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Pretty sure the number one question homeschoolers ask each other is this one:
What Curriculum Are You Using in Your Homeschool?
We all want to know what everyone else is using! Sometimes because we're looking to make a change, or planning ahead. Sometimes to make a connection with another homeschool family using the same books. But a lot of times, it's purely out of curiosity! Well, today is Take a Look Tuesday - the perfect opportunity to take a look at what we've chosen for the upcoming school year!
We really liked the non-fiction writing course from Writing with Sharon Watson that we did in co-op last year, and although a couple of mom asked me about teaching it again, I knew Kennady wanted something different. She really wanted to do something with creative writing. So we decided to do Writing Fiction [in High School]: Bringing Your Stories to Life! which is also by Sharon Watson. I'll be teaching this course at the co-op, which will be another stretch for me. Not just teaching, but teaching fiction writing. But I'm looking forward to it - it looks like a very entertaining course!
(Find out more in my preview post in the Blogging Through the Alphabet series: Writing Fiction in High School)
Grammar and Composition
We really liked the non-fiction writing course from Writing with Sharon Watson that we did in co-op last year, and although a couple of mom asked me about teaching it again, I knew Kennady wanted something different. She really wanted to do something with creative writing. So we decided to do Writing Fiction [in High School]: Bringing Your Stories to Life! which is also by Sharon Watson. I'll be teaching this course at the co-op, which will be another stretch for me. Not just teaching, but teaching fiction writing. But I'm looking forward to it - it looks like a very entertaining course!
(Find out more in my preview post in the Blogging Through the Alphabet series: Writing Fiction in High School)
Math
Ah yes, the favorite subject of exactly none of my kids! Never fear, this should be a fairly easy course, after Kennady worked so long to get through Algebra! She does need one more math credit, and needless to say, she has not requested Trig or Pre-Calculus. But seriously, I do require my kids to do a Consumer Math course during high school, so she'll be doing a combination of Money 101: Seminars in Personal Finances from SchoolhouseTeachers.com and Consumer Math for Christian Schools from BJU Press. I picked up the BJU Press book second-hand and it's a full credit, but it's a few years old and it's a textbook. Textbook means reading, and heaven knows she's got enough on her plate this year. Money 101 is only a half credit, but it's media based and more up to date. So I'm working on picking from both resources to come up with a practical course that will satisfy the credit requirement without weighing her down with too much busywork in an already very full year.
(And by the way, there are something like 400 other courses available on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and they have a BOGO offer right now. Start an Ultimate Membership by August 31, 2018, for only $139/year and receive a second year FREE! Plus other goodies too. So now is a good time to check that out!)
History courses from Notgrass have been a staple in our homeschool for many years, so I was planning for Kennady to complete her required American History credit this year by studying Exploring America. Then the lady that was going to teach this at co-op had to withdraw, and we were looking for another instructor. I figured since Kennady was doing this anyway, I might as well teach it and she could do it through the co-op. And if a couple other students were taking it too, it might be more enjoyable for her, and we'd have a bit more motivation to stick to the deadlines and get done. Plus I'd earn a few dollars in tuition. So that's what we're doing. It will be a full History and full Bible credit, but we'll wait until classes start before making final decisions on how much of the Lit part of the course we'll do.
Electives - Co-ops and Classes
French II - Kennady will continue with the French instructor from last year at the co-op, as will two of her classmates. They are carrying on with the rest of the textbook French I for Christian Schools from BJU Press, and the instructor adds in other reading and activities. This will be another full credit.
Speech and Presentation II - This class is also a continuation of the course she did last year at co-op, and is worth a half credit. This may have been her favorite class from last year, and she was really looking forward to another round!
Children's Chorus - This is Kennady's final year in this upper level chorus. It's an excellent program that provides outstanding music education in choral singing, and she really enjoys it. It's a full Fine Arts credit. Like she needs more of those! But music is her passion, and the direction for her future career, so it's all good!
Guitar Lessons - I'm kind of assuming that Kennady will want to take guitar lessons again this coming year, although it will be a challenge to make time. But as I said, this is her passion and her career choice. Regardless of whether she takes lessons, she will continue playing on worship teams and she is also likely to start taking her own students in ukulele and guitar.
Piano Tuning and Technology - This will be the required technology credit that we have been trying to figure out. Kennady has been working part time at the music shop where her guitar teacher is a piano technician, and they've had her start working on pianos occasionally. Just a couple weeks ago, they asked her to consider allowing them to train her in piano repair and technology work, as long as she could commit to staying on and working for them for at least a certain time once she was trained. In a way it was a surprise how excited she was about the opportunity, but she really does like working on the pianos. Since they are also willing to help her get started teaching guitar and ukulele, it seems like a great fit for her! We're still working out details but I think it's safe to say this is a go! (And this is something she can do because she's homeschooled, and has the opportunity and flexibility to make it happen!)
(And by the way, there are something like 400 other courses available on SchoolhouseTeachers.com, and they have a BOGO offer right now. Start an Ultimate Membership by August 31, 2018, for only $139/year and receive a second year FREE! Plus other goodies too. So now is a good time to check that out!)
History, Bible, and Literature
History courses from Notgrass have been a staple in our homeschool for many years, so I was planning for Kennady to complete her required American History credit this year by studying Exploring America. Then the lady that was going to teach this at co-op had to withdraw, and we were looking for another instructor. I figured since Kennady was doing this anyway, I might as well teach it and she could do it through the co-op. And if a couple other students were taking it too, it might be more enjoyable for her, and we'd have a bit more motivation to stick to the deadlines and get done. Plus I'd earn a few dollars in tuition. So that's what we're doing. It will be a full History and full Bible credit, but we'll wait until classes start before making final decisions on how much of the Lit part of the course we'll do.
Electives - Co-ops and Classes
French II - Kennady will continue with the French instructor from last year at the co-op, as will two of her classmates. They are carrying on with the rest of the textbook French I for Christian Schools from BJU Press, and the instructor adds in other reading and activities. This will be another full credit.
Speech and Presentation II - This class is also a continuation of the course she did last year at co-op, and is worth a half credit. This may have been her favorite class from last year, and she was really looking forward to another round!
Children's Chorus - This is Kennady's final year in this upper level chorus. It's an excellent program that provides outstanding music education in choral singing, and she really enjoys it. It's a full Fine Arts credit. Like she needs more of those! But music is her passion, and the direction for her future career, so it's all good!
Guitar Lessons - I'm kind of assuming that Kennady will want to take guitar lessons again this coming year, although it will be a challenge to make time. But as I said, this is her passion and her career choice. Regardless of whether she takes lessons, she will continue playing on worship teams and she is also likely to start taking her own students in ukulele and guitar.
Piano Tuning and Technology - This will be the required technology credit that we have been trying to figure out. Kennady has been working part time at the music shop where her guitar teacher is a piano technician, and they've had her start working on pianos occasionally. Just a couple weeks ago, they asked her to consider allowing them to train her in piano repair and technology work, as long as she could commit to staying on and working for them for at least a certain time once she was trained. In a way it was a surprise how excited she was about the opportunity, but she really does like working on the pianos. Since they are also willing to help her get started teaching guitar and ukulele, it seems like a great fit for her! We're still working out details but I think it's safe to say this is a go! (And this is something she can do because she's homeschooled, and has the opportunity and flexibility to make it happen!)
What do you think of our curriculum line-up? Leave a comment and let me know! Make sure to visit the Homeschool Review Crew Blog to take a look at more curriculum and resources highlighted by other bloggers in the 5 Days of Homeschool Encouragement Blog Hop!
Use the linky tools to visit the other participating bloggers, or start with these:
Amanda @ Hopkins Homeschool
Annette @ A Net in Time
Ashley @ Gift of Chaos
Betty @ Let’s Get Real
Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
Carol @ Home Sweet Life
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
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1 comments:
looks good, that money class I think I'll be picking up as well.
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