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2012-2013 homeschool curriculum :: 9th grade, high school up ahead!

2012-2013 homeschool curriculum :: 9th grade, high school up ahead!

Let me begin by saying homeschooling this long and this far wasn’t ever really in the original plans.

The original homeschool plans included homeschooling to 3rd grade.  Ahem.  Yet, here we are!  Our 9th grader is thrilled, I’m excited  — the journey ahead will be adventurous for sure.

We pray for grace….

 :: ::

 Our High School philosophy:

This is our first experience in homeschooling high school, but not our first with high school in general.  We view these years as time to specialize…an opportunity to hone in on a child’s skills and interests that may carry them into a vocation and calling down the road.

A time to prepare them for practical life ahead, equipping them with necessary skills.

A time to cast vision and celebrate how God has wired and gifted them.  To launch them into the next steps of how to share who they are with the world.

It’s a big task — homeschooling or not!

 

Our 9th grade girl:

She’s the studious & independent type, and a girl who loves order, structure and routine.

She also enjoys a variety of settings – so our curriculum choices reflect this.

Right now, because of several little ones needing Mom’s attention academically, we carefully structured our 9th grader’s work to offer time with Mom and also release her to independently work on her own.

Study Skills

Study Skills online class this summer from The Potter’s School — a great choice!

Mathematics

Teaching Textbooks Algebra II  We’ve used Saxon and switched to Teaching Textbooks last year.

Science

Our first year fully using a science textbook!  Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology with The Potter’s School.  We’ll do microscope and dissection activities at home.

She’ll use Apologia’s flashcard app, and possibly Science Roots.  We purchased the Home Microscope  and dissection kit from Home Science Tools.

Languages

Yes, that’s plural.  Since translation of Scripture and also of other languages is up ahead for her, we’ve carefully chosen to continue with Latin studies (her 5th year) and add in Greek I — both are taken as classes in our local area.

Arabic I with The Potter’s School is also on her plate.  I know!  But, she asked and asked…and we said yes.

History & Literature

Now, here’s where I’m stuck.  We’ve covered history quite a bit and will taper off in high school as far as intensity of focus.

This year, Early Church & Middle Ages for World History… Mystery of History II I think will be our spine…

…and I’ll pull in literature to go-along?  This is where I often excel, and literature is my love, but TIME is not on my side, so I might choose a ready-made plan. UPDATE 8/14 – we plan to use Illuminations II from Bright Ideas Press!

English – grammar, vocabulary, writing, etc.

I’ll make this up as we go along and tie into our literature.

A few helps:

Wordly Wise 9 and Marie’s Words   ::  Elements of Style  ::  Blue Book of Grammar & Punctuation  ::  I’m borrowing IEW’s Teaching Writing: Structure and Style from a friend because I’m feeling the need to check in with another resource for writing.  We’ve never used an official writing curriculum, so it would be nice to take a peek I think!

Art, Music, Poetry

We’ll cover this as a family, with each child notebooking at their own level.  I simply pull from many living books about a certain composer, artist, or poet, and we’ll use Notebooking Pages as printables.

They’ll memorize poems according to their level.  We’ll attend concerts and draw, paint, etc. to our heart’s delight!  We might use Artistic Pursuits in the spring and next summer.

Our 9th grade girl will continue piano, drums and voice – she’s taken enough years of lessons in each to continue on her own with the occasional lesson, and with our help.

We’ll seek opportunities for her to use these talents in our community.  Her involvement with musical theatre and concert choir will continue as it fits.

Extracurricular

Bible quizzing and volleyball.  Also serving at church on occasion with the Audio/Visual team and as a helper in the preschool class.

Learning to Love, Life Skills

Academics are great and we aim for solid standards there — but life is about everyday life skills and everyday relationships as well.

I don’t list this last due to lack of importance.  It’s last because we feel it holds up everything else — a foundation of sorts.  We aim for these skills everyday as she learns to love God wholeheartedly, honor parents, love {sometimes} annoying siblings, help around the house and more.

 

:: :: ::

While it all seems crazy overwhelming to write…the plans above really do work out little by little, day by day over the course of a homeschool year.  With plenty of TIME on our side, I think we’ll be fine.

And, if we’re not…changes can be made!  The beauty of homeschooling….

 :: :: ::

This post is #2 in a series:

part 1 :: Our preschool & 1st grade Combo Plan

I invite you to subscribe today and keep up with the series and what we’re up to! 

17 comments
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  • MaureenAugust 7, 2012 - 7:08 pm

    I’ve looked at Potter’s school. Hope you review your experience over the year. You do know that Illuminations w/ BIP has literature planned out that goes along w/ history. There’s a high school version. You can at least check out the samples and see the book list.ReplyCancel

  • ChanaAugust 8, 2012 - 1:33 am

    I so needed this today. We’re starting 11th grade and I’m overwhelmed. This will be our first full year teaching. And it’s frustrating trying to find subjects that work for her and are easy for me to teach for an 11th grader. My daughter is not very structured, a very hands on kinesthetic learner. Hates to read because she has reading comprehension issues. Loves anything girly: make-up, hair, clothes. I honestly don’t know how to make these fun for her so that she stays focused and gets the most out of it.

    Thanks for this post!ReplyCancel

  • KerryAugust 8, 2012 - 2:20 pm

    I love reading what different families are doing for homeschool – – especially during the high school years. If you haven’t already, please join us over at LetsHomeschoolHighschool.com – – a brand new site designed to create community among those of us who are traversing the high school years at home. Hope to see you there!ReplyCancel

  • […] plans for the preschooler, my huge and ultimate guide to creating home management notebooks, homeschooling plans for the 9th grader {which was recently […]ReplyCancel

  • […] is THE month of homeschool prepping, planning and beginnings — I’ve focused on offering plans and resources to help your year.  Today, one more? […]ReplyCancel

  • KitselAugust 24, 2012 - 11:48 am

    Thanks for the post! I am with you in thinking that we would homeschool only during the younger grades, yet here I am getting ready to start another school year now with a 6th and a 10th grader. Yikes! I enjoyed seeing what curriculum you are using for your daughter… thanks for sharing!ReplyCancel

  • ConnieAugust 24, 2012 - 7:34 pm

    Sounds like you have a fun year ahead! We’re doing biology at our house, too. I have my older three all going through it together. Fun!

    Thanks for linking up to Home School High!ReplyCancel

  • StaceyAugust 25, 2012 - 10:58 am

    Yeah for High School. If you run into any questions with Illuminations just email me. We have done all 4 years and we are starting year 5 this year. Off to go print off my grids and get the first week up and running!ReplyCancel

  • Stephanie @ Harrington HarmoniesAugust 26, 2012 - 5:33 am

    Doesn’t it seem like a ton when you write it all down? It just goes to show as homeschoolers how much we really do. I just got done with my two oldest getting them through highschool, my middle child just has 2 credits to finish this year.
    You have a wonderful approach and your high school adventures are sure to be a success. And Vision is important, yours is lovely. It really helps when things get tough, at least it does for me:)
    BTW my senior took Arabic at community college for her language credit. And it’s a great choice for the future to come. Mandarin Chinese is another- so very smart gal you have there!

    God bless ya, and happy homeschooling. Loved this post.ReplyCancel

  • […] Alright — August is nearly over and I’ll have something else to write about besides our general homeschool plans, organizing our days, and homeschooling high school. […]ReplyCancel

  • […] our homeschool… we’ve tackled the first days of some online classes for the highschooler!  She fell in love with Arabic, she says.  Sounded like Hebrew to me.  She’s also finding […]ReplyCancel

  • MaryDecember 3, 2012 - 1:34 pm

    My oldest Elizabeth is in the 11th grade. She is using AP US History and AP English Language and Compostion through Sevenstar Academy, Teaching Textbooks Geometry,and Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Pychics Complte Course CD ROM. She hopes to go to college and get a degree in a history related field
    My younger daughter Gabriela is in the 9th grade and is using Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Biology, Teaching Textbooks Alegbra 1, TeLL Me More French Homeschool Complte(in her 3rd year of this),Smaar Classical Literature Programs Intro to Literature, Apples 2,Writing Strand 4 + EW, and Ancient History through a local homeschool group. She hopes to directly enter the workforce in the field of fashion.ReplyCancel

  • AMyApril 12, 2013 - 12:06 am

    Hi – I just found your page when I was looking through various things regarding asthma. We have battled asthma for years before finally changing our lifestyle – which in turn changed our daughters’ battle with asthma. I love the way you wrote your journey and advice. It is very easy for those beginning to search for more answers other than more medicine and steroids.

    On a different subject, I was wondering what Latin program your children used. I am beginning Latin with my 5th and 3rd grader – they really don’t have previous Latin experience – All of the different programs are a bit overwhelming to navigate through.

    Thanks – Blessings,ReplyCancel

  • […] 14-yr old freshman and I have been talking about her high school years and planning ahead.  I often ask for her […]ReplyCancel

  • Martha FaraceJuly 15, 2013 - 10:50 pm

    Thank you so for sharing this post about what 2012-3 was to look like for your high schooler. Have you a post regarding how the year completed?

    We have two that we are currently homeschooling, however the older may go to Christian school again for high school and showing my husband and son some other options that have been efficacious may well benefit, especially if we need to change gears part way either with some of the classes or all.

    Our youngest has autism and is doing beautifully, however the social challenges are interesting!

    Above website is former non-profit: Daresay Autism and Similar Autoimmune Manifestations – which dealt with Lyme disease…ReplyCancel

  • Martha FaraceJuly 15, 2013 - 10:52 pm

    Thank you so for sharing this post about what 2012-3 was to look like for your high schooler. Have you a post regarding how the year completed?

    We have two that we are currently homeschooling, however the older may go to Christian school again for high school and showing my husband and son some other options that have been efficacious may well benefit, especially if we need to change gears part way either with some of the classes or all.

    Our youngest has autism and is doing beautifully, however the social challenges are interesting!

    Will you be speaking at the 2:1 conference is Chicago?

    Above website is former non-profit: Daresay Autism and Similar Autoimmune Manifestations – which dealt with Lyme disease…

    Thank you so for sharing His Wisdom.ReplyCancel

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