I'm trying to prepare for DD's venture into high school this coming year. I'm unsure about what curriculum is deemed great for this age (14, 15 in Nov). I'm needing the following: World Lit World History Algebra 1 Biology French the next year its: Amer Lit Amer History Geometry Chemistry French 2 Any suggestions of books? And WHY do you like the one you're recommending?
Are you looking for Christian curriculum? If so, then Apologia is the very best in science. Rachael's doing General Science this year, and will be doing Biology next. Carl attended a workshop on college-bound homeschoolers, and they really pushed Apologia. He came back and told me that this was the "best" for her. I rolled my eyes, and told him "Yes, Dear! That's why I bought it three months ago!" LOL! We use Mystery of History for our world history; I will probably do "Streams of Civilization" at some point. I LOVE MOH (again, it's Christian based!). "Streams of Civilization" is what my DSS used at his Christian school for high school World History, and I really liked it. As far as math goes...SIGH!!!! That's my one undecided area. If you do a search, you will find a rather in-depth discussion about higher level math. We're leaning toward "Teaching Textbooks". What do you use for French? I've not found anything I like for that. We used "Power Glide", and I HATED it!
Hi artsygirl, WELCOME! My DS15 picked LifePacs to do this year. He likes them okay, better than what he did last year for 10th grade. He did Bob Jones. I must say I really liked their curriculum, but it was on dvd, so he watched a whole class on the dvd then had LOTS of work to do aside from that. It was too overwhelming for him, though a good discipline to get things done! I second the vote for Apologia science, it's a strong curriculum. My ds13 is doing the physical science this year and will do the Biology next year. My dd10 is doing the Astronomy book and is really enjoying it! There is a wide variety of math available: Math-U-See, Saxon, Teaching Textboooks, VideoText, then the maths that come with the different Curriculums, such as LifePacs and A Beka. I'd Google the different ones and look through them all. A lot depends on the learning style of your dd. Saxon says that geometry is integrated in with their Algebra 1/2 through Algebra 2 books, so it doesn't have to be a whole separate course. They also have DIVE cd's that the child can use, which has a teacher explaining thing in a very clear manner, which is helpful! My ds15 is using the VideoText and really likes it! He did the Bob Jones Geometry course last year, which he thought was pretty good. For Language: Some people swear by Pwer-Glide (which my kids didn't like either, but a lot of people DO like it!), and some love Rosetta Stone. Other than that, I'm not sure. My ds15 is doing German with Rosetta Stone, and other books we found at our Barnes & Noble bookstore. When he was in 9th grade, he did Ancient History with his sister and brother. We just bumped up everything he did to be more involved and more research and writing. He really enjoyed the Ancients... Then Last year was Bob Jones, and this year is LifePacs. That's about it for what I know. Hope you find what will work well with your dd!
Thanks for the response ladies. Yes, Christian material is preferred. We did Physical Science this year. It's been hard because it just doesn't stick in her brain but I don't think its the text's fault. She just needs some remembering tricks or something. We've used Saxon Math in the past but she hates it and I don't prefer it either. I"ll have to look at the others you mentioned. The Streams of HIstory I hadn't heard of. Nor the MOH. I'll look into those, thanks. I need a World Lit too. I know nothing about it. For French, we have the Rosetta Stone available free to us through the local library system and we use it, but I don't think she is getting the basics of it all. It's more memory/visual thing. I want to find a program or textbook to use along side of it. We have a French workbook (can't remember the name) but I think I need a textbook to help her. I know nothing of French. I took 5 years of Spanish in school.:lol:
We have Rosetta Stone free through the library, too. I really like it, but I agree that it's more memory than actual learning. What my husband would call "trained monkey" stuff. (You train a monkey right and he can do anything, as long as you don't ask him to change it or think in any way!) That's "Streams of CIVILIZATION", not "Streams of History"! Don't want you looking on-line for something that doesn't exist!
for world lit I would go with Abeka if I could choose whatever I wanted.. cost is my main problem with it. My ds 15 used it last year and first semester this year and they have great Language Arts things. I am hanging in the balance right now, as its my Im tired of homeschooling day lol. my dd will be going into 10th grade next year and I am still unsure what we will do with her. MY lazy side says send her out if we can afford it. ( ps is not an option with us either) Second thoughts are to go with something totally new and exciting so I am interested in this thread big time! When we checked out Rosetta stone it looked confusing.. I was so excited at getting the free trial sample thing and we looked it over and dd said "Mom, it doesn't seem like a real class type of thing?" I am looking for a workbook for French, I have had some so I want to teach a class I have learned a bit about. So even though we looked at all those other things, Hubby kept saying he had that in the den and we never found it.. we looked at teach yourself greek and hebrew but it was too much work for her, and not what she wanted. ITs an adult book, I dont blame her!
okay, I was looking to see what the Civilazaion thing was, it has a whole bunch of Adobe stuff? Is this a thing for unit studies? It looked pretty good, with lots of literature based studies? Was I looking at it right? Were do you get the books and stuff like that would be my question? If dd stays home next year I really want more interaction, she has mostly been independant study now for three years? I feel like I have short changed her with needing more attentive teaching to her brothers. Just because she is quick at learning and a little bright doesnt mean she should not get my attention in teaching.... anyway I am looking around for something that will be fun, interactive learning ... with reading as part of it because she loves to read, but what is there that I can do this with in easy enough form for my brain haha, I need easy to see what the work will be each day., That is why I Personally liked SOS, but with ds4th grade thsi year it has been tough for him to type so much. so we have worked together on his work a lot! She has been in and out of her 9th grade life paks this year, (dd is 13btw) She finished her 8th grade Math SOS and is still doing her science sos 9th grade. So far I still need Language for her and Art has been low but we did Drama last fall. So that is an Art form. She usually is in kids choir but now does other stuff... so I am looking at the list up there and thinking, yikes! I was planning on this being her plan for next year if she stays home; Constitution, Us HIstory( which we started a literature based plan of this year we are slowly moving through the American Diaries and she has her dates and facts down well so far! I am impressed!) English ( consisting of literature, spelling, grammar) Math ( consisting of Algerbra1 completion of whatever she is not done with from this year into Geometry1) Science_ Biology ( hopfully wiht the packet my ds15 sed from the local college this year and Bob Jones Biology book) French- The foriegn language that won out on my list! I tried to teach her from the teach yourself Hebrew and Greek but failed at that.. she lost interest, thats how I consider it failed. Art- Batique, dying, printing, and inking. Music- whatever instrument I can find for her to learn from someone who is outside the home. Drama- church drama again. PE- Basket Ball with the Y or something like that in the fall. Softball or Soccer in the Spring. what am I missing ? CURRICULUIM CHOSEN! HA!
Here's a Cathy Duffy review for Streams! I'm familiar with the first volume. I don't think the second one was out until after my DSS graduated. http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/history-geography/streams-of-civilization.htm
Teacher Mom - your chosen course of study looks good for your daughter. The only thing different might be your english focus. Depends on what 'state standards' you might be trying to follow. I'm trying to keep in line with my state so her HS diploma will transfer to local colleges. They recommend for english: 1 course of comp/writing, 1 course world literature, 1 course american literature and 1 'other'. Like Shakespeare, British Lit, SPeech or Debate. I was surprised to find out we don't need to continue with spelling and vocab. It is just assumed it will naturally be learned in the other subjects, kwim? Does anyone know what age the Civilization book is for? IT has 2 volumes that I can discern. I found one that had a test key and another that had a teachers manual. I don't think I need the manual. For those who have used it, do I need both volumes to equal 1 course in World hist? Or just volume? I couldn't tell. I think we're going with Apologia Biology. Scott Foresman Algebra 1. (A friend is loaning it to me, I'll see if we like it). So far I've only really found Abeka World LIt. Maybe I'll have to make that one up as I go along. Not sure I like Abeka. I was going to also do Shakespeare this year but DD wants to tackle comp/writing already (she is 14 but loves to write constantly) so, any suggestions on comp/writing programs? I'm still looking around for French...
Artsygirl, let me give one word of warning with the math! My DH is a high school math teacher, so for the past two years I've used books that I was able to get free. I've discovered that they are written for ALGEBRA TEACHERS! Some of them are very difficult to follow along if you aren't particularly strong in math. We started with a discarded book last year, and it was AWFUL!!! We backed up to pre-algebra, and that book went MUCH better. The (free) algebra book we're using this year is going OK, but it has its moments! My DH is finally coming to the realization that I'm just about at the end of my math ability, and he'll need to take over more and more. That's why next year we're thinking about Teaching Textbooks. She can do them more or less independently. Streams they say is roughly grades 8-10, but when I did a search, they were discussing it for High School, too. Volume I goes to the 1600's sometime, and Vol. II brings us up to date. I guess you could count them as two seperate classes, or you could combine them if you want. It'd be up to you.
My friend swears by the Scott Foresman math. I've tried Saxon and another one, but this year we basically were winging it. (We do that a lot, can you tell? lol) I went through several textbooks and such to see what she needed to know at this age and then I taught those subjects. I found workbooks for those subjects as well. We used Spectrum series workbook by McGraw-Hill this year and it supplemented almost everything we needed (the workbooks go up through 8th gr, which is pre-algebra according to the work involved.) It's so hard to pick curriculum sometimes, don't you think? Especially since I"m looking online to buy and can't hold it in my hot little hand. Can't wait for the homeschool conference in 2 weeks.
Okay, so I may need to change to some differnt ideas in English, I was following what my ds15 did with his language, they started with Abeka, first half of the year then went to the books they are reading.... Right now they are reading Odessy, and doing spelling from that book. With word list the teacher is using from words in the book itself he tells me, same with vocabulary words. Thats at a Christian Private school in my district.. So I am assuming that is what I need. I should probably not assume
hey I was thinking its too bad we all dont live closer and could put together a High School homeschool.. y ou know each of us do one lesson like a co-op does? I would happily give out writing assignments or Art projects and instructions hehe
Since you're seen and or used both, can you tell me your 'take' on them? I've looked them both up. Not sure if I'm leaning towards one or the other yet, but wanted to know more specifics about each. How hard they are, independent or with teacher, tests, experiments, fulfilling the state requirements for WOrld Hist? Just whatever you can tell me would be fabulous. I'm going to try to view both at the homeschool conference next week and I want to be prepared. P.S. In looking up MOH on its official site, it says it works for high school, I guess because you supplement. But if I go to buy it at Rainbow Resource, they call it a Gr 4-8 curriculum. I don't want to be 'dumbing down' history to my 14 yr old. Should I choose something else for her history?
How many kids are you looking for? Just the one? Then you might want to look more at Streams. The beauty of MOH is that you can do it with multi-ages at once. I teach three kids history together, ranging from 7 to 12. I'd go crazy if I had to teach three histories and science! The reason why Rainbow says 4-8 is because that's right in the middle. It's simply a VERY flexible curriculum, and you can easily do it without "dumbing it down". Streams my DSS used at his Chrisitan school. The only time I saw it was when I was helping him study for his test, It's more of a "traditional" textbook. As far as "state requirements" go, I don't worry about that! My 7YO knows more world history now than the high school seniors my DH teaches in public school! Your state might "require" world history, but YOU get to decide what curriculum you use for it! Hope this helps!
Hey, check this out! It looks interesting.... http://www.notgrass.com/world-history-high-school-curriculum.php (This is the link to the World History; it also has U.S. History and Government!)
Jackie that looks good, I like the reading stuff that you need to go with it too.. dd loves reading so I am looking in that type of thing, hoping hubby will choose the one I want hehe, I did not see where to go to find the US and Gov though,
At the top, click on PRODUCTS. Then you can chose by title, or subject or age. That will get you there. I'm rethinking of what I want to do with Rachael. If I go with "All American History" for the next two years with her and my younger two, I can have her do this World History in 10th, U.S. History in 11th, and Government in 12th. This long term planning has me freaked!!! (But I like the idea that it counts as history, lit, and Bible all three!)
