Jump to content

Menu

10th grade planning thread


Recommended Posts

Is is too early for a 10th grade thread for the fall? How is 9th grade going? Have you made any decisions for the fall? I'm curious where everyone else is in the planning phase.

 

I feel like we have a good grasp on this year. We're off next week and I'll be planning our final 12 weeks of the year, which sounds odd to say we're almost done with our first year of high school.

 

I have some subjects outlined for next year, some are just a continuation of study from this year. Well have 7- 7.5 credits depending on how 1-2 subjects end up.

 

English II (literature, writing, grammar- yeah he still needs it)

Japanese II (Irasshai and Beginning Japanese)

Geometry (not sure which program yet)

Algebra II (Lial's Intermediate Algebra)

Modern Physics (Physics in the 21st century - I have to read through to make sure it's workable)

US History with some World history added (Civil War - WWII this year, 1 semester next year for 1945-current)

Ethics (.5 credit) - using this workbook, Ethic Workbook I as a base)

Star Trek and Its Influence (custom course studying 6 different areas of Star Trek: philosophy, technology, physics, cultures, film study and Star Fleet Academy :D)

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've really lost the fun of planning in high school, but at least it is easy as most subjects are outsourced. Dd is doing six credits plus volunteer hours and tennis.

 

English (outsourced) - Topics in Composition, Poetry Writing

Latin (outsourced) - Latin III, Reading Latin Literature

Science (outsourced) - Principles of Biology I w/ Lab

Electives (outsourced) - Introduction to Philosophy, Informal Logic

Math (with me) - finish LOF Geometry, LOF or Chalkdust Algebra II

History (with me) - my own plan - resulting in CLEP exam for History of the United States I

Geography (with me) NO credit - done w/ sister over three years - first ten weeks of Oak Meadow World Geography and Mapping the World with Art

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Your plan looks a lot like what ds did for 10th this year:

English: EIL

Japanese II: Irasshai & RS

Geometry: MUS

Algebra II: MUS (dd is using the Lial's series and I really like it)

Science: Apologia Chemistry

US History: NROC AP US History 1 w/ America A narrative History

Computer Science: 2 coursera classes

Personal Finance: Dave Ramsey

Band: Private School

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Once we got settled into what was working and what wasn't, 9th grade has been great. For elementary and middle we used Calvert School so picking 9th grade was new for us. We think Melody will be doing the following for 10th:

 

Writing IEW (not settled on exactly which things)

Literature we'll do the same as we are doing now (picking books and using lit guides)

Math Teaching Textbooks Algebra II (part of the year) and Geometry (part of the year - she will finish A1 before the end of 9th grade so we'll move on to A2 then)

Religion Treasures From the Book of Mormon

Spanish II Monarch

Biology Monarch

World History Monarch

 

We're moving to San Antonio TX soon so she might do some co-op writing courses. She loves writing and wants to spend a lot of time focusing on that.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is is too early for a 10th grade thread for the fall? How is 9th grade going?

 

Too early? Nope! This is the time of year when I seem to strike gold on good book deals (and late June/early July). It is always a challenge to piece together the actual schedule, but that often has to wait until dance studios, theatre, choirs, clubs and such annouce their next year's plans (file that under maddening but unavoidable-insert chocolate and patience).

 

AP US History (PA Homeschoolers)

Latin 1a/1b (Lukeion)

Conceptual Physics (Hewitt, plus additonal algebra based problems and labs)

Spanish 2

US Government (aiming for the AP exam)

American Literature/Composition (Elegant Essay/Windows to the World,Novels/Short Stories/Historical Documents)

Saxon Advanced Math (Lessons 1-90)

 

If the above turns out to be less time consuming than we are assuming, we have Italian, Philosophy, Earth Science with Astronomy and Meteorology in the wings waiting to go. We will see how things look at the beginning of October before adding any of these though. I suspect she is going to have her hands full with the above + her many extras.

 

We are definitely taking a break from formal instruction of grammar next year. I want to see a year of writing and problem solving.

 

This year/9th Grade? Knock on wood, she seems to have rounded the huge teen bend that makes you daily question who will survive the battle of wits. Here's hoping it will continue to fade and become a unpleasant memory. I think I managed to leave her undone when I asked "Since you have mastered procrastination, how bout showing off your skill by putting off your next expression of defiance/disrespect?" It has been more pleasant and productive for a while. However, I am not sure if I should celebrate quietly or recognize the calm before the storm. Anyway, somehow we have managed to be still on track toward being done in mid-June.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am just about done planning. Next year is a weird year for us, due to credits in ALberta, funding etc. The teens will be doing a combined grade 9/10 year but will only be registered on paper as grade 8 &9 (I will be referring to the ages they will be next year)

 

So here is the current plans, still being worked out and changed.

 

Mostly we are following AO year 9 next year for livingbooks selections etc in each category

 

English:

Online lit classes with our school board: Modern Classics (term 1); Classic Adventures 1(term 2)

Grammar: R& S 6

Composition: Meaningful composition 5(I) (term 1)& High school writing (online with school board term 2)

Spelling: ds15:R&S 8; dd14 R&S 5 (she needs extra help on spelling

Vocabulary: Vocabulary from classical roots B & C

as well as narrations, dictation and recitation

 

Math: MUS zeta & pre alg

 

Science:

Ellen McHenry's Cells, The elements, and Apologia anatomy and physiology. Challenge science 10 exam for credits

 

Social Studies:

Canadian: Continue with selections from Canadian History through Modern Eyes; Canadian civics

American: Time Travelers cd-roms: American revolution, civil war and early 19th century

World: SOTW 3

Current events: What in the world publication

Geography: Continue Mapping the world through art, mapping drill

End of year challenge social 10 exam for credits

 

Foreign Language:

Latin: Online with school board, Latin 1 (submit scores for latin 10 credits)

French: Finish Mission Monde 1, do Mission Monde 2 (submit scores for french 10 credits)

 

PE 10- follow alberta guidelines, have not finish choosing what activities to do

 

Art 10- online with alberta distance learning

 

Misc:

Personal Finance: Complete Financial basics workshop form investor education fund (submit results for 1 credit)

Logic: Traditional logic II

Ethics/Philosophy: Online class with school board: Human Society

Typing: Once year ended submit results for 1 creit keyboarding CTS course

 

ds15 will also be tracking his working hours to submit for work experience 15 credits, and dd14 will be tracking her dance program(if she does another year) for her dance 25 credits.

 

By doing the hybrid way, they can finish 1/2 their grade 10 high school credits before registering in grade 10 formally, giving them more time in actual high school for the subjects they struggle with.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's never too early to start talking 10th grade planning! Ninth grade is our first full year of HS so it's been a lot of trial and error as we try to work out the kinks and find our rhythm. Our biggest issue right now is still DS's lack of time management and organizational skills, along with his lack of willingness to own his schooling.

 

(ETA: His organizational skills are SO BAD, that he forgets where he put his daily to-do list!)

 

We finished LOF Beg Algebra and signed up with IXL.com (just last night) to make sure DS's algebra skills are where they need to be. Our Earth Science curric is a bomb but we're ~30 lessons from the end so we're pushing through. I still have to sit down and match my World History topics against the timeline and geography books so we can get that started when science is finished. I did just put DS on a 5-on/1-off schedule, with his 1st break week March 11-15, since we already had that week off for Spring Break. He was vigously nodding his head that he'll keep up with everything in order to have every 6th week off, so we'll see if that helps.

 

Our 10th grade plan (so far)

English - American Lit following Notgrass' Exploring America

Science - DIVE Integrated Physics & Chemistry on DVD

Math - LOF Algebra II or LOF/IXL Geometry

History - Notgrass' Exploring America with US geography added

Spanish II - continue using LiveMocha but with the intent to DE Spanish at CC in 11th grade

Electives - Introduction to Logic (using Fallacy Detective & Thinking Toolbox), Advanced ASL, Christian Truth and Apologetics (my own)

 

He says he's still feeling strongly called to ministry, and is rethinking his career goals to get a better grasp on the details of it. What he decides will probably determine whether we continue with music or not.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our plan so far:

 

Math

EPGY Geometry

McDougal Littell Geometry

 

Science

AP Chemistry and/or AP Biology

If biology only is picked, then Apologia Creation in Advanced Chemistry will be used. If chemistry only will be used, then Apologia Physics will be added to prep for AP Physics later

 

English

American Literature and Composition (co-op)

Vocabulary from the Classical Roots 9not sure which book we are on :-) )

 

History

American History (co-op)

 

Foreign Languages

Dutch 2

Spanish 1 (continuation course after Conversational Spanish): Bob Jones

 

Theology

Bob Jones, Bible Truths Level D

 

Courses required in CA

Visual/Performing Arts (required 1 year course. We spread it out.): Digital photography with focus on techniques and the art of photography

P.E.: Dd goes to the gym on a regular basis and I count that as P.E.

 

Course required by PSP

Technology: Intro to computers (history of computers which we will clear by visiting the Computer History Museum..We live in Silicon Valley-Able to use Powerpoint, Word,Excel, Internet; will be cleared by using these programs cross curricular. And which teen does not know how to use the internet/ Ha!)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Once we got settled into what was working and what wasn't, 9th grade has been great.

 

Exactly this. It really took us these past 4 months to figure out a schedule that works. I think the rest of this year should be pretty smooth. How fortunate my dd will benefit from all of this trial and error when she starts high school in a couple of years.

 

So far 10th grade looks like this:

Oak Meadow English-Literature and Composition II

Oak Meadow History-World History

Oak Meadow Science-Environmental Science

Math-U-See Geometry

Spanish II-Oklahoma State University

Philosophy Class

Music Class

Discussion Group (kids have been getting together for years-we cover a broad range of topics and social skills)

Swim Team

 

Somehow I still want to fit in an art course.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ninth grade is going well. Here is what we are currently using:

Science: Conceptual Physics Class (outsourced labs)

English: LLLoTR at co-op, Jensen's Format Writing and the Word Within the Word Vol. 2 at home

History: World History using Streams Vol 1 and 2 and tests from CLP (nice and light, dd is not terribly interested in history)

Math: LOF Advanced Algebra

Electives: Bible Study at Co-OP

Health/PE: Red Cross First Aid and Lifeguarding Cert. classes

 

For 10th we are planning:

English: Kolbe Lit. class at co-op, Lively Art of Writing and Word Within the Word Vol 3 at home

History: Notgrass Econ and Poli-Sci as a gov credit via dual-enrollment in the spring

Science: DIVE Chem. and outsourced labs

Math: LOF Trig (fall), College Algebra in the spring via dual-enrollment.

Electives: Art?

 

We've discovered that we prefer doing dual-enrollment foreign language so dd will do French 1 and 2 at the local uni. in her junior year, fulfilling her high school and college requirements at once.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ninth grade is slowly smoothing out. Ds is making headway in organization (he is actually organizing his Legos :svengo: ) and timeliness.

 

It is Not too early to plan for 10th. I am somewhere in the middle of it. Here is where I am so far:

 

Biology: with either DIVE or Redwagon Tutorials

Algebra II: w/Lial's Intermediate Algebra

English: A Rulebook for Arguments, Composition in the Classical Tradition, The Stewart English Program: Book 1 Principles Plus..., Vocabulary (?)

Literature Analysis: Windows to the World

Health: Total Health (get 'er done) + various Boy Scout activities

History: still working on this. I would like to continue with the 4 year cycle but ds says he wants to be dual enrolled as a jr & sr - not sure if he'll be full time then.

Geography: probably BJU, maybe PACE

German II: OSU

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm pretty sure what ds will do in the 10th grade, the one toss up being Composition.

 

Math - Saxon's Advanced Math (Lessons 1-60) using Art Reed DVD's

Science - Spectrum Chemistry

Literature - Excellence in Literature (American)

History - American History with Oak Meadows

Compostion - Laurel Tree Tutorials or Comp. at Comm. College

Foreign Language - Japanese I (Irasshai and Hiragana & Katakana for Beginners)

 

Electives:

- Architecture Drafting through Landry Academy

- Art History (How to Look at and Understand Great Art/Understanding the World's Greatest Structures (Teaching Company Lectures)

- P.E. - Weight Training/Basketball

 

Of course all things subject to change. <_<

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Everything is still very tentative:

 

English: EIL III-American lit, grammar, vocab

Math: Geometry (had Algebra II in 9th)

History: Probably Middle Ages/Ren and Early US (loosly tied to TOG year 2)

Latin II (through Lukeion)

Science: most likely biology (possible outsourcing)

Electives (under consideration): art history, a modern language, logic, creative writing (and probably continuing a not necessarily for credit keyboarding course)

 

Swim Team

Girl Scouts

Volunteer opportunites

 

Of course this all depends on both of us surviving 9th grade :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should be posting on this thread... ugh....

 

At this rate, I'm not sure my 15yo will EVER finish 9th grade...

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

 

Kinsa, I completely share in your frustration. Every time I have to play catch up b/c DH slacked off on his oversight efforts I wonder how in the world my kid made it through 8.5 yrs of public school. It's got to be the simple fact that he tests extremely well, b/c I would have flunked him years ago.

 

I'm doing my 10th grade planning simply based on the thought that someday we'll get there, and I want to be prepared once we finally do.

 

Looking at what everyone else is doing next year, I feel like we're lagging so far behind. :bored: I'm trying hard to remind myself that our version of high school is very different from most people's b/c my kid is NOT directly college-bound and will most likely take his undergrad courses at the CC before transferring up to a 4yr uni.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I were planning for next year. I feel like I'm still doing damage control from 9th grade. There was just a lot of a lot all at once and we didn't do a good job staying on top of things. We're slowly digging out, but I suspect it will take most of the spring and summer to finish the year where I'd like it to be.

 

I did register for Latin 2 for next year with Lukeion, so that is one stake in the ground.

 

Things I'm trying to figure out:

 

What in the world do I want to do for history for the next three years? I have two kids working in tandem, so I have 10-12th grade for one and 9-11th grade for the other. I'd really like them to sit for a couple of AP history exams, but I'm not really enamored with the scope and sequence of World History. And if I do AP US for Rutabaga's junior year, that means Cauliflower would take it sophomore year. Don't know if that is too young. Cauliflower is a great thinker, but hasn't mastered fast essay writing yet. I could spend next year doing just ancients or ancients to middle ages. We will have done 1850 - Cold War this year. Probably in enough detail to support reviewing that period a little if they did World History or Euro. But I feel that I'm missing the overarching goals for what they will have accomplished as they leave high school.

 

Then there is coop. We are in a nice coop, but I sometimes feel that the academics aren't there. A lot of the families cut back in the biweekly coop classes in order to enroll in one of the local weekly support schools. So it can be tough to have a solid group of hard working students still in the group at the high school level. Dropping the group would give us more freedom and time, but at the cost of group discussions. And the other support centers are too far of a commute for me to be very interested.

 

Toss in there the Sword of Damocles of a potential move, maybe, somewhere, sometime and it makes me want to raid the leftover Valentine's candy for any chocolate. (Did I mention my struggles with living in the moment?)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So,the plan is to do:

 

History of the Medieval World

Spanish (through Homeschool Spanish Academy--she's totally resistant to me teaching her language so I just threw in the hat)

Medieval Lit (I'm still trying to figure out what)

Window to the World (and possibly WWS II)

Chemistry (I've just about decided on Zumdahl's text & the Illustrated guide)

A Rulebook for Arguments (never got to it this year)

Geometry (I'd like for it to be Jacob's 2nd ed, but may have to look for something else if I can't find a teacher's book)

Computer Tech (Word, Excel, etc-another class that never happened this year)

And something else. DD needs to pick some kind of elective, but she's waffling so far.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have finished two weeks of this semester with Sailor Dude doing part of his course work at the school and part of it at home. It always takes me time to figure out how much work he can handle. I am trying to turn up the heat on the frog S-L-O-W-L-Y and as usual, I am not sure which one of us is going to be "cooked" by the end of the year. :tongue_smilie:

 

Our 10th grade forecast:

 

AP European History (school or through PA Homeschoolers)

 

Literature and Composition 10 - SWB's Great Books 10th grade list tweaked to include world literature and whatever is needed for AP Euro.

 

Algebra II (at home) or Advanced Algebra II (at school) - same Foerster Algebra text either way

 

STEM Chemistry (at school) or Chemistry (with me, Dr. Tang schedule if we can work labs out)

 

Spanish II - This will probably be at school, but I am not sure what our options are if he does not get a good teacher.

 

Marketing I - at school

 

Religion and Philosophy - 0.5 credits, Fine Arts - 0.5 credits (both at home)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Chemistry with Red Wagon Tutorials DVD

Algebra II - Math U See and supplement with Khan Academy

German II - OSU German Online

English class through The Potter's School, probably Introduction to Literature

Bible: Precept Bible study .5 credit

PE: AYSO Soccer .5 credit

Driver's Ed - likely AAA .25 credit

American History - Sonlight Core 100, REA CLEP books, taking both American History exams

 

Probably add some other elective along the way

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a fabulous thread-here I was thinking in crazy for already lining out next years curriculum. Then I got on here and realized I'm not lol

 

Ok so I'm floundering a bit because I am leaning towards using TOG and although my 10th grader to be is independent and somewhat opposes working with her siblings, it's something I want her to work on and to be willing to do at least part time. I feel it's important for the sake family unity.

 

So would TOG yr1 satisfy for World History and Literature? I'm hoping so.

 

Then we haven't decided on a Geometry course but she will be taking that. Possibly Kinetic Books, or LOF or a video based system. Do many people do Geometry and Algebra II in the same year? I don't see my daughter doing that successfully.

 

Then we will need Chemistry-possibly Apologia or a video based program if I can find one.

 

That's about as far as I've gotten, so n

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I were planning for next year. I feel like I'm still doing damage control from 9th grade. There was just a lot of a lot all at once and we didn't do a good job staying on top of things. We're slowly digging out, but I suspect it will take most of the spring and summer to finish the year where I'd like it to be.

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to you too! I think you summed up my feelings exactly. I expect we'll be dragging out 9th grade through most of the summer and I'm hoping to get started on 10th by at least the end of September. Most of that is just because he.won't.do.his.work!

 

Today, for instance, he had a 45 minute session on IXL but only did 5 actual minutes of work (47 problems) even though he was supposed to work the full 1.5 hr math block, working on each topic until he masters it. I think we're going to have to have a little discussion about what constitutes "working on a subject". If this is how the day usually goes, it's no wonder we're not where we should be.

 

I just don't see how we're going to reasonably progress into 10th grade if we can't get some of these basic skills learned in 9th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is a fabulous thread-here I was thinking in crazy for already lining out next years curriculum. Then I got on here and realized I'm not lol

 

Ok so I'm floundering a bit because I am leaning towards using TOG and although my 10th grader to be is independent and somewhat opposes working with her siblings, it's something I want her to work on and to be willing to do at least part time. I feel it's important for the sake family unity.

 

So would TOG yr1 satisfy for World History and Literature? I'm hoping so.

 

Then we haven't decided on a Geometry course but she will be taking that. Possibly Kinetic Books, or LOF or a video based system. Do many people do Geometry and Algebra II in the same year? I don't see my daughter doing that successfully.

 

Then we will need Chemistry-possibly Apologia or a video based program if I can find one.

 

That's about as far as I've gotten, so n

 

Have you looked at DIVE for the Chemistry? It's DVD based and has syllabi for several different textbooks. I'm sure there's an option for Apologia. We'll be using DIVE for IPC and Biology but I think I'm leaning towards their internet-based syllabus just b/c it means one less textbook to purchase.

 

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone attempting both Geometry and Alg II in the same year. But then again, I'm not at all mathy and dread having to teach either course at any point. LOL I would pick one or the other depending on your DD's preference or where her strengths lie. DS would prefer to do Alg II before Geometry, but if we stick with the IXL program, we'll do Geometry b/c that's the highest math they have right now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to you too! I think you summed up my feelings exactly. I expect we'll be dragging out 9th grade through most of the summer and I'm hoping to get started on 10th by at least the end of September. Most of that is just because he.won't.do.his.work!

 

Today, for instance, he had a 45 minute session on IXL but only did 5 actual minutes of work (47 problems) even though he was supposed to work the full 1.5 hr math block, working on each topic until he masters it. I think we're going to have to have a little discussion about what constitutes "working on a subject". If this is how the day usually goes, it's no wonder we're not where we should be.

 

I just don't see how we're going to reasonably progress into 10th grade if we can't get some of these basic skills learned in 9th.

 

It seems that between being teens, increasing academic complexity and upping the intensity is sports that my kids need a new round of parent at the elbow modeling work habits and hovering parent. I think the worst thing I've done is assume that maturity and independence were linear. There is something more cyclical at our house.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wish I were planning for next year. I feel like I'm still doing damage control from 9th grade. There was just a lot of a lot all at once and we didn't do a good job staying on top of things. We're slowly digging out, but I suspect it will take most of the spring and summer to finish the year where I'd like it to be.

 

I did register for Latin 2 for next year with Lukeion, so that is one stake in the ground.

 

Things I'm trying to figure out:

 

What in the world do I want to do for history for the next three years? I have two kids working in tandem, so I have 10-12th grade for one and 9-11th grade for the other. I'd really like them to sit for a couple of AP history exams, but I'm not really enamored with the scope and sequence of World History. And if I do AP US for Rutabaga's junior year, that means Cauliflower would take it sophomore year. Don't know if that is too young. Cauliflower is a great thinker, but hasn't mastered fast essay writing yet. I could spend next year doing just ancients or ancients to middle ages. We will have done 1850 - Cold War this year. Probably in enough detail to support reviewing that period a little if they did World History or Euro. But I feel that I'm missing the overarching goals for what they will have accomplished as they leave high school.

 

Then there is coop. We are in a nice coop, but I sometimes feel that the academics aren't there. A lot of the families cut back in the biweekly coop classes in order to enroll in one of the local weekly support schools. So it can be tough to have a solid group of hard working students still in the group at the high school level. Dropping the group would give us more freedom and time, but at the cost of group discussions. And the other support centers are too far of a commute for me to be very interested.

 

Toss in there the Sword of Damocles of a potential move, maybe, somewhere, sometime and it makes me want to raid the leftover Valentine's candy for any chocolate. (Did I mention my struggles with living in the moment?)

 

:grouphug: I have a lot of faith in your ability to pull it together through the spring. But maybe you shouldn't take the word of a woman who just ate a bunch of those candy hearts. :tongue_smilie:

 

I think there is some wisdom in how our local high school handles freshmen. For the first semester, there is not a lot of extra homework. Students are adjusting to block schedules,earlier days, and hopefully, more demanding classroom content. The second semester, there is more work, but not at quite the level they will experience in the coming years. This way, everything is not coming at them all at once.

 

I just tossed an AP World History text and a copy of the Iliad at Sailor Dude and said "Welcome home," while forgetting it would take a little bit of time for him to adjust to greater demands. Be patient with yourself and your kids; the digging out will soon start to go faster.

 

There really isn't anything to be enamored with for the APWH scope and sequence. We are using Units 1 and 2 (Foundations) for the last half of this year at home, and if there is time, I will extend only the European part up until the Black Plague which is where AP Euro comes in. I had no desire to continue with the school's Global studies course. We are still following the classical time frame, putting AP courses where they fit, and filling the gaps around them, if that makes sense.

 

The more advanced students at our local ps are encouraged to take APUSH their sophomore year, so I would imagine your younger dd should do just fine.

 

What are your overarching goals for high school and how do you think you might be missing them? For me, the AP route has the potential to be a bit dry and I want my son to continue to love history when he leaves home and to appreciate the patterns played out and how they can be applied to the world today, so I still have some questions there.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

(ETA: His organizational skills are SO BAD, that he forgets where he put his daily to-do list!)

 

 

Got a suggestion for you: It is so----- worth going to the store and buying a 10 pack of white poster board. Put the list on the poster (front side day 1, back day 2) . When he asks why? Just answer, harder to misplace this way. Dd made one day and decided maybe she could figure out how to keep up with that list (but I have poster board ready and waiting :sneaky2: . ) It actually is something we laugh about now.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ds finally has some opinions about what he wants to study, but he's a lot more ambitious than I am! Hopefully he can handle everything he wants to do.

 

AoPS Pre-calculus

English: Excellence in Literature III: American (Honors, but switching out a few books), AG High School Reinforcement

Zumdahl's Chemistry (AP)

American History (maybe The American Pageant?)

OSU German II

Myers' Psychology (AP)

Physical Education (he runs and swims excessively)

Some kind of light intro to programming. He wants to take AoPS's online course. :rolleyes:

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should be posting on this thread... ugh....

 

At this rate, I'm not sure my 15yo will EVER finish 9th grade...

 

We'll be doing a few subjects over the summer, ones that will need my time as well. I don't feel two-thirds done with most of the other subjects either. I think we're in for a long 12 weeks.

 

 

It seems that between being teens, increasing academic complexity and upping the intensity is sports that my kids need a new round of parent at the elbow modeling work habits and hovering parent. I think the worst thing I've done is assume that maturity and independence were linear. There is something more cyclical at our house.

 

I have the maturity independence thing too. He's good about asking for help in subjects that interest him. Subject that finds boring and pointless (there are a few) he'd rather ignore them than ask for help. It's gotten better in the last few weeks. Instead of simply not doing something, he'll ask for help. Come to think of it, he was private school for kindergarten and did the same thing. He would get in trouble for talking in class. What I didn't realize until we started homeschooling was he couldn't do the worksheets they were giving him and simply decided to talk to the kid next to him instead of asking for help. So maybe high school is more like kindergarten, the discussions are more interesting, the guidance necessary seems similar.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our tentative plan (it's so strange to be posting in a Grade 10 plan thread!!!! how did this happen??):

 

Algebra II (1960s Dolciani)

Medieval literature and history (using WTM reading lists and SWB's history book - reading, discussing, notetaking, context papers, etc.)

Writing - desperately hoping SWB will start WWS 3 and will make it available for beta-testing - really loving beta-testing WWS 2 right now

Grammar - we will be DONE!!!!!!!!!! We are so tired of the indoctrination included in R&S (although dd is still going through R&S - but both kids are just tired of the rhetoric in it...still, it's good grammar training)

Physics - haven't settled on a text yet, but plan to include many WTM-style tips for study (read, write, experiment, notetaking, etc.) Oh, and the newest TTC physics course!!

Foreign language - Latin study will end here when Henle 2 is done (hopefully by June); will let ds pick a modern language to study for the next three years - Spanish? German? Gaelic? Turkish? Danish?

Electives - probably computer programming or electronics - whatever he wants. He built a computer this year, scrounging parts and paying for parts himself!!

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is is too early for a 10th grade thread for the fall? How is 9th grade going? Have you made any decisions for the fall? I'm curious where everyone else is in the planning phase.

 

 

After 2 years of 9th grade, I've realized it's NOT my favorite year of homeschooling. :glare: 10th grade is going so much better for my oldest, but my 9th grader is hitting the same hang-ups his brother did last year.

 

Tenative line up for 10th grade -

Saxon Algebra 2

Apologia Chemistry

History, Literature, Writing, Fine Arts: Tapestry of Grace year 4

German w/ Dad

Typing

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

After 2 years of 9th grade, I've realized it's NOT my favorite year of homeschooling. :glare: 10th grade is going so much better for my oldest, but my 9th grader is hitting the same hang-ups his brother did last year.

 

Tenative line up for 10th grade -

Saxon Algebra 2

Apologia Chemistry

History, Literature, Writing, Fine Arts: Tapestry of Grace year 4

German w/ Dad

Typing

 

It's good to know there really is a light at the end of this never-ending tunnel!

 

We're just hitting the start of the peak of puberty, which I KNOW doesn't help his with his attitude and attention span. If things go the way I expect them to (based on anecdotal evidence from when my brothers and male cousins were at this stage/age), I should be dealing with a very different teenager in about 5 months.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

 

What are your overarching goals for high school and how do you think you might be missing them? For me, the AP route has the potential to be a bit dry and I want my son to continue to love history when he leaves home and to appreciate the patterns played out and how they can be applied to the world today, so I still have some questions there.

 

This is part of what I'm trying to nail down. I know what sort of discussions we have in the car or at the dinner table. But those are impossible to quanify in a way that a college cares about. I had been planning on using AP exams, but the more I did into them, the dryer and more cursory they seem. (World History planning guides tend to have 4 weeks for 600 BC to 600 AD, ack.)

 

Trying to plan something that will suit both my older kids, without needing to try to plan two totally separate courses is making my head hurt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, what I do know:

 

German: German 3 from OSU's German Online

 

Latin: Latin 2 from Lukeion

 

(After this year, I'm willing to negotiate with the kids on which language(s) they continue with, as we will have covered the 3 years for high school. I'd love for them to continue with German, but could also see letting them drop to just one language.)

 

Literature: Reading and writing, probably a course of my own creation, possibly using Excellence in Literature. Either I will teach this in coop or I will do it at home. (Or a very long shot is using Lukeion for their Greek and Roman literature courses from Dr. Fisher. But that will be tough to schedule.)

 

Science: Chemistry - either Chang or Zumdahl or maybe Apologia, if I decide that finishing chemistry is more important than depth and philosophical issues.

 

Math: Geometry - AoPS? Jacobs? Jurgensen?

 

History: Definitely, but this is the most indefinite. Whatever it will be will likely be a creature of our own design. But I don't know if that will hew toward a chronological cycle back with ancients or something along the lines of AP courses.

 

That is 6 core courses. They also take music lessons and have competitive sports and scouts (Eagle Projects need to get done). Cauliflower would love to do something like Moot Court or Model United Nations or History Day. I need to have him pick something so that we can get on it at the right time of year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our tentative plan (it's so strange to be posting in a Grade 10 plan thread!!!! how did this happen??):

 

Medieval literature and history (using WTM reading lists and SWB's history book - reading, discussing, notetaking, context papers, etc.)

 

 

We enjoyed it so much I feel compelled to share: The Early Middle Ages, The High Middle Ages and The Late Middle Ages lectures by Philip Daileader via the Teaching Company. I noticed he was at William and Mary when he taped them and thought between him and Susan Wise Bauer it must be a neat history department.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

I have the maturity independence thing too. He's good about asking for help in subjects that interest him. Subject that finds boring and pointless (there are a few) he'd rather ignore them than ask for help. It's gotten better in the last few weeks. Instead of simply not doing something, he'll ask for help. Come to think of it, he was private school for kindergarten and did the same thing. He would get in trouble for talking in class. What I didn't realize until we started homeschooling was he couldn't do the worksheets they were giving him and simply decided to talk to the kid next to him instead of asking for help. So maybe high school is more like kindergarten, the discussions are more interesting, the guidance necessary seems similar.

 

Paula, I have four and a half months to live through before the graduation of my second child that does not like to ask for help in subjects he is not interested in. It's almost like early-onset-Alzheimer's. "Math homework?" "I have a math class?"

 

Work hard to get your son over this habit. I try to emphasize that it is okay to not know something and that it is okay to struggle with a subject. What is not okay, is to never ask for clarification, for help. Some of this is a maturing process. For several years, my dd did not want to ask for help because she thought it made her look dumb. When she started cosmetology school, the light bulb turned on. She came home one day and said, "Okay Mom, you were right. It's the not asking that MAKES you dumb." Cutting someone else's hair seemed to be more than enough incentive to get her to ask questions and not disappoint the client.

 

Sailor Dude has no trouble asking teachers for help or to be put in the storage closet with the smart kids. I worked very hard to make sure that message got through to him.

 

If your son wants to go on to college, he must master this skill. It's much easier to find a high school teacher or a home school mom to ask questions than it is to locate a professor's office and learn when their office hours are and actually show up there. He needs to know the effort is worthwhile.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our tentative plan (it's so strange to be posting in a Grade 10 plan thread!!!! how did this happen??):

 

Algebra II (1960s Dolciani)

Medieval literature and history (using WTM reading lists and SWB's history book - reading, discussing, notetaking, context papers, etc.)

Writing - desperately hoping SWB will start WWS 3 and will make it available for beta-testing - really loving beta-testing WWS 2 right now

Grammar - we will be DONE!!!!!!!!!! We are so tired of the indoctrination included in R&S (although dd is still going through R&S - but both kids are just tired of the rhetoric in it...still, it's good grammar training)

Physics - haven't settled on a text yet, but plan to include many WTM-style tips for study (read, write, experiment, notetaking, etc.) Oh, and the newest TTC physics course!!

Foreign language - Latin study will end here when Henle 2 is done (hopefully by June); will let ds pick a modern language to study for the next three years - Spanish? German? Gaelic? Turkish? Danish?

Electives - probably computer programming or electronics - whatever he wants. He built a computer this year, scrounging parts and paying for parts himself!!

 

Colleen, would you mind giving a review of how your year has gone so far using the SWB method for ancient history? WE are following an AP format here and while we are definitely polishing new skills, the history itself is losing some of its shine. Part of that is the need to compress ancient history into a semester instead of a whole year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DD got involved with Science Olympiad this year, and we basically did that for science instead of biology. Science Olympiad is a huge time commitment. So if she decides to continue next year, I have to build other things around it. If she doesn't, then there will be a totally different schedule. She thinks she want to do One Year Adventure Novel for English, but I don't think we have time for that if she does Science Olympiad. OYAN takes a bit of time and then she would still need some general composition on top of that.

 

Her competitions are not until March and April, and she doesn't want to make a decision until after competitions. So I feel totally up in the air!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Star Trek and Its Influence (custom course studying 6 different areas of Star Trek: philosophy, technology, physics, cultures, film study and Star Fleet Academy :D) "

 

Oh, good idea! :laugh: Mind if I copy you? My dd is going to watch it anyway- might as well make a course out of it.

 

How did I miss a Star Trek course? EL, would you be willing to share your course with us, or at least an outline of it?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Star Trek and Its Influence (custom course studying 6 different areas of Star Trek: philosophy, technology, physics, cultures, film study and Star Fleet Academy :D) "

 

Oh, good idea! :laugh: Mind if I copy you? My dd is going to watch it anyway- might as well make a course out of it.

 

How did I miss a Star Trek course? EL, would you be willing to share your course with us, or at least an outline of it?

 

Once I get it more planned out, I'll be happy to share. Here's my current wish list for the course, although it will probably change a little. http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/30DUIOIF1B9HL/ref=topnav_lists_5

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So far things are going ok this year. Some subjects could be better, some worse. I am still having a difficult time knowing what my expectations should be (DS has many LD's and even though he's a pretty smart kid - school is tough).

 

So - next year we're continuing with Trisms - Rise of Nations for history (plus geography), literature, art, and music. DS has been having a rough time with the rhetoric assignments in Trisms this year, so we may over-lap that subject and finish up in the fall.

 

Trisms uses (if the teacher wants to use it) IEW, so we'll be using that for composition. We're still working on grammar as well....

 

Algebra II - Foerster's (can't wait t get back to him.... wish he did Geometry). So far I've been able to teach math without a problem, occasionally I use Khan Academy. Next year I think I may be hiring a tutor to come out once or twice a week in addition to my teaching and online lectures... Not sure yet.

 

Chemistry - not sure yet (see a theme here?). I'd love to do Chang's, but I think that would be a bit much for DS with the more advanced math. He understands scientific concepts at a really high level, but struggles with the math side of it. I really want him to "get" chemistry and am worried about him getting bogged down in the computations. He handled honors level biology last year, but this year in Conceptual Physics, he has had to really struggle to connect the math to the science. He can do that math, but doesn't seem to get it.... Maturity, maybe?

So - Spectrum, could be a better choice for us....

 

Auto shop - DH is going to start teaching both our boys auto mechanics - the ins and outs f how an engine works, etc. He wn't be starting until March, so I'm thinking he'll certainly run through most of next year. They are actually going to be rebuilding an old WWII era Jeep and working on DH's "work in progress" Corvette.

 

Latin. Sigh. We took a year off this year to have more time to work on English, lol... But we need to get back into a foreign language next year. I'm looking at various online classes. DS can't dual enroll until 11th - but I don't know that he could handle a college level class anyway. We've done Latin, I would say we've covered the equivalent of a Latin I class in 7th and 8th grade, but I'm starting him at Latin I again.

 

I'm thinking of having him choose another elective (in addition to auto shop), but (while it may not look like it) with the amount of writing assignments in Trisms it is actually a pretty heavy course load (especially for DS).

 

You know, I used to really look forward to summer vacation this time of the year (the February doldrums), but we have so much to do between now and June - summer seems to be racing towards us far too quickly !!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Star Trek and Its Influence (custom course studying 6 different areas of Star Trek: philosophy, technology, physics, cultures, film study and Star Fleet Academy :D) "

 

Oh, good idea! :laugh: Mind if I copy you? My dd is going to watch it anyway- might as well make a course out of it.

 

What a great idea. My trekkie dh could teach this. I may have to copy, too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Chemistry - not sure yet (see a theme here?). I'd love to do Chang's, but I think that would be a bit much for DS with the more advanced math. He understands scientific concepts at a really high level, but struggles with the math side of it. I really want him to "get" chemistry and am worried about him getting bogged down in the computations. He handled honors level biology last year, but this year in Conceptual Physics, he has had to really struggle to connect the math to the science. He can do that math, but doesn't seem to get it.... Maturity, maybe?

 

You know, I used to really look forward to summer vacation this time of the year (the February doldrums), but we have so much to do between now and June - summer seems to be racing towards us far too quickly !!!

 

We found a happy medium that might work for you. We combined Zumdahl's Introductory Chemistry A Foundation with Chang Chemistry 9th Edition. Most of the problem sets we do are from Zumdahl, she reads the Zumdahl but she will also read the Changs for many topics and at least looks over the examples (sometimes we dip into the problems there as well). With careful shopping we were able to pick up both texts and solution manuals, plus a student study guide for the Chang book, for a total of about $60.00).

 

Zumdahl gets to the heart of it, provides ample practice. Chang's book allows for elaboration that can actually clarify a lot and serves as a great reference book. Sam Kean's The Disappearing Spoon, Napoleon's Buttons, Johnson's Invention of Air....are just a few really fun reads as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It seems that between being teens, increasing academic complexity and upping the intensity is sports that my kids need a new round of parent at the elbow modeling work habits and hovering parent. I think the worst thing I've done is assume that maturity and independence were linear. There is something more cyclical at our house.

 

When people ask me about homeschooling high school...what is the hardest...I always say it is working with teens.

 

They are great and the next moment they are unbearable. One seasoned mom in the area always compares it to potty training, necessary to get on with more independence in life but an adult must be there to guide, bribe, celebrate and clean up the mess.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I should be posting on this thread... ugh....

 

At this rate, I'm not sure my 15yo will EVER finish 9th grade...

 

I'm right there with you. It's been a rough year of adjustments and trial and error. I think we finally have our problems ironed out.

 

I probably could use a kick in the pants for thinking about next year though.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

We found a happy medium that might work for you. We combined Zumdahl's Introductory Chemistry A Foundation with Chang Chemistry 9th Edition. Most of the problem sets we do are from Zumdahl, she reads the Zumdahl but she will also read the Changs for many topics and at least looks over the examples (sometimes we dip into the problems there as well). With careful shopping we were able to pick up both texts and solution manuals, plus a student study guide for the Chang book, for a total of about $60.00).

 

Zumdahl gets to the heart of it, provides ample practice. Chang's book allows for elaboration that can actually clarify a lot and serves as a great reference book. Sam Kean's The Disappearing Spoon, Napoleon's Buttons, Johnson's Invention of Air....are just a few really fun reads as well.

 

 

Great ideas - thank you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

Ă—
Ă—
  • Create New...