This is our second year homeschooling, and I’m excited about what we’re putting together for this school year.

My daughter was previously in public school, so our first year of homeschooling was a big adjustment for both of us. We had to figure out what worked, what didn’t, and what kind of homeschool we wanted for our family.

This year, we’re starting with a little more experience under our belt—and a completely new set of curriculum.

We’ve actually already started easing into our school routine over the summer. Right now, we’re doing math and spelling three days a week. Once fall comes, we’ll add the rest of our curriculum.

Our regular school days will be Monday through Wednesday, with a co-op on Thursdays. Fridays will usually be for extracurricular activities, field trips, or simply having some flexibility in our week. Of course, if something comes up on another day, we can always move things around.

That’s one of the things I love about homeschooling.

It can be flexible around your family’s needs.

At the same time, I still like having structure. My daughter does better when she knows what to expect, so I want our days to have a predictable rhythm even though our overall schedule has some flexibility.

So, here’s what we’re using for 4th grade this year.

Math — Math with Confidence

Math is probably the subject my daughter enjoys the least, so I knew I wanted to try something different this year.

I chose Math with Confidence because it came highly recommended, but what really caught my attention was the use of manipulatives and visual learning.

I love that math isn’t just presented as numbers on a page. The manipulatives give her something she can actually see and work with as she’s learning a new concept.

We’re trying a completely different math curriculum this year, so I’m interested to see how she responds to it. My hope is that a different approach will make math feel a little more approachable and help concepts click for her.

Spelling — Phonetic Zoo

We’ve already started using Phonetic Zoo, and this is one we’ve really been enjoying.

One of my favorite things about it is that my daughter can do it independently.

The words are grouped by spelling rules, and the lessons are audio-based. She listens to each word and spells it.

Each set has 15 words.

After she finishes the test, she goes back through her work and makes her own corrections. She has to get 100% two times in a row before moving on to the next set of words.

I really like that process because she’s not just being given a grade and moving on. She’s listening, spelling, checking her work, and correcting her mistakes herself.

Science — Science in the Beginning

For science this year, we’re using Science in the Beginning by Berean Builders.

One of the biggest reasons I chose this curriculum is because it is hands-on.

The lessons include visuals and experiments that go along with what we’re learning, which is exactly what I was looking for.

I want science to be something my daughter can experience—not just something she reads about in a textbook.

I’m excited to get into the full curriculum once we start our fall schedule and see which experiments and lessons become her favorites.

Language Arts — Rabbit Trails Through Literature

For language arts, we’re using Rabbit Trails Through Literature.

I was specifically looking for something that leaned more toward a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach, and this curriculum stood out to me.

One thing I really like is that each language arts lesson has a book that goes along with the concept or subject we’re learning.

There is also a list of additional books called “Rabbit Trails” that we can explore based on my daughter’s interests.

I love that part because it gives us room to follow her curiosity. If she becomes interested in a particular topic, we can follow that interest through additional books rather than simply moving on because the lesson is over.

History — Our Star-Spangled Story

For history, we’re using Our Star-Spangled Story by Notgrass.

This was another curriculum that stood out to me because it goes beyond simply reading about historical events.

Some of the time periods include stories and songs that go along with what we’re learning.

It also comes with a timeline, which I especially love because it gives my daughter a visual way to see where the people and events we’re studying fit into history.

There are also hands-on projects that help reinforce what we’ve learned.

I’m really looking forward to seeing how she responds to this curriculum because I love the combination of stories, songs, visuals, and projects.

Why I Chose New Curriculum This Year

One of the biggest differences between last year and this year is that we’re using completely different curriculum.

And I think that’s one of the beautiful things about homeschooling.

If something isn’t working, you don’t have to keep doing it just because that’s what you started with.

You can change it.

You can try something new.

You can slow down.

You can find a different approach.

You can choose something that better fits the child sitting in front of you.

As I looked at curriculum for this year, I found myself drawn to programs that use more than one learning style.

A story.

A song.

A book.

A visual.

A hands-on activity.

An experiment.

A conversation.

I think using different ways of learning can help things stick instead of simply being something we learn long enough to pass a test and then forget.

That’s what I’m hoping for this year.

I’m also learning that homeschooling doesn’t have to mean having a rigid schedule.

We can have our Monday-Wednesday school days, our Thursday co-op, and Fridays for field trips or extracurricular activities while still having the flexibility to move things around when needed.

For me, that’s the sweet spot.

Structure without rigidity.

We can have a plan while still leaving room for real life.

This is only our second year, so we’re still figuring things out. I’m sure there will be things we love, things we change, and probably a few things that don’t work quite the way I expected.

But that’s part of homeschooling.

We’re learning together.

And I’m excited to see where this year takes us.