August 2016

Can this mama be honest? This was the most difficult homeschool year to prepare for yet. (Yes, I think I said that last year as well.) I devoted more time this summer to planning, preparing, and reorganizing than ever before. From devising activities for our youngest so he can continue making progress in reading to typing out high school course descriptions (and everything else in between), it was a huge undertaking. And, the task wasn’t just physically and mentally challenging, but emotionally as well. I chose curriculum, organized, and scheduled for 1st – 9th grades. FIRST through NINTH grades! This may not seem like a big deal, but to me it means there are no more preschoolers or kindergarteners AND there is now a highschooler in the house! How can this be?! It seems like only yesterday that I was a new homeschooling mama – juggling a kindergartener, a three year old, a toddler, and expecting our fourth. It feels like this lovely eldest daughter, who (ahem) is likely to surpass me in height this year, was just recently enjoying Blue’s Clues, making marble painting creations, and dancing/singing her heart out with her Word and Song Bible. Oh, wait…That was over ten years ago!
I guess it is safe to say that time only stands still in my mind.

So, since time keeps marching on, here are our homeschool curriculum choices for the 2016-2017 school year – for 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th grades.

our 1st Grader…

Reading/Phonics:

Completion of his ABeka K readers, Vowel Team Word Work, and Explode the Code book 3

Then, we plan to move onto the ABeka 1st grade readers, reading from My Father’s World Bible Reader, and possibly the Early Reader’s Bible as well. For phonics, we plan to move onto Explode the Code book 4 (and maybe 5). For spelling and writing, we will begin Joyful Heart Spelling Skills and Write a Super Sentence.
Math: Horizons 1; Xtra Math fact practice
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Land Animals (with his 3rd grade sister)

(Above: I don’t think my little guy is quite ready for the Jr. Notebook that his older sister will be using, so I made him his own ‘Animals In My World’ notebook!)
Social Studies: ~~Heart of Dakota Bigger Hearts for His Glory~~ ~~(Reading About History/History Notebook, Geography/ Vocabulary/History Activity/Timeline, Storytime boxes plus ‘A Pioneer Sampler’)~~ 100 Days of American History (with his 3rd grade sister)
AWANA: 2nd year Sparks
Bible and Worldview: Morning Worship (hymns, Read & Draw Scripture, and Training Hearts,Training Minds) with the family, Continue with Big Truths For Little Kids and memorizing the Ten Commandments (Scripture Memorization : Exodus 20:1-17). Once completed, we plan to switch to God’s Word from Sally Michael and memorize Psalm 19.
Music: piano

our 3rd Grader…

Reading/Literature: ABeka readers (3rd and 4th grade), Explode the Code book 8; Memoria Press Literature (including Little House in the Big Woods, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, A Bear Called Paddington, and Charlotte’s Web)
Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 3; Joyful Heart Spelling Skills, Draw Write Now (animals that correspond with science); A Reason for Handwriting Book C (cursive)
Math: Horizons 3, Xtra Math fact practice
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Land Animals (using the accompanying Jr. Notebook) (with her first grade brother)
Social Studies: Heart of Dakota Bigger Hearts for His Glory (Reading About History/History Notebook, Geography/ Vocabulary/History Activity/Timeline, Storytime boxes plus ‘A Pioneer Sampler’) 100 Days of American History (with her first grade brother)
AWANA: 1st year Truth and Training (T&T)
Bible and Worldview: Reading through the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs and completing a daily devotional sheet, Morning Worship (hymns, Read & Draw Scripture, and Training Hearts,Training Minds) with the family
Music/Art: Choir, Violin Lessons, piano practice

our 5th Grader…

Reading/Literature: Memoria Press (including Adam of the Road, Robin Hood, Door in the Wall, ~~King Arthur~~ The Bronze Bow)
Writing/Grammar/Composition/Spelling: BJU English 5; Joyful Heart Spelling through Scripture (dictation for spelling and handwriting)
Vocabulary: Word Roots 1
Math: Horizons 5, Xtra Math fact practice
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany
Social Studies: Beautiful Feet Books: Modern American and World (including portions of Mystery of History volume IV) (with his 7th grade sister)
AWANA: 3rd year Truth and Training (T&T)
Bible and Worldview: Apologia Worldview; Reading through the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs and completing a daily devotional sheet; Morning Worship (hymns, Read & Draw Scripture, and Training Hearts,Training Minds) with the family
Music/Art: Choir, piano practice

our 7th Grader…

Reading/Literature: Veritas Press Omnibus 1, Secondary
(including Chosen by God, Till We Have Faces, all books in The Chronicles of Narnia series, The Best Things in Life, Unaborted Socrates, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Screwtape Letters, and The Holiness of God)
Writing/Grammar/Composition/Spelling: Rod and Staff English, Gumdrops (editing), Write with the Best, Spelling through Scripture (dictation for spelling and handwriting)
Vocabulary: Word Roots
Math: Saxon 8/7 Pre Algebra
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Apologia Exploring Creation with Botany (with her 5th grade brother)
Social Studies: Beautiful Feet Books: Modern American and World (including portions of Mystery of History volume IV and a homemade history notebook)
(with her 5th grade brother)
AWANA: 2nd year Trek, serving as a Leader in Training with a preschool Gopher Buddies class
Bible and Worldview: Apologia Worldview, Morning Worship (hymns, Read & Draw Scripture, and Training Hearts,Training Minds) with the family, personal Bible study, Middle School Girls’ Bible Study
Music/Art: Cello lessons, Piano lessons, Student Worship Choir

our 9th Grader…

With a growing heart for missions, our new high school student joyfully helped choose Heart of Dakota’s World Geography as her main curriculum for this school year! We plan to follow the plans, as is indicated in the guide, with the exception of their science and math selections. Once completed, she will earn a total of 8 credits her freshman year.

- English I (English Grammar, Literature, and Composition) 1 Credit
  BJU Fundamentals of Literature; Essentials in Writing: Grade 10 Student Text and DVD; Building Securely English by Rod and Staff; Classic Novels:
  A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
  Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  Papa’s Wife by Thyra Ferre Bjorn
  The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
  Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat
  Captains Courageous by Rudyard Kipling

- Algebra 1 with Integrated Geometry 1.5 Credits
  Shormann Algebra 1 with Integrated Geometry

- Biology 1 credit
  Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology (with labs)

- World Geography 1 Credit
  The Archaeology Book; A Book of Discovery; Mapping the World with Art; The Seven Wonders of the World; Must See Places of the World (6 DVD set): Magnificent Planet/Marvels of Mankind, Wildlife Treasures, Journey of a Lifetime, Australia the Beautiful, Mysteries of the Ancient World, Scenic Cruises of the World; World Geography: Expedition Journal; History Through the Ages: World Geography Timeline Figures, Book of Centuries; Living Library:
  The Sign Above the Door by William Canfield
  Big John’s Secret by Eleanore M. Jewett
  A Silk Road Pilgrimage by Richard and Jewel Showalter
  The Captive by Christoph von Schmid
  God Spoke Tibetan by Allan Maberly
  Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
  Florence Young: Mission Accomplished by Janet and Geoff Benge
  Kisses From Katie by Katie Davis

- World Religion and Cultures .5 Credit
  But Don’t All Religions Lead to God?; World Religions: An Indispensable Introduction: Mimosa; Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus; Sundar Singh: Footprints Over the Mountains; Queen of the Dark Chamber; Japan Diary of Cross-Cultural Mission; I Dared to Call Him Father; God’s Global Mosaic; Foreign to Familiar; World Religions and Cultures Notebook

- Bible 1 Credit
  Rooted and Grounded: A Guide for Spiritual Growth; Prayer Journal; personal Bible study; AWANA Journey – Bible Reading and Scripture Memorization

- Logic .5 Credit
  The Fallacy Detective, The Art of Argument

- Spanish .5 Credit
  Getting Started With Spanish

- Instrumental Music I 1 Credit
  Violin lessons, Piano Lessons

- Additions: Student Leader in Awana/Trek, See the Light Art Class, SAT Vocabulary App, High School Girls’ Bible Study, Morning Worship (hymns, Read & Draw Scripture, and Training Hearts,Training Minds) with the family

So, in the blink of an eye (from Blue’s Clues to Algebra),we race with grateful hearts focused on Him into another great year of learning!

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Would you like to see our curriculum choices from previous years?
2015-2016 (8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd, Kindergarten)
2014-2015 (7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK)
2013-2014 (6th, 4th, 2nd, K, preschool)
2012-2013 (5th, 3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old)
2011-2012 (4th, 2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler)
2010-2011 (3rd, 1st, PreK, 2 year old, 4 mo old baby)
2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)
2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 mo old baby)
2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 mo old baby) – Joyful Heart Character
2005-2006 (3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year) – Joyful Heart Bible and Rhyme
2004-2005 (2 year old, 6 mo old baby) – Joyful Heart Learning

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This post is part of the 8th annual “Not” Back-To-School Blog Hop over at the iHomeschool Network. Check out what other homeschool families are choosing to use for their children this coming school year!

We began our 2016-2017 school year with an Olympic theme
– “Racing Into a Great Year!”

Much more important than the flag decorations, Olympic ring colored streamers, yummy special foods, and fun activities, I pray that the kids and I will continually reflect on the verses we studied during our devotional time that day.

Our main verse was from Hebrews 12:1-3…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

What race are we on? Well, obviously, we are not in an Olympic running race. However, if you have accepted God’s One and Only Son Jesus as your Lord and Savior, your race is your daily life. The ‘race’ we are referring to is our daily Christian walk that we are on with Jesus.

We read passages about how to prepare for the race. To prepare to run in any race, one must know the rules and go into training. We learned that, as believers, we need to know God’s rules — and those are found in His Word the Bible. We need to read, meditate, and memorize His Word so that we can know Him, His heart, His desires, and (yes) even His perfect rules for our lives.

We also looked up Scriptures to try to figure out HOW we can run with perseverance – without giving up when things get hard. Hebrews already spoke of a huge way to endure – by not letting sin hinder us in our race! Unwholesome thoughts, desiring our own way, temptations, mocking by others, wanting to give in… are all real struggles that can slow us down and trip us up on our race. Being prepared by knowing God’s Word will help tremendously. But, it was when we read Romans 15:4-6 and 13 that we began to see how God has already equipped us to be able to persevere. We can gain endurance through trusting Jesus, through the reading of His Holy Word, and through the gift of His Holy Spirit that He has given to live within us! He has provided all of these to bring us hope, joy, peace, and encouragement to press on.

WHY do we need to endure? What is at stake? A gold medal is not our end goal and prize in this lifetime. Hebrews 12 says that we are to keep our focus on Jesus! We look forward to one day being with Him in heaven, united face to face, no sin, no struggles, praising our Lord and Savior. Don’t be confused, we are not working our way to heaven. Our ‘reward’ isn’t earned. It is a free gift from God that is promised to us once we have repented of our sins and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But, we are called to run this race well and to bring glory to Him! He is faithful.