10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Plan

Homeschooling a 10th grader? Want some curriculum inspiration? Come peek inside our homeschool to see what we’re using in high school next year.

Pssst…. this post was written in 2018. Now that we’ve homeschooled 10th grade three more times, here’s what we’re using for 10th grade homeschool in 2023.

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Here’s what you should know about our homeschool style

We are an eclectic homeschool family.  We use elements of classical education, unit studies and textbooks in our approach.  I like to pick and choose from the best curriculum to fit our budget, learning styles, worldview, and season of life.

By middle school and high school, my kids are very independent in their studies.  I am a manager and tutor, not a direct teacher.  By this point, they have learned how to digest information, organize it, outline it, and study it.  The more work my kids do for their own education and learning, the more they learn.  I get to step out of the way and watch it happen.  So we choose curriculum based on these big goals of raising independent learners.

10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum Plan

This is the first year we have homeschooled a tenth grader, so my oldest is the guinea pig and we always feel free to change things up for the next kid if we need to.  Consider this post a bit of inspiration about what you might use for your high schooler.  There might be better choices out there.  This is just one way of doing it.

Notgrass American History 

A friend recommended Notgrass history curriculum to us for high school. This will be our first year using it.  I love the integrated approach it takes with English, history, and Bible.  This course will take a significant part of my high schooler’s day, but he will receive 3 credits for completing it (1 each for history, English, and Bible).  He will be reading classic literature pertaining to American history and also writing across the curriculum.

What it cost

The Exploring America curriculum package (3 books) normally costs $110 new, but I found it on eBay for $78 in like-new condition.

The student review pack is $17.

The literature package normally costs $90 from the publisher, but instead we bought two books on eBay for $7.79, we have one book already, and the library has the other nine books that we will borrow when we need them.  That’s a savings of $82.21 just from using the library.

Our high school history sequence looks like this:

9^thgrade – BJUP Geography

10^thgrade – Notgrass American history

11^thgrade – Notgrass government and economics

12^thgrade – dual credit – college History of Civilization course

BJUP Geometry

We have used Bob Jones University Press’ math curriculum from Kindergarten through high school.  We love it and it works for us.

Last year we paid for access to the online teaching for Algebra 1.  But that package was $299.  With 3 students in higher level math this year, I didn’t want to pay $900 for three math packages, so we are going to supplement the textbook with free online math videos if needed.  Khan Academy is a great free resource for this purpose.

I bought the whole kit from BJUP for $107.78.  This includes the student textbook, teacher’s editions (for solutions to problems), test packet and answer key packet.

BJUP Physical Science

My 9^thand 10^thgraders will be taking this course together this year.  They will read the textbook, outline and take notes, watch videos from my physical science Youtube playlist, and complete Lab activities.  I am, admittedly, not great in the sciences, so I am counting on my boys to take initiative for learning the material through all the resources they have available.  The objective tests that came with the curriculum will help me assess that they are understanding the material.

I was able to purchase some of these resources second-hand, so the total cost for physical science was $124.54.

Our high school science sequence looks like this:

9^thgrade – Apologia Biology

10th grade – BJUP Physical Science (basically an intro to chemistry & physics)

11^thgrade – Apologia Chemistry

12^thgrade – Apologia physics

Electives

Foreign Language – Rosetta Stone

We have been happy with our purchase of Rosetta Stone last year.  All of my school-aged kids were able to use it at their level, and it grades each day’s assignment with a percentage score. It works on listening, speaking, grammar and writing skills.

Additional extracurricular activities, such as physical education at the YMCA, music lessons, volunteer activities, church participation and a part-time job will round out his schedule.

Total cost for my 10th grader this year: (this does not include electives)

$102.79 – 3 credits (history, English, Bible)

$107.78 – 1 credit (geometry)

$124.54 – 1 credit (science)

TOTAL: $335.11

This was a big chunk of our homeschool budget this year because it is our first time homeschooling this grade level.  All of these resources are reusable for my other children.  You can read about how we are homeschooling five kids next year and only spent $510.98!

Here’s what you need to know about homeschooling high school:  It’s not as hard as you think.

If your children learn to take initiative with their own learning process, your role as the homeschool mom will change from one of hands-on instructor during the little years to coach, mentor and guide during the teen years.  It really does get better, mom who is overwhelmed with the toddler and little ones!  Your kids will grow up.  And knowing that they only have a few short years left in our house is bittersweet.  Enjoy being with them and having those conversations about the latest tech, or politics, or sports, or whatever their passions are!  It truly is a blessing to homeschool high school, even if they do require a bit of prodding and nudging from time to time.

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For more inspiration, check out my Homeschool High School Pinterest board.

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