Homeschooling parents wear a lot of hats. They’re teachers, administrators, lunch persons, gym coach, you name it. And while many rise to the occasion with incredible skill and flexibility, let’s be honest: no one person is an expert in everything.
What if there were a way to invite more teachers into your homeschool without spending a dime?
What if your child could learn algebra from someone who loves algebra? I’m sure someone does. Believe it or not. What about history from a storyteller who makes ancient Rome feel like a blockbuster movie? These people are out there.
That’s the heart of an idea I’ve been turning over in my mind: a new kind of learning resource built by creators, for homeschoolers, but completely free.
The Idea in Motion
Imagine a network of programs brought together with this premise in mind—a homeschooling resource. A collection of video series created by independent artists, educators, and professionals. No interference from the network itself.
Each program would be the passion project of an individual who is excited about a specific subject, from phonics to physics. These aren’t big corporations or textbook publishers pushing a product. What they teach isn’t influenced by political dominance or blind school board bias. They’re real people creating high-quality, engaging educational content and sharing it freely on platforms like YouTube.
Many of them already exist. Super Simple introduces early learners to vocabulary, counting, and music in a format that feels more like entertainment than education. Caitie’s Classroom offers warm, guided lessons full of songs, stories, and real teaching moments that feel personal and supportive. Then there’s Steve and Maggie, who blend silly storytelling with English language lessons, and Numberblocks, which turns math into a visual, conceptual experience kids actually understand and enjoy.
These creators may not be part of any one organization, but collectively, they’re doing something powerful: relieving the pressure on homeschooling parents by teaching core concepts in ways that are engaging and age-appropriate. And they’re doing it without charging families a cent.
This is the foundation of a bigger idea: what if creators across the world followed suit and built out complete, subject-based series for every grade level?
Part of the fear of homeschooling children is personal knowledge. Do you, as the parent, have enough of it? Another element is skill. Teaching is a skill, a talent. While you might be the brightest parent on the block, you might not have the skill to teach what you know effectively. I have a master’s degree in literature, but I would be hard-pressed to teach it to a teenager. Another problem is time. As a homeschooling parent your time is already taxed to the max. And you need to be a stay at home mom or dad to do the job.
So, what if those fears or troubles could be lifted away? At least, in part.
Why This Works—For Everyone
This model benefits homeschooling families in a big way. Parents gain access to subject matters they might not feel confident teaching themselves—think algebra, grammar, history, or science—without having to purchase expensive curriculum kits or track down local tutors. These video series can be replayed, paused, and revisited as needed, allowing kids to learn at their own pace and in their own way. There is no frustrated teacher there to scold them because the concept needs to be revisited nine times until the child gets it.
The diversity in teaching styles also gives children a chance to connect with material through voices and perspectives that resonate with them.
At the same time, creators benefit too. Instead of relying on traditional educational publishing or classroom systems, creators build their own audiences organically. They can earn revenue through ad views, sponsorships, affiliate links, and community support platforms like Patreon or Ko-fi. They can do this while keeping their content 100% free for viewers. Over time, their work becomes part of an evergreen library that serves families year after year.
Getting followers isn’t easy, but if a creator were invited into a large homeschooling network of parents, they’re audience is basically already there. It’s baked in.
A Shared Learning Library Built from the Ground Up
This vision isn't about replacing schools or devaluing traditional education. It's about offering a parallel space that’s flexible, creative, and community-driven. It’s where families can find quality learning tools without barriers.
Imagine a central directory or community hub where homeschooling families can browse available video series by subject and grade level. Parents could explore sample lessons, read reviews from other homeschoolers, and choose the best fit for their children. Creators could voluntarily list their channels and get discovered by the families they aim to serve, creating a dynamic exchange between teacher and student that’s both modern and meaningful.
Even niche subjects could thrive in this model. Picture a visual artist walking teens through art history, or a costume designer teaching basic sewing and patterning through hands-on projects. A computer scientist might teach coding fundamentals, while a historian brings the Civil War to life with reenactments and maps. The potential is limitless—and entirely scalable based on creator interest and community support.
Maybe the new creator is a teacher that has had it with the public school system and wants to go out on their own and do things the way they feel it needs to be done. Maybe a teacher feels like teaching trigonometry is better with puppets, even though the student is a teenager. They could do that here. And the student who connects, stays with the model. Those that don’t, move on to someone else more suited to them.
There’s a Catch
For this idea to thrive, creators need support. Not necessarily financial support (at least not directly), but in the form of engagement. Watching the videos all the way through is important. Liking and commenting, and subscribing to their channels, and even sharing their content with others may be a simple thing, but it’s powerful support for those producing the content. These engagements feed the algorithms that help creators get seen, grow, and earn. That translates to monetization.
If you find a series that’s really helping your child learn, consider giving back by leaving a kind comment, recommending it to others, or even becoming a patron. A few dollars a month, or even a message of encouragement can make a huge difference to a solo creator trying to keep their work sustainable.
So, Where Do We Go from Here?
If you're a homeschooling parent, this is the perfect time to explore what’s already out there. Try searching YouTube for "homeschool by subject and grade level" and see what comes up. Let your kids take part in the discovery, and build a personalized learning journey together.
If you’re a creator, maybe this blog is your cue. What do you know well enough to teach? What passion do you have that others could learn from? Your voice might be the exact one a homeschooling family is hoping to hear. You don’t need a studio setup or a teaching degree—just knowledge, clarity, and a genuine desire to help others learn.
And remember, there are subjects that are non-traditional where skills learned are traditional. For example, Puppet building. I’ve been building these things for decades for film, television, and commercial use. Do you know what can be learned from building puppets—above and beyond the obvious? You would be amazed.
And if you're someone who just believes in the power of free, accessible education: help share this idea. We can build it together one video, one lesson, one connection at a time.
Let’s Keep Learning Open
We’re at a moment where technology and creativity allow anyone to teach and anyone to learn. The classroom doesn’t have to be a room anymore. It can be a screen, a voice, a project shared from across the world.
Our kids don’t need to get lost in packed classrooms, endure bullying, face the prospect of school shootings or violence. They don’t need to be left behind because an “educator” can’t spend the extra time with them to reinforce a concept.
Let’s open that classroom.
Let’s build a community of creators and learners.
Let’s make knowledge free, and freely given.
Let’s fix what’s broken in education and make it about the individual.
That’s the kind of school I want to be part of and I want my daughter involved with.
Know an indie educator or creator offering great homeschool-friendly content? Drop their name in the comments or send me a link—I’d love to highlight them in future posts.