Curriculum We Use

Our 2023 – 2024 Curriculum

June 20, 2024 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

The 2023 – 2024 school year has come and gone! It was a busy year full of reminiscing, decision making, activities, and prayer with our college senior, college sophomore, high school senior, high school sophomore, and our 8th grader! Where has the time gone?!?! So much love for these sweet kiddos and so thankful for the ability to homeschool over the years.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 8th grader…

Our 8th grader was able to get a jump start on some of his high school credits this year…

English 8: Rod and Staff English, She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman, Tuck Everlasting, Screwtape Letters, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Mousetrap, Ender’s Game, Les Miserables (in connection with an online class)
Math: Shormann Algebra
Science: Biology (with labs) (Using BJU Biology in conjunction with Journey Homeschool Academy Experience Biology)
Foreign Language: ASL 1 (Utilizing an online course as taught through Excelsior Classes, Deaf in America – Voices from a Culture)
World Geography: BJU Cultural Geography
World Religions and Cultures: But Don’t All Religions Lead to God?, World Religions and Cults: Counterfeits of Christianity (Volume 1), World Religions and Cults: Moralistic, Mythical, and Mysticism Religions (Volume 2), World Religions and Cults: Atheistic and Humanistic Religions (Volume 3), iWitness Heresies and Cults
Bible: AWANA Trek, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Trail Life (Navigators); Soccer

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 10th Grader…

English III – American Literature: (in conjunction with an online class) Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Other Puritan Sermons, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories, The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, The Gold Bug and Other Tales, Evangeline and Other Poems Humorous Stories and Sketches, 12 Years a Slave, The Red Badge of Courage, The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, The Great Gatsby, The Old Man and the Sea, The Pearl, My Antonia
Math: Geometry (using Jacob’s Geometry)
Science: Biology (with labs) (Using BJU Biology in conjunction with Journey Homeschool Academy Experience Biology)
Exercise & Sports Physiology: Exercise & Sports Physiology self-paced course as taught by Greg Landry, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, Science of Strength Training: Understand the Anatomy and Physiology to Transform your Body, Strength and Conditioning exercises
Health: Portions of Apologia Exploring Creation with Health and Nutrition with additional books
Dance: Pointe, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Performance Company

Our 12th Grader…

English 102 – Composition and Rhetoric: (DC)
BI205 – Creation to New Creation: (DC)
Government: Crash Course US Government and Politics , Painless American Government
Economics: Crash Course Economics, Economics 101: The Principles of Free Market Economics, Whatever Happened to Penny Candy, The Capitalist Manifesto: Understanding the Market Economy and Defending Liberty
Intro to Aviation: Sporty’s Private Pilot Ground School online course, Airplane Flying Handbook, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
Foundations of Interior Design: Interior Design (online course), The Interior Design Handbook: Furnish, Decorate, and Style Your Space, The Interior Design Reference and Specification Book: Everything Interior Designers Need to Know
Personal Finance: Dave Ramsey’s Foundations in Personal Finance (online self paced course)
Work!

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

2022-2023 (11th, 9th, 7th)
2021-2022 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th)
2020-2021 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th)
2019-2020 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th)
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

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Homeschool

Our 2022 – 2023 Curriculum

November 17, 2022 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) 1 Comment

Our 2022-2023 school year has been in full swing for awhile now! After getting our two oldest children situated at two different colleges, we delved into another year of learning at home with our youngest three. Here’s the line up for our academic year!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 7th Grader…

English 7: Rod and Staff English, The Yearling, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Out of the Dust, The Boy on the Wooden Box, Heart of a Samurai (in connection with an online class)
Spelling: Sequential Spelling
Cursive Practice
Math: Shormann PreAlgebra
Science: Zoology & Biomimicry (with labs); Masterbooks Academy Applied Engineering
History: Completing Mystery of History VI (with accompanying notebook) and delving into further study of the world wars using The World Wars: An introduction to the First and Second World Wars, Great Battles for Boys: The Korean War, Great Battles for Boys: The Vietnam War, and Great Battles for Boys: The War on Terror
Bible: AWANA Trek, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Trail Life (Navigators); Soccer

7th & 9th Grade ‘TOGETHER’ SUBJECTS

Science: Zoology & Biomimicry (with labs)

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 9th Grader…

English II – Mythological Literature and Speech: (in conjunction with an online class) Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, The Prose Edda, Lend Me Your Ears: Great Speeches in History (Updated and Expanded Edition), Secrets of Great Communicators: Simple, Powerful Strategies for Reaching Your Audience
Book Club: Echo, To Kill a Mockingbird, women’s historical biography of choice,
Math: Shormann Algebra 1 w/ Geometry
Science: Zoology & Biomimicry (with labs)
History: American History – Notgrass Exploring America and related videos from Students of History
Constitutional Literacy: Constitutional Literacy with Michael Farris, DVD, and Understanding the U.S. Constitution by Mark Strange
Foreign Language: ¡Avancemos!Spanish Level 2 (in conjunction with an online class)
Physical Education and Health: Encyclopedia of Exercise Anatomy by Holis Liebman, Indoor Exercises, Running, and Strength Training, Nutrition Science
Bible: AWANA Journey, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Dance (Pointe, Ballet, Lyrical, and Contemporary)

9th and 11th Grade ‘TOGETHER’ SUBJECTS

History: American History – Notgrass Exploring America and related videos from Students of History
Constitutional Literacy: Constitutional Literacy with Michael Farris, DVD, and Understanding the U.S. Constitution by Mark Strange

Our 11th Grader…

English 3 – American Literature: (in conjunction with an online class) Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Other Puritan Sermons, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories, The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, The Gold Bug and Other Tales, Evangeline and Other Poems Humorous Stories and Sketches, 12 Years a Slave, The Red Badge of Courage, The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, The Great Gatsby, The Old Man and the Sea, The Pearl, My Antonia
Math: BJU Consumer Math and SAT prep
Science: Physics (with labs) (in conjunction with an online class)
Intro to Technology and Engineering (in conjunction with an online class)
History: American History – Notgrass Exploring America and related videos from Students of History
Constitutional Literacy: Constitutional Literacy with Michael Farris, DVD, and Understanding the U.S. Constitution by Mark Strange
Visual Design: continuing to grow in the use of Photoshop and Illustrator design techniques (in conjunction with an online class)

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

2021-2022 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th)
2020-2021 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th)
2019-2020 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th)
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

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Homeschool, Uncategorized

Our 2021 – 2022 Curriculum

August 9, 2021 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) 1 Comment

Well, here we are again about to embark on another new homeschool year! It’s hard to believe, but our 2021-2022 school year is the first in which we will have no elementary aged students. We have two middle school students, two high school students (including one senior!), and a college sophomore gearing up to head back to campus. Below is a peek at some of the educational adventures we have in store for this coming year…

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 6th Grader…

Reading / Literature:
– 180 Days of Reading Grade 6
– Literature Books to tie in with our history – Freedom Train (Underground Railroad), Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears, Shades of Gray (Civil War), Bud Not Buddy (Great Depression), The Boy in Striped Pajamas (WW2), Echo (WW2), The Boys Who Challenged Hitler (WW2), The Lions of Little Rock (1950’s segregation), Red Scarf Girl (1960’s Communism in China), A Night Divided (1961-1989, Berlin Wall), Nine, Ten: A September 11th Story (2001), The Secret Keepers, The Hobbit
Spelling: Sequential Spelling
Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 6 (grammar chapters only) , Sentence Composing for Elementary School and Paragraphs for Elementary School
Math: Horizons 6
U.S. Geography: Children’s Atlas of the U.S., online videos, State By State Notebook
Art: Master Book’s Living Art Lessons
Bible: Awana Trek, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Trail Life (Navigators); Soccer; Student Leader in AWANA

6th & 8th GRADE ‘TOGETHER’ SUBJECTS

History: Modern American and World History (Mystery of History IV)
Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with General Science (with labs completed as part of our homeschool group)

Our 8th Grader…

English I – Classic Literature & Literary Analysis with 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; Easy Grammar 9
Book Club: The Goose Girl (and the Grimm Brothers version), The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place, Little Women, The Bronze Bow, The Giver, Biography of Choice, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Harbor Me
Math: Shormann Algebra 1 w/ Geometry (starting)
Foreign Language: ¡Avancemos! Spanish Level 1 (live, online course)
Art: Take Time for Art (with our homeschool group)
Bible: Awana Trek, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Ballet, Student Leader in AWANA

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 10th Grader…

English 2 – Thematic Literature & Composition: (live, online course) Justice – A Tale of Two Cities, To Kill a Mockingbird, Ruby Bridges, Antigone, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Literary Film Adaptation – Hidden Figures, Pygmalion, My Fair Lady, Life of Pi, Shrek, The Princess Bride; Easy Grammar 11
Math: Shormann Algebra 2 w/ Geometry
Science: Discovering Design with Chemistry (in conjunction with a live, online course) ; Master Books Elements of Faith
History: Notgrass World History
Foreign Language: ¡Avancemos! Spanish Level 2 (live, online course)
Introduction to Photography (live, online course)
Photoshop 101 (live, online course)
Apologetics: Master Books Apologetics in Action
Bible: AWANA Journey, daily Bible Reading

Our 12th Grader…

English 4 – British Literature & Composition: (live, online course) Beowulf, Henry V, Coriolanus, Pilgrim’s Progress, Emma, WWI British Poets, Frankenstein, Island of Doctor Moreau, Candida, The Complete Father Brown Stories, Mysterious Affair at Styles, Rebecca, Animal Farm, The Remains of the Day
Math: Shormann Precalculus (completing and then moving into Consumer Math)
Science: Apologia Physics
Constitutional Literacy: Constitutional Literacy with Michael Farris, DVD and notebook
American Government: American Democracy Now (live, online course)
Economics: Notgrass Exploring Economics
Computer Science: Python Crash Course: A Hands-On, Project-Based Introduction to Programming (live, online course)
Photoshop 101 (live, online course)
Apologetics: Master Books Apologetics in Action
Bible: AWANA Journey, daily Bible Reading
Instrumental Music 4: Cello lessons, member of two local youth orchestras
Additions: Member of the church worship band; continuing her local cake business part-time

__________________________________________

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

2020-2021 (11th, 9th, 7th, 5th)
2019-2020 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th)
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

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Homeschool

Our 2020-2021 Curriculum

July 29, 2020 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) 1 Comment

I truly feel that embracing the homeschool lifestyle has helped to create a strong bond among all of our children. They’ve always been there for each other, supported one another through the highs and lows, and truly have been each other’s best friends and cheerleaders. So, as our family begins to think about another new school year, there’s a twinge of sadness, but also great expectation — Our oldest daughter graduated from our homeschool in May and is heading off to college in the fall! We are so excited for her as she begins this new journey in her life, but we will all greatly miss her joyful spirit, hugs, insights, and, simply, being with her each day. I’m thankful for the ability to text, FaceTime, etc. as I know all of the kids will want to continue to keep in close contact with their big sister – one of their very best friends.

As our oldest prepares for moving to a dorm and beginning life and academics at college, our own planning for a new school year at home continues as well. Below are our curriculum choices for 5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th grades this coming year!

ELEMENTARY

Our 5th Grader…

Reading / Literature:
— 180 Days of Reading Grade 5
— Literature Books – Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Lassie, The Unsung Hero of Birdsong USA, The Indian in the Cupboard, Twenty One Balloons, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Hatchet, The Toothpaste Millionaire, LongBurrow series (Podkin One-Ear), and Peter and the Starcatchers
Spelling/Vocabulary: Beginning Word Roots, Word Ladders
Handwriting: Handwriting Skills Simplified E: Cursive Writing; Draw Write Now (cursive and print)
Writing/Grammar/Composition: BJU English 5
Math: Horizons 5 (and moving into 6)
Art: 1-2 times per month instruction as part of our co-op
Bible: Awana T&T, daily Bible Reading
Additions: Trail Life (Mountain Lion)

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Our 7th Grader…

Reading/Literature:
— Reading, studying, and participating in a once a month book club using the following books – Fever 1793, Sweep, A Long Walk to Water, Music of Tigers, The Bridge Home, Journey to the River Sea, Anne of Green Gables, and Harbor Me
— Veritas Press Omnibus 1, Secondary self paced online lessons with reading and comprehension of the following books – Chosen by God, Till We Have Faces, The Magician’s Nephew, The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe, The Horse and His Boy, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Last Battle, The Best Things in Life, Unaborted Socrates, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Screwtape Letters, The Holiness of God
Writing/Grammar/Composition: Foundations of Composition (online, live class) including Jensen’s Punctuation for grammar, Sentence Composing for Middle School, Word Roots 3
Math: Saxon 8/7
Bible: Awana/Trek, daily Bible Reading
Art: 1-2 times per month instruction as part of our co-op
Additions: gymnastics, ballet, writing/editing a novel

5th & 7th GRADE ‘TOGETHER’ SUBJECTS

Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology (with hands on science experiments at our co-op)

Social Studies: The Renaissance, Reformation, and Early Explorers using Mystery of History 3 (with a homemade notebook)

HIGH SCHOOL

Our 9th Grader…

English 9: 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
Biology: Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology
World Geography: North Star Geography by Bright Ideas Press
World Religions & Cultures: But Don’t All Religions Lead to God?, World Religions: An Indispensable Introduction, Mimosa, Listening to the Language of the Bible, Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, Sundar Singh: Footprints Over the Mountains, Queen of the Dark Chamber, Jacob Deshazer: Forgive Your Enemies, I Dared to Call Him Father, God’s Global Mosaic, Foreign to Familiar, iWitness Heresies and Cults
Spanish 1: BJU 1 (in conjunction with a live, online course)
Intro to Architecture: Design Drawing by Francis Ching (in conjunction with a live, online course)
Physical Education & Health: Apologia Exploring Creation with Health & Nutrition, walking/running, indoor exercise
Additions: AWANA Journey

Our 11th Grader…

English 11: American Literature and Composition
(live, online course) –Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God and Other Puritan Sermons, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Young Goodman Brown and Other Short Stories, The Raven and Other Favorite Poems, The Gold Bug and Other Tales, Evangeline and Other Poems, Humorous Stories and Sketches, 12 Years a Slave, The Red Badge of Courage, The Road Not Taken and Other Poems, The Great Gatsby, The Old Man and the Sea, The Pearl, My Antonia
American History: Notgrass Exploring America
PreCalculus: Shormann PreCalculus
Spanish 4: Homeschool Spanish Academy
Introduction to Computer Science: Computer Science Principals: The Foundational Concepts of Computer Science and various videos from online resources, including Crash Course Computer Science and Crash Course Navigating Digital Information
Graphic & Web Design: Web Design with HTML, CSS, JavaScript and JQuery by Jon Duckett (in conjunction with a live, online course)
Physical Education & Health: Apologia Exploring Creation with Health & Nutrition, walking/running, indoor exercise
Instrumental Music 3: Cello lessons, Piano Lessons, Member of the local youth orchestra
Additions: AWANA Journey, beginning a local cake business, SAT prep, career assessments

ALL TOGETHER

Bible Devotions: Bible, The Most Important Thing You’ll Ever Study: A Survey of the Bible (oral)

Praying for a productive, joy-filled, relationship strengthening, and gospel centered year of learning for our family – whether at home or away!

__________________________________________

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

2019-2020 (12th, 10th, 8th, 6th, 4th)
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

Filed Under: Curriculum We Use, The Joy of Homeschool, Uncategorized

Hands On Science Learning

June 10, 2020 by Michelle (Joyful Heart) Leave a Comment

For the past few years, my children and I have been blessed to be able to meet two times per month with a few other homeschooling families. We’ve enjoyed participating in art and science together – reinforcing concepts through hands on activities and learning alongside our friends!

This past school year, our homeschool group used Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics for our 3rd – 6th grade children (while our high school aged girls used Apologia Chemistry). We explored topics such as the states and properties of matter, atoms and elements, physical and chemical changes, mixtures, the three laws of motion, different types of energy, magnetism, and simple machines. It was a full year of discovery!

Apologia incorporates a ton of experiments within the text, and we did many of them as we came to them during reading. However, when we met together as a group, we wanted to provide opportunities to review vocabulary, reinforce concepts, and do additional activities that would support what we were all learning at home.

Refraction of Light

$Refraction of Light$

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After collaborating with the other moms for ideas, I created experiment packets for each meeting time that we then worked through together. If you’d like to utilize these same hands on activities, the Hands On Chemistry and Physics Experiment Packets are now available for sale over at my TPT Joyful Heart Learning store!