Timberdoodle is a family-run company that curates homeschool curriculum kits. Founded in 1985, they handpick resources from various publishers to support diverse learning styles.
Most homeschool families report completing core academic subjects in 3-4 hours per day for elementary students, compared to the 6-7 hours typical of traditional schools, due to the one-on-one instruction and absence of classroom management overhead (NHERI, 2024).
What is Timberdoodle?
Timberdoodle is a family-owned curriculum company that started in 1985 in Shelton, Washington. Instead of making their own materials, they pick and test the best resources from many publishers. They bundle these into grade-level kits. It all began when Dan and Deb Deffinbaugh shifted from dog breeding to help friends find teaching materials. Now, Timberdoodle has grown from a small venture to a successful business with several warehouses.
Kit options and structure
Timberdoodle has three levels of kits for each grade. Basic Kits cover essentials like math and language arts for families on a budget. Complete Kits add science, history, and hands-on activities. Elite Kits have everything plus extras like coding and art supplies. Each kit includes a curriculum handbook and access to an online scheduler, which helps you create daily and weekly checklists based on your start and end dates.
Religious vs. non-religious options
Timberdoodle provides two different product lines. Classic Kits feature materials with a Christian perspective, while Non-Religious Kits offer secular alternatives, making them friendly for charter schools. Although the company is Christian-owned and Classic Kits are their main focus, they’ve made sure to have solid secular options for families who want to keep religion separate from education.
What makes Timberdoodle different
Unlike literature-based curricula like Sonlight or BookShark, Timberdoodle emphasizes STEAM subjects. Their main focus is on Language Arts, Math, and Thinking Skills. Each kit includes brain boosters and logic puzzles. First graders can build circuits, while eighth graders can simulate flying planes. The curriculum encourages independent work from an early age and is updated yearly based on feedback and testing.
The bottom line
Timberdoodle stands out for families who want hands-on, STEAM-focused learning without the hassle of creating a curriculum from scratch. Their custom kit builder lets you choose what works best for your family. Plus, the option for both religious and secular kits makes it suitable for various homeschooling styles. Remember, you're paying for the curation and convenience. While you could buy items separately, many families find that Timberdoodle’s bundles save a lot of planning time.
