Choosing your curriculum can be a daunting task that brings many homeschool moms to tears! I haven't actually been brought to tears over curriculum, but I have been frustrated. I would do my homework by researching on the internet, asking other people about the curriculum (which includes homeschooling message boards too), even to looking at the curriculum at a homeschool convention; and then when I use it with my child, it just didn't work. I wonder what I did wrong. Afterall, I was dilligent in choosing the curriculum. But for whatever reason, it just didin't work. Most of the time it was because I'm a different learner than my child and what looked great to me wasn't so great to them. There have also been times when I sat down to read the teachers part and just couldn't understand how to use this. I thought it was just me, but after talking with a friend found out they had the same experiences.
Oh, so frustrating! But take heart! You do NOT have to complete the curriculum if it's just not working! This is so important to understand. Yes, we must be good stewards of our money. I am the first one to admit that, since I'm considered extremely "frugal" and dislike wasting money to the fifth degree! I have re-sold the curriculum and received about 80% of the purchase price. Many homeschool companies have a return policy for curriculum not written in (you pay return shipping and possibly a re-stocking fee). (Find out the return policy before ordering.) Believe me, from a person who doesn't waste money, my sanity is worth more than saving money. A bad year homeschooling because of curriculum can be avoided.
Okay, you are wondering, that's all good, but how to I find out what to actually use. I'm just starting and the hundreds of choices are driving me crazy. Plus I want to know if I've choosen the best curriculum to educate my child. And the questions just keep coming!
If this is your first year, and you are not familiar with your child's learning style, you will need to experiement. I did. In fact I've changed curriculum several times over the years. You might even call me the curriculum queen. There was a time if it was new and looked good I would buy it. My love for books and new curriculum is like some womens love for shoes! If there is something I've spent too much money on (since I'm frugal) it's curriculum. 
Does your child love workbooks? Some kids just like that and they learn well. They like reading textbooks and answering questions on paper. Well, if that's your child, choose Abeka, Bob Jones or Alpha-Omega.
Some children will be board with that approach and getting them to complete their assignments will be like pulling teeth. They like to work with their hands and see what they are learning. A Unit Study approach will be best for them (more work for you, but so much fun). Types of unit studies are KONOS, Weaver, Five in a Row and Beautiful Feet (to name a few). There are also free unit studies online that you can use. A unit study incorporates most of the subjects in one theme (Bible, writing, vocabulary, spelling, reading, history, science).
The Charlotte Mason method is a gentle approach to teaching young children. Short 15 minute lessons, notebooking and nature studies along with reading whole books (that basically means reading a complete classic or good book instead of sections of readings).
In the computer engrossed world we live in, some children may enjoy doing their work on the computer. Alpha-Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse (SOS) is an option for that child. Students who are in middle school and high school might enjoy Florida Virtual School.
I myself am considered an eclectic homeschooler which is one who uses a mix of everything (basically I can't make up my mind so I use a little of everything 
). No, I just have chosen certain things from every group and make it fit my family. So here's my list:
- KONOS - unit study - I have used this for 10 years. Sometimes we use it full force and others we do a lite approach.
- Math-U-See - hands on visual math approach that uses manipulatives, workbooks and short DVD instruction before each lesson
- Apologia Science - great Christian based science textbook written in a style that feels like the writer is speaking directly to do. Includes experiments, labs, questions and tests. Written for middle school and high school. They have recently come out with an elementary science program called Exploring Creation with (Botany, Flying Creatures 1 & 2 and Solar System. This uses the Charlotte Mason approach along with simple experiments. I've used this and like it.
- Learning Language Arts through Literature (LLATL) - Complete language arts program using narration, book studies, spelling, grammar, and other types of writing elements depending on level of the book. It has simple lessons and I use it when my younger ones begin grammar (4th or 5th grade).
- Sing, Spell, Read & Write - I really like the readers that go with this program. There are 17 readers that I think are the best (IMO). I don't do all the singing and activities that go along with this basically because my time is limited. I use more of the games and activities in the beginning stages and then once they are reading fairly well, we just read the books. One of my sons just finished the books this week and is now reading The Magic Treehouse chapter books with ease.
- Easy Grammar - Once we have completed the 5th grade level of LLATL, this is what I use. It's a workbook with explanation and my child does one page a day. It worked well with my oldest daugther (now in college) and now I'm using it with my oldest son. So far he is getting a grasp on grammar. The final grammar program that I will use for high school is Jensen's Grammar.
- Draw, Write, Now - I am using this with my artist son. He loves writing the copy work and then drawing the picture. Now with my oldest son, this did not work. Drawing was a waste of time. So we used Handwriting without Tears with him. He learned both manuscript and cursive with that program. I highly recommend that for anyone struggling with writing. It is what the title says.
- Greenleaf Study Guides - this is a type of unit study. Their guides begin with Old Testament (this one did not impress me), but I did like all the others beginning with Ancient Egypt. They can be used with elementary through middle school. My 7th grade son is using them to get a good framework of the ancient studies before doing it again in high school.
So that's my list and that's what it looks like to be eclectic.
So the bottom line is that choosing a curriculum is a process. There's not a magic one-size-fits-all curriculum. And what works with one child might not work with the next. After my oldest finished with something, I sold many of the books, thinking it wouldn't work for the others. Well, I've ended up buying the 3 books back. It turns out my oldest son has a similiar learning style as my daughter. They are 6 years apart and I didn't know this until last year! So be flexible and not afraid to change something if it doesn't work.
Happy Homeschooling! 