’Round app.
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FREE
Book lists
Optional read-aloud and library lists for each unit, in the Gather ’Round app. (Optional means optional: skip them anytime.)
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FREE
Unit samples
Try real lessons and real student pages before you spend a dime.
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INCLUDED
Lesson resources
Videos and links chosen to go with each lesson live in the resources section of the Gather ’Round app, right where you teach.
A permission slip, from Rebecca…
You’re allowed.
This curriculum is here to serve your family, not the other way around.
- Adapt it to fit your family.
- Skip any page or activity that isn’t bringing life to your homeschool.
- Skip the book lists. Seriously.
- Swap in your own video, including one you found on YouTube, when it fits better.
- Do the units in any order you like.
- Follow the rabbit trail when something sparks their curiosity.
— Rebecca
The honest questions…
What new families ask most.
Yes. You read one lesson, and each child works in the notebook written for their level. Nothing is perfect: there will still be attitudes and interruptions. But in about 2–4 hours a day you can give a rich education and still have room for life.
For most families, yes. If you’re coming from something more rigorous, or from school, it can feel too light at first. Give it a unit; learning sticks because it’s connected to one topic.
Gather ’Round covers all your subjects except math, so plan to add it. Our new Modular Math is a complete K–9 program with placement tests, or use whatever you already love. You’ll also want some independent reading time.
No. Gather ’Round is both spiral and mastery: concepts come back in different units and at higher notebook levels, so nothing is lost. Choose units by interest.
Digital comes with a family license for your immediate family, and you can print what you need. One bundle gives you every notebook level. Print means a Teacher’s Guide plus a notebook for each child, and more notebooks if you add a child later. Here’s the full comparison.
Yes. The lessons carry a Christian worldview, with scripture used for copywork and Bible connections throughout. If you are looking for more intentional devotionals, don’t miss Rebecca’s More Than Words curriculum or our James, 1 Timothy, or Biblical Feasts Bible studies.
Only the notebooks your kids will use. Pick a level for each child; the Teacher’s Guide is shared by everyone.
Yes. The traditional Carnegie unit is 120 hours for one credit, and a school year of Gather ’Round for high school earns credit in language arts, general science, history, social studies, geography and art, with Bible added if you include it. For math, do the whole Modular Math series for around 2–3 math credits on your transcript (Algebra 1 is covered!); just add Algebra 2. Requirements vary by state and province, so check your local homeschool laws.
That’s the idea. Digital units are reusable, and kids can repeat a unit in a higher-level notebook for brand-new learning on the same topic.
Try a free sample first. If you purchase and it isn’t a fit, you can request a refund within 30 days; see the refund policy. Questions any time: support@gatherroundhomeschool.com.
Ready when you are…
Start with a free sample.
See a real lesson and real student pages. You’ll know in ten minutes if it’s right for your family.
Questions? We’re happy to help: support@gatherroundhomeschool.com
