My son finished Trig today. He earned 88% on the final exam and his chapter tests were usually between 90 and 95. He deserves an A. I have to crunch the numbers, but he probably earned a 92.
Anyway, I talked to him about starting Calculus. (Picture a 6'2", 230lb boy) He did a little dance and said "no-math-no". (The dance resembled a pee-pee dance.)...
Showing posts with label curriculum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label curriculum. Show all posts
Final Curriculum Tweak!
OK, I think I've finally gotten it right!
One of the reasons we start homeschooling in August is so that by September 1, we have made all of our adjustments and are on track to complete our curriculum by late spring.
So far, I have adjusted the kids literature courses, Adjusted my son's Spanish, and this morning, I adjusted the Biology.
The literature courses (Skills or Literary Analysis and American Literature: Encouraging Thoughtful...
One of the reasons we start homeschooling in August is so that by September 1, we have made all of our adjustments and are on track to complete our curriculum by late spring.
So far, I have adjusted the kids literature courses, Adjusted my son's Spanish, and this morning, I adjusted the Biology.
The literature courses (Skills or Literary Analysis and American Literature: Encouraging Thoughtful...
Are Online Classes an Option for Your Family?
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Note: I rarely have guest bloggers, because most people that have asked aren't as familiar with homeschooling as I would like and so their prospective posts don't really add much to the conversation of homeschooling. (Do we really need a blogger who's never homeschooled telling us how to homeschool?) This is one of those rare cases when a guest blogger greatly impressed me, as did her service to homeschoolers. Enjoy the following guest blog! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The beauty of homeschooling lies in the total versatility of selecting curriculum and classes for our children. As homeschool parents, we control what knowledge our children receive and best of all, who shares that knowledge with them. As a mom, I love this aspect of schooling my children, but the part that throws me occasionally into a panic attack is the responsibility that accompanies it!
The panic subsides to some extent
An indepth review of Time4learning
I used time4learning to homeschool my kids from the time they left school to roughly 5th and 6th grade. As they move forward and now that they are at high school level, I realize they do so with ease because of the strong foundation that was laid. Here is series of reviews I did for on website.
It has been several years since I have used time4learning to homeschool my now high school level kids. By using the program, an excellent educational foundation that was laid for my children.
Published 8/25/2010
How much does it cost to homeschool? What we pay
Mrs C. asks what you're spending on education stuff and shows off her list. In 2 parts... part 1 and part 2. Read it and then come back... I'll wait.
OK now...
I am going to preface my list pay saying, "the cost of the materials and programs I use are not typical of the average homeschool experience, but are unique to the needs to the particular homeschool children in question and the resources the parents have opted to use for their homeschooling needs and pleasure".
With that said, here goes:
2 Children, grades 10&11, both in a fine arts school for homeschoolers for 12 hours on Tuesdays, and doing mostly AP level work the other 4 days of the week.
Clothes:
Per child, roughly $2282... Compare that to the cost of educating a child in public school which on average us just shy of $10,000.
(Without the optional arts classes and related supplies it would only be about $65.00 per child, so you can see that you don't need to have money to homeschool. You can even form groups and create your own electives, or trade services for elective classes. )
1. I justify spending so much on electives for two reasons. The kids love it and the girls is especially talented... the boy is shy and this helps him be more outgoing.... I like to think. Plus he does love it.
2. I make use of as much free curriculum as possible, so I can spend the homeschool budget on extras.
(ps. in previous and more prosperous years, the kids also took academic classes out of the home one day a week, so they were in classes two days a week and home 3 days doing assignments. That costs roughly $3500 per child... still far less than what public schools pay and probably near the top of what a homeschooler might pay.)
*See the tab (2010-2011 Curriculum Choices ) at the top of the page for the exact curriculum and books we have settled on.
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OK now...
I am going to preface my list pay saying, "the cost of the materials and programs I use are not typical of the average homeschool experience, but are unique to the needs to the particular homeschool children in question and the resources the parents have opted to use for their homeschooling needs and pleasure".
With that said, here goes:
2 Children, grades 10&11, both in a fine arts school for homeschoolers for 12 hours on Tuesdays, and doing mostly AP level work the other 4 days of the week.
Clothes:
- $24.00 on required T-shirts for arts program.
- $40.00 on new dance (jazz) shoes, Leotards, and tights for Daughters Tuesday Dance class. (got great deals on eBay and Amazon.)
- $50.00 on a film camera for my son's film photography class. (I got off easy this year. Last year he took digital photography, and the camera cost over $300... he still uses it.)
- $50.00 on a case of film for said camera
- $100 on lab fees for developing film
- $140 on supplies for son's graphic design class.
- $5.00 on back to school sale fillers for binders (son's being re-used).
- $20.00 splurge on daughter Hello Kitty organization folder. (if a 14 year old asks for hello kitty and bats her eyes, momma's gonna buy it for her.
- $10.00 splurge for daughters Hello Kitty lunch box which will be used once a week.
- $4000.00 tuition and fees for 2 homescoolers to take 6 classes each including dance, private music lessons, drama club, & etc. Each class is only $320 a year which works out pretty cheaply. I paid more the year I ran all over town doing electives at many different places. I used to pay $1500 for private piano lessons alone. (we make monthly payments)
- $0 daughter's math curriculum (*free online program)
- $0 son's math curriculum (*free online)
- $20.00 suggested calculus book to accompany free curriculum (purchased from Amazon)
- $0 son and daughter's biology (*free online)
- $10.00 suggested biology book to accompany free curriculum (Amazon)
- $0 Spanish (using Rosetta stone, purchased 3 years ago for son, and *free online program for daughter)
- $5.00 suggested Spanish textbook to accompany online program.
- $70.00 Language arts (For Such A Time As This series)
- $0.00 History *free online program
- $0.00 Chinese online curriculum (*free)
- $10.00 Chinese character book for daughter
- $10.00 supplemental historical novels.
- $0.00 for additional literature as we used public domain and paperback swap to trade books already read.
Per child, roughly $2282... Compare that to the cost of educating a child in public school which on average us just shy of $10,000.
(Without the optional arts classes and related supplies it would only be about $65.00 per child, so you can see that you don't need to have money to homeschool. You can even form groups and create your own electives, or trade services for elective classes. )
1. I justify spending so much on electives for two reasons. The kids love it and the girls is especially talented... the boy is shy and this helps him be more outgoing.... I like to think. Plus he does love it.
2. I make use of as much free curriculum as possible, so I can spend the homeschool budget on extras.
(ps. in previous and more prosperous years, the kids also took academic classes out of the home one day a week, so they were in classes two days a week and home 3 days doing assignments. That costs roughly $3500 per child... still far less than what public schools pay and probably near the top of what a homeschooler might pay.)
*See the tab (2010-2011 Curriculum Choices ) at the top of the page for the exact curriculum and books we have settled on.
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Self Piano Instruction
This year my daughter chose voice instruction over piano instruction. This means she is doing piano solo this year. Our goals for her self piano instruction is to build a repertoire of songs that she can play well, and to put together a binder to include these songs that she can play on demand. We are not recreating the wheel. We are going through all the songs she has learned these past 8 years of formal instruction and committing to practicing them on a daily basis.
At the end of the school year she should have 10 to a dozen songs she is very good at playing.
Next summer, I will find someone to go over her repertoire with her to further strengthen her skills.
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At the end of the school year she should have 10 to a dozen songs she is very good at playing.
Next summer, I will find someone to go over her repertoire with her to further strengthen her skills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Middle school book purge almost over
My middle school book purge is almost over. It looks like I am getting decent prices for most of my old middle school homeschool books. Still, the prices are far below what you would pay for them new. Check it out.
I did come across some critical thinking books we never used that I will be listing this weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
I did come across some critical thinking books we never used that I will be listing this weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Homeschool Book Purge: Middle School
I am cleaning out my shelves to make room for this year's curriculum. (Versus buying a new bookshelf!)
Since I did so well selling a few items last week, I decided to list my old homeschool books on Ebay. As I had duplicates of many of the books, with 2 kids taking local co-op type classes during the middle school years, these books I am selling are in pretty good condition.
All but one of these books were used successfully by my kids in the middle school years. I highly recommend them!
They are for sale on Ebay and started at .99 cents. See partial list below:
View all items...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Since I did so well selling a few items last week, I decided to list my old homeschool books on Ebay. As I had duplicates of many of the books, with 2 kids taking local co-op type classes during the middle school years, these books I am selling are in pretty good condition.
All but one of these books were used successfully by my kids in the middle school years. I highly recommend them!
They are for sale on Ebay and started at .99 cents. See partial list below:
- Analytical Grammar student workbook Homeshool gr 6-8
- BJU Spanish 2 Teachers Edition Activities manual
- The Boy's King Arthur Middle School History Novel
- Signs & Seasons by Jay Ryan Grade 6-8 Astronomy
- Middle School history Augustus Caesars World -Foster
- Exploring Creation with Botany by Jeannie Fulbright , Apologia Books: Science Middle School Botany
- Monarchs of the Nile by Aidan Dodson , Homeschool History Novel, Ancient Times, Egypt
- Abraham Lincoln's World by Genevieve Foster, Homeschool History Novel, Beautiful Feet Books
- Story of the Middle Ages Homeschool Classical History , Medieval History Book, Middle school ~Christine Miller
- Write Source 2000 Middle to High school Homeschool, A Guide to Writing, Thinking and Learning Language arts
- Augustus Caesars World by Genevieve Foster Grades 6-8, History Novel Beautiful Feet Books Ancient Times
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Loving Ebay right now
Granted, I don't love eBay as much as I did 5-10 years ago when I was an active eBay seller and making a good amount of money on a regular basis. Ebay is hostile towards the small business right now.
But as a homeschooler, eBay is Da-Bomb!
So far for this school year I was able to get the bulk of my money back for used Teaching Textbook DVDs AND I sold my son's science book set and turned around and used the same money for the camera for his film photography class.
Considering I spend $300 on his digital camera last year (it is valued at almost $500) I didn't want to purchase another camera for another photography class, but if I could trade a science book for the camera, then I am happy. I got the same camera as the one on sale at Amazon for $119 for $50 plus shipping! It took a bit of patience to find it.
~Still on my homeschool shopping list:
Graphic Design materials
Dance class gear including size 10 girls jazz shoes.... may have to pay full price for those.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
But as a homeschooler, eBay is Da-Bomb!
So far for this school year I was able to get the bulk of my money back for used Teaching Textbook DVDs AND I sold my son's science book set and turned around and used the same money for the camera for his film photography class.
Considering I spend $300 on his digital camera last year (it is valued at almost $500) I didn't want to purchase another camera for another photography class, but if I could trade a science book for the camera, then I am happy. I got the same camera as the one on sale at Amazon for $119 for $50 plus shipping! It took a bit of patience to find it.
~Still on my homeschool shopping list:
Graphic Design materials
Dance class gear including size 10 girls jazz shoes.... may have to pay full price for those.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
This years Academic Plan for Sophomore Daughter Grade 10
Update on this Years Curriculum for Jr. Daughter
Grade 10:
Her work schedule will be 4 days a week for core lessons and music practice 6-8 hours and all day Tuesday at Artios Academies.
I am also planning monthly Science and Evironmental Museum field trips.
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Grade 10:
- Hippocampus Algebra part 2 (equivalent to Algebra 2) with Critical Thinking Algebra Word Problems
workbook
- Biology (non majors biology hippocampus) with Inquiry into life textbook
- Virtual Biology Lab
- Spanish 2: Learner.org, Destinos with Destinos listening CDs and Workbook
- Intro to Chinese @ BYKI.com with Learning Chinese the Easy Way
- Skills for Literary Analysis by James P Stobaugh
(taking Analyzing Literature CLEP)
- Review History 1 for CLEP, then US History 2 (Hippocampus) w/ A History of US books
- Electives at Artios Academies for chorus, Christian World View, Musical Theater, Musical Theater Dance (PE), Voice Lessons, Drama Club
Her work schedule will be 4 days a week for core lessons and music practice 6-8 hours and all day Tuesday at Artios Academies.
I am also planning monthly Science and Evironmental Museum field trips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Update on this years curriculum for Jr. Son
I gave a preview of this school year two months ago. I think we have the final schedule down now:
Grade ll:
** edit... changed BJ Spanish 2 Book to Rosetta Stone Workbook for continuity.
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Grade ll:
- Calculus AB1 for AP (Hippocampus.com free online video based program) w/Textbook Calculus, Early Transcendental Functions
- Non majors biology (Hippocampus) w/Textbook Inquiry Into Life
- Biology Lab: Biology Labs Online
- US History 2 for AP(Hippocampus) with A History of US by Hakim books
.(He will attempt the US History 2 CLEP or AP exam next summer)
- Spanish 2 (Rosetta Stone) w/ **Rosetta Stone Workbook
(he will attempt the Spanish CLEP next summer)
- American Literature: Encouraging Thoughtful Christians to be World Changers
- Electives at: Artios Conservatory of fine Arts (Tuesday program includes Chorus, Graphic Design, History of Film, Technical Theater and Film Photography)
- Phys Ed: Keeping and exercise Journal.
** edit... changed BJ Spanish 2 Book to Rosetta Stone Workbook for continuity.
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Algebra 2 for Dummies for Homeschool
Of all of the Algebra 2 curriculum options available! My son started the year with an Algebra 2 workbook and Khan Academy for Algebra 2.
After a month or two, he came to me and asked for Algebra 2 for Dummies. "For Dummies!?" I asked.... "For Dummies" he replied. I purchased the set... a textbook and a workbook.
He completed it today and we went over his work together. Here is how he used it.
First, he read the chapter. Then if he wasn't clear on it, he Googled the concept and looked at videos and sites like AAAmath.com. Then he printed a free worsheet on the topic. Finally, when he felt comfortable, he used the workbook for his chapter tests.
His reasoning for his approach is that Algebra 2 for Dummies should be used as a review for someone who has already taken the class, or for extra help for someone taking the class. Not as a first exposure. Still, that and the internet was all he needed
He scored a 91% for the year... starting off in the high 80's and then got better as he progressed. He tackled this subject with NO help from me... I even offered to hire a tutor many times when he announced he was stuck. He politely declined and soldiered on. I think he is as proud of his accomplishment as I am of him.
Now on to Trig!
He is taking it as a quick summer course using online videos and this book:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
After a month or two, he came to me and asked for Algebra 2 for Dummies. "For Dummies!?" I asked.... "For Dummies" he replied. I purchased the set... a textbook and a workbook.
He completed it today and we went over his work together. Here is how he used it.
First, he read the chapter. Then if he wasn't clear on it, he Googled the concept and looked at videos and sites like AAAmath.com. Then he printed a free worsheet on the topic. Finally, when he felt comfortable, he used the workbook for his chapter tests.
His reasoning for his approach is that Algebra 2 for Dummies should be used as a review for someone who has already taken the class, or for extra help for someone taking the class. Not as a first exposure. Still, that and the internet was all he needed
He scored a 91% for the year... starting off in the high 80's and then got better as he progressed. He tackled this subject with NO help from me... I even offered to hire a tutor many times when he announced he was stuck. He politely declined and soldiered on. I think he is as proud of his accomplishment as I am of him.
Now on to Trig!
He is taking it as a quick summer course using online videos and this book:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Tentative plan for my rising sophomore
If you read my last post, you will know that my son is a rising Jr. My 13 year old daughter is only 1 year behind him. Her plan for finishing high school is a little less clear. I do know that while he is taking the calculus and physics route with plans to study computer science and graphics, she is a much more a practical thinking person (versus theoretical) who wants to be an actor and costume designer. Plus she is already frustrated with Algebra, so I am worried about Algebra 2 and Calculus. After a conversation with her and my husband, here is how I think it will go:
Grade 10:
~*Continue Algebra 1, then study for Algebra Clep Test. This will equate to Algebra 1 plus College level Algebra 1
~Biology (non majors biology hippocampus)
~Spanish 2
~Intro to Chinese
~Modern Literature
~Study for US History 1 Clep Exam & then do US History 2
~Artios Academies for chorus, Christian World View, Musical Theater, Musical Theater Dance, Voice Lessons
Grade 11
~*Geometry? Teaching Textbooks?
~Chemistry
~Chinese 2
~Grammar/ Lit: Analyzing and Interpreting Lit CLEP
~US History 2
~Artios Academies electives in Theater and Music
Grade 12
~ *Maybe Personal Finance or perhaps Algebra 2
~American or English Literature
~Artios Academies electives in Theater and Music and a Senior Project
I would love some input in the flexibility of homeschool math and College admissions!
*This is a work in progress... I have already several things since I have posted this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Grade 10:
~*Continue Algebra 1, then study for Algebra Clep Test. This will equate to Algebra 1 plus College level Algebra 1
~Biology (non majors biology hippocampus)
~Spanish 2
~Intro to Chinese
~Modern Literature
~Study for US History 1 Clep Exam & then do US History 2
~Artios Academies for chorus, Christian World View, Musical Theater, Musical Theater Dance, Voice Lessons
Grade 11
~*Geometry? Teaching Textbooks?
~Chemistry
~Chinese 2
~Grammar/ Lit: Analyzing and Interpreting Lit CLEP
~US History 2
~Artios Academies electives in Theater and Music
Grade 12
~ *Maybe Personal Finance or perhaps Algebra 2
~American or English Literature
~Artios Academies electives in Theater and Music and a Senior Project
I would love some input in the flexibility of homeschool math and College admissions!
*This is a work in progress... I have already several things since I have posted this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Preparing for my son's Junior and Senior Year
AHHHHHHHH! I just sat down with my son to talk about his classes for the next two years.... his last 2 years homeschooling.
I feel faint.
Anyway, we have decided that he would spend the next two years tackling physics and calculus. And of course there would be more grammar, literature, history, and Spanish.
Tentatively, the next two years will look like this.
*This summer:
~"Trigonometry in 20 minutes a Day" as a prerequisite for Calculus. (Trig is the only thing from a pre-calc book that he did not understand)
~Computer Science CLEP Exam
Next year, Grade ll:
~*Calculus 1part and part 2 (Hippocampus)
~Non majors biology (hippocampus)
~US History 2 (Hippocampus) (He will attempt the US History 2 CLEP next summer for college credit)
~Spanish 2 (Rosetta Stone ) (he will attempt the Spanish CLEP next summer)
~English/Grammar: I am designing a literature/wiritng course... he hasn't read as much as I would have liked the last 2 years, so I have picked 7 books to read and write about. (Because he passed the Analyzing Lit Clep, he has already reached his requirements for this subject)
(The good news Is I won't be spending much money this year as Hippocampus is free and we ownRosetta Stone )
His electives will include Film Photography, Graphic Design, , History of Film, Chorus, Christian Worldview, and Piano (ArtiosAcademies, a local homeschool program) This is where the bulk of my homeschooling money will go. Free homeschool sites
have made paying for this program possible.
His FINAL (SENIOR) YEAR:
~*Physics part 1 &2 and CLEP Exam
~US Government (if he wants another history at that point)
~Classes at Artios Academies will include more music and film related classes and a SENIOR project!
(note* with the Hippocampus program, the Calculus 1 and 2 and physics 1 and 2 is the same as precalc and calc, and intro to physics and physics.)
My daughter and I are still mulling over the next 3 years for her. I will sit down and compile that information soon. (If I don't put these things in writing, I fear I may forget something)
READ: Home School, High School, & Beyond: A Time Management, Career Exploration, Organizational & Study Skills Course
*This post has been updated... after getting a better understanding of calculus and physics and prerequisites, we thought it might make better sense to do a year of calculus, then a year of physics. It also cuts his classes next year from 5 to 4.... I added back another science (biology) after going on a couple of college tours.
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Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
I feel faint.
Anyway, we have decided that he would spend the next two years tackling physics and calculus. And of course there would be more grammar, literature, history, and Spanish.
Tentatively, the next two years will look like this.
*This summer:
~"Trigonometry in 20 minutes a Day" as a prerequisite for Calculus. (Trig is the only thing from a pre-calc book that he did not understand)
~Computer Science CLEP Exam
Next year, Grade ll:
~*Calculus 1part and part 2 (Hippocampus)
~Non majors biology (hippocampus)
~US History 2 (Hippocampus) (He will attempt the US History 2 CLEP next summer for college credit)
~Spanish 2 (
~English/Grammar: I am designing a literature/wiritng course... he hasn't read as much as I would have liked the last 2 years, so I have picked 7 books to read and write about. (Because he passed the Analyzing Lit Clep, he has already reached his requirements for this subject)
(The good news Is I won't be spending much money this year as Hippocampus is free and we own
His electives will include Film Photography, Graphic Design, , History of Film, Chorus, Christian Worldview, and Piano (ArtiosAcademies, a local homeschool program) This is where the bulk of my homeschooling money will go. Free homeschool sites
have made paying for this program possible. His FINAL (SENIOR) YEAR:
~*Physics part 1 &2 and CLEP Exam
~US Government (if he wants another history at that point)
~Classes at Artios Academies will include more music and film related classes and a SENIOR project!
(note* with the Hippocampus program, the Calculus 1 and 2 and physics 1 and 2 is the same as precalc and calc, and intro to physics and physics.)
My daughter and I are still mulling over the next 3 years for her. I will sit down and compile that information soon. (If I don't put these things in writing, I fear I may forget something)
READ: Home School, High School, & Beyond: A Time Management, Career Exploration, Organizational & Study Skills Course
*This post has been updated... after getting a better understanding of calculus and physics and prerequisites, we thought it might make better sense to do a year of calculus, then a year of physics. It also cuts his classes next year from 5 to 4.... I added back another science (biology) after going on a couple of college tours.
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Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources
Japanese via YouTube
Learning Japanese via Youtube
Like many teenage girls her age, my daughter has a thing for Japanese music. I don't get it... and neither does anyone else in our family... except her cousin, but she loves it.As she spends all of her free time watching Japanese pop groups, and was beginning to pick up Japanese words, I told her to start a japanese notebook, and translate a new song each week. Ha!. Japanese 1... check.
I will follow up with an online Japanese 1 program that has an assessment test.
She is 3/4 through Spanish 1 right now, but instead of doing Spanish 2 next year, I will let her continue with Japanese.
~ Please feel free to submit any activities that homeschoolers might enjoy. To do so, you can email Ahermitt@gmail.com with headline Homeschool Gwinnett.
~ For most recently added activities, go here.
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Year long education plan for my 9th grader
At 13 years old, and starting high school, my daughter has requested to take over her education. More speficically she wants me to stop looking over her shoulder and monitoring her every two minutes. She has requested an overall plan for the year, as I was giving her assignments for the week every Monday and then "nagging her to death". I have obliged her by giving her an overall plan for the year to follow.
I created a start page here that explains her schedule and takes her to the various outlines and assignments.
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Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
I created a start page here that explains her schedule and takes her to the various outlines and assignments.
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
Website Curriculum Review: Guaranteach
I was recently introduced to a new online math website called Guaranteach.com. It is a math website that provides online math help through the use of video. It is value priced at only $9.95 a month.
I have seen this done by other websites and feel that it is truly the way math should be taught (through video), but gauranteach goes one step further customizes the program by letting students and parents create settings that fit the students learning style.
I have used different video based lessons over the years to homeschool my kids. The reasons we have stopped using one site or another is because they would complain that it was too fast, or too dry, or too silly, or too fast. The customization feature of this site solves that problem. You can adjust the settings for something more or less serious. To be more verbal or less, more real world, or to have more or fewer pictures.
The student will also have a hard time getting bored because there are numerous teachers to help them throuhg the different lessons. There are over 20,000 in the different styles that will work your student through all levels of math from Basic math through Calculus, statistics, and advanced statistics. Yes, there are AP lessons available through this site.
I haven't used this website much as I don't want to bounce my kids around every time I find something new, but if is sounds like something you might want to try. Whether you are a homeschooler or someone looking for Online Tutoring, you will want to check out the free fraction vidoes and free trial.
I have seen this done by other websites and feel that it is truly the way math should be taught (through video), but gauranteach goes one step further customizes the program by letting students and parents create settings that fit the students learning style.
I have used different video based lessons over the years to homeschool my kids. The reasons we have stopped using one site or another is because they would complain that it was too fast, or too dry, or too silly, or too fast. The customization feature of this site solves that problem. You can adjust the settings for something more or less serious. To be more verbal or less, more real world, or to have more or fewer pictures.
The student will also have a hard time getting bored because there are numerous teachers to help them throuhg the different lessons. There are over 20,000 in the different styles that will work your student through all levels of math from Basic math through Calculus, statistics, and advanced statistics. Yes, there are AP lessons available through this site.
I haven't used this website much as I don't want to bounce my kids around every time I find something new, but if is sounds like something you might want to try. Whether you are a homeschooler or someone looking for Online Tutoring, you will want to check out the free fraction vidoes and free trial.
Curriculum plan 2009-2010
Woke up 3 hours late today... too late to go to church. Still on LA Time.
Spent the rest of the day working on curriculum plan for the year and then for the next week.
Can't believe it is almost 1am and I am not sleepy. Still on LA time!
What are we using this year? Most of our curriculum this year is free with the homeschool budget going into their Fine Arts Program and testing fees. (I paid for Rosetta Stone last year and am enjoying the perks of that expense this year. We are a test family for lifetime learning as they perfect their online curriculum that used to be available by CDrom)
Daughter:
Son:
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Spent the rest of the day working on curriculum plan for the year and then for the next week.
Can't believe it is almost 1am and I am not sleepy. Still on LA time!
What are we using this year? Most of our curriculum this year is free with the homeschool budget going into their Fine Arts Program and testing fees. (I paid for Rosetta Stone last year and am enjoying the perks of that expense this year. We are a test family for lifetime learning as they perfect their online curriculum that used to be available by CDrom)
Daughter:
- Lifetime Library for language, science, and history
- Khan Academy for math (Algebra 1)
- Rosetta Stone for Spanish (taking up most of the budget)
- Thinking about supplementing Spanish with Byki.com
- Artios Conservatory for Fine Arts (Theater /Music Concentration)
Son:
- Khan Academy for Math (Algebra 2)
- Rosetta Stone for Spanish
- CLEP exams W/ REA guides for Language, Science, History, and Math by year's End will be using lifetime library and Learner.org as base curriculum.
- May use InstantCert website for help with CLEP Exams
- Artios Conservatory for Fine Arts (Film/Art Concentration)
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
It's a new school year!
We are home from California and ready to start the new school year.
The kids are going to Artios Conservatory on Tuesdays (High school fine arts, drama, chorus, etc).
My son is studying for Clep Exams this year.
My daughter is doing online curriculum programs.
I am also pledging to travel more and do more field trips.
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
The kids are going to Artios Conservatory on Tuesdays (High school fine arts, drama, chorus, etc).
My son is studying for Clep Exams this year.
My daughter is doing online curriculum programs.
I am also pledging to travel more and do more field trips.
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
Homeschool Curriculum for sale on Ebay
I normally don't sell my homeschool books, but there were a few that I really didn't see myself using or referring to again. They are for sale on Ebay.
Titles include Teaching Textbooks Geometry and Critical Thinking materials.
I really liked these items and they were very helpful in homeschooling my kids.
I used to use Ebay heavily to make money and I always use it to buy homeschool materials. The problem is that the site was losing popularity due to high shipping and listing fees. They are, however, working to fix those problems and are now allowing people to list 5 items for free each month.
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
Titles include Teaching Textbooks Geometry and Critical Thinking materials.
I really liked these items and they were very helpful in homeschooling my kids.
I used to use Ebay heavily to make money and I always use it to buy homeschool materials. The problem is that the site was losing popularity due to high shipping and listing fees. They are, however, working to fix those problems and are now allowing people to list 5 items for free each month.
Read more Notes From a Homeschooling Mom
Visit Me at the Families.com Homeschool Blog
Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com
Great Deals on School & Homeschool Curriculum
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12 grade year of homeschooling, Finishing Strong
We are almost done with my college prep series. There will still be a video on completing the transcript. Stay tuned... meanwhile, ...
