Winter Promise is a homeschool curriculum that focuses on themes instead of grade levels. It offers a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach with literature-based learning for families with kids of different ages.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is winter promise?
Winter Promise is a homeschool curriculum publisher. They offer programs inspired by Charlotte Mason and based on literature. Instead of traditional grade levels, they organize their programs around themes. Each theme covers history, language arts, science, Bible study, geography, and culture. They use real books, hands-on projects, and notebooking activities. This approach combines unit studies with Charlotte Mason principles, making it great for families with multiple kids who want to learn together.
How winter promise is organized
Winter Promise skips the usual grade-level boxes. Instead, they have themed programs like 'Quest for the Ancient World' and 'Children Around the World.' Each theme fits specific grade ranges—some start at K-3, while others go up to 12th grade. Within each program, there are different Learner Guides: Younger, Standard, and Older. This design helps families with kids of different ages learn the same theme without needing separate curricula.
Religious orientation
Winter Promise is a Christian curriculum. It has a Protestant worldview throughout. Bible study links to each program's theme. The lesson plans point out when secular books contain ideas like evolution that might clash with Christian beliefs. They don’t offer a secular version. For instance, 'Children Around the World' teaches about other cultures but includes prayers for those countries. Secular families might need to look elsewhere or make significant changes to the materials.
What parents say
Parents love how easy Winter Promise is to use. The detailed guides mean it's truly 'open and go.' The literature-based approach grabs kids' attention, especially those who dislike textbooks. Its multi-age design saves money and keeps siblings learning together. However, some parents wish they had to find a separate math curriculum. There are no formal tests or answer keys, which means parents work closely with their kids. Some families also wish it offered a complete high school program. Prices range from about $120 for simpler programs to over $300 for full theme packages.
The bottom line
Winter Promise suits Christian homeschool families who want a literature-based, multi-age learning experience with minimal prep time. The themed approach appeals to history and literature lovers. Plus, siblings can study together, creating family learning moments that textbooks can’t match. Just remember, you’ll need to add a math curriculum, there are no formal assessments, and secular families should look for other options. For the right family, Winter Promise is an engaging alternative to traditional boxed curriculum.
