I'm fairly new to homeschooling (2nd year) and my oldest is starting "high school" this year. I have been trying to figure out what material I want to use for this year and feeling especially pressured because I want to make sure she earns all of her credits for college, if she decides to go. So far I am looking at: ~Exploring World History - I read this is considered 3 credits because it hits on Bible and English, also. ~Teaching Textbooks Algebra 1 for math ~Apologia's Physical Science ~PE softball and running ~MAYBE guitar lessons - she has an acoustic guitar and knows a little but is interested in getting better. That's 5 and a half... maybe 6 credits right there. I decided to wait on a foreign language until next year. What do you think? Anyone else teaching high school this year and if so what does your curriculum look like? I know every childs learning style is different but I am still curious.:wink: What about those of you who have already been there, done that? Any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks! :love:
Have you thought about: Grammar/Composition Vocabulary/Spelling Geography Literature ? I taught my boys from K-12, we used Abeka and Abeka Academy.
I like your choices. I have one in 9th grade this year. She is doing: Science: Apologia Physical Science History and Geo: Sonlight World History LA: Consisting of 100 Writing Lessons, 25 English books on a book list of which she will read and report on, Reader's Theater, 1 ten page research paper, Italic writing program to improve her handwriting skills. (This is the Honors English 101; I named it ) Foreign Language: Class taken at the local library. PE: 4 days weekly, 30 minute exercising Math: Alpha Omega Lifepac 9 Music: Guitar lessons (Ordered a book from Bob Jones and dh is her teacher. He is learning how to play the recorder and they are working together) and Church Choir Spelling: Spelling Power Program Try to work for 21-24 credits upon graduating. PE is usally 1/4 credit for each year. There are half year classes such as a speech class, some classes on government...
Mamabear, thanks for the reminder on those subjects. Spelling is something I think I will do myself simply by looking through my dictionary? Anyone else do this? And then give a spelling test at the end of the week. I have a hands-on Geography book I did with with her last year and so I think I will continue with that, for now, since we didn't even come close to finishing it. It's something I can do with both her and my 12 year-old so it works out perfect for us when it comes to my older two. ( I also have an eight and six year-old) Thanks for your list, Smiling Dawn! I was told PE was 1/2 a credit? Hehe, and I like how you named your honor class! Will look up your choices.
Actually the English does count as Literature, there is a lot of reading there too! We used the same history but similar other curric for the rest of your stuff.. personally I think it is a good load of work, if anything were added I would do an artsy type of thing in place of the foreign language as this is an accepted substitute with hte UC. Artsy as in study of Theater or History of Art, or some ARt course stuff, drawing or painting, jewelery making, something of that sort? Pottery even would be good to round out the schedule. My dd is going into 12th this year and going to a private school she is taking English 12 SOS, Spanish 2 SOS, Christian Counseling, Economics, Drama and Music, PE... and Alg2.
oh wow okay you gals I re read yoru posts, PE is one year one credit you need two to graduate in most states, My dd is working on .5 credits in PE so she may take a college course on the side,
Hi all, I'm new to this group, but not new to homeschooling. I have a 9th grader this year as well as a 5th grader. We do some items full year of school, with some items spaced in part year. We are doing the following for my 14 year old son: Writing and Grammar (BJU)..seems pretty basic and English is his weak subject World Geography - ABeka Science of the Physical Creation: ABeka Algebra 1/2 - Saxon (after using other curriculum, I will stay with Saxon) Beginnings of American Literature - ABeka Along the Ohio Trail (Ohio requires you to teach Ohio history in addition to U.S.) Electives or Part-Year Supplements: Spanish: The Ultimate Foreign Language Adventure No Fear Shakespeare: Julius Caesar The Odyssey for Boys and Girls: Alfred J Church Typing (he wanted to learn it and I type 90 wpm) American Providential History (Supplement to incorporate Bible into History) With Liberty and Justice for All: The Story of the Bill of Rights (obviously, will be covered when we study the founding of our country) Writing to God's Glory - Jill Bond We the People: Inventing America (study of the Constitution) classicsforkids - study of the musical composers I always require my kids to do some reading. This year it will be: Great Biographies - Stories of Famous Influential People - I try to stress to my children that people can come from wealth or adversity...it's not what you are born into that makes you successful, but what you do with your circumstances. Annie
Thanks for your input, TM! True about Lit. Thankfully, I own some of the books that particualr History curric calls for, so I will rely on the library for the rest and hope it has them! My daughter is great at drawing so I have been looking for some Curric for her in the Reading Rainbow catalogue. She is already talented in that area so any suggestions for someone who needs to advance in that area would be appreciated!
I would look online and see if you can find any free resources on things such as drawing, calligraphy, etc. Why pay for something if you can get it for free. Annie
Welcome, Annie! I did Saxon last year and it worked well but I am going to give TT's a try this time around. Math is my weakest subject and being this is only my second full year hs'ing, I'm giving something less having to do with me :lol: a try... I have always been big on biographies so that will not change this year. A trip to the library means at least one biographical book on someone who was important to our history.
Yes! my ds has started a program we got from Amazon.com called Hardings Lessons on Drawing- it begins with he basics of how to hold the pencil and drawing lines as such, then goes on to shading, and other detailed drawing lessons. It is easy enough to do following the reading and following directions. Ihad planned on teaching it to my artistic son but he picked itup and ran wiht it. This year he will work more on it as well as on a cheapy book I picked up that is step by step specific things to draw called "Awesome things to Draw" from Costco of all places! I would check on Amazon and see what is on the level she would be at, I knwo with my ds he is younger but his ability was higher than his sister the 12th grader in this area.
LOL! That's what I am afraid of with my daughter. She is God-gifted in that area so it is a matter of getting her to put it to "real" use.
has she gotten into Computer graphics yet? this is a great way to use the artistic talents in the modern world.. also photography , which is another area my ds has been dabling in. My oldest ds who graduated last year is planning to major in graphic Commuication type things. The boys are creative in this way and my dd is in sewing and knitting and jewerly making , creating T-shirt designs is another fun one! you can get the iron on printable paper at Wal mart even and create away!
Just the basics, but she definitely has the knack! She has the biggest creative bone in her body so she is always doing artistic things with t-shirts, etc. That's why I am looking for curric that is in the advanced stages...
I like the idea of typing. Over time, I've learned to type at the computer keyboard with 2-3 fingers of each hand. I'm not too slow, but I would be a lot faster if I'd had formal lessons in typing. Since computers and computer keyboards are here to stay, you could even argue that the ability to type is becoming more important than the ability to write in long-hand. In retrospect, I wish I'd thought of this while homeschooling ours. The boys, in particular, are very proficient typists, but self-taught. They'd be even faster if using the correct finger for each key.
When our daughter (now in her first year of college) was in 9th grade this is what we did English 9- Alpha Omega Lifepacs- Language Arts 9 Consumer Math- Steve Demme's Stewardship curriculum, Maxed Out Documentary, and real life math practice Physical Science with Lab- Apologia Physical Science Oklahoma History- Used various resources but my core curriculum was homeade. We visited many historical sites, took lots of field trips, etc. We notebooked and scrapbooked the entire experience. For geography, she mapped out our trips, learned all of the counties and where they were located. American Government- Painless American Government, Website- Ben's Guide to U. S. Government Speech & Drama- Theater Class, performed in several plays Creative Writing- Our library hosted a creative writing class one day a month for the school year. She wrote several pieces including a novel she wrote with a friend. All but the novel went into her portfolio Home Economics- Homeade curriculum, sewing taught by a homeschool grandma, cooking, budgeting, kniting, crocheting
My 3rd child started 9th grade today. This is what he is doing: English: Sonlight 200 readers+ Winston Grammar Adv + Vocab for Classical Roots B + Wordly Wise 6 + One Year Adventure Novel curriculum History: Sonlight 200 (Church History) Biology: Apologia Algebra 2: Life of Fred Meteorology: Meteorology Today Health: A put together course of my own Computer Graphics: put together from online materials / one text book Web Design: Library books (actually he finished this in the summer) Bible: First 1/4 of Starting Points by David Quine + most of Sonlight's Bible Spanish (taken at co op + Rosetta Stone at home) Entrepreneurship (Co op class with me!) 1/2 PE credit That should be 8 1/2 credits unless I forgot something. My kids like to try everything and end up with 32 credits. I take 1/2 credits for electives to fit in as many as possible Meryl
