The number of years that I have been homeschooling seems to escape me. I started my oldest with preschool, and then followed with K-12. She graduated at least 3 years ago, plus she took a gap year, so I think that should add up to 17 years. That should make this my 18th year, although about every 6 months I give myself an extra year, so occasionally you will find me saying that I have been schooling for about 30 years.
If you hear me say that, set me straight.
Mostly these have been great years though. Some years we have simply scraped by, between various crisis, we didn't get tons of schooling done, but we have always had lots of books being read, and I think that contributed to the progress of my older students.
My third child graduated this spring and is taking the last class he needs for his AA this summer. His teacher in that class tells him that he is a great writer. This is despite the fact that I assigned very little writing to him until high school. He also worked for a contractor through his high school years and only did school a few days a week. He has a high GPA and graduated with honors from the PSP he is enrolled in (no, he was not the only graduating senior.)
That means that this year, I will only have four students! This is incredible to me, for the last several years I have had at least 5 students, often with a baby or toddler as well. I am excited to see how it goes, especially with the happy fact that my youngest is beginning to read without me having to cajole him.
Without further ado, this is the budget-friendly curriculum that I have pulled together for this year. Budget-friendly because I owned most of it already, had it given to me, or purchased it used.
It's called networking.
2016/2017 Course of Study
10th Grade Boy
(I was going to have him move into 11th this year, but when I did the math on how old he would be when he leaves home for college, and about how efficient it would be to get as many JC classes done while they are free in high school, I decided to have him do 3 more years of high school)
Bible
New Testament Survey (Read New Testament, write verses, memorize, and participate in Bible studies.)
English
British Literature Class, My daughter is teaching this to a group of Jr. High and High School students in our area.
English 1A- This will be a Jr. College class he takes online the second semester of school
Wordsmith Apprentice This is an editing curriculum. Ethan has his second book, The Fire Trolls, available on Amazon, so the extra editing practice will be helpful for him.
History
Abeka World History (I owned it and will let him read through for an overview.)
Middle Ages Literature Selections
Adventures of Robin Hood
Son of Charlemagne
Men Of Iron-Howard Pyle
Joan of Arc
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis
Morning Star of the Reformation
Science
Apologia Chemistry, followed by a Chemistry class at the JC
Math
Algebra 2 at JC
Electives
Guitar
P.E.
Spanish (online at JC)
4H
9th Grade Boy
Bible
Studying God's Word book G (New Testament Survey)
English
British Literature Class
Rod and Staff Grammar
History
European History
Studies in World History-James Stobaugh (Part B)
Middle Ages Literature Selections (See above)
Science
Apologia Physical Science
Math
Teaching Textbooks Algebra
Electives
Computer Programming
Russian
Filmmaking
P.E.
Tinker Crate
4th Grade Girl
(My experience with my college students inspired me to rethink the grades I had my children in. I started out homeschooling with the idea of getting my kids through with school and on to life as soon as possible. However, if life involves a college education then it makes sense for them to be a little older in high school so that they can manage the demands of junior college, and then be a little older when they leave home for university. In our state, dual enrollment students do not pay for classes. Although I love the freedom of private homeschooling, I also love the help that community college classes provide me and my students. for this reason, you will see that a couple of my students are doing the same grade that they did last year. This is the beauty of homeschooling. We are free to have our children on an educational track that most benefits them.
Bible
Studying God's Word
Daily Bible Reading/Verse Writing
English
Writing With Ease, Level 3
SWR Spelling
Jr Analytical Grammar and Mechanics
Prescripts Cursive
Narration
Math
Math U See Delta
History
History of the Middle Ages-Watts
Greenleaf Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Timeline/Geography work, Book Club
Literature Selections- The Door in the Wall, St George and the Dragon, The Dragon and the Raven,
Pilgrims Progress (abridged version) Men of Iron (Audible),
Science
Nature Study
CLP Nature Readers
Electives
PE
Piano
Choir
Wild Explorers Club
2nd Grade Boy
Hooray, he is reading! The first couple days of school, he has sped through his work, and read without complaint. This is a big change from last year. Sometimes our students just need a little time to develop.
Bible
Rod and Staff Readers
English
Explode the Code
Spell to Write and Read
First Language Lessons
Prescripts Cursive
Narration
Math
Math U See Beta
History
Middle Ages Book List
Science
Nature Study
BJU Science 1
Electives
P.E.
4H
Wild Explorers Club
I am so excited about this school year. We get to go back up to the creek for nature study, and my older kids have a sweet community of friends who all love to worship God.
If you are looking for help with homeschooling in the early years, please check out my new curriculum, The Peaceful Preschool, you can download a free sample of the curriculum, and the rest of the manual will be available on August 15.
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