12th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2026-2027

 

My fourth-born is quite a Renaissance man. An autodidactic if there ever was one. He's never been bored a day in his life. He likes to draw, likes to fish, likes to debate. He's a master of impersonations, makes some of the best buffalo chicken wings I've ever eaten, and always has a business idea brewing in his head. If you need a loyal friend who will push you to do hard things and cheer you on while you try, he's your man. He's starting his last year of high school today, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for him in the months to come!

9th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2026-2027

 

My youngest son is a full-throttle, all-in energy drink. He always has a ball in his hands, music in his earbuds, and the next bowl of cereal on his mind. Making friends is his superpower. So if you ever need him, just look for the giant clump of boys. He’ll be right in the middle of it. He’s my personal snuggler, reminding me nearly every day that he has an unlimited supply of bear hugs whenever I might need one. He's starting high school this year. As always, he’s coming in fast and loud and with a giant smile. But never fear, I'm ready!

Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2026-2027

I've launched three kids from my homeschool. And I'm in the final home stretch with the remaining two. How is that even possible? When I began homeschooling back in 2009, I had no idea that the years would fly by so fast. 

In the last few weeks as I've been making final curriculum plans and purchases, I've been thinking ahead to what the next nine months of learning might bring. While it seems fairly uneventful on this side of our start date, I know from experience that what looks like a straight, sure path can often have some winding, bumpy stretches. So, I want to be prepared.

12th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2025-2026

He may be the middle child, but he’s anything but middle. He’s a servant leader with a sharp wit. Loves antique car shows, watching FI racing, and tinkering under the hood of whatever you’re driving. Big fan of reading Shakespeare and studying ancient history. But don’t come at him with American history; it’s not old enough. Has strong political views and enjoys a good satirical meme. Avoids cooking whenever he can, but loves to eat, especially if there’s rice, beans, or pasta involved. He's never met a soup he didn't like. If you can’t find him, check the gym; he’ll probably be there lifting something heavy. This fall kicks off his last year of homeschooling!

11th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2025-2026

My fourth born is my Renaissance man. Artist. Junk hunter. Baseball Pitcher. Cook. Downhill ski jumper. Bird watcher. Coin collector. Fisherman. He’s got more hobbies than he has time most days. Strong sense of justice and fairness. He loves talking on the phone the old-fashioned way, is sweet potato averse, and is known to deep fry fun snacks at midnight. Neighborhood lawn mower. Autodidactic learner. Always ready to share a trivia fact. Can speak with nearly a dozen different international accents. If you’re bored and need a pal to help you drum up something fun to do, he’s your guy. 

8th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2025-2026

Bounce a ball. Throw a ball. Bat a ball. Catch a ball. Kick a ball. Spike a ball. Repeat. This is the rhythm of my youngest son's days. He’s an extrovert’s extrovert who never gets tired of a big crowd. He’s a champion of others and a loyal team player. Loves music, watching movies, and pet-sitting. Not a fan of bedtime or most board games. Hates Brussels sprouts, but is happy to put buffalo sauce on almost anything else. Much to my make-most-things-from-scratch mantra, Doritos are his love language. But if those are in short supply, he’ll also settle for your undivided attention. He may be the smallest, but he’s got a big heart!

Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2025-2026

Five more years — that's all the time I have left as a homeschool mom. How is that even possible? With my oldest two launched and pursuing their own career paths, and my middle two taking several dual-enrollment classes from a Christian University, most of my efforts will be directed toward my youngest son and his individual learning.

That said, there are still a few subjects/resources that all three of my remaining at-home kids will work on together. 

11th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2024-2025

My middle son is a reader, writer, and indoor enthusiast. He's our resident introvert who needs plenty of downtime in the day. But don’t let his quiet fool you. He often brings the jazz hands in big groups. He loves classic cars, classical music, and classic literature. If you ever need a fun fact about Formula 1 racing or the Roman Empire, he’s your guy. Serve him chili, chili mac, or chili dogs, and he’ll love you forever. These days, he’s never too far from a thought-provoking podcast or a bench press. Conscientious driver. Closet comedian. He may be the middle child, but he’s anything but middle to us.

10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2024-2025

 

My fourth born had an extraordinary 9th-grade year! In the past nine months, he was hand-picked by a baseball coach to pitch for the local high school baseball team, won the National Congregational Art Competition for our district, flew to Washington, D.C., to see his colored pencil sketch hanging in the US Capital, learned how to do 540 jump on the downhill ski slope, traveled with the whole family to Branson, MO for an unforgettable vacation, and went with some youth group pals to St. Louis to spread the love of Jesus to inner city youth and displaced/houseless adults. His 2023-2024 will be a tough act to follow, to say the least.

7th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2024-2025

As the last born of the family, my youngest has the advantage of a relaxed homeschool mom. I've experienced more than my share of both hits and misses over the years and realize that a great education doesn't require me to find the "perfect" curriculum, the "perfect" schedule, or the "perfect" plan. (Spoiler alert: in the realm of homeschooling, "perfect" only exists on Instagram.)

Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2024-2025

I'm down to the final three kids at home. It's my seventeenth year of homeschooling, and with two kids in high school and one in middle school, I feel nearly obsolete. They may all be fairly self-sufficient, but they still need me—just in less acute ways. And isn't that the goal? Homeschool mothers should always aim to work their way out of a job. 

Here's a peek at how I'll still be involved in their day-to-day learning.

12th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2023-2024

It's the final countdown for my eldest son. He's got nine more months of homeschooling left, and then he's off to do great things for the Kingdom.

In the meantime, he'll also be busy finishing up the final credits I planned out for him using the Brave High School Record Keeping for Homeschoolers pack. 

Here's what he'll be learning.

10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2022-2023

My middle son is an introvert who loves the great indoors. When he’s not listening to music, admiring his model car collection, or working on some epic Lego build, he can be found immersed in a story—either one he’s reading or one he’s writing. Naturally, I try to incorporate his love of words into his homeschool day. 

Last year, I used the Brave High School Record Keeping for Homeschoolers pack to lay out a four-year high school plan that will hopefully help prepare him for his future post-high school goals. 

Here's what he'll be learning.

9th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2023-2024

One would think the fourth time planning ninth grade would be relatively easy. At this point, it should just be lather-rinse-repeat. Right?

But the truth is, each of my kids is so vastly different from their siblings. They have different passions and different giftings. I'd be remiss if I did not reshuffle the deck from year to year and plan a unique high school program for each of them. 

So, that is what I aimed to do as I was making curriculum choices for my ninth grader. After having some great discussions with him about his future hopes and dreams and after reviewing the results of a few different career aptitude tests he took this summer, I used the Brave High School Record Keeping for Homeschoolers pack to put together a four-year plan that will hopefully position him to achieve his post-graduate goals. 

Here's what he'll be learning in 9th grade.

6th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2023-2024

It's been said that the smallest chili peppers are often the spiciest. I think that's often true of siblings too. My youngest is a spitfire. He has a zest for life and can not be nailed down for too long. He's got itchy legs and wants to go, go, go. 

If you ever need him, just look for a crowd of people. He'll be the one in the middle gathering the group and welcoming more into it.

Homeschool Curriculum Choices 2023-2024

In just a few weeks, I'll be starting my final year with my final four. By the end of the 2023-2024 school year, my eldest son will be launching out into the world, my daughter will still be away at college, and I'll only have my three youngest at home.

Not surprisingly, I'm acutely aware that my days with a houseful of children are numbered. Here is a peek at what the boys will be learning together this year.

A Case for IEW Fix It! Grammar {a curriculum review}

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.)

Written by Krista Smith.

Recently, I mentioned that my children started using (and loving) Andrew Pudewa’s IEW Structure & Style for formal writing. Structure & Style was not our first exposure to IEW, however. We had previously completed Fix It! Grammar and wanted to continue to hone our writing skills.

My schooling experience was, perhaps, a bit different than most, especially in the area of language arts. I grew up in inner-city Denver and, unfortunately, had almost no grammar instruction at all.

A Case for IEW Structure & Style {curriculum review}

Written by Krista Smith.

Last year during my summer-long quest to find the best curriculums for my family for the 2022-2023 school year, I needed to assess and address something I had (possibly purposefully) ignored. Writing. I had eclectically sewed together what I prayed was a stellar Language Arts experience for them, but I had to admit I hadn’t done my children justice in the writing department.

Learning American History Through Literature: An Open-and-Go Charlotte Mason History Progam

In the past fifteen years of homeschooling, I've used three different phonics/grammar programs and two different spelling programs. I've started a math curriculum, switched to something else for a few years, and then switched back again. I've thrown together a hodge-podge assortment of various books, kits, and even textbooks to create an a la carte science experience. I've cobbled together many different resources for both art and Bible.

11th Grade Homeschool Curriculum 2022-2023

“I’ve never met a teenage boy who works as hard as your son.” 

I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard these words from others when referring to my second born. Dedicated. Loyal. Steadfast. He invites the unpopular kid. Looks people in the eye and speaks with respect whether the other person is 2 or 102. Puts down his project to help someone else with theirs. Loves eating Italian food, listening to podcasts about military heroes, and exercising. If you need a sheepdog to keep a watchful eye, work hard, and care for those in need of protection, he’s your guy!