Our homeschool curricula for 9th grade features an eclectic mix of teaching styles and learning strategies that range from traditional textbooks to online learning to hands-on immersive experiences.
This page may contain affiliate links from which we may earn a commission, at no additional cost to you, when you click and/or make a purchase from our partners. Sometimes, we also include links to external sites, from which we do not earn a commission. We have simply provided these links as a convenience to our readers. We make no claims and hold no responsibility for the content of the linked sites. See our Disclosure Policy for more information.
I can’t believe my youngest child is a freshman in high school already! It seems like just yesterday that we were starting this homeschooling journey. She was just a tiny first-grader with wiggly teeth, and now she’s a beautiful young lady with the voice of an angel!
If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I am a big proponent of individualized learning. So, even though my daughter has two older brothers who have been down this road before her, it was important for us to find homeschool curricula for 9th grade that are a good fit for her specific needs.
As a result, some of what we are using this year is completely new to both of us. Other things are familiar, but with updated editions or modifications to fit her needs. Nothing is exactly the same as it has been for previous 9th graders in our homeschool, because each one of them has had a unique educational journey.
Homeschool Planet
One thing that has been consistent in our homeschool for all students is Homeschool Planet, so I don’t want to pass up the opportunity to share it with you! This online scheduling tool gives you the ability to schedule lesson plans, move them around easily, give individual access to each member of the family, create report cards and transcripts, and so much more! Read more about Homeschool Planet here.
I will share briefly about our choices of homeschool curricula for 9th grade here, but I will be doing some more in-depth reviews of several programs as we progress through the year. Make sure to bookmark this page or subscribe to our newsletter, so you can come back and read those later in the school year!
English
Essentials in Writing/Essentials in Literature
I had a difficult time choosing a curriculum for English this year. I’m not sure why I had such a hard time with it. I was looking for something that would be a good fit for both my freshman and my senior, so they could engage in discussions about the literature and peer review each other’s papers.
When I found Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature, I was optimistic that they might work for us, due to the short video lectures where the instructor walks the student through the process step-by-step. The practical, no busy-work assignments were also enticing.
I chose Level 10 for several reasons. Essentials in Writing Level 10 thoroughly covers all of the different types of essays, as well as research writing. It also has a good review of grammar. My freshman, who writes great content but needs to hone her skills in sentence structure, should be adequately challenged in her critical thinking skills while still receiving the instruction needed in the areas that need improvement.
My senior, who struggles with dyslexia and dysgraphia, is a great writer once he gets started, but getting those thoughts organized and on paper takes quite a bit of time for him. Essentials in Writing Level 10 will allow him to practice these skills in a methodical way using graphic organizers and step-by-step instructions to ensure that he is a confident writer as he leaves high school. As far as the content, I can modify it to require higher-level thinking if I find that is needed for his age.
Essentials in Literature Level 10 is in the newer format. The student workbook is very colorful and interactive with clear and easy-to-understand instructions. The literature from different parts of the world will meld well into my freshman’s world geography course this year. The novel that comes with this set, To Kill A Mockingbird, is one that will be great for discussion between both kids.
See my post and videos about our first impressions of Essentials in Writing and Essentials in Literature here. Stay tuned for mid-year and end-of-year updates, as well as videos with the author to discuss our experiences!
Math
Algebra: A Complete Course by VideoText Interactive (Memoria Press)
My daughter has always struggled with math. We’ve tried many different programs and approaches, but it just hasn’t ever gotten easier for her. We started researching this summer to see if we could find something that might finally make the difference for her.
We were intrigued by VideoText Interactive because it’s a complete course that includes all levels of algebra and can be completed over 1-3 years, depending on a student’s needs. So, rather than splitting up Algebra 1 and 2 with Geometry in between, she’ll be able to go straight through both courses. We’re hoping this will help with retention.
Another aspect of VideoText Interactive that we like is that it includes small chunks of information in each video lesson. The student works on that concept until they have it mastered and then moves on to the next lesson where they build upon the knowledge gained.
Look for blog posts and videos to come throughout the school year!
Science
Physical Science (3rd Edition) by Apologia
We were already planning to use Apologia Physical Science, but when we found out they had a 3rd edition available, we were very excited! The updated format of the book is so user-friendly, and the student notebook provides clear instructions and a place to keep everything organized in one place.
This 3rd edition was revamped to include more complete coverage of physical science and is designed to be taken before high school Biology. My freshman should be able to complete most of the work on her own, which she prefers.
Apologia’s Health and Nutrition course looks fantastic, too! My freshman won’t be taking it until next year, because she already has a full schedule, but my senior will be taking it this year.
I’ll be doing separate posts about our experience with Apologia later in the school year.
Social Studies and Art
The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide, Geography Through Art, & Trail Guide to World Geography by GeoMatters
We used Trail Guides to Learning when my kids were younger, and we absolutely loved it! When I saw that they have a world geography course for high school, I was very excited to check it out! I like that we will be able to pick and choose the enrichment assignments based on interest and needs, but it also provides a solid foundation of geographical study through daily drills and weekly map work.
We will also be using Geography Through Art to integrate an art credit along with World Geography. My daughter will be meeting with a friend one day a week to collaborate on art projects that reflect the area of the world they are studying. They plan to cook meals from the different cultures as well…yum! We may need to add some additional art instruction for it to be considered a full credit, but this will give us a good foundation.
I’ll have some individual reviews on both The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and Geography Through Art.
Foreign Language
Rosetta Stone-French
My freshman has already taken three years of French in middle school, but this year will count as her second high school credit. We like Rosetta Stone, for the most part, but my daughter needs some more interactive speaking practice with a real person. We’ll be looking into some of the tutoring options, either through Rosetta Stone or elsewhere, to supplement her French skills this year.
And that’s our homeschool curricula for 9th grade!
My daughter also has some extra-curricular activities that she’s involved with to round out her schedule. We’re looking forward to a great year!
Let us know what homeschool curricula for 9th grade you and your students love in the comments!
Pin for later…
