(Last Updated on September 20, 2025)
This is the next post in a series where I’ve been sharing the curricula I’ve used to home educate my three kids. I can’t believe this will be our 9th year homeschooling!
*pause for nostalgic reminiscing*
OK… I think I’m ready to continue.
If you’d like to see what we’ve used in previous years, you can go to this first post which has links to all the others in the series.
Year 9 Snapshot
In last summer’s curriculum post, I wrote that “we don’t know what this year will bring…” Well, my past self, you definitely hit that nail on the head!
Just a few months ago, my family made an unexpected move to another state. We left the only area we’ve ever called our permanent home. As I write, I’m just starting to come out of shock and realize the magnitude of what’s occurred.
As we’ve started the monumental task of re-establishing ourselves in this new place, I’ve never been more glad that we homeschool! The freedom and flexibility homeschooling offers has helped us in so many ways during this huge transition. (For more about the amazing benefits of home education, check out my book, Think About Homeschooling: What It Is, What It Isn’t, & Why It Works!)
But, with all the packing and unpacking, I’ve had to really hustle to pull together our plan for this coming school year. Thankfully, I have years of curricula choices and plans to look back on. It’s much easier to plan for my younger kids now that I have some experience to draw from (and a library of curricula already purchased for previous years)!
Here’s what we’ll be using for our 9th year of homeschooling:
Eighth Grade Curricula for Year 9
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- Bible & Character: AWANA Trek “His People”, Family Bible studies using the *FREE* topical reading plans from The Creator’s Classroom, plus individual Bible study
- Math: VideoText Algebra
- Reading: Silent reading (30+ min./day) plus family read-alouds and audiobooks
- Writing/Grammar: Jump In Middle School Composition
- Vocabulary: *FREE* Word Roots and Vocabulary worksheets from Best Education Lessons
- Science: BFSU Volume 3 (BFSU is one of my all-time favorites! Check out my detailed review here!)
- History/Geography/Literature: Notgrass History America the Beautiful (Part 2)
- Government/Civics: *FREE* civics lessons from iCivics
- Life Skills Units: Kahn Academy Internet Safety course, Kahn Academy Personal Finance course, and PragerU “How To” series
Fifth Grade Curricula for Year 9
As usual, we’ll be studying several subjects together as a family. My fifth grader will do the same family Bible study, science, and history/geography as his older brother. Besides those things, he’ll be working on:
- Bible: AWANA T&T “Agents of Grace”
- Math: Math-U-See Epsilon and Zeta
- Reading: Silent reading (30+ min./day) plus family read-alouds and audiobooks
- Spelling: All About Spelling Level 5 (AAS is another of our favorites – see my AAS review here!)
- Vocabulary: Word Roots Beginning
- Writing/Grammar: IEW Student Intensive Continuation Course Level A plus his own independent study writing projects (For more about our experience with IEW, check out this post)
- Logic: The Basics of Critical Thinking, Critical Thinking Detective Book 1, and Thinking Through Analogies
First Grade Curricula for Year 9
This year, my youngest will be joining with her brothers for family Bible study and history. In addition to the work we do together, she’ll also be doing:
- Bible: AWANA Sparks “Wing Runner”
- Math: Math-U-See Alpha and Beta
- Reading: silent reading (15+ min./day) plus family read-alouds and audiobooks
- Writing/Handwriting: Writing Activities for Young Learners, Scissor Skills workbooks, Manuscript Writing K-2 Schoolzone workbook, and Bible verse copywork
- Spelling: All About Spelling Level 1
- Science: Start-up Science books 1-4
- Health: Abeka Health Safety and Manners 3
- Logic: Analogies for Beginners and Primarily Logic
Update: Find more ideas for the early elementary grades here – How to Homeschool the Early Elementary Years (1st -3rd Grade): Curriculum Ideas & Lessons Learned!
Other Fun Stuff
Co-ops and other supplementary classes have always rounded out our at-home work. This year, we’ll be joining a new co-op where my kids will have the opportunity to take art, gym, debate, and other electives. They’ll also be taking soccer in the fall and hopefully a YMCA gym-and-swim class during the week.
My youngest will begin working her way through the Bastien Piano Basics series at home. My fifth grader will have piano lessons at co-op. And my oldest will be taking percussion lessons at co-op and joining the Youth Worship Team at church.
I’m also hoping for a lot more field trips this year to explore our new home state!
Keep reading to see what resources we used the following year: Our Curriculum Choices – Year 10!
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve homeschooled for years, we all need encouragement on our homeschooling journeys. My book, Think About Homeschooling: What It Is, What It Isn’t, & Why It Works, will give you the information and courage you need to press on toward the goal ahead of you! Buy it now, or find out more about it here!
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