What curriculum do you use in high school? What do you and your child like? You moms have a wealth of knowledge and experience. It would be very helpful to hear what curriculum works. I have felt like the Lone Ranger homeschooling through high school. (I homeschooled my daughter through high school and now my some is in 8th grade.) All of my friends stopped homeschooling in high school . It is very encouraging to hear (read) that there are parents teaching their children through high school.
Hi Sue May and welcome. My ds is also in 8th grade. I just posted on TMoms post about end of year, look at that post and you'll see all that I am using. It seems with my ds every year brings changes, different subjects, different programs. Best of luck to you.
I personally think it is vitally important to continue homeschooling through high school, but I understand how some people will have to make individual decisions. I have sometimes thought about how easy it was for my before homeschooling, but I realize that it is more important for my son to continue at home. That being said, I am still trying to figure it all out. I have realized that I can't force him to like textbooks, worksheets, math, etc. I have also realized that sometimes he is just going to surprise me-like at church yesterday, he took notes. I didn't tell him to, but he said it helps pass the time and helps him to pay attention. Of course, I used to make him take all sorts of notes in our school time and he hated it and would get very down when I even mentioned it. Well, sometimes they have to experiment on their own. I know I am not exactly answering your question, but I will get there. I have also tried so hard to make sure he gets good grades. I need to let go of that, I need to let him succeed or fail and learn consequences. OK, now on to what we use. Well, personally I LOVE Teaching Textbooks for math and we started with pre-algebra. He gets it and it goes at a pace that is great for people who don't like/get math. For History, I am going to go a more living books route and just try to teach the most important events/time periods. He already knows so much about U.S history that it will mostly be review anyway. We will probably use Joy Hakin's "History of US" series. I plan of combining history and writing together. I will have him read and write about what he has read in history. I can grade it for content (history) and grammar/spelling (English). We will do a little more for English also. I work out of the Spelling Power book, but we don't do things just like it says to. Plus, I do want him to now how sentences are structured, how to use verbs, pronouns, nouns and all correctly. But, I will not have him diagram sentences. I gave that up-even though I likes doing it in school. For science, we will be using Apologia (at least for 9th). I may stick with it. I like so many things about it. I don't think we are going to have a formal Bible class for now. We do morning devotions and prayer. I may find a way to do that later on. I would like him to do a foreign language and will be seriously considering Rosetta Stone. Hopefully, he will agree to do Spanish. I can speak fairly well and converse with Spanish speakers (but not fully fluent). Plus we have neighbors who speak Spanish as their first language who are good friends. As far as anything else, I have lots of ideas, but not enough time or money. But, who knows?
We used mostly a mix of things, SOS for English, science, and history at one point, Apoligia Biology , ExploringWorld History (Notgrass), hmm, what else? We switched to MUS (Math U See) when Life Paks Math did not do the trick for learning Algebra 1 ... hmm, we love that btw! The idea of having a teacher on a video helps a lot! The kids feel like they have a second teacher and its more fun. Plus the difference in perspective of teaching styles is good too. Purple Math helps a lot for assistance or tutorials as well. For ds we will use MUS Alg1-geo and then Alg2.. probably in that order. Then possibly Trig before he goes to College. or he may take it in senior year via Community College course depending on his maturity level. We will probably use SOS for English. I love the way that dd is doing in her english courses this year as a senior. I also like the looks of BJU English courses though so he may go with that cause he is defniately a work book lover. THe Explorying World History has literature in it and counts as english, bible and history.. so we will use that as well as another english course for ds. dd it was enough for but I want more hands on for ds not sure he will be as into the reading curric as dd was. For other History we will use US HIstory either SOS or BJU hmm.... what else? The rest is stuff like computer class, uh... economics, constititon studies... SPANISH, and anothe rlanguage between now and graduation So far thats my plans, hope it helps!
Hi Sue May, I am using Diana Warings History program, and love it to bits! Also Apologia science, this year going into biology. I have just ordered our microscope - very exciting. We also use & love Pure & simple computer science, The Easy French, Artistic Pursuits, and Trail Guide to World Geography For english this year we are starting Excellence in Writing, and Excellence in Literature. Both look really good, and I am excited, but haven't used it yet. Was just reflecting that I am very happy with our curriculum choices this year. Am sad for you that you feel alone. I started a highschool group for the local hs kids here. Very rewarding, both for me & the kids. I was surprised how many were out there actually, they just came out of the woodwork when there was stuff on just for them.
My oldest is a sophmore this year. She uses Teaching Textbooks for her math, Apologia for science, and this year we're doing Notgrass World History for History, World Lit, and Bible. I've tried various French programs, but haven't found one that really works. She is also using Wordly Wise, and is listening in to my younger kids' Mystery of History (renaissance and reformation).
oh yeah and I am using Colorado moms Jr High US history next year for 8th grade so maybe by the time I get to high school leve we can continue wiht her HIGHSCHOOl curric! HAh ( wishful thinking?)
BTW, T'mom's signature mentions her book, "Following on Hinds Feet". She wrote this for me last year when I was looking for a study based on "Hind's Feet on High Places" to do with Faythe. If you're looking for something to use with middle/high school girls for Bible, either individual or small group, THIS IS IT!!! Fayhte enjoyed it SO much!!! (Hey, T'mom, are you going to do a follow-up for "Mountains of Spice".....?)
I have thought of it Jackie ( sorry for the highjack) I have the book, got it sitting on the shelf behind me.. in my book format it gives a bit of history of Hanna Hurnard that you did not get Jackie and if y ou get the little version of the book you get a scripture listing in the back as well~! Dh is agreat editor he helped me gathering Historical facts on this lady!
Hi, Sue May! We've used a variety of things, too. Saxon math I'm not really in love with, but it has worked before. I've used Abeka Biology, Apologia General Science, Abeka Physical science, not thoroughly entranced. I've used Abeka 11th grade American history. Not thoroughly entranced there either. I'll be looking for some new stuff too, as I have an 8th grader this year, to enter high school next year. She'll be behind in math, considerably, since she's just in the second half of CLE's 600 math this year. In the fourth grade we had to start her in the CLE's 200s, and so it goes. She's made great strides, but will always be behind. For high school, I'd like to get in one year of an algebra if she can do it, but she might not. We're leaning toward Practical Math (from CLE), Consumer Math, maybe bookkeeping, maybe Business Math, after finishing all the way through their 8th grade prealgebra. For science, I'm giving her a choice among several, and presently she's leaning toward CLE lightunits (or AO lifepacs -- same thing, more color, more expensive). For Bible, she's going to finish up the R&S 7th and 8th grade Bible. We may let that be it, because she's done Bible every year since fourth, including the 5th R&S Bible last year and the 6th this year, then with the 7th and 8th that will have covered the whole Bible. (BTW - there's nothing "baby" about using the 5th -- 8th for high school, covers the whole Bible, but focuses more on a who/what/when/where/why of the happenings, rather than a "what does this mean for my life" approach that you may prefer), maybe something like Pilgrim's Progress for a combo Bible/literature. For Literature/English, I'm planning on doing CLE's 8th grade LA next year, with the 9th/10th Literature, then some other Literature (maybe Abeka) with the 9th/10th English after that, then finish up the 11th and 12th with Abeka American and Brit Lit along with R&S 9th and 10th English. For history, I think we'll do ACE World History next year in 9th - it's on the shelf, and it's a shame to waste it. We'll definitely cover American, geography, and civics/government and free-enterprise/economics along the way, but I'm not settled on what/when just yet.
So glad someone is talking about this. My son14 and daughter12 both start high school next year and I am so nervous about it! We have homeschooled for 4 years now, but all this high school stuff is really getting to me. I just want to pick the perfect curriculum and I should know by now that there is no such thing.:roll: Anyway, I am going to follow this thread to see what everyone else is using so I can search some more. I have some ideas: 9th Grade- Saxon Algebra 1 Apologia (we are taking physical this year so what for next year?) Easy Grammar 9 Wordly Wise Progeny Press book studies? Writing? History? Spanish? (maybe co-op) Art? (maybe co-op) P.E.-co-op Just starting, so looking for lots of ideas!
Is that ok with Algebra 1? Also I think we have to have Physical for High School, not sure. Oh, and what other Science should they take besides Chemistry and Physics and what year? Thanks!
Sd is in 12th grade now. We have used Apologia for science and she loves that. She did not like the year we used Abeka for history or English. She really liked BJU for American History. This year we are using the Uncle Eric/Bluestocking Press material for Economics and Government. For English we have used Jensen's Vocabulary which is very good, Novel Units, Progeny Press guides, Easy Grammar Plus, Jensen's Format Writing and now we are doing Movies as Literature. For Math we use Saxon. Sd really likes the Saxon approach and has done well with it in the past. This year we are doing Calculus and she is doing ok but I think that is more her effort than the curriculum. We used Lifepac for Home Economics last year and that pretty good. We used BJU for Latin last year and I would not really recommend that. For science sd did Physical, Biology, Chemistry and now Physics. You should be albe to do Bio with Algebra 1, Bio is not a heavy math course. Hope that helps.
Apologia's website shows which math is req'd. You'll be fine with Algebra 1 and Bio at the same time. Colleges don't require Physical for high school unless your particular state requires it. Many students take Physical in 8th or 9th grade....I know personally I took it in 8th. Our plan is (using Apologia): General (currently using for 6/7) Physical 8th Bio 9th Chem 10th Physics 11th 12th grade she can either skip science or take Adv. Bio, Chem 2, Physics 2, or Marine Bio....Apologia has some of these. Science is NOT her favorite subject so getting thru the Bio-Physics will be a challenge....not because she can't do it but because she despises science. She does like Apologia better than most texts though.
Thanks for sharing what you all use. SOS seems to be a widely used. I have not considered it but will look into it. I should answer my own question. For our daughter who graduated two years ago used: science--Apologia all through her high school years (biology, physics, and chemistry). She loved it and did great. foreign language--Power Glide (German). She loved learning German. Wish there was a third-year German course. history/worldview/literature--Starting Points world history--BJU health--Total Health: Choices for a Winning Lifestyle (did through a co-op) Bible-AWANA. Did through our church geography--Diana Waring vocabulary--500 Key Words for the SAT. Daughter said this book helped her a lot for the SAT test. She also recommends 100 Math Tips for the SAT. math--was a frustration. Used different books that are not widely known. Sorry to say I did not really teach her how to write. Luckily this just came naturally. She also had a hodge podge of other books and subjects. Our son, who is currently in 8th grade, is much different than our daughter. I have to rethink what to do with him. The only think I know for sure is TT for math. I appreciate you all sharing. It helps to give me some new ideas and to know what has worked for you. Thank you.
We use apologia too, but have a slightly different plan: General 7th Physical 8th Bio 9th Chem 10th then for 11/12 they can each choose at least one science course per year, but more if they like, from adv. bio. marine bio (these could possibly be done in 10th with chem if they're keen), physics then adv physics, or adv chem. It's great to be able to tweak it for each kid, don't you think?
Hey where does Computer Science fall into the plans? I mean in ds's private school they had a computer basics course in 9th grade but most of our home school kids knowthat stuff by now. So when do you choose to teach more?
If you live in central Ohio, my dh teaches computer science to hs'ers, lol!!! He's cheap, and does an excellent job!
