This post is all about our personal review of our 2024-2025 homeschool curriculum.
This homeschool year was full of change. We moved homes in the same area, but nonetheless, a move that took a toll on our time and energy. My oldest daughter was dual enrolled in a local community college and took a couple of her courses online there. It was a year where my husband and I took on more work projects than normal, which felt like perfect timing with my kids growing in independence.
I chose homeschool courses and curriculum with these changes in mind. I planned our morning meetings with a combination of caution and ambition. However, over time I realized that I would need to skim back on our morning meeting content even more. I thought I would mourn the minimization more, but understanding why helps me to have peace with the changes.
Sharing homeschool reviews is enjoyable for me because I know how much I value them from other homeschool moms. I trust you will take them as our own opinions and not knowing the full scope of our plate, lifestyle, learning styles, and a multitude of other personal things. So I pray this review would be helpful in your own decisions for future homeschool years. Additionally, that you would find ideas, encouragement, and maybe some discounts!
2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Review: 10th Grade
Since we homeschool with a charter school, the high school options are not as wide as in the lower years. However, with a lot of research and error, we have been able to work within the options without too much trouble. I use these high school worksheets to help me stay organized. They are not necessary, but only a tool if you need a little extra help keeping your info on paper in one place.
Math:
My 10th grader took Algebra II Honoros with High School Math Live. For the high school years, we have found success with High School Math Live courses. We choose the live classes because I find value in the practice of being present and punctual. Also, they have options for honors level math, which is a plus if your student needs a challenge. There are homework assignments along with proctored tests as part of the course.
Language Arts:
One of the only misses this school year was Honors English Literature & Composition 2 with Blue Tent Online. We’ve had great experiences with BTO in the past, but this course was run a little differently, which made it confusing. She received an A for the course, but did not particularly enjoy it.
Science:
Here is the course she loved! The course she was fearing turned out to be her favorite. She took Chemistry Honors with Blue Tent Online. With a live teacher and hands-on labs, I was surprised how much she was able to find chemistry interesting rather than intimidating. Much appreciation for the instructor who made a point to make chemistry relevant and fascinating.
History:
She took a US History Honors with Williamsburg Learning. It was another online live course that came fairly easy to her. Being brought up in a heavy literature-based homeschool style, there was not as much reading compared to what she is used to.
ASL and Health:
Finishing up her world language requirement, my daughter took ASL 3 as a dual enrollment course at a local community college (online) for the first semester. In the spring, she completed a health course also as a dual enrollment course. These were work to try to find and enroll in, but worth it in the end to complete a couple of college courses.
[RELATED POST: 2024-2025 HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM CHOICES]
2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Review: 7th Grade
7th grade was a big step up for my son in terms of homeschool curriculum. Everything seemed to level up, which was the perfect timing with his own readiness.
Math:
Following the path of his older sister, I went to look at the High School Math Live site and saw they offered a Pre-Pre-Algebra course. They had readiness tests available, in which he tested “ready” for pre-algebra. However, I thought an extra year of preparation would be helpful. I feel assured we made a good decision because with Pre-Pre-Algebra he was able to solidify concepts and grow in his confidence with math!
Language Arts:
This was a no-brainer since we have found great breakthroughs with IEW’s Structure and Style curriculum as well as Fix It Grammar and Learning Language Arts Through Literature (“juicebox” for 15% off) The Green Book. He navigated these well as our whole family is familiar with these choices. I opted for the online course of SSS-2B, which was helpful as usual with the grading and weekly live teaching. I appreciate LLATL for literature and reading comprehension support. We opt out of the writing assignments since he gets plenty from IEW.
Science:
Another homeschool curriculum we have been using for years is Apologia for science. In 7th grade, they recommend taking Exploring Creation with General Science (“trisha10” for 10% off), and it is a step up in terms of content, rigor, and skills. I ordered the self-paced course to go along with the student notebook, and it was such a great fit! He enjoyed the videos and audiobook, while I really appreciated the hand-holding in elevated notetaking, study guides, and exams. We also used the lab kit from Nature’s Workshop Plus, which was a tremendous help in accountability to easily pull out supplies to complete labs.
History:
With this being an election year, Uncle Sam & You was a great fit! He used the supplemental notebook, which includes comprehension questions. Additionally, he would use Homeschool History for videos, which peaked interest. He would read the textbook independently, and I would read the literature pack aloud so that either one of us wasn’t reading 2 books for history. We combined this with my 7th grader and 4th grader, and I felt it was naturally engaging and interesting in content.
2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Review: 4th Grade
My youngest has seemed to breeze through homeschooling, and while learning comes very easy for her, she also very much enjoys much of what we do. I try to take advantage of being able to find things that fit her level, while also trying to keep things enjoyable and respecting her preferences.
Math:
A little bit of this and a little bit of that describes her year in math, and it does not bother either one of us! We worked through Right Start Math Level E twice a week together. For two days a week, she worked on Apologia Math Level 5 independently. Both are hands-on and playful curricula, with Apologia being more colorful. She naturally gravitates towards Apologia Math (“trisha10” for 10% off) if we had to pick just one. In January, we started Your Business Math from Simply Charlotte Mason. The concept is running your own small bookstore and using math skills like calculating sales tax, tracking inventory, and paying bills in the process.
Language Arts:
Similar to my son, my 4th grader worked through IEW’s Structure and Style SSS-2A and Fix It Grammar Level 2. She also took the weekly online class with a live teacher, which was very fun for her. Additionally, she worked through Learning Language Arts Through Literature The Purple Book (“juicebox” for 15% off). It was rewarding to see her passion continue to grow in reading and writing this year.
Science:
My 4th grader used Exploring Creation with Earth Science from Apologia (“trisha10” for 10% off). I loved the overarching project of building a globe for the school year. She was fascinated by the textbook, which includes beautiful photographs and fun facts.
This was the first year I had all three of my kids using a different science curriculum, and scared was the emotion I felt going into it! I didn’t know if I could handle not having this family style as we had done for so many years. Thankfully, it was better than I expected! Everyone is working at their own appropriate level and mostly independently.
History:
See my 7th grader’s history review for Uncle Sam & You. I kept history combined this past school year, and it worked out well! The literature pack was excellent and thoroughly enjoyed by my daughter. We also really liked reading about different American holidays on Fridays in the back of the textbook. We didn’t use The Citizen’s Reader as much as I had hoped, but the textbook and literature pack kept us content.
2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Review: Family Studies
With my older kids having an increase in workload for school and after school activities, along with my work as a content creator for a few brands, I knew we would all benefit from a scaled down morning meeting. Here is a video of my original choices for what I wanted to do.
In our first term, we were fairly on this plan (shown in video). Once term two hit with its holidays and time off, it was really hard to get back into this groove. Midway through term two, I unofficially skimmed down our morning meetings even more.
We each had individual Bible studies. My older two were reading the book of Acts with our church and journaling through it. My 4th grader used God’s Big Story Level 4, which she really enjoyed. I love my Christ in All of Scripture study (“juicebox10” for 10% off) and will continue to use it throughout the year.
Each day possible, we watched a 10-minute video from World Watch News for current events. Everyone easily enjoys this one! I read from Foundations in Worship twice a week and Music Appreciation twice a week. On the slower days, I will read a chapter from our family read aloud.
As time permits, again I follow this loosely, I alternate reading one-on-one with my teens a chapter at a time. Here are a few of our favorites on our shelves. This has been a practice worth maintaining. Not only just reading wisdom and encouragement with my kids, but the opportunity and time for connection is needed at this busy stage.
This post is all about our 2024-2025 Homeschool Curriculum Review for 4th, 7th, and 10th grade.
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