Selecting Homeschooling Curriculum—A Guide for Parents

As a homeschool parent, creating a comprehensive curriculum feels daunting with countless publisher options vying for your attention. Define your homeschooling priorities first, then evaluate materials aligning to your child’s learning style and future goals. While no one-size-fits-all solution exists, we offer guidance to inform your curriculum decisions across grade levels and subjects.

For high school particularly, outsourcing courses through established online academies lifts the burden of curriculum planning while providing structure, teacher access and potential accredited diplomas. Silicon Valley High School (SVHS) offers one such solution, helping homeschool students earn accredited high school diplomas recognized for college admissions and beyond.

Map Out Your Homeschooling Priorities

Clarifying key priorities upfront establishes an evaluation framework when researching curriculums. Outline must-have academics, subjects or skills you want covered along with any other non-negotiable needs like faith elements, flexible pacing, elective options and more. Some helpful clarifying questions include:

• What specific skills and subjects do I absolutely want covered?
• What teaching style best suits my child’s learning needs?
• What schedule limitations exist impacting format choices?
• What budget constraints exist regarding paid curriculum options?
• What values do I want reflected in materials and lesson content?

Research Options By Grade

Once core priorities are defined, explore publisher and format options by your child’s grade first instead of getting overwhelmed browsing everything available. Start with their current grade level across core subjects, then augment with unit studies or online classes in specialized interests later. Some top picks across common cores subjects include:

• Math: Singapore Dimensions, Math-U-See, Life of Fred, Saxon Math
• ELA: BraveWriter, Literature guides, Good and the Beautiful
• Science: Apologia Science, Berean Builders, Real Science 4 Kids
• History/Social Studies: Mystery of History, Story of World

Grades K-5

The elementary years build an educational foundation across core competencies preparing students for increasing independence in learning. As attention spans grow, blend textbook structure with hands-on reinforcement. Here are top homeschooling curriculum picks across foundational academic domains for grades K-5:

Math:

• Singapore Dimensions/Primary Mathematics (K-5): Models concepts visually through concrete-pictorial-abstract approach
• RightStart Mathematics (K-6): Focuses on abacus and manipulatives for hands-on learning
• Saxon Math (K-5): Balanced instruction, practice and assessments for math mastery

Reading/ELA:

• Logic of English (K-5): Explicit phonics instruction combined with grammar, spelling and writing
• Explode the Code (K-2) / All About Reading (2-5): Mastery path for decoding, fluency and comprehension
• BraveWriter (K-5): Language arts program aligned to student interests

Science:

• Berean Builders Science Series (K-6): Video-led courses building scientific literacy
• SuperCharged Science (K-5): Project-based courses making science fun through experiments
• Apologia Science Young Explorers (K-6): Hands-on introduction to biology, physics and more

History/Geography:

• Story of the World (K-5): Integrates world history, map skills and related literature
• Mystery of History (K-5): Hands-on history focused on key events and figures
• Evan Moor History Pockets: Activity books reinforcing topics through projects

Supplement with:

• Handwriting Without Tears (K-5): Proper letter formation
• Grammar Flip Books by Evan Moor (2-5): Interactive grammar practice
• Wordly Wise (2-5): Vocabulary building
• Artistic Pursuits (K-5): Art instruction books

Adapt formats moving towards written work for older elementary students while maintaining interactive learning. Evaluate yearly, adjusting based on assessments to address developing skills and knowledge. Supplementary resources can always customize areas of passion or strengthen occasional gaps in chosen curriculum.

Middle School Grades 6-8

Guiding your child through early adolescence presents unique challenges when homeschooling in grades 6-8. As interests evolve, switching from elementary curriculum formats provides a fresh start keeping pre-teens engaged. Aligning materials to match their changing developmental needs and attention spans sets them up for high school success.

Starting in 6th grade, blend textbook structure with hands-on projects. Maintain consistent schedules and chunk academics in shorter segments interspersed with active learning. By 8th grade, begin transitioning towards more independent work to prepare for high school.

Here are some top curriculum picks for key middle school subjects:

Math

The middle school math curriculum introduces new concepts like ratios, exponents, equations, probability and more abstract applications. Options providing strong foundations include:

• Saxon Math: Balances lessons, practice problems and assessments with in-depth coverage of concepts and procedures
• Math U See: Mastery approach with instructional videos and hands-on manipulatives
• Singapore Dimensions/Standards Edition: Models math visually and conceptually

English Language Arts

ELA curriculum should infuse grammar, writing, literacy analysis and reading comprehension using diverse texts to improve critical thinking. Recommended choices include:

• Writeshop I (6th grade) and Writeshop II (7-8th grade): Structure for scaffolding writing skills from sentences to full essays
• BraveWriter: Literature-based approach aligned to student interests
• Literature study guides for popular middle grade novels

Science

Hands-on science curriculum with experiments and projects spurs engagement for these tactile learners. Consider:

• Apologia Science: Creationist-based program focused on practical experimentation
• Real Science 4 Kids: Project kits for chemistry, biology, physics and more
• Berean Builders Science Series: Video-based courses to build scientific literacy

History & Geography

Connecting historical events to geographical relevance grounds learning. Options like:

• Story of the World: Integrates world history, geography and literature
• Mystery of History: Christian-based hands-on history focusing on key events and people worldwide

Adapt pacing and curriculum across these pivotal middle school years as needed. Supplementary resources can customize areas of passion or strengthen gaps as interests and skills evolve. Reevaluate yearly while providing consistent structure navigating their changing needs.

Evaluate High School Options

As high school approaches, extra diligence ensures credits align to college acceptance requirements should your child seek higher education. While some parents DIY all curriculum, others outsource to online academies specializing in digital courses for grades 9-12 to ease planning. These schools lift curriculum research while providing accredited diplomas.

Grades 9-12: Silicon Valley High School

Silicon Valley High School (SVHS) offers one such digital curriculum solution for homeschool high school students. As an accredited online school focused on homeschool learners’ needs, SVHS provides over 60 self-paced courses across core academic and electives backed by licensed teachers. Their engaging video-based courses allow flexibility for students to learn at their own pace to accommodate variable schedules.

With specialty support staff assisting homeschool families through enrollment, course selection and progress monitoring, SVHS simplifies parents’ workload. Their structured curriculum relieves parents from full curriculum planning and development across every subject. Students receive an accredited transcript meeting college admission standards upon completing courses.

Specific benefits for homeschool families include:

• Teacher-supported video courses available 24/7.
• Flexible self-paced format on student schedule.
• Accredited transcripts accepted by colleges.
• Specialist support staff dedicated to homeschoolers.
• Progress dashboards to monitor student work.
• Tutoring from credentialed teaching staff.
• Affordable course pricing at $125 each.

Meeting state curriculum standards while earning accredited transcripts combines the best of both worlds when outsourcing high school courses.

Build an Eclectic Curriculum Mix

Do not feel confined to one particular curriculum or publisher year-to-year either. Blend textbook portions for structure with hands-on unit studies around related topics for engagement. Mix and match language arts programs with completely different science curriculum methodologies to meet your child’s learning needs across changing interests and skills. 

Evaluate and Tweak Approaches

Check student progress consistently through assessments to pinpoint what’s working versus struggling. Be prepared to tweak approaches year-over-year to align materials as interests and comprehension levels evolve. Homeschooling is an iterative journey unique to each child.

Key Curriculum Planning Resources

Navigating catalogues and marketing claims feels overwhelming with countless materials targeting homeschoolers. Rely on curriculum review sites to launch research before evaluating specific publishers against your priorities. Homeschool networks provide crowdsourced opinions to inform decisions too.

• WellTrainedMind.com – classical education curriculum options
• CathyDuffyReviews.com – detailed curriculum evaluations
• RainbowResource.com – homeschool materials catalogue
• Local Facebook Groups – crowdsource opinions
  Homeschool.com forums– connect with fellow homeschoolers

Combining insider tips with personalized selections matching your child’s needs illuminates curriculum optimized for their success. Outsource tricky high school planning to accredited academies like Silicon Valley High School simplifying your workload too.