High school?! No! Really?! OK, so White Pine is technically "only" an 8th grader, but we consider this year his freshman year. Why? All his curriculum is at a 9th grade or higher level. It's time to leave middle school behind and embrace the final 3-4 years of HIGH SCHOOL. Even if I don't want to admit he's ready for high school (or that he's as tall as me now)!
White Pine (9th Grade) (7 1/2 credits)
I. Honors English I with Composition (1 1/2 credits)
A. Excellence in Literature II: Literature and Composition
A. Excellence in Literature II: Literature and Composition
C. English Grammar 101
II. Saxon Algebra I (1 credit)
III. Biology with Laboratory (1 1/2 credits)
IV. World History, Geography and Cultures (1 1/2 credits)
A. Physical Education (1 credit)
Daily Schedule
White Pine's daily schedule will be English, Math, Science, History/Geography, and Physical Education. Other electives will be completed during the core subjects (such as Computer Proficiency).
Now, Sugar Maple and Balsam Fir will experience school a bit differently this year. Last year was a challenging one of frustrating attitudes, so we had a "family sit down" and discussed learning needs and wants. The result? I made MANY changes to our curriculum choices and incorporated more Charlotte Mason into our days. I will also be using PART of the workbook system - namely the daily work cards - with our work binders to keep us working steadily and productively. HOPEFULLY this will make our year go smoother!
Sugar Maple (5th Grade)
I. Language Arts
A. Spectrum Language Arts
B. Spectrum Reading
C. Spectrum Writing or How to Write a Paragraph or Essay
B. Spectrum Reading
C. Spectrum Writing or How to Write a Paragraph or Essay
III. Apologia Elementary Science: Botany
A. Physical Education
B. Nature Studies
C. Handicrafts
D. Clarinet and Band
D. Clarinet and Band
Daily Schedule
Monday - Walk, Language Arts, Writing, Spelling, DEAR (Drop Everything And Read), Math, Science, Reviews, Clarinet, Handicraft
Tuesday - Walk, Reading, Handwriting, Spelling, DEAR, Math, History, Spanish, Clarinet, Typing
Wednesday - Walk, Language Arts, Writing, Spelling, DEAR, Math, Science, Reviews, Clarinet, Handicraft
Thursday - Walk, Reading, Handwriting, Spelling, DEAR, Math, History, Spanish, Clarinet, Typing
Friday - DEAR, Math, Nature Studies/Music, Clarinet OR Field Trip
Balsam Fir (2nd Grade)
I. Language Arts
II. Mathematics Enhancement Programme 2 or Horizons Math 2
III. Apologia Elementary Science: Botany
A. Physical Education
B. Nature Studies
C. Handicrafts
Daily Schedule
Monday - Walk, English, HOP, DEAR, Math, Science, Reviews, Handicraft
Tuesday - Walk, English, Handwriting, DEAR, Math, History, Spanish, Scouts
Wednesday - Walk, English, HOP, DEAR, Math, Science, Reviews, Handicraft,
Thursday - Walk, English, Handwriting, DEAR, Math, History, Spanish, Scouts
Friday - Walk, DEAR, Math, Nature Studies/Music OR Field Trip
Physical education will be in the form of recreational team sports and activities as a family (such as walks) and will happen most days of the week (because kiddos and Moms need daily exercise).
And extra-curriculars will vary with Sapling, but all plan to continue with scouting and a couple will play on local recreational sports teams.
Our yearly schedule will look a bit different next year as well. We're ALWAYS burnt out and struggling to get through the last 6-8 weeks of school every year. To remedy this, I decided to try a new schedule. We will work 7 weeks on and then have 1 week off. During our week off the Saplings will have NO SCHOOL WORK, but continue with any extracurricular activities. I'll use that time to plan for the next 7 weeks, organize work into portfolios, and hopefully rest and relax too.
Our yearly schedule will look a bit different next year as well. We're ALWAYS burnt out and struggling to get through the last 6-8 weeks of school every year. To remedy this, I decided to try a new schedule. We will work 7 weeks on and then have 1 week off. During our week off the Saplings will have NO SCHOOL WORK, but continue with any extracurricular activities. I'll use that time to plan for the next 7 weeks, organize work into portfolios, and hopefully rest and relax too.
Of course all curriculum and schedules are subject to change. LOL There WILL be things added and other things dropped. It just how that goes around the mountain!
Reading Lists
Sweet PepperbushReading Lists
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson)
The Storekeeper's Daughter (Wanda Brunstetter)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Stieg Larsson)
The Bishop's Daughter (Wanda Brunstetter)
Gone Girl (Gillian Flynn)
Carry the One (Carol Anshaw)
The Virgin Blue (Tracy Chevalier)
The Rules of Survival (Nancy Werlin)
Small As An Elephant (Jennifer Jacobson)
The Rules of Survival (Nancy Werlin)
I am not Esther (Fleur Beale)
White Christmas Pie (Wanda Brunstetter)
Valley of Ashes (Cornelia Read)
Born Blue (Han Nolan)
Hurt Go Happy (Ginny Rorby)
And When She was Good (Laura Lippman)
Two Winters in a Tipi: My Search for the Soul of the Forest (Mark Warren)
Glass Geishas (Susanna Quinn)
The Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero (Rick Riordan)
The Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune (Rick Riordan)
The Island (Gary Paulsen)
A Special Relationship (Douglas Kennedy)
The Book of Tomorrow (Cecelia Ahern)
The Red House (Mark Haddon)
Between Friends (Debbie Macomber)
Susannah's Garden (Debbie Macomber)
The Shop on Blossom Street (Debbie Macomber)
White Pine
Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe)
Swiss Family Robinson (Johann David Wyss)
Gust Front (John Ringo)
The Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe)
Pyramid Scheme (Eric Flint)
Hell's Fair (John Ringo)
Walden (Henry David Thoreau)
Live Free or Die (John Ringo)
Self-Reliance (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Citadel (John Ringo)
Hot Gate (John Ringo)
The Three Musketeers (Alexandre Dumas)
The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
By Heresies Distressed (David Weber)
Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad)
The Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis)
Midst Toil and Tribulation (David Weber)
O Pioneers! (Willa Cather)
Country of the Pointed Firs (Sarah Orne Jewett)
Vorpal Blade (John Ringo)
Julius Caesar (William Shakespeare)
King John (William Shakespeare)
Sugar Maple
Matilda (Roald Dahl)
D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths (Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire)
Despereaux (Kate DiCamillo)
The Trumpet of the Swan (EB White)
My Side of the Mountain (Jean Craighead George)
Starting with Alice (Phyllis Reynolds Naylor)
Children of the Lamp (PB Kerr)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Lightning Thief (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Titan's Curse (Rick Riordan)
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits and a Very Interesting Boy (Jeanne Birdsall)
Small As An Elephant (Jennifer Jacobson)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth (Rick Riordan)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Last Olympian (Rick Riordan)
Hoot (Carl Hiaasen)
Black Beauty (Anna Sewell)
The Story of Helen Keller (Lorena A. Hickok)
Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero (Rick Riordan)
Heroes of Olympus: Son of Neptune (Rick Riordan
Phantom Tollbooth (Norton Juster)
The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (Jeanne Birdsall)
Hoot (Carl Hiaasen)
Chomp (Carl Hiaasen)
The Mark of Athena (Rick Riordan)
Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery (Julia Campbell)
Trixie Belden: The Mysterious Visitor (Julia Campbell)
Trixie Belden: The Gatehouse Mystery (Julia Campbell)
Trixie Belden: The Secret of the Mansion (Julia Campbell)
The Incredible Journey (Sheila Burnford)
Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself (Judy Bloom)
Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul (Various)
The Middle Ages: An Interactive History Adventure (Allison Lassieur)
The Bobbsey Twins and the Horseshoe Riddle (Laura Lee Hope)
Balsam Fir
Nate the Great (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat)
Nate the Great and the Lost List (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat)
The Lorax (Dr. Suess)
Nate the Great and the Snowy Trail (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate the Great Goes Undercover (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat)
Johnny Appleseed (Madeline Olsen)
Nate the Great Goes Down in the Dumps (Marjorie Weinman Sharmat)
Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip (Cynthia Rylant)
Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble (Cynthia Ryant)
I am the Turkey (Michele Sobel Spirn and Joy Allen)
Henry and Mudge in the Sparkly Days (Cynthia Rylant)
Henry and Mudge Get the Shivers (Cynthia Rylant)
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend (Cynthia Rylant)
Little Bear (Else Holmelund Minerak)
Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind (Cynthia Rylant)
I Spy Fly Guy (Tedd Arnold)
Hooray for Fly Guy (Tedd Arnold)
A Kiss for Little Bear (Else Holmelund Minerak)
In, Out and About in Catfish Pond (Charlotte Craeber)
Shoo, Fly Guy! (Tedd Arnold)
Fly Guy Meets Fly Girl! (Tedd Arnold)
Fly Guy vs. the Flyswatter (Tedd Arnold)
Fly High, Fly Guy! (Tedd Arnold)
Buzz Boy and Fly Guy (Tedd Arnold)
Flat Stanley (Jeff Brown)
Lionel in the Spring (Stephen Krensky)
Daniel's Duck (Clyde Robert Bulla)
Curious George Flies a Kite (H A Rey)
Little Bear's Friend (Else Holmelund Minarik)
The Bear Scouts (Stan and Jan Berenstain)
I love those family meetings when everyone gets to have a say in their educational goals. We try to have one every term and try to move forward in getting everyone into something they want and out of somethings that they don't (as long as it's possible, we are strong believers in the fact that sometimes you have to do things you don't want to!).
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ReplyDeleteI thought I would share a new program we found called private eye. We are starting it this summer. http://www.the-private-eye.com/index.html
ReplyDeleteI plan to review the book later this year when time allows ( am working on a different one right now). It looks fun and promising though.
Thank you for sharing your choices for the year! I think next year we will be looking at the story of the world (we want to buy the audio tapes this year) and Apologia as well. Looking forward to hearing how well you like it.
Wow! That sounds like a great plan!
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I love peeking at other families' High School plans.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Time goes by so fast, doesn't it?! I enjoyed reading about what your kids will be learning this year.
ReplyDeleteWow! High School, I can't even imagine! My oldest is almost ten, still a few years to go.
ReplyDeleteWe are also using Apologia's Botany for science next year. I host an Apologia Blog Roll on my blog if you are interested in linking up. It's a great way to connect with other Apologia users, see how others are using this curriculum, gain ideas, advice and tips for projects and experiments, or to simply find fellowship.
http://myjoy-filledlife.blogspot.com/2012/07/apologia-blog-role-2012-2013.html
Blessings,
Sarah
Botany will be right up your alley, won't it? We haven't done that one yet. I don't think Mackenzie will ever get to it because I think I'm moving her up to next level sciences next year. Oh well, I kill plants by just looking at them anyway. lol
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great year!
I love that disclaimer: "All curriculum and schedules are subject to change." That's the beauty of homeschooling. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOVE your choices! I especially LOVE the family meeting and the change ups! Have a blessed year!
ReplyDeleteWow! High school! I'm having a hard enough time preparing myself for the idea of 7th grade.
ReplyDeleteYour choices and plans look really good.
We are always burnt out at the end of the year and need some sort of change. I like the idea of a one week break every seven week.
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