Our new 2019-2020 homeschool year is already underway!

Here is our family’s 4th-12th Grade Curriculum Choices.  We’ve always had an eclectic approach to curriculum – and this year is no different!  It was challenging and oh..so.. time consuming, but I’m excited to see the kids delve into some unique courses that were either designed or carefully selected for each of them this year.

ELEMENTARY

Our 4th Grader:

• Reading/Phonics: Explode the Code 8; 180 Days of Reading Grade 4
• Literature:  Frindle, The Door in the Wall, Stuart Little, Homer Price, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library,  James and the Giant Peach, The Green Ember series, The Phantom Tollbooth, Rump, Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, Story Thieves, The Shakespeare Stealer, and Redwall; free reading
• Spelling: Joyful Heart Spelling Skills
• Handwriting: Handwriting Skills Simplified D: Improving Cursive Writing
• Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 4
• Math: Horizons 4 (and moving into 5)
• Bible: Awana T&T, daily Bible Reading
• Additions: Trail Life (Mountain Lion)

‘Together’ Subjects for 4th and 6th:

• Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics
  (We meet twice a month with a couple of other homeschool families to do additional hands-on activities for science as well.  I created Hands On Chemistry and Physics Experiment Packs for us to use for our get togethers.)
• Social Studies: The Early Church & Middle Ages (Mystery of History 2) with a homemade notebook (after we complete Ancient History – Mystery of History 1)

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 6th Grader:

• Reading/Literature:  Reading, studying, and participating in a once a month book club using the following books – Ballet Shoes, Ella Enchanted,  Number the Stars, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, Out of My Mind, The Candymakers,  Dangerous Journey: Pilgrim’s Progress, Pollyanna, Adam of the Road,  Tuck Everlasting;  180 Days of Reading Grade 6; free reading
• Writing/Grammar/Composition: Writing for Muggles live class – reading all seven books in the Harry Potter series with writing assignments based from those; Grammar for Middle School; Paragraphs for Middle School; Elements of a Fairy Tale; Word Roots 2
• Math: Horizons 6
• Bible: Student Leader in Awana/Trek, daily Bible Reading
• Additions: violin lessons, piano, gymnastics, ballet

Our 8th Grader:

• Literature/Composition: How to Write the Perfect 5 Paragraph Essay; Who Dun It? Murder Mysteries – reading of the following murder mysteries as well as writing his own murder mystery!  
  Short Stories: “Murder in the Rue Morgue” , “The Ordinary Hairpins” , “The Archduke’s Tea” , “A Singular Abduction”
  Books:  The Westing Game, The Red House Mystery, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Favorite Father Brown Stories, Murder On the Orient Express, And Then There Were None, Whose Body?, Where Are You Now?, The Roman Hat Mystery
• Foundations in Composition (live, online course)
• Grammar: Easy Grammar Ultimate Grade 9
• Vocabulary: Word Roots 4
• Algebra 1 with Integrated Geometry:  Shormann Algebra 1
• Science: Apologia Physical Science
• Social Studies:

  1st Semester – History of Technology: Computers and Gaming
  The Story of Computing, The Computer Book, Of Games and God, and The Art of Video Games
  

  2nd Semester – Church History
  Christian History Made Easy, Trial and Triumph, God’s Timeline: Big Book of Church History
  

• Bible: Student Leader in Awana/Trek, daily Bible Reading, reading and discussing Do Hard Things and This Changes Everything: How the Gospel Transforms the Teen Years
• Computers: Game Design 1 and Intro to Java Programming (online, live courses) 

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 10th Grader:

• English 10:
  Classic Literature/ Literary Analysis and Composition (live, online course) –
  Romeo and Juliet, The Prince and the Pauper, Our Town, King Arthur: Tales from the Round Table, Silas Marner, The Giver, The Scarlet Letter, Up From Slavery, The Importance of Being Earnest; Easy Grammar Ultimate Grade 10 
• Algebra 2 with Integrated Geometry:  Shormann Algebra 2
• Chemistry:  Jay Wile’s Discovering Design with Chemistry
• World History:  Notgrass World History
• Spanish 3: BJU 3 (in conjunction with a live, online course)
• Instrumental Music 2:  Cello lessons, Piano Lessons, Member of the local youth orchestra, Member of the local church orchestra
• Speech – Communication and Public Speaking: Secrets of Great Communicators by Jeff Myers combined with Public Speaking and Practical Life Skills from 7 Sisters
• Additions: AWANA Journey, continuation of cake baking and decorating, driving practice

Our 12th Grader – SENIOR YEAR!

• English 12:
  British Literature and Composition (live, online course) – 
  The Weight of Glory, The Great Divorce, The Canterbury Tales,  ‘Leaf By Niggle’, Macbeth, Sense and Sensibility,  A Christmas Carol, Jane Eyre, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Wind in the Willows, Lord of the Flies, Remains of the Day, The Elements of Eloquence, Letters to a Diminished Church, Collected Poetry of T.S. Eliot, Six Centuries of Great Poetry, The Elements for Style
• Research Writing:  (live, online course)
• Speech – Communication and Public Speaking: Secrets of Great Communicators by Jeff Myers combined with Public Speaking and Practical Life Skills from 7 Sisters
• Consumer Math:  BJU
• Constitutional Literacy:  Constitutional Literacy with Michael Farris DVD and notebook
• Psychology:  Psychology in Everyday Life (live, online course)
• U.S. Government & Politics: (live, online course)
• Economics: (live, online course)
• Contemporary Cultural Issues: Understanding the Culture: A Survey of Social Engagement by Jeff Myers, Counter Culture by David Platt, World News Magazine, Podcasts
• Additions: Student Leader in AWANA/Journey, gymnastics, ballet & lyrical dance, writing/revising/editing her own novel

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Would you like to see our curriculum choices from previous years?

2018-2019 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd)
2017-2018 (10th, 8th, 6th, 4th, 2nd)
2016-2017 (9th, 7th, 5th, 3rd, 1st)
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 month old baby)
2009-2010 (2nd, K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived end of year)
2008-2009 (1st, PreK, 2 year old, 6 month old baby)
2007-2008 (K, 3’s preschool, toddler, baby arrived mid year)
2006-2007 (PreK, 2 year old, 7 month 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