Talk to other home-schoolers. While what works for another family may not work for your family, learning the pros and cons of the various types of curricula can help you narrow down your options.
Make a list of the curricula that come up the most in conversation with other home schooling parents. Go through the list to see which appeals to your home-school philosophy. For example, if you would like a secular home-school curriculum, cross out those that are faith-based.
Look over each curriculum, if possible. Ask the parents who recommended them if you can look through theirs, or call the publishers and ask for sample chapters. Some publishers may have sample lessons on their websites.
Read carefully through each curriculum sample and determine whether it will fit with your teaching style and your child's learning style. Make special note of how much lesson planning you will need to do and how much independence your child will be able to have with each curriculum.
Have your child take a placement test before ordering, if possible. Some curricula are more advanced than others, and your child may need to be a grade ahead or behind where she was previously.