9th Grade | Homeschool Curriculum

 


In this post, I am not going to chat about our Hybrid Homeschool Academy that we opened this year in our home or our Chesterton Academy [hoping for autumn 2027]. What I want to share is how we implement a similar education at home. I created a curricular plan that puts our current students on pace to attend the Chesterton Academy when ours opens, which teaches a rigorous classical education.  

In our homeschool, we have some Charlotte Mason inspired bits that you'll see with extra literature selections and with our science program. That will be explained in those sections. Hopefully this will be a useful guide for you if you're wanting to do the same at home but are intimidated or not sure how to implement it in a doable way. Each area of study will have a little blurb, a tip if warranted and then show some photos and have links on where to purchase. 

I have amazon affiliate links [when I remember to use them] but I do not do ANY affiliates with any curriculum companies. All opinions are my own. I will share positive and negative so that you can make the best choice for YOU. 

This looks like a lot when it's all itemized out, but much of the solo work is quickly done, I'm using video teachers for math and science, and it's not like we are reading all of these books at the same time. For perspective, the first month of school we are using five of the books pictured above and not every single day as some are only needed once or twice per week. 

Humanities

History | Literature | Philosophy | Theology

The core of our study, without a doubt, is definitely humanities. This study encompasses the "subjects" of history, literature, philosophy and theology. Probably my most favorite to teach and utilize socratic discussion with my students. For my autistic self, this is my zone. 

Tip : When it comes to ancient literature and philosophy, find a translation that works well for your ability to teach it and/or use audible to assist. Also, Memoria Press has video courses for The Iliad, The Odyssey and The Aeneid. Videos are huge assists to homeschooling. 

History 

  • Spine : Christ the King, Lord of History by Anne W. Carroll [here] This will be used for the spine of our history study for grades nine through twelve. Only chapters 1-9 will be used this year. We also are reading The Story of Greece and The Story of Rome by Mary Macgregor. I have these preloaded onto kindles for the students, the chapters are very short and they'll read approx. two chapters per day of Greece in the first semester and then Rome in the second semester. 
  • Introduction to Classical Studies by Memoria Press. This is a middle school course designed to help the student get "caught up" on Greek Myths, Roman History and Biblical Literacy. We are using it because we had it already. In lieu of this course, for this age, I would recommend reading Mythology : Timeless Tales of God's and Heroes by Edith Hamilton in the preceding summer to 9th grade or the D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths which Memoria Press has an excellent video course to go with it. I own it and it's awesome. 
  • U.S. Geography : We are using Our United States of America by Catholic Heritage Curricula. I just wanted to use something that added a little fun Catholic history to each state. This is typically a fourth grade history/geography curriculum but it can be done quickly and simply by our 9th grade students two days per week. 


Literature

  • This is the order we are reading these books this year. We are using audible to listen for approximately 30 minutes per day for the Iliad, Odyssey and The Aeneid. I have my own copies and will read along with the students and facilitate discussions as this is a course I am teaching. 



Philosophy

  • Socrates' Children Vol. I : An Introduction to Philosophy from the 100 Greatest Philosophers - Ancient Philosophers by Peter Kreeft. This is a four volume series and we will cover two philosophers per week with breaks by Plato, Aristotle and Marcus Aurelius for expanded study explained next.
  • Plato : Complete Works edited by John M. Cooper. This is for 9th-12th grades. We will be reading four of his works this school year. 
  • Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics; translation of Bartlett and Collins. We are reading the first 4 “books” in this collection, the rest is for 10th grade. 
  • Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, the annotated edition 

Theology

  • Focus on Confirmation for Young Catholics by Seton Press Books. They'll do these short catechism studies one day per week and probably finish before Christmas.  
  • Symbolon series parts one and two on formed.org. This is a beautifully done video series used in adult RCIA/OCIA classes. They do have a teen version but I prefer them to watch this more full version. We will watch and discuss one video per week for 20 weeks. 
  • The Virtue Tree is by Catholic Heritage Curricula and is an amazing resource! It's beautifully illustrated, has incredible discussion points for living out your faith. This will last all year and very excited to dive into this with our students. 

Languages

Latin | Greek

We already had these materials on hand to use from last year because we didn't use it. Latin is done five days per week [fifth day is flashcard review day]. We are using the materials for Henle I to cover this year and next year for Latin. Greek I is going to be slow and easy going the first year and ramp up the next three. Greek has videos that I sourced to help for pronunciation help, and a very simple workbook done once per week and then use our flashcards weekly as well. 
  • Henle Latin Year First : Part I by Memoria Press 
  • Greek Alphabet by Memoria Press 


Quadrivium

Arithmetic | Geometry | Astronomy | Music

In our state, the homeschool laws for high school do not have specific courses that you have to take to graduate, however they do have recommendations. One of the recommended subjects for science is Earth Science, so I figured we could use that to help get the Astronomy we want to cover in our classical education. Geometry is our deep dive for 10th grade, but we will be dipping our toe into Euclid by the end of the school year so those two Euclidean books will be used more next year. 

Arithmetic & Geometry

  • Algebra I by Denison Math
  • Daily Math Drills by Humble Math. We are using simple addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in rotation this year. This is to sharpen skills as we do simple arithmetic through 12th grade. In the next years we will use percentages, money, and more. They do one sheet per day, takes just a few minutes and the payoff is huge. 
  • The Story of Euclid by W.B. Frankland; Living Books Press edition
  • Euclid's Elements Book One with Questions for Discussion by Dana Densmore; Thomas Heath

Astronomy & Sciences

  • Earth Science Explored by Journey Homeschool Academy. This is a middle school course so we added in our own readers [in lieu of the recommended textbook options] and they can read them at any time. I have sticky notes on the inside first page to give them pacing guides after I went through them myself. Below is a list of the books we are using for this, not all are pictured. 
  • Concepts in Modern Science by Christ the King Books is a book we are just using the first lesson out of on the first week, and then will use later in high school. The first lesson was too good to wait. 
  • TIP : THE EDITION MATTERS. 
    • The Stars : A New Way to See Them by H.A. Rey
    • The Lay of the Land by Dallas Sharp; Living Book Press edition
    • Junior Science Book of Rain, Hail, Sleet, and Snow by Nancy Larrick; Living Book Press edition. A book made for younger children...and yet I learned something new in chapter one...
    • This Earth of Ours by Jean-Henri Fabre; Living Book Press edition
    • The Fairy-Land of Science by Arabella Buckley; Living Book Press edition
    • The Sciences by Edward Holden; Living Book Press edition. We are using in 9th-12th.
    • The Story Book of Science by Jean-Henri Fabre; Living Book Press edition
    • Physical Geography by Archibald Geikie; Yesterday's Classics edition
    • A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold . I really enjoy this book. Just a cozy nature joy to read through the seasons. 
    • A Different Shade of Green : A Biblical Approach to Environmentalism and the Dominion Mandate by Dr. Gordon Wilson. I had this book on my Kindle Unlimited subscription, but it was so good I bought it in print and am having the students read it. He also writes a Biology book I LOVE and there's a steaming series by the same name called The Riot and the Dance. Next year is biology, very excited about that. 


Music & Arts

First semester we have art - Drawing I and for second semester we have a Music Appreciation course. I am going to just add our Physical Education & Health class here, because it's at the end of the day and I don't want to give it its own category. Fitness and Health class lasts all year. 
  • Drawing God's Magnificent Garden by Sherry Foster at Our Lady of Victory a lovely beginner art course for all ages. Our students draw well but haven't been through a fundamental art course. 
  • Drawing Textbook by Bruce McIntosh bought from Rainbow Resource. This is a fun daily short exercise to help them just have something to draw and keep the skills fresh after they complete the aforementioned course. 
  • Understanding and Appreciating Beautiful Music by Christ the King Books 
  • PE & Health Class : We are using the F.O.R.M series hosted by Compass Classroom  online. We just pay the monthly fee to get access to *all* their courses because I'm a nerd and watch history videos. I tell myself it's to help you all know what's available and give you better advice. 

Language Arts

Grammar | Writing | Spelling | Handwriting 

Mechanics and usage is the focus here. The materials are heavy looking by number this year, however, majority of this is independent folder work that they complete rather quickly in short daily bursts. We also need to make sure that we have a baseline with our academy students. I have no issue dropping anything we don't need if it seems we are all good. 
  • Grammar 9 by Christ the King Books is one that I am just reading one lesson per week. We each have a copy and I just read and chat with the students on the topics covered. There is lovely, edifying content in here that I don't want to skip. 
  • Easy Grammar Plus with Daily Grams 7 by Easy Grammar. Easy Grammar Plus is the level you start at for 7th-12th no matter the grade level for your middle or high schooler, then just jump into the grade year the following year. It's explained on their site. It goes over everything in the previous grammar levels and builds. For Daily Grams we use the Teachers Edition because it's exactly the same as the student edition but the answers are in the back, and we write in the books. This program is non-negotiable in our homeschool, for all grades 1-12. It's short, it is the most effective and it keeps it fresh. 
  • Essays I : Introductory Guide to High School Essay Writing by 7 Sisters Homeschool  is a 10 week course with NO-FLUFF. It gets in, gets the job done in 4 days per week and they're able to write essays the rest of the year on the topics we are studying. I also bought a few of their movie guides to do with the students for movie day discussions. 
  • Handwriting & Spelling is from Catholic Heritage Curricula. I need to make sure our students are writing cursive well and spelling well. Catholic Speller F and Handwriting Level 4 are the ones we are using, if I feel like we don't need it partway through, we will stop but it's short and only 4 days a week and part of their language arts folder. 


Literature Selections for D.E.A.R.

Who remembers the Drop Everything And Read program? These are not part of a plan or program, they are found from rummaging through our [I'm not kidding] 2,000+ books in our home library [I really need to cull that thing...]. The points for selection were just related to anything we were touching on in history [ancient Egypt book]. I chose any Susan Peek books that fit in the ancient times, there are two : The King's Prey and Saint Cloud of Gaul [one of mine and my daughters' favorite books EVER]. Then I chose any books by Louis de Wohl that fits our ancient history focus, anything that can cultivate virtue and character in our students and then I also added in Theology of His/Her Body. That is a two in one book where they read about themselves and the other sex in the proper Catholic teaching. We study biology next year so this book will be around another school year...and probably all the way through 12th grade. It's not going anywhere. 


Weekly Schedule 

This is our first semester schedule, I hope this is legible to see, if you'd like me to make it downloadable free PDF, I don't mind doing that. I removed our students names. It's just guidance for planning and we have a morning block and an afternoon block. They get an hour lunch and do art when they are done eating. 










Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts