This is our first year homeschooling for high school. And while the idea of it felt really overwhelming at first (because what we do actually counts now!), I took time over our mini-break after 8th grade to really hash everything out and I feel much more confident with what we’re doing.
See also: our favorite Elementary and Middle School Secular Curriculum and Programs
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We’ve pretty much always used book based secular programs for homeschooling our kids, but for high school we’re adding in online science and I’ve set up Google Classrooms for each of my high schooler’s classes so it is easier for both of us to manage their workload.
Our High School Secular Homeschool Curriculum for 9th grade:
Math
Prentice Hall Algebra 1 Honors
We used Prentice Hall Algebra Readiness for pre-algebra and the textbook based program worked really well for us, so I decided to continue with the program. I love that it includes comprehensive instruction and examples of the topics, along with daily practice including cumulative review, periodic quizzes, chapter tests, multiple choice cumulative assessments in the student book as well as daily quizzes, pre-lesson review questions, and more in the teacher’s edition. Both the student and teacher textbooks are easy to find used, making the program very affordable. There are also supplemental workbook and assessment books available, but I find the textbooks more than adequate.
English
Write Source
We’ve used Write Source products in the past and while they’ve never been my students’ favorite, it is a solid writing program with lots of grammar review. We are using all elements of the program, except the Daily Skills Practice, which includes the textbooks, Skillsbook, and assessment book. The Teacher’s Edition of the textbook has suggested lesson plans that combine all the elements of the program, and to help myself, I created Google Forms for the grammar review pages in the back of the book that self-grade, which has saved me tons of time, and now I have them for any of my other kids that might use the program in the future.
Fishtank Learning
We’re also using the free Fishtank Learning literature units. My 9th grader picked out a few novels to read and I’m picking a few to do as well.
History and Social Studies
Big Ideas through History
Though I created Big Ideas through History when my kids were elementary aged, I developed it with the intention of it being usable with all age groups, either together or separate. I’m following the guidelines for using with high school students which means my high schooler has extra independent work on top of the family discussions and activities we do together.
Science
Conceptual Science
Science has never been my strongest subject (as a student or teacher), so I decided to hand this one off for high school. After a ton of research, I settled on conceptual Science because it is so thorough and everything is in one place. There are opportunities for hands-on learning plus videos, reading, and worksheets. It’s not set up like a traditional course, but I love that the focus is for students to actually learn and there are so many different ways that goal is approached from. It will also force me to stay involved by doing chapter reviews with my student, rather than them working 100% independently online without my oversight, making sure they’re keeping and learning. We decided to start with the two-year Integrated Science program because my eldest is technically a year ahead and could use a really solid science foundation (and more math) before diving into individual courses. Though, since the program is self-paced, I expect we’ll be done in less than two years.
Health and Fitness
We’re combining health study with my student’s already busy extracurricular calendar which currently includes Krav Maga, gymnastics, and ninja classes (and occasionally volleyball, tennis, and golf).
Glencoe Health
We’re going to use the Glencoe Health textbook to cover health topics over several years in high school. For 9th grade, we’ll cover health and wellness, mental and emotional health, healthy relationships, nutrition and fitness, drugs, and community/environmental health. We’re going to skip the parts on managing weight, and because this textbook only cover abstinence, I will be using the Our Whole Lives program in 10th grade (though we regularly have open conversations about any and all health, wellness, and body topics).
