Learning at Home Made Easier with Educate Station

By Sarah Jones, Library Director, Carlsbad Public Library

Public libraries have always been champions of lifelong learning. From story times that spark a love of reading in preschoolers to research databases that support college students, we strive to connect people of all ages with the resources they need to grow. One of the most exciting tools available to our patrons is Educate Station—a comprehensive, ready-to-use homeschool curriculum designed for children in pre-K through fifth grade.

Educate Station is perfect for families who are homeschooling, parents who want to supplement classroom instruction, or caregivers looking for structured, educational activities for children. With your library card, you can access full, grade-specific curriculums covering core subjects like reading, math, science, and social studies. Each lesson plan is created by experienced educators and aligned with national standards, so you can feel confident that the material is both high-quality and developmentally appropriate.

What sets Educate Station apart is its flexibility. Materials are available to download and print, making it easy to use them at the kitchen table, in a learning co-op, or even on the go. Whether you need a single worksheet to reinforce multiplication skills, a week-long unit on the solar system, or a complete grade-level curriculum, Educate Station gives you options. Families can choose to follow the curriculum step by step or pick and choose lessons that fit their child’s interests and learning pace.

For parents new to homeschooling, Educate Station takes away much of the stress of planning. Instead of piecing together resources from multiple websites or worrying about gaps in instruction, you’ll have access to a thoughtfully structured program. Each lesson includes clear instructions, activity sheets, and enrichment ideas, so you don’t have to be an expert teacher to guide your child’s learning.

Even families whose children attend public or private schools can benefit. Educate Station can be used to reinforce skills during school breaks, provide extra practice in challenging subjects, or offer enrichment for curious learners who want to go beyond the classroom. For example, a third grader fascinated by dinosaurs can explore supplemental science lessons, while a fifth grader struggling with fractions can use targeted math worksheets to build confidence.

Best of all, access to Educate Station is completely free with your library card. Commercial homeschool programs can cost hundreds of dollars per year, putting them out of reach for many families. By making Educate Station available, the library helps level the playing field, ensuring that every child in our community can benefit from high-quality educational support, regardless of their family’s budget.

We know that every child learns differently, and every family has unique needs. That’s why we are so proud to offer Educate Station alongside our many other educational resources—from early literacy programs and homework help to online tutoring and research databases.

If you’d like to explore Educate Station, visit our library website and log in with your card number, or stop by the library and ask a staff member for help. Together, we can make sure that every child in our community has the tools they need to learn, grow, and succeed.