Torchlight is a literature-based, secular homeschool curriculum for learners ages 4-13+ that emphasizes inclusivity, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives through living books and hands-on activities.
What is Torchlight Curriculum?
Torchlight is a literature-based, secular homeschool curriculum covering Pre-K through Level 6+ (ages 4-13+). Created by Tiffany Petty, a certified educator and homeschooling parent, Torchlight was designed to address the lack of comprehensive, inclusive, and explicitly secular educational resources in the homeschool market. The curriculum delivers content digitally via PDF files with daily and weekly lesson plans spanning 36 weeks per level. Torchlight covers all core subjects except math and formal reading instruction, which families add separately.
Key Takeaways
- Secular, literature-based curriculum with humanist underpinnings
- Covers Pre-K through Level 6+ (ages 4-13+) in 36-week programs
- Emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and authentic perspectives in book selections
- Covers language arts, history, science, and arts—math sold separately
- Uses Socratic questioning rather than providing "correct" answers
Levels and Structure
Philosophy and Approach
Torchlight takes an explicitly secular approach with humanist underpinnings, teaching topics like climate change and evolution matter-of-factly. The curriculum uses Socratic questioning to guide children toward discovering answers rather than delivering information didactically. Core values include kindness, exploration, scientific thinking, logic, equality, and empathy. The approach blends elements of Charlotte Mason, classical education, and unit studies without fitting neatly into any single methodology.
Inclusivity and Book Selection
Torchlight is intentionally designed for diverse families, including LGBTQ+ households and neurodivergent learners. Book selections seek authentic perspectives—Native authors writing Native history, for example, rather than outsider viewpoints. The curriculum regularly updates booklists to reflect current inclusive literature. Each required book includes an alternative suggestion for families who cannot find or prefer not to use the primary choice.
What's Included (and What's Not)
Torchlight covers language arts (literature, writing, poetry), social studies (history, geography, cultural studies using Curiosity Chronicles as the primary spine), science (integrated with hands-on projects), and art and music (interwoven with other subjects). The curriculum does not include math or formal reading instruction—families need to add these separately. Budget approximately 100 books per year, though most can be borrowed from public libraries. Curriculum guides run $30-$45 per level.
The Bottom Line
Torchlight fills an important niche for secular homeschool families seeking a literature-based, inclusive curriculum that doesn't require filtering out religious content or supplementing for diversity. Its Socratic approach and emphasis on critical thinking prepare students to engage thoughtfully with complex ideas. Families should be prepared for the book-heavy nature of the program—library access or a used book sourcing strategy helps manage costs. For those aligned with its values, Torchlight offers a thoughtfully curated educational experience.
