This post contains all of our 2025-2026 homeschool curriculum picks for 5th grade, 8th grade, and 11th grade.
It’s my favorite time of year! 🙂 Finalizing our 2025-2026 homeschool curriculum picks has been a joy this year. In the fall, I will officially have a 5th grader, 8th grader, and 11th grader.
Since homeschooling these upper years, I have noticed a shift in how I weigh materials and curriculum choices. Especially with high school, my daughter’s time is more limited than ever, I find myself filtering selected resources through a stricter truth, goodness, and beauty filter. However, as she grows more and more in independence, I am able to also bring in a few things for my youngest that requires my attention. I am appreciating this balance!
You will see some favorite homeschool resources we have used for over a decade in our homeschool, and a small handful of new things to try. I aim to share our reviews and updates on Instagram and YouTube for a more thorough run down. Further, I will include links and discount codes below for your convenience!
This post is all about our 2025-2026 homeschool curriculum picks.
[RELATED POST: 2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Picks]
2025-2026 Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 5th Grade
Math
Math has been a subject we tend to roll on with throughout the summer so we are rarely starting a new level or book at the start of the school year. She will be finishing up her Right Start Math book and moving on to Apologia Math Level 6 (use “trisha10” for 10% off). On Fridays, she does a lesson or two from Your Business Math series (currently she is using the Bookstore Math version) from Simply Charlotte Mason. These lessons are built around running your own bookstore and using math skills to operate.
Language Arts
Moving into the next level of what she is familiar with, we will be starting The Tan Book from Learning Language Arts Through Literature (use code “juicebox” for 15% off). This is a mostly independent curriculum my younger kids enjoy using. Short lessons with a lot of variety. My 5th grader will be working through SSS-1B with IEW and Fix It Grammar Level 3. I’m looking forward to format and structure we already know.
[RELATED VIDEO: Review of Learning Language Arts Through Literature]
Science
Each of my kids will be studying a different topic for science this year, and I gave my 5th grader a choice between swimming creatures and botany, and she chose Exploring Creation with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures (use code “trisha10” for 10% off). I used this study many years ago with my oldest, and have fond memories of making an ocean box together. Since then, the study has been updated to a beautiful full-color student notebook and even better photographs in the textbook. I am very much looking forward to all the lab experiments and working through this one-on-one with her!
History
I’m excited for the book list on this one, but we will be going through Modern American and World History with Beautiful Feet Books. We’ve been working up to this for a few years, so I’m excited to learn about events and people who are somewhat familiar to our kids. I have a unit from Campfire Curriculums about the Holocaust that we will use together along with my middle schooler as well.
2025-2026 Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 8th Grade
Math
Last year, we had such success in confidence building with a Pre-Pre-Algebra course from High School Math Live. It was an easy choice to continue on with HSML for Pre-Algebra. They are an approved course for our charter school, which makes it an even smoother decision. The course uses a standard textbook with live classes twice weekly. I have him use a Math Journal with grid paper similar to these, which he uses for notes during class.
Language Arts
Another case of if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it in the language arts department. My middle schooler will continue on with the Gray Book of Learning Language Arts Through Literature (use “juicebox” for 15% off) for general language arts skills. Additionally, we are continuing on with writing and grammar from IEW. He will take the next level course SSS-3B and Fix it Grammar Level 5. It has been a huge help in improving and leveling up his writing structure and style.
[RELATED POST: Our Favorite Writing Curriculum for All These Years]
Science
Our trusted science curriculum for upper elementary and middle school is back! My 8th grader will be using Exploring Creation with Physical Science (use “trisha10” for 10% off) along with the self-paced course. I’m so thankful we used Exploring Creation with General Science last year as it provided a great stepping stone to higher level notebooking, independent lab work, and audio and visual support. We picked up the lab kit from Nature’s Workshop Plus that includes all of the hard to find supplies at a more affordable price point.
History
This is the last year we will combine my youngest two for history. We chose a family favorite that brings us all some nostalgic comfort along with a boatload of ideas and inspiration for extended learning. We will use Beautiful Feet Books’ Modern American and World History literature pack. The book selection looks interesting! We are also going to pause somewhere in the middle of the section on WWII to do a unit study from Campfire Curriculums on the Holocaust.
2025-2026 Homeschool Curriculum Picks for 11th Grade
Math
My daughter will be taking Pre-Calculus Honors with High School Math Live this year. Previously, she has taken Geometry Honors and Algebra 2 Honors with the same company, and enjoyed their structure. She attends an online live class twice a week.
Language Arts
After a lot of back and forth, my daughter chose to return to AP Homeschoolers for AP Language Arts. The main issue was that our charter school has not approved this course yet, so she will complete an A-G guide alongside this course in order to receive high school credit. They do a great job with AP test prep, so if all goes well, she will aim to take the AP test next year. We have heard positive reviews about this course and instructor!
Science
Another difficult decision was science, but again, she chose AP Physics with AP Homeschoolers. She chose the rigor and thoroughness over the easier A, which was honorable to me. Since she has to do the A-G guide for our charter school, there are additional assignments as well. It is not an easy choice, but I’m proud of her for figuring out how she prefers to work through her junior year.
History
For history, she will be dual-enrolled at a community college for one semester of Government and another semester of Economics. This seemed the easiest route to go once we found the right course.
2025-2026 Homeschool Curriculum Picks for Family Studies
Aside from reading one-on-one with my middle schooler and high schooler a couple of times a week, we will be looping through a few resources altogether in the mornings:
- The Faithfulness Series Bible Study
- Music Appreciation
- Foundations in Worship
- Personal Finance (use “juicebox10” for 10% off)
- World Watch News current events
- Spanish 1
This post is all about our 2025-2026 homeschool curriculum picks for 5th, 8th, and 11th grade.
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- Notebooking in Homeschool
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