Decades ago, homeschooling was a challenge since hardly anyone was doing it. Resources, curriculum options, and co-op classes were hard to come by.
These days we’ve got the opposite problem – we’ve got curricula and homeschool classes coming out of our ears! And, while it’s wonderful to be blessed with so many opportunities, the sheer quantity makes it hard to make confident decisions.
(I talk more about how I’ve worked through my homeschool curriculum decision paralysis in Strategies for Buying Homeschool Curriculum: A Grocery Store Analogy.)
Seeing what resources others have used and loved has been one of the most helpful strategies for me. So, before each school year, I post a list of the resources I’ll be using with my own kids in the hopes that it will help you find what’s best for your own family (Check out Our Curriculum Choices Year By Year to start at the beginning of the series).
This year my kids will be in 5th, 9th, and 12th grades. Keep reading to find out what classes and curricula we’ll be using for each of them!
(There may be affiliate links in this post – click here to learn more. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Year 13 Snapshot
I’m going to have a senior in high school… WHAT?! Intellectually, I knew it was coming. But *wow* did the years fly by!
As I type, he’s away at a month-long pre-college program, so I’ve been getting a mini preview of the mixed-mama-feelings I’ll be experiencing after he graduates.
This coming school year, my middle son will be moving up to high school, and even my youngest daughter will be in “upper” elementary school. I guess we’ve officially moved out of the “little kid” phase of life! More mixed emotions!
Despite my current emotional roller coaster, homeschooling has gotten easier as my kids have gotten older. Each year I become more experienced and my kids become more independent. Win-win!
It can still be tricky to narrow down curricula and classes, but I feel much less self-imposed pressure to “get it right.” There is no one “right” curriculum. I see my kids turning out just fine despite my foibles. And we can always adjust things if we need to. Cue the audible sigh of relief.
Here are the courses and curriculum choices we’ll be using this year:
Twelfth Grade Homeschool Curricula
- Bible: Youth group, Bible studies, discipleship groups at church, etc.
- Calculus I: Dual Enrollment at a local college with the Life of Fred high school series as a supplement
- College Writing II: Dual Enrollment at a local college
- Chemistry w/ Lab: Dual Enrollment at a local college
- American Literature: CLEP self-study using *FREE* ModernStates.com
- Intro to Communication: Dual Enrollment at a local college
- ASL IV: *FREE* lifeprint.com and a supplemental ASL co-op class
- Physical Education: Gym workout routine and a weight training co-op class
- Digital Photography: *FREE* Lectures on Digital Photography video series, with books Learning to See Creatively by Bryan Peterson and Photography by Barbara London, et al
Ninth Grade Homeschool Curricula
- Bible & Apologetics: Youth group, Bible studies, reading list including Church History in Plain Language by Shelley, Tactics by Koukl, Common Rule by Earley, Mere Christianity by Lewis, and more
- Algebra II: Life of Fred Advanced Algebra
- English I (Lit/Comp): Local pod-style class using IEW and classic literature
- Science: Local co-op class using Apologia Biology, plus Science Olympiad units
- Health: BJU Press Health
- Personal Finance: Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance Homeschool
- Latin I: Latin in the Christian Trivium Volume I
- Computer Programming: Udemy.com courses on Lua, Python, etc.
- Physical Education: Gym workout routine
Fifth Grade Homeschool Curricula
- Bible: AWANA T&T Agents of Grace plus at home and church Bible studies
- Math: Simply Good & Beautiful Levels 5 and 6, and the Life of Fred Elementary series and a local co-op Math Club as supplements
- Writing & Grammar: Essentials in Writing Level 6
- Spelling: All About Spelling Level 5
- Vocabulary: Word Roots Beginning
- Science: Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (Vol. 2)
- Social Studies: Story of the World: The Modern Age (Vol. 4) with Activity Book
- Logic: Logic Liftoff workbook
- Electives: Art, PE, Spanish, and Crochet classes at a local co-op
Other Fun Stuff
We’ve always participated in local homeschool groups and we’ll continue with that this year. Co-ops have been a great place to make friends, access a variety of classes, and also take part in other activities, dances, field trips, Student Council, and more!
Between co-op, Math Club, Art Club, Science Olympiad, and our local homeschool band, we’ll have plenty to do this school year. My daughter will also continue in her American Heritage Girls troop and piano lessons (using the Faber piano series) while her older brothers volunteer on their youth group worship team and work at their respective part-time jobs.
I hope this list helped give you some ideas!
For more homeschool resource ideas by grade, check out the following posts:
- How to Homeschool Preschool – Part 1
- How to Homeschool Kindergarten
- How to Homeschool the Early Elementary Years (1st – 3rd grade)
And if you’re new to homeschooling or need some encouragement, my book Think About Homeschooling is for you! Click here for more information or get it here now!
Subscribe today to receive new posts via email!
