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Choosing a curriculum for your homeschool (especially when getting started) can be mind-boggling. There are so many options. Rest assured, it gets easier as the years go by. You figure out what you like and how your kids learn. I am heading into my 6th year of homeschooling, and it isn’t as challenging. I haven’t had a hard time coming up with our curriculum picks for 6th and 8th grade.
Besides getting experience over time, if you find a homeschooling method that works for your family, you usually have an easier time. Each method has curriculum suggestions to help guide you. I can say this was the biggest help to me when we began homeschooling.
Now, we tend to follow the Classical Homeschooling method. You’ll notice its influence in our curriculum picks. However, we also add in unit studies and various other things.
So let me share some of our curriculum choices. I say “our” because my kids help plan our homeschool year.
6th Grade Curriculum Picks
My son is entering 6th grade. He has been my challenge. I have learned that if a spelling or writing curriculum worked for his older sister, it more than likely won’t work for him. I have found different curriculum options that have worked for him, though.
Language Arts
Writing
For writing, my son will be using the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) Level B. The program works for him. It gives him the structure and guidance he needs. He also likes the consistency throughout the program. For him, he knows that in Level A, you do a Story Outline a certain way, and this is how it will be in Level B. (I will update this post and share a link to my review of the program in a few weeks.)
Spelling
When it comes to spelling, there is only one choice. It is All About Spelling (you can read my review of the program here). We struggled through a few programs until we found All About Spelling. He began with Level 1 and is now moving into Level 6 (which I need to purchase).
All About Spelling does a great job helping kids understand spelling rules and know how to apply them. It is a multi-sensory approach that works well.
Along with our regular spelling program, my son will use Spelling Shed to practice his spelling words. It is a fun computer program that he likes using to practice his words and do his test on.
Grammar
Last year, we tried out Fix-It Grammar. It is also by IEW. The program is easily integrated into his writing. My son likes it because it uses a story to help teach grammar.
Reading
I haven’t had a specific reading curriculum since we stopped using Reading Eggspress. We usually read different classics and work on certain reading elements.
However, this year I will be adding in MaxScholar once or twice a week. It is an online reading program. It uses the Orton-Gillingham approach, like All About Spelling, to teach reading. I reviewed it for Homeschool Review Crew and was impressed by how hard it made my kids work.
Math Curriculum Picks
Well, I thought we would be using Math-U-See again this year. I bought most of the materials (at a used curriculum sale) and everything. However, we just finished reviewing CTCMath, and my son loved it. He wants to continue the program.
Honestly, I like CTCMath because my son and I don’t butt heads over it. He watches his lesson, does the work, and moves on. No more arguing. Yet, I am still 100% in control of all his math assignments, so I can adjust the grade level up or down if needed.
**UPDATE September 2020** After writing this post, I reviewed another online math program. It is NOW our new math curriculum for my son.
A+ Interactive Math
So just after posting our curriculum picks, I reviewed another online math curriculum for a different company. My son quickly decided he liked this program better than CTCMath. You can read my full review here.
The program is similar to CTCMath. A+ Interactive Math has online videos, grading, extra practice, and full reports. However, students have a little more control and my son found the videos more kid-friendly.
I like the program, so I easily switched my son to this program. If you want to give it a try, they have a month’s FREE trial. After trying the program, if you like it, you can use my code thesecretlife and receive 20% off. Click here to visit their site.
To add in some fun, we will continue to use Prodigy (the free version) on Fridays. It is a fun computer game that gets kids wanting to do math. My kids love it.
Science
Last year, we began using Focus On Middle School Biology by REAL Science 4 Kids. We didn’t quite finish it since we switched from another biology program. He wasn’t ready for the other one. It was too hard. So, we will finish this program, and then I’ll figure out where we go from there.
8th Grade Curriculum Picks
It is so hard for me to type 8th grade. That means next year will be high school. Ugh! I’m not ready for that. In the meantime, here are my picks for 8th grade.
Language Arts
Writing
Over the summer, my daughter has been using IEW. Though I like the program, I may not continue it with her. She is a strong writer. However, I may incorporate some of their Ancient History based writing program.
When it comes to writing, we kind of jump around. For more technical writing skills, we use Writing with Skill. It does a great job helping kids learn to make outlines and write essays for science, history, and literary critiques.
Another program we will use is Creative Writer. I like using this for teaching different elements of creative writing. My daughter is working on a book, so it helps her work on character development, plot, and more.
If you have some serious writers at home, look into NaNoWriMo for Young Writers. They have writing challenges and a good writing community. My daughter has been on the site for almost a year now.
Vocabulary
My daughter moved out of spelling programs a couple of years back and now works on vocabulary. We have been using Critical Thinking Co.’s Word Roots and will continue this year. It is a good vocabulary program.
Grammar
For grammar, we will be using Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind. My daughter is a strong writer and needs a good grammar program. This one fits the bill. It is rigorous and thorough. We take out time working through it to make sure she gets it.
Reading
Her reading is just like her brothers. I choose good literature to work on and focus on various reading elements. She, too, will use MaxScholar. I love that I can place her at the grade level she needs with this program. Most haven’t allowed me to move her up as high as she needs. MaxScholar does.
One thing I will add to her reading is the Movies as Literature curriculum. My daughter is very into filmmaking. With this curriculum, kids use good quality movies and analyze them as you would Literature. It is a perfect fit.
Math Curriculum Picks
In math, my daughter is moving into Algebra. She used Math-U-See for Pre-Algebra and liked it, so she will continue to use this program. Her favorite thing about the program is the mixed review built in each week. She practices the concept for the week and then has up to three review pages. Sometimes she does all three, and sometimes she doesn’t.
Science
Our curriculum pick for science is REAL Science Odyssey‘s Level 2 Biology. We need to finish this up from last year. It is a challenging program, so we took our time. I truly love the REAL Science Odyssey curriculum. My son just wasn’t ready for Level 2 yet. He’ll use it in early high school.
Curriculum Picks Both Kids will Use
History
Late last year, we discovered Home School in the Woods. It was just what we needed. My kids had loved Story of the World, but when we finished it, the program we switched to didn’t hold their attention. They weren’t excited about history anymore until Home School in the Woods.
Late spring we started using Project Passport: Ancient Greece. The kids were finally excited to do history again. We will continue using their Ancient History units and work into Middle Ages.
This summer we have been using their Elections unit study. The kids like putting together the lap book. It has made learning about elections fun. I will add a link to my review in a few weeks.
Latin
Once our fall schedule begins, the kids will both pick up Latin again. We love Memoria Press. Both kids started using First Form Latin this summer and will continue with the program.
Logic
We have two curriculum picks for logic. The first book we will use is The Fallacy Detective. It is a great way to help kids understand the different fallacies people use and how to spot them.
The second logic book we will use is Critical Thinking Co.’s Mastering Logic and Mathematical Problem Solving. It is a good way to teach kids to think logically and outside the box.
Fine Arts
For fine arts work in our homeschool, the kids will use Beyond the Stick Figure online lessons and ARTistic Pursuits Middle School books. Both are solid art programs for kids.
SchoolhouseTeachers.com
Okay, so SchoolhouseTeachers.com is not a particular subject. However, we will be using this online curriculum for many subjects, from music, filmmaking, health, guitar lessons, and more. I love, love, love all the classes they offer. We are always finding something to work on.
Lots of Curriculum Picks for 6th and 8th Grade
Phew! So that was a lot of different curriculum picks for us. I didn’t get into all the little apps and stuff we may include along the way.
If you noticed, I have a lot of links to click on. I have A LOT of reviews on different homeschool resources. Bookmark this, so you can go back and take a look at some of the reviews.
You can also find more reviews under my Curriculum and Resource tab. There is so much there to help you.
I hope this gave you some ideas for your homeschool. Maybe you can take away one or two new options you didn’t know of before.
If you haven’t noticed, I LOVE curriculum. I especially love reviewing curriculum because it gives me more homeschool options and more ideas to share with you.
Happy Homeschooling!
