I don't talk a lot about our home schooling on this blog but it is a big part of our homesteading life! I have noticed a lot of folks showing what they are choosing for their lessons this year so I thought I would post about what we are doing too.
First off, I would like to say we do not even attempt any sort of schedule and we generally do school year round. I do not "plan" a course to last a school year. The Boy is a fast learner and I don't believe in holding him back ...I let him go at his own fast pace! Also, if he is interested in something we are not studying we may put something aside and pursue his interest . I guess I should tell you The Boy is 13 and I believe that is 8th grade in public school but most everything we do is considered higher grade levels I think....grade levels become so unimportant in homeschooling! Also,we use almost entirely Christian based curriculum .
So here we go! We will be finishing up this math in a month or so and going on to Algebra 2 with the same curriculum . These Teaching Textbooks are the best math courses ever! They come with CDs that work out every single problem in the book! So,if they get stuck on something they can just pop the CD in the computer and see how it is done!
We will also be finishing up this science in...hmm...about 3 months probably and then move on to Biology. I already have the pickled specimens waiting in the cabinet, ready for dissection! Living here on the farm he has already seen his fair share of guts!
We started these two last month...
I got this to add to our grammar lessons....
This is our first year with a co-op and he will be taking a High School Government class using these...
I have not done a planned out history course in several years because The Boy has a voracious appetite for reading history and learns plenty on his own! This year we are going to use these books and have a little more organized learning! American history will go well with the government class I think.
We've got to have some of this to build up those big,juicy brain cells!
Let's see what is left....I got this for his extra reading because he loves,loves, loves being able to debate with non-Christians over stuff like this!
Also for some extra reading these SAT prep books so he can see where he is at and what he needs to be working towards.
Of course, our year will be filled with lots of reading of various interest and writing projects and computer skills and on the farm shop classes and animal husbandry and well...the learning possibilities are endless! He is my only child so I have to make sure he is extra smart....I want a luxury nursing home when I get old!
20 comments:
Hey Melodie! Looks like some great book choices! He will be ready for college next year! (or maybe he's ready now? (except for the math) Should be fun for both of you!
Have a great year!
Phew...that Algebra book gave my lady the shivers...she doesn't get math at all and never did. It doesn't compute with her brain! I get it so I guess I'll teach it to her when I have the time! Those look like very interesting subjects! How is that beautiful Butter Bean goatie and my adorable Mr. Tumnus?
Sharon,
He is hoping to go in the Coast Guard at 17!
Isobelle,
They are wonderful...it is about time for a goatie post though!
interesting post!!food for thought
Wow! That sure is a full curriculum! As studious as he seems, he can handle it!
Coast Gaurd? Their physical requirements are more rigourous than your curriculum! LOL Tell your son he might want to start his workout training now...it will be like getting ready for a triathalon..... but what a great career!
Jackie,
He has his heart set on being a rescue helicopter pilot....which is the hardest of all I think, physical and academic!
I see some great choices here. I wonder if just anyone can buy these books? There are some I'd love to have if so. :)
LindaG,
Yes anyone can buy them! They are probably all on Amazon. The math has it's own website and many are on Christian Book Distributors homeschool site. I hope that was helpful!
oh my, my brain hurts LOL... That is a lot of learning. I think home schooling is so great! If I had kidlets I would do it too.
How fortunate is The Boy! He will certainly be prepared for 'life' and whichever career path he follows.
Jim
That's great to know. Thanks, Melodie! :)
Hey Melodie - I'm going to be moving all our books from the trailer to the house and we have a library of Civil War books we have picked up and read as we traveled around the country. I was going to save them for a yard sale or donate 'em to the library here. Would your son want them? I can pack them in a flat rate box and send them down to you....
let me know.
Oh, lots of familiar books and some new to me books, too. I read Never Before in History with the kids last year and really loved it. We just started TTextbooks last year, too, and that is worth every penny.
A career in the coast guard sounds very interesting! My mom recently moved less than an hour from the gulf (very near Mexico) so I can't wait to go visit her and check out a part of the coast I have not been to before.
So interesting to see what you are using.
I have a question about "Christian" curriculum and I hope you don't get offended--it is not my intent, but I'm curious and thought I could ask you. Forgive me for my ignorance...
What exactly is Christian math? I mean, I get the science thing is adjusted for your beliefs. And of course, your literature and maybe your history, but what is different with math?
If your son is going to be a pilot, he will need a ton of science and math. He'll need an engineering degree to really progress in the service. How will his Christian teachings fair in that situation? I'm sure it differs from what he will find in college classes, right? Or do you just send him to a college that only believes like you do? That's what my neighbors do. But then I have to wonder how that works in a world of many different beliefs.
I hope I haven't offended you by my questions. I was just wondering about this.
Lin,
No ,I am not offended. First I would like to say,would you even doubt my sons ability if I had said he was in Catholic school? No one thinks twice about those kids being able to make it in society and that is religious education. There are a large number of private christian schools and christian homeschoolers and if they were getting substandard educations and were not able to deal with the real world there would be a huge gap in the population of colleges and the work force ! I would have no problem putting my son up against a secular raised child in any academic challenge as I believe his education is far beyond that of the public school system. Also, the math we teach is not christian based but there are some like Saxon math that are. All Christian subjects teach the same core subjects...the same science and history and so on as secular school for the most part, they just show God's hand in all we do and show how all things relate back to Him. We even study the theory of evolution, but we study it as a theory which is what it is. There are many Christian homeschool book stores and they would welcome you to come in any time and browse if you want to to see exactly what we are teaching our children! As far as being in a world of different beliefs...we do not keep him locked in a closet,lol! He is like any other kid and is around other beliefs every day...we are not terrorist,believing every one who is different should be eradicated,lol! We are plain old Baptist! As far as his education differing from college...not at all!He will have all the same education...but most importantly he will have his faith to guide him through!
I admire all my homeschooling friends. I don't have the time to do it because of my day job, but I often wonder if I did have the time would I have the patience and confidency in myself to be responsible for teaching and equipping my child...we don't do public school, she is in a small independent school. I really think hard each year as we renew the contract if it's the right place for us and so far, it is. Our county public school system in a terrible state. I have also thought about asking a homeschooling friend to include my daughter in their "group"...so hard to decide what the right thing to do is, year after year.
Melodie, Are you going to resell your alegebra 1 and physical science books? We are going to try your pineapple suggestion this week along with our 'seed course.' We are new to homeschooling as this is our first school year.
Take care,
Mal
Renee will be doing the Apologia Physical Science this year as well. We also like to use Abeka for Language Arts and Saxon for math. Unfortunately, Renee really doesn't like math a whole lot. I like to use it when we cook together though, and she seems to like it more then! I am also going to be teaching Mapping the World by Heart at our co-op this year and will be teaching it to Renee at home.
Thanks for your thoughts, Melodie. :)
I do not in any way think homeschooled or parochial school educated children are substandard in any way--on the contrary. I think children can't be lumped into a category with any choices--I am sure there are good and bad in both. We chose not to send our children to the private school here because the class sizes were insane (36 per class, one class per grade level and no aide) and that wasn't the right fit for us. I'm not saying public school is the way to go for everyone, nor is it the right fit for everyone. I don't think you can say that about any school or teaching method.
My experience is with my neighbors. They are extreme and take a very literal version of the bible and so they will only go to THEIR schools because they teach everything based on what they believe--like dinosaurs did not really exist and that the earth isn't as old as other faiths believe.
That is why I was asking. Please don't think I'm judging--I just don't know and I like to know so I can be educated and more broad in my knowledge. Thanks for your patience.
Post a Comment