Homeschool Open House

It's The Homeschool Lounge Homeschool Open House 2009! I thought I would post about our curriculum for 2009-2010 and about our schedule. I hope to post pictures next week of our schoolroom. I am in the process of painting and organizing. First, a little about my "students". My oldest is in his first year of college and we are very excited for him. My middle son is in the 10th grade and my youngest is in the 9th grade. We are all very excited about our school year. The first two pictures ( sorry they are sideways!!) are of our family read alouds that we are doing in the evening. We are using Sonlight's American History in depth this year. Instead of them reading Peace Child on their own, we decided to do it as a family read aloud. We are going deep with missionary studies this year. We are enjoying this book immensely. We also are just starting Outcasts United by Warren St. John. I have been reading ahead and I have to say that I am really intrigued by this book. It is a true account of a refugee soccer team and their coach. The location where the story takes place is not too far from where I live. I am excited that we will get a chance to meet the author in late September.

This year we are using Skills for Rhetoric by James P. Stobaugh. This book can be used for Jr. High through Senior High. We are hoping to participate in a speech and debate club. We are also using some supplemental books with our rhetoric study.

The boys are doing Algebra 2 with Saxxon Teacher this year. They like Saxxon, and are especially enjoying Saxxon Teacher. We will also do some supplemental acitivities through different math websites to reinforce the concepts.

We are doing an American composer study once a week using, A History of American Classical Music, by Barrymore Laurence Sherer.

We are also going to study American poets using The Mentor Book of Major American Poets edited by Oscar Williams and Edwin Honig.

Our language arts will include many different sources. We will be using Spelling Wisdom, The Winston Grammar Program Advanced, Latina Christiana Book I, and Wordly Wise.

We are also using IEW for writing, SAT study cards for PSAT and SAT prep, an American artist study along with a study of two of Shakespeare's plays. Also, this year we will be participating in the Outdoor Hour Challenge. Our focus will be on trees and weather. Our Bible study consists of a worldview study including using various Answers in Genesis material and videos. Also, our family Bible study will be studying the Gospels and digging deep into the life of Christ.

We hope to be involved in more mission minded work and community service work.

I am excited about our physical education program. We will be working through the fit programs that the State Park system of Georgia offers. They have a Canyon Climbers Club, Paddle Club, and Cycle Club. You can learn more about these on the Georgia State Parks website.

My 10th grader studies Anatomy & Physiology and composition through a local homeschool support. My 9th grader studies Biology and Spanish I at the same place. My 10th grader is continuing French II with Rosetta Stone version 3.

Both boys will be involved in driver education training.

My 10th grader will also be involved in Civil Air Patrol and Civil War battle reenactments. My 9th grader will be involved in learning to make videos, website design, and strategic war games.

We will be studying United States geography, along with adding to our Georgia studies. We add to our Georgia studies each year. We visit different sites in the state, learn about famous figures of Georgia, authors, painters, etc....

Our schedule does not go by time slots as much as what subjects we cover each day. Our schedule also includes field trip days, as we love hands on! Below is what we try to cover each day:

MONDAY

Bible

History/Geography

Math

Latin

Grammar

Spelling

Artist Study

Rhetoric/Logic

P.E.

TUESDAY

Bible

Science

Writing

Foreign Language

Math

Vocabulary

PSAT Study

P.E./Health

Civil Air Patrol

WEDNESDAY

Bible

History/Geography

Math

Latin

Poetry

Grammar

Spelling

Shakespeare Study

Rhetoric/Logic

Church

THURSDAY

Bible

Science

Foreign Language

Math

Vocabulary

Latin

Nature Study

P.E./Health

PSAT Study

FRIDAY

Bible

History/Geography

Math

Latin

Grammar

Spelling

Composer Study

Rhetoric/Logic

P.E.

SATURDAY

Family Activities

Driver's Education

We will try to make our field trips on Friday or Saturday. We will document these with pictures, journal, information pamphlets, and reading anything that pertains to that particular place.

We are off to a great start. We are excited about the opportunities available to us and hope to make good use of those things. It is always a tightrope walk, it seems ,to balance our time with what to be involved in and what to pass on. I am praying that God will give my husband and myself wisdom in this area, as there are always many exciting events to be involved in. I value our time at home, together as a family, so I don't want to overload us with outside activities. Sitting at home, reading a book together is absolutely an awesome thing to do!

I wish everyone a wonderful school year. I hope you enjoyed this "peek" into our school. Please check back next week for pictures of our schoolroom.

Kim