Bible study of our choice, Easy Grammar Ultimate grade 9, Wordly Wise grade 9, IEW Writing SWICC LEvel B, Notgrass Exploring America, a few literature books to go with history, Chalk Dust Algebra 1, Apologia Physical Science, Rosetta Stone Spanish, Total Health (1/2 credit and finishing up in 2 weeks. Then we will add personal finance 1/2 credit) and piano and taekwondo 1 time a week.
In a later post, you asked:
Others, please reply how I would transition from some of the curriculum I listed over to SCM.
You can click on the grades K-12 overview in in the drop down menu under Our Curriculum and you will find suggestions for each grade level from SCM.
Personally, I am very big on giving older children a lot of freedom in choosing their curriculum. The first thing I would do is sit down with your daughter and find out what she would like to change. Then I would give her some curriculum options to check out and choose from. A special mother, daughter date would make this a fun experience for her.
Our homeschool is delight directed in many ways and I use very little actual curriculum except for math and foreign language. I have used bits and pieces of curriculum over the years to teach things like essay writing and grammar. My daughter still receives a check list to go through each day.
It is super simple and looks something like this:
Bible-Personal devotions, family devotions
Math-1 lesson or one hour (Teaching Textbooks)
Literature-Read Fellowship of the Ring for 30 minutes
History-Read such and such pages from George Washington’s World
German-30 minutes (Rosetta Stone, Demystifying German Grammar and German Folk Tales)
P.E.-Walk two miles with mom.
Science- Read text with mom for 30 minutes discussing questions orally and completing each study guide. (Apologia Marine Biology) We don’t do the tests.
For history my daughter reads living books of her choosing. We don’t follow a guide. We did chronological history for many years and she is more than able to read books from various time periods and keep them straight chronologically. I simply plug America History books into her American history credit and world history books into her World History credit.
For English, my daughter reads classics of her own choosing as well. My only rule is that they have to be classics. She also switches out reading for composition once a week, when she usually writes a complete essay on a topic of her choosing instead. Write now she is working on a fictional children’s book for a certain amount of time each week.
This is her 4th Apologia textbook and she has done a few modules in the more traditional manner throughout the years so I am confident in her ability to be able to adapt quickly to typical textbook learning in college.
Just thought I’d share how we’ve done things with my daughter in case it might be of help to you. I place a lot of value in a student enjoying his/her studies as much as possible. Many students will never find math or grammar enjoyable but they can at least study literature and history in whatever way they find most enjoyable.
Honestly, your list includes a lot of curriculum! Is grammar and vocabulary necessary at this age? Most high school English courses consist of composition and literature. Grammar is covered in the early years. Charlotte Mason taught that children would naturally pick up a good vocabulary from reading great books and I wholeheartedly agree with her! We’ve never used a vocab curriculum in our house.
We cover electives (excepting foreign language) in a very relaxed manner. My daughter draws and paints all the time so I will giver her credit for that. She also had 2 years of piano. We cover health in our science studies and just through natural conversations and living. 🙂 Dave Ramsey’s personal finance videos make that subject fun. We taught her to drive so she gets a Driver’s Ed credit as well. We’ve always made exercise a priority so P.E. is a no brainer. Most of this isn’t really “school”, just life, no curriculum needed!