Homeschooling High School, Middle School and Elementary

(contains affiliate links)

I feel like I’ve simplified our homeschooling curriculum so much this year.

However, after writing out all of the resources we hope to use – it doesn’t seem very simplified! Rest assured though, as we are not doing all of these items everyday and I do quite a bit of group work with my children, this is about as simplified as school for six children can be!

What helped me simplify our curriculum choices? Homeschool Made Simple and the words of wisdom from Carol Joy Seid.

 

High School Curriculum

I’ll start with my High Schooler first – 9th grade! I have to admit I’ve had some worry over how this whole high school thing was/is going to play out.

Jacob is going to take 3 classes at the local public school (you can read more about the decision for public school here):

Spanish I

Honors English

AP Geography

He’s very much hoping to play on the golf team as well. (EDITED: He made it!) We have never done a traditional school before, so this will be very weird/interesting/nerve-wrecking/exciting (for him!) year. Me? I wish we could rewind the clock and he was still content to read good picture books and go outside and look for bugs. But, they do grow up.

Here at Stella Maris Academy he will be studying:

Algebra I – Teaching Textbooks (he’s currently working through Pre-Algebra)

Earth Science – we are sort of planning this as we go along, I’m hoping to use a bunch of interesting documentaries from Netflix, the library and other resources. We will also be utilizing  these texts:

Earth Science

Earth Science DeMystified

I will also be using suggestions from this blog post, Earth Science from the 9th Grade Curriculum

Religion – The text below as well as participation in Youth Group. We have been using selections from Decision Point. What I would really like is to get him going on a few Catholic podcasts, once he finds one that he likes he will be hooked!

World History – Light to the Nations, Part 1  (I think this is what we will use!)

Middle School Curriculum

The rest of our five children are more or less schooled together. Obviously for subjects like math and reading they are each working at their own level, but for history, science, power hours, read alouds, we are all together.

6th grade – Jonah & Sarah

Math – Teaching Textbooks 7

Writing – I had been planning a purchase from Brave Writer and then I got the opportunity to do a review of Partnership Writing (coming soon!). I think this is going to be a great fit for us, especially for my VERY RELUCTANT 12yo.

Religion – Seton (our same text from last year, we are going through it slowly)

English – Seton 6, English from the Roots Up (this will most likely be a Power Hour activity)

All the kids:

Handwriting – Italic Handwriting – All of my children are using a book from this series, including myself! That’s right, I purchased the grownup version so I could have better handwriting for my planner. We love these books.

History – A Child’s History of the World, Catholic World Culture, Our Catholic Legacy – we will be focusing on the ancients this year. Actually it will probably take us two years to get through this time period depending on how quickly (or slowly!) we want to go. I won’t use Catholic World Culture and Our Catholic Legacy as workbooks per se, more as books to cross reference and to learn interesting facts about our church’s history.

Science – Nancy Larson Science 3

Geography – Mapping the World by Heart

Reading Aloud – I’m planning on lots of great read alouds throughout the year. I will jot down ideas of books I want to remember, but mostly I like to leave it open and be flexible.

Nature Walks

Poetry Tea Times – This will happen this year! I’ve had kids begging for it and I’ve ignored it long enough. Here is my Poetry/Tea Time Pinterest board that I’ve created for inspiration.

Elementary Curriculum

Just for the younger kids:

Pre-Math it/Math it

Sing, Spell, Read & Write – yes, we are STILL working on reading….

How is your homeschool year shaping up?