Navigating the Homeschool Curriculum Maze

Our Homeschool Curriculum

Choosing a homeschool curriculum can be overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling farm chores, real life, and working from home. At Freedom Forest Farm, we’ve tried several programs over the years, and this page reflects our honest experience with what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what we’re using now. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or just looking for fresh ideas, we hope this helps you find a good fit for your own family.

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What We’re Using This Year

Grade	Curriculum	Notes
6th & 7th	Miacademy	Kid-friendly, engaging video-based lessons. Our kids are independently logging in and managing their work. We school Monday–Thursday to leave Fridays open for homesteading or free time.
11th	South Carolina Connections Academy	Free online public school starting this year. Enrollment was smooth, and we’ve heard great things from other homeschool families. Hoping it gives our daughter more independence and accountability.

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Why We Switched Curriculum

Each homeschool year gives us a fresh chance to adjust based on our kids’ needs and our family rhythm. In the past, we tried a variety of curriculums—some paid, some free—but they didn’t all meet our expectations.

• All-In-One Curriculum (Paid): It was comprehensive, but lacked video lessons and made math unnecessarily difficult—especially for our high schooler.
• The Good and the Beautiful: We liked the layout and it was free, but it didn’t offer the level of engagement we needed as our kids got older.
• Free/DIY Resources: While flexible, stitching together different free tools became too time-consuming to manage effectively as a working mom.

This year, we’re aiming for more structure, independence, and simplicity with tools that support both our children and our family lifestyle.

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Miacademy: A Fresh Start for Middle School

We recently started using Miacademy for our 6th and 7th graders. Though it’s still early in the school year, we’ve been impressed. Our kids are logging in without reminders and navigating their lessons independently. The platform is user-friendly and the video-based lessons make it easier for them to stay focused and on track.

We also appreciate the flexibility to structure our week how we want. We’ve set up a Monday–Thursday school schedule, which leaves Fridays free for homestead projects, catch-up work, or simply enjoying unstructured time.

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Connections Academy: Our High Schooler’s Next Step

Our 11th grader is starting South Carolina Connections Academy this year. We chose it because it allows her to work independently while receiving instruction and feedback from certified teachers. It also reduces the grading burden on me, which helps as I balance homeschooling with my work as a land specialist and realtor.

Although she hasn’t started yet, the online enrollment was simple and straightforward. Many other local homeschooling families have had positive experiences with the program, so we’re optimistic and will post updates once we’ve had time to evaluate how it’s working for her.

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Our Weekly Rhythm

We’ve found that a consistent rhythm helps all of us thrive. Here’s how we structure our week:

• Monday–Thursday: Academic lessons with Miacademy or Connections Academy.
• Friday: Reserved for make-up work, farm chores, outdoor learning, or rest.

This schedule keeps us on track while leaving space for seasonal shifts, family needs, and the natural flow of life on the homestead.

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Past Curriculum We’ve Used

Program	Our Experience
All-In-One Curriculum (Paid)	Comprehensive but lacked instructional support and had overly difficult high school math.
The Good and the Beautiful	Great for younger years; not as engaging for older students needing more independence.
Free/DIY Curriculum Mix	Flexible and cost-effective, but required a lot of prep and oversight, which became unsustainable with work and homestead duties.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you plan to stick with these long-term?
We’re still early in the school year, but Miacademy is already showing great promise. We’re optimistic about Connections Academy and will share updates as we go.

Is Connections Academy considered homeschooling?
Technically, it’s an online public school, not traditional homeschooling. But it still allows us the flexibility to do school at home, and that hybrid model works well for our family this year.

How do you homeschool while working?
It’s a challenge, but having support like video lessons, independent online platforms, and teacher-graded work helps a lot. I’ve also learned to prioritize flexibility and routines that work with our homestead lifestyle.

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Homeschooling is, at its core, a journey of trial and error. You can read a thousand blogs or talk to a thousand different families, and you’ll hear a thousand different approaches—and that’s the beauty of it. There’s no one “right” way to homeschool. What works for one child or season may not work for another, and that’s okay. It all comes down to your family’s preferences, your children’s learning styles, your lifestyle, and your willingness to adapt. Don’t be afraid to test the waters, change course, or let go of what isn’t working. That freedom is exactly what makes homeschooling so powerful.

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