Homeschool Memoirs Weekly Theme {Homeschool Agendas}

This week’s theme is about sharing your 2008-09 homeschool agendas and plans. You’ve been preparing your plans for sometime and you’re ready to go. Or you’re still in the planning-stage and need some inspiration or tips on what to use. Because many use different curriculum and methods there is always something new to be gleaned from other homeschoolers. It’s always fun and interesting to see what other’s are using and the WWWWH as Robin Sampson suggests. So this week I hope you will share what you’re doing this year for your homeschool agenda. Share the different curriculum you’re using. You can also include what age/grade you’re using it for, how long you’ve been using it, and why you like it.

Please share a Bible verse that has encouraged you or inspired you during this planning-process, and how.

 One thing I've figured out already, is that if I want to do these Memoirs, I will have to get them done on Tuesday if I want any hope of keeping up!  Here is my plan for this school year...

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Harrison (Grade 11)

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  English - Bob Jones Writing & Grammar 11
  
  


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  Math - Saxon Algebra 2
  
  


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  History - Notgrass Exploring America (this course will earn him 1 credit in American Lit and 1 credit in Bible as well as the American History credit!)
  
  


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  Science - Physics, using Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle, and Exploring the World of Physics by John Hudson Tiner, as well as other resources. 
  
  


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  Phys.Ed. - co-op gym class
  
  


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  Fine Arts - haven't made a decision on this yet - I have a course I'd like to do that would focus on the History of Western Music, and he is also interested in Graphic Design or something like that.  Whatever we decide will be for second semester anyway.
  
  

Spencer (Grade 8/9)

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  Language Arts/English - AlphaOmega LifePacs Language Arts 8, and if all goes well we will at least start on LifePac 9.  Also Sequential Spelling.
  
  


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  Math - Saxon Math 8/7; then starting on Saxon Algebra 1/2
  
  


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  History - I'm doing a series of unit studies on American History with Spencer, Landon, and Kennady; and using all kinds of different resources.  We've started the year by researching and making a lapbook of the explorers that discovered, explored, and mapped North America.  For the remainder of the year, I have some books by Janis Herbert, the unit study guide Pioneers by Amanda Bennett, and lots of study guides and a LONG list of resources to use from the library.  I'm really excited about this, because I'm trying to make it very hands-on, and I absolutely love history. 
  
  


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  Science - God's Design for the Physical World series.  We've started with the book Machines & Motion and will do Heat & Energy in second semester.  This is also a course that Landon and Kennady are doing.
  
  


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  Phys.Ed. - co-op gym class
  
  


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  Fine Arts - maybe the History of Western Music course.  Spencer likes to draw and cartoon, and I have several books here and on my wish list that I'm considering to help develop his talent.  But I haven't got anything solidly planned yet.
  
  

Landon (Grade 4)

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  Language Arts - AlphaOmega LifePacs Language Arts 4; and Sequential Spelling
  
  


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  Math - Modern Curriculum Press Math D
  
  


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  History - same as Spencer
  
  


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  Science - same as Spencer
  
  


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  Phys.Ed. - co-op gym class, and baseball in the spring.  Consdiering swim lessons.
  
  


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  Fine Arts - same as Spencer
  
  

Kennady (Grade 2)

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  Language Arts - Teach Your Children to Read Well; and Sequential Spelling
  
  


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  Math - Modern Curriculum Press Math B
  
  


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  History - same as Spencer
  
  


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  Science - same as Spencer
  
  


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  Phys.Ed. - co-op gym class, and softball in the spring.  Considering swim lessons.
  
  


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  Fine Arts - Draw! Write! Now! series and other drawing instruction.  Piano lessons.
  
  

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I use (and LOVE) the Homeschoool Tracker Plus for keeping track of assignments, grades, and lesson plans.  As far as scheduling, I have a daily schedule that we try to keep to, but its very flexible.  It just gives the kids (okay... Landon in particular) a framework for knowing what comes next, and gives us all some targets to shoot for.  We start our day at 8:30am by assigning the daily chores and for now, some Read-Aloud time for the younger kids.  If we do decide to do the Music course this year, that will be first thing in the morning.  Harrison does all his schoolwork independently, and the other boys do about half of their work independently, so they may decide how to organize their days within the schedule.

 

I haven't chosen our Theme Scripture for this year, but it may well be this one:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the LORD, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the LORD as a reward.  It is the LORD Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24)

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