Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

When the hubby and I decided that we would homeschool one thing that I really became nervous over was the curriculum I was going to use.  I had so many questions and I went around to my friends or other homeschooling mothers asking what they used.  I had gained a lot of great ideas and now it was up to me to figure out what was going to work for our family.   

I will be honest and say that it took me days, and probably a good month or two before I decided on a curriculum.  I did pray asking God to help show me what I was supposed to use.  I then studied my children and wrote down their strengths and weaknesses.  For example, my daughter is strong in language arts but with math she can struggle.  So I knew to look for a math curriculum that would be on her level and would not go to fast for her.  My son, on the other hand, needed a math curriculum that was not to slow and could move at a faster pace for him. 

When I was online searching for an item I would call the children over to me and have them look at the material.  The main website I used had example of the pages used in the book, and I would have the kids try to answer the questions and I could get a good idea if the material was too hard or too easy.
I loved the curriculum I used last year but this year I am changing things up.  I am still using a "smorgasbord" of a curriculum but changing our Social Study, Science, and Language Arts.  When I say "smorgasbord" I mean that I do not use just one type of curriculum such as Bob Jones or Abeka but I use some Bob Jones some Abeka, and some Alpha Omega.  Using this type of curriculum really works well us. 

I have received most of our curriculum but waiting on a few more items.  I should be receiving our Bible and Art Curriculum in the next couple of days; I am like a little kid waiting for a birthday present in the mail.

Next week, I will post what curriculum we will be using for the year.

Do you homeschool? Have you ordered your curriculum?  If so what are you using?