I'm working on structuring a 9th grade lit class for our co-op. The co-op meets for one hour 20 min once a week for 30 weeks. I'm thinking of a mix of short stories, at least two novels, one Shakespeare play, and some drama, poetry, and mythology. I'd like to emphasize literary terms and include learning basics of research paper writing (probably a 5-6 page research paper). Suggestions for how to structure, and specific literature recommendations? I'm asking as I've gotten excellent suggestions in the past for other lit classes. My student is a good reader and likes to discuss literature. I'd like to challenge her a bit. I'm planning on following up with American Lit for 10th, British Lit for 11th, and World Lit for 12th. But I'm also open to doing semester classes which are more focused.

I've taught literature in co-op classes, but our co-op may not be able to rent space next year. And they don't seem to want to continue the online classes we've done this year. So... Any recommendations for a good 9th grade *online* literature/English class? Would like one that is synchronous and has a lot of discussion.

Is there a 9th Grade Planning Thread yet? If not, I'd love to see others' plans. Here are ours: Algebra I - Saxon Science - Holt McDougal Environmental Science Spanish - maybe Breaking the Barriers History - SWB's The History of the Medieval World English Composition and Literature - looking at BraveWriter for comp. For literature: Shakespeare and Chaucer (probably) Fine Arts: voice lessons and chorale singing; jazz drumming lessons Logic - Classical Academic Press materials Phys Ed - TBD

I'm getting the wheels started in thinking about 9th grade planning. This is my last high school kid! 😥 Our co-op's plan won't come out until early March so I'm waiting on that to make final decisions. I'll post our tentative plans below and come back later to make adjustments. Anyone willing to share what they are planning? English: American literature & Composition: Co-op IEW Essay & Research Class, Bluebook of Grammar, American Literature selections... History: A History of US book set; adding timeline, documentaries & movies, mapwork, current events Math: Algebra I with Mr. D.... (We might try to work through first half of TT Geometry along with Alg. I OR take a summer Geometry class with Mr. D after Algebra). Science: Biology; most likely at co-op which uses Apologia...Would like to incorporate Apologia Health in with this. (1/2 this year, 1/2 for 10th) Elective STEM Classes at Co-op 2x week.... Computer Science, Mechatronics, Art, Wood Carving, Advanced Guitar Maybe enroll in our local Civil Air Patrol club or JROTC at local high school? His interests are centered around building model boats, planes, & cars from wood.... he likes welding, designing/architecture, and aviation. Need to find more opportunities to create with others instead of creating at home alone. I'm thinking "team building" activities.

I'm super interested in the Bravewriter online courses, and I'm wondering, from those of you who have experience with the program, is it worth the cost to take the Writer's Jungle course online before starting a 9th grade course? I'm specifically interested in the courses for my current 13 year old, soon to be 9th grader, although I would also be interested in learning about the process for my younger two, as well. Would my 8th grader think that the Writer's Jungle is "babyish?" Writing is probably what she hates most about school. She doesn't have any experience with courses online, so I was wondering if the Writer's Jungle (before 9th grade) would be suitable as an intro. to an online writing course and also worth the hefty price-tag? Kind of something she could try before it "counts" for high school.

My dd has completed CC Challenge A & B and will be a 9th grader next year. I always thought that she would be in the Challenge program for high school, but I'm rethinking this decision after our year of challenge B. She is a year ahead in Latin and Math. I also want her to take biology instead of physical science next year. So, she would be working on her own at a different level for 3 out of the 6 strands. My questions: Has anyone else stuck with challenge even though you are working ahead in some of the areas? If you left CC, what did you use for History/Literature? Do you regret leaving?

Has anyone used the Norton Anthology of World Literature for high school world lit? There have been a number of discussions about Great Books literature, including following the WTM, but I haven't seen many or any discussions of using the Norton Anthology of World Literature (previously called Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces). The Norton Anthology, especially the shorter version, seems like a terrific basic text for a lot of the readings. We developed a reading list, but I don't have a lot of background in non-Western/non-Middle East ancient literature to pick particular works, translations, and provide brief background information for the literature of China, India, etc., but I wanted to provide a more global literature class (ancient in 9th grade). The Norton Anthology seems to provide all that, so I'm surprised that I don't read more about it here. Have others used it? How? What was your experience? Specifically, we're planning on using previous edition of the Norton Anthology, shorter version, Vol. 1, for the literature of China and India part of our ancient and medieval literature course (only 4 bucks including shipping). Does anyone have any suggestions to share? Thanks.

Ok, I'm in the middle of planning for 9th grade next year, and I have to say that I feel like wailing in dismay. I was reading the thread on the WTM BIology class, that students are spending 15-20 (at least 10+) hours a week on this one class. This is after a thread where I was informed it was perfectly normal for a student to carry 7 credits. This just does not compute for me, or for the kind of life experience my dd is hoping to have for the next 4 years. What gives? If a student does 6 or 7 credits, and spends 10+ hours a week on each, then they are spending 60-70 hours per week on schoolwork. Really??? I'm thinking that 5-6 hours on 6-7 credits - so a range of 30-42 hours - sounds much more reasonable. Clearly, you can cover much less material this way, particularly if you want to go into reasonable depth. My dd also has significant extracurricular activities that she really enjoys, and she spends many hours per week on each. Giving those up so she can spend 15 hours a week on biology is just not even on the table. Nor should it be, for her, IMO. OK: slightly frantic philosophical rant coming up, you been warned: This isn't directed at anybody in particular, but is more of an existential wail. What is the deal with high school?? Are we thinking that this is the last time in their lives kids will learn anything? Do we really expect children between the ages of 14-18 to master multiple fields of knowledge? Most college classes begin at an Introductory level. Not everybody is interested in every topic to the same degree. Isn't it more reasonable to spend high school gaining exposure to a broad array of subjects - exposure, introduction to the main issues and topics of interest and an understanding of how practitioners in that field do their work - rather than expecting them to master the intricate details and esoteric facts of each field? And focus on giving them the tools to learn - how to read deeply and for understanding, how to express themselves clearly in writing and be able to write in different forms and formats for different purposes, how to organize their thoughts and articulate them clearly, how to form an argument that is valid and recognize an argument that is bogus? And, equally importantly, to figure out who they are, how they tick, what their place in the world is, and what lights their fire and makes them *want* to digger deeper and learn more? :rant: If you've made it this far, thanks for listening. I'm just feeling so frustrated and discouraged by this whole process. I want to make sure my dd has a good education and is prepared for college. But I also want her to enjoy her life, and have time to pursue the things that matter to her. I don't want to put her on a treadmill. I'm not sure where the middle ground lies.

I know this has been discussed before, so if anyone can direct me to a thread where it has been hashed out, that would be most welcome. I have 9th grade (yikes!) mostly planned, in concept: Geometry Biology Integrated Health & Fitness (OM) Spanish 2 But I'm not exactly sure how to manage credits for English and History. What I have planned feels like 3 distinct things, although each might not be a whole credit: English: Rhetoric & Composition English: Ancient Literature Ancient History Or, it could be 2 things, which is actually how many credits worth of work I want to do: Great Books - Ancient History & Literature - more than one credit's worth of work? English: Rhetoric & Composition - less than one credit's worth of work? How have people handled Great Books study, integrating English Lit and History? On the transcript? In practice? Do you count hours and then figure it out at the end? Do they spend equal amounts of time in the "english" and "history" pieces? Do you separate out the composition/rhetoric piece, or is it built in? I'd love to read how different people have handled this, both how you've actually done it, and how you have transcripted it. ETA: I should mention that creative writing is my dd's passion, so she will be doing that on her own time for sure, and it could easily be counted as an elective credit or packaged up with other writing stuff into a full English/Writing credit. I was trying to keep it down to 6 credits, though, to leave plenty of time for extracurricular writing and the other time consuming activities in which dd participates - theater and horseback riding.

Does anyone have any classes they're looking to get off of their hands? I have a rising 9th grader, and I'm looking for the upcoming school year. Thanks!

Mid year is quickly approaching and so far I feel we are doing okay for first year of high school. However I know we have to test at the end and I am a little confused. My question is what tests do you all do for this level? I'm not sure I understand how those state mandated test results are going to show what we learned. How do you all determine which test to administer? I know there are several to pick from but how do they align with what we are teaching if we choose curriculum ? or are they just basic knowledge for the grade level? I am trying to sort this out before I have to let the district know which test we will do. Thank you in advance for any advice and info on this topic.

It seems like a lot of people are planning to do Ancient History and Literature with their 9th graders next year. I have three kids who will be doing this for their first year of high school. Anyone want to collaborate, share, commiserate, and possibly get our kids to do some sort of remote discussions/projects? I think it would be a great experience to have everyone who is learning about the same things to come together (virtually) and bounce things off of each other. Something like an online class discussion, but without paying $$$$ for one. Anyway, let me know.

This high school thing ...is new to me and having difficulty making sure that I have enough covered and to determine where to include certain books. :( I have searched intensely on past threads so I hate to duplicate but my list isn't quite the same as everyone else. So for 9th grade my son is taking a Biblical Archaeology class for History which is considered a one credit course along with a few other reads including: Unwrapping the Pharaohs, Unveiling the Kings of Israel, The Archaeology Book. However, on top of that I have this list of books we are reading along side and trying to determine whether they should be in Bible OT Survey (1/2 or 1 credit) or under Literature (1 credit course) so here it goes... Bible reads for OT survey credit for the year: Genesis- Malachi Genesis Finding Our Roots Adam and His Kin Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers study guides Is this enough for a one credit course? Other Biblical reads: Radical, Case for a Creator, and other self help books (too many various ones to mention) Ancient Literature and others included: Golden Goblet- read Cat of Bubastes- read Epic of Gilgamesh- read Holy War - Bunyan- read Codes of Hammurabi- read Screwtape Letters- read Illiad- (7 wks) beginning Odyssey (4 wks) Last Days of Socrates (2 wks) Plutarch's Lives (2 wks) Aeneid - Virgil (3 wks) Have scheduled to complete these in 33 weeks and that leaves me with only about 4 weeks to decide on the following below or could change the ones above that we haven't read yet. Now I am debating on the next ones and trying to figure out which should be done first if we have time from the list above. The Histories (Herodotus), Medea (Euripides), The Republic (Plato), Aristophanes (Comedies), The Gift of the Jews, or Till We Have Faces Probably only have time for one and wanted to read it in the correct order so am needing to decide before finishing the Odyssey. Along with the Literature he is taking Grammar with Abeka 12. Other classes taking this year: Rhetoric (online teacher CAP said it was definitely a 1 credit course) Ancient Literature (see above) enough for 1 credit Biblical Archaeology (see above) 1 credit Algebra II (Derekowens) 1 credit Apologia Chemistry (along with other reads) 1 credit Latin III (online Potters) 1 credit German I (online self paced) 1 credit Bible (OT survey see above) 1/2 or 1 credit? Does this sound good? Also in helps with the Ancient Lit list am looking for ones that do not have too much horrible themes such as in Oedipus and Sophocles. Thanks so much for your help!!!!

Okay so in a few days we will be starting 9th grade! Last time we homeschooled was 5th grade I have posted in other threads what we are doing for curriculum but again here is a quick run down. Saxon Algebra 1 (1 unit) Power Basics Biology (1 unit) -with labpaq labs & extra bio texts for supplementing English 1 (1 unit) -EIL Intro to Lit -wordly wise 9 -easy grammar 9 Global History & Geography I the growth of civilization ( 1 unit) Artistic Pursuits High school ( 1 unit) - This will be drawing & some art history various resources PE ( 1/2 Unit) exercise, biking, archery & tennis lessons Okay so DD already has French I credit & also an elective credit for Rise of Nationalism. She does NOT want to continue French. Do you feel this is enough credits ?? or should we do a Home Ec class that would include nutrition/fitness lessons and we would do cooking/sewing etc.. for another Credit? I just don't want to overwhelm her with too much her first year home. She is going to do her 1/2 credit of health next year in 10th grade. Also any advice or tips on grading, scheduling etc.. to keep things simple and rolling for us as this is all new would be greatly appreciated. I have reviewed the grading forums etc.. but it still seems a bit overwhelming to me. I know we need approx. 3hrs a week for each full unit but would love to hear how you all break down your weeks. & your grading systems Thanks in advance for your input!

I need some tips on how in the world to handle this. DD14 is jumping in to the local PS starting 9th grade on Monday. She will be receiving and IPAD with ibooks on it to use for the school year. 1. I have not purchased an Ipad because we have a large family, laptops, a desktop, tv's, iphones, video game systems, Kindle, and a 3DS. It is hard to manage all of these already. It will be a problem for me to keep the other children away from her Ipad. And she likes to use Social networks way too much. 2. I have already told her that her screen time is going to be limited more. If she has access to any screen, she is up all night! I may have to do what I read as a suggestion on an older hs thread and disable the wifi. And I may have to buy a little safe to keep it in overnight. Any other suggestions or knowledge of what the school usually allows to be downloaded on these?

DD14 is determined to go to PS for a SOCIAL Butterfly LIFE! She wanted to go to another county but that simply was not an option. There are no Private schools anywhere near us. This is upsetting to me to say the least. I planned on hs all the way if we could through 12th grade. Anyway, if she does go, I need a plan. I already have Latin, Math, English, and Writing for her. She wants to join ROTC. I know that I have read that most PS do not mind after schooling. I don't want to put too much on her so I am wondering how to even figure out how to after school her. Reading the website for the local PS is not helping me either. I did email the Principal to ask how to get her tested. I know I want her to read some Classics, keep up in Math, and Writing. I want her to learn more Latin since she has not retained much and had a couple of years of not being interested. I am thinking I will see if she wants to take another Foreign Language. Also, I am wondering if I should get her signed up for Study Hall if it is offered in 9th grade to give her quiet time to read or work on math. Any advice is welcome!

Homeschooling high school has reentered our radar... I've been reading the "planning for 10th grade" thread and have noticed many comments referencing problems with 9th grade. I would appreciate knowing what those difficulties are/were------scheduling? increased responsibilities? too heavy a workload? personality conflicts? Thanks http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/public/style_emoticons/#EMO_DIR#/smile.gif

I'm so confused. My son has Autism PDD. He is AWESOME! Very social and approriate. Things I've worked very hard to make happen. We start our 9th grade year Tues and I really want him to have a diploma when he graduates. My dilema... He is not learning at a 9th grade level. He hates certain subjects and I can not see teaching him English 9. He just doesnt get English. How do I get around this if 3 years of English is required for H.S. We have used Accellerated Christian Education and he seems to like that style of learning. Any suggestions would help. If you've been in this same situation please let me know what works or worked for you. All responses are greatly appreciated. Blessings Selena

After reading multiple postings regarding AP World History and given the depth/scope I am considering dividing World History into a 9th and 10th grade class. Thus covering the material in two years versus one. In my local school district the sequence is 9th - world geography 10th - world history 11th- US history 12th - gov't/economics The plan is to use World History Our Human Story (k12 book) by Pearson and Holden. There is so much material I thought that I could divide the book in half and cover the ancients in 9th along with adding in supplementation on world geography. For 10th finish and study for the AP World History exam. Has anyone else use this book? (it looks amazing) I would really like to go deep on World History and I think two years would give her a deeper understanding. I am not sure how I would show this on her transcript, except counting the 9th grade as World Geography and 10th as World History? Can anyone suggest a good World Geography course I can include? Would this scenario be reasonable? TIA

Forgive me if a thread exists for this already. So what is on your plate for 9th?

I'm kind of following Ambleside's format, if not their actual books. History text: Ancient Civilizations and the Bible History Supplements and biographies: Celebrate! Stories of the Jewish Holidays, Gilda Berger Josephus: The Essential Writings, translated by Paul Maier The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, Elizabeth Payne Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, dvd Herodotus and the Road to History, Jeanne Bendick Alexander the Great, Jacob Abbot Lives of Famous Romans, Olivia Coolidge Ten Queens: Portraits of Women in Power History Tales: Gilgamesh the Hero, Geraldine McCaughrean Tales of Ancient Egypt, Roger Lancelyn Green Mara, Daughter of the Nile, Eloise Garvis McGraw The Children’s Homer, Padriac Colum Greek Myths, Olivia Coolidge The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare Historical Science: Science in Ancient Egypt, Geraldine Woods Science in Ancient Greece, Kathlyn Gay Archimedes and the Door of Science, Jeanne Bendick Science in Ancient Rome, Jacqueline Harris Science text: Earth and Space Science, BJUP (we're going to be beta testing a new biology curriculum as soon as it comes out, so we're doing the space science until it's ready, presumably in Decemberish) Literature: Excellence in Literature: Intro to Literature Logic: The Fallacy Detective, Hans Bluedorn How to Read a Book, Mortimer Addler (I might switch this out for How to Read Slowly) Fine Arts: Music and art appreciation to correspond with topics in history text Math: Videotext Interactive Algebra Language Arts: MCT, grammar, vocab, poetry, writing Foreign Language: Elementary Greek 2 Citizenship: Ourselves, Charlotte Mason Is anything missing?

I am feeling so much angst over my daughter's high school experience so far. My heart is heavy and I don't know what to do. DD is very conscientious in her work but she is doing so poorly. Her last several tests in government, physics and Alg I have been D's. She works long days so this is bringing her down - and me as well. I am trying to be positive and optimistic in front of her but it's getting more difficult. She has cried so much this semester. Now I am crying as well. I don't really know how to recover. I've always been one to "stay the course" but then again my children were't drowning. Now that she's doing high school work I fear minimizing the integrity of the courses if I were to change them, kwim. I had really been looking forward to the whole homeschool hs experience but now feel as though I've botched it up. Sorry to be so sad on this board.

My wife homeschools our 2 kids (12 and 14) following TWTM philosophy and curriculum plan. Now that our oldest is entering 9th grade, it seems that compiling the curriculum is the hardest ever and the time commitment required by my wife the most she's ever had to give. She is immersed in it and her understanding is light years ahead of mine, but I'm trying to support her more than ever. My primary concern is -- with most other curriculum packages, the homeschooling teacher receives lesson plans that outline "use this book and these pages on this day" and it's all very organized. But, with the classical TWTM approach, my wife has to create her own lesson plans and it's a tremendous amount of work. I see no other homeschooling mother in our church putting this much work into preparing the school year. I've asked her, "Why is it that so many people are involved in TWTM approach, but no one has created lesson plans for each grade that specifies exactly what to do each day, using which books and resources?" I understand that each teacher has options for texts and resources, but there are thousands of homeschoolers who have been doing this for years.

Still searching for the right fit for my dd.... You answers give me a place to go to research!!! Thanks so much!:)

A friend asked what is normal for a boy at this stage and I have no idea what to tell her. Her child did the following: 2 teaching textbook lessons in Algebra 1 (lessons 13 and 14) 1 Apologia lesson (reading pp 291-295) - 1 on your own question, 1 experiment, 2 vocabulary words 1 lesson in Wordly Wise (section a-d) This took him 4 hours 15 min. I believe that this is too little work for this amount of time. Am I being unreasonable? Honestly, I do not consider this to be high school caliber work. I have given him 3 weeks to manage his own schedule in order to see what he would do given the opportunity, and he is doing a shoddy job of it as far as I can see. (In the past he has complained of too much work, so I told him I'd let him plan his own schedule to see what he thinks is a fair amount of work. Do I renig on our bargain, pulling the parent trump card, knowing that he is setting himself farther and farther behind, or do I let him continue on this path of ignorant bliss? Right now, he feels pleased as pie at his accomplishments for the day. He has bathed, dressed and went out to shoot some basketball. What do you all have to say to this poor woman?:confused: