Planning & Organization Archives - Page 5 of 6

Planning My Homeschool Year 2015-16: 10th Grade Curriculum Choices

July 9, 2015 By Ligia

10^th/11^th Course of Study

This year most of the courses are offered through our Homeschool co-op or Landry Academy.

US History- This will be a co-op class. The teacher is using American History: Observations and Assessments for Creation to Today by James Stobaugh for the Co-op class. Along with that, those who are ready will try and pass the CLEP test.

American Literature-This will also be a co-op class. The teacher will be creating the class syllabus, so I am waiting for that list. But this will also have the option of doing CLEP testing at the end.

Personal Finance- This is also a co-op class. The teacher is using Dave Ramsey’s Homeschool Finance program. This will be a 1-semester course.

Thinking Like a Christian– Worldview study using the curriculum by that title. This is also a co-op class offered for one semester following the Finance class.

Writing A Novel in a Year- this course is offered through Landry Academy. This is a 2-semester course. I am excited about the possibilities for her.

Programming with Python- this course is a one-semester course offered by Landry Academy.

Drama- our co-op started the His Kids Drama Company and they will be putting on The Hobbit. She loved drama last year so she is continuing.

What’s left at home?

Grammar- I am going to try one more program in hopes that she will catch on. We are trying Jensen’s Grammar DVDs. She liked Jensen’s Punctuation and Format Writing so I am hoping she will like this.

CLEP study prep-originally my plan was that she would CLEP over the summer but we have gotten sidetracked (due to her Drama class, camps, etc). So now I think I will have her chose one CLEP to work on until she is ready to take the test.

Here are the following CLEPS she will work towards:

Analyzing Literature

American Govt

Biology

Spanish

Planning My Homeschool Year: 2015-16 Curriculum Choices

June 4, 2015 By Ligia

I’ve shared a couple of posts on how I start my homeschool year. First, I work on the year calendar and then I work on the goals for our kids and family. The next step in my planning process is choosing curriculum. Today I am sharing my 7th grader’s curriculum choices for 2015-16.

Math: Teaching Textbooks finishing Level 7 and starting Pre-Algebra in January.

Science- Apologia’s Chemistry & Physics at co-op along hopefully with Audio CD. With his dyslexia, it is easier and more effective for him to listen to his books. This is a NEW addition to the Apologia’s Young Explorer’s Series. I am hoping they come out with this Audio before September.

Writing-Essentials in Writing Level 5 and 6. Started 5 during this year, but only 9 lessons in. We’ll work on it over the summer and then hopefully be able to do both Level 5 and 6 this year. This program covers grammar and writing.

Language Arts- I am attempting Hewitt Homeschooling 7^th grade Lightning Literature & Composition Pack. If it is not successful we will return to TLP. I already picked out the books and I might even buy just one of the study guides so I am ready. My concern is that it will be too much for him. This will be something we work on together everyday so I am hoping it will be successful. In this 7th grade literature study he will read: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland, Helen Keller, All Creatures Great and Small, and Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children.

Spelling- this will be our 3^rd year using Barton Reading & Spelling. Since his diagnosis of dyslexia/dysgraphia in 2013, we’ve been plugging away. He is now in level 5 and will be wrapping that up over the summer and starting level 6 in the Fall.

Bible-Apologia’s Who is God? I am excited about using this book. We have finished up 8 years of AWANA and its time to move on.

Other Co-op Classes:

Geography-He will be doing geography in our co-op. The teacher is using Expedition Earth as her base. Along with this I am adding a few Read alouds: Kingdom Tales, Nate Saint, George Muller, David Livingston, and Amy Carmichael. These are from the Heroes Then and Now Series.

Literature Circle-this class is about reading orally. The teacher is choosing classics for the students to read orally in class. I think this is a great opportunity for kids to get comfortable speaking in public.

Critical Thinking & Games- here he will play games like 7 Wonders, Munchkin Deluxe, and more. The teacher has a love for games and she introduces the kids to new games weekly. He did this class last year and loved it.

Spanish- This teacher (happens to be me) will use La Clase Divertida to teach Beginning Spanish. He has been “learning” Spanish for the last 3 years but he will doesn’t want to speak. So my hope is to just get him used to hearing the Spanish and hopefully one day he’ll just speak….
In the spring:
He will be taking two classes in spring with Landry Academy.

Visual Game Design with Scratch

Reading Ropes: Building Comprehension with Confidence.

Obviously he will be busy.

Planners for the Next School Year: A New Find!

June 2, 2015 By Ligia

Now that 2014-2015 is officially over, it is time to get focused on my next school year. I have laid out my calendar, set my goals, and now I am zoning in on curriculum to help me achieve my goals for 2015-16. Actually, I should say help my children achieve their goals for 2015-16.

First, I want to share about this new planner I am trying out. It’s from A Plan in Place.

Yes, I get a little discount if you order. But let me tell you I am excited about this upcoming school year’s planners.

I got a planner for myself, my daughter and son. So a Teacher’s Edition, a high school edition, and student planner (not younger version).

Here is the neat part of this planner:

Customization: (above) is my daughter’s planner with her courses for next year.

This is my son’s course list on his planner.

But wait there is more!

He has a checklist for this daily activities.

And she has a checklist and then some!

I have organization and or accountability-type goals for each of them for 2015-16, so I am really hoping that this planner breeds independence, organization, and accountability.

So excited.

Ligia