A new “school year” is already upon us, and this year we are certainly embarking upon a new chapter in our learning adventures together… N14 is officially starting HIGH SCHOOL(?!), T11 is going into the 6th grade, and will thus be officially grouped with the middle-schoolers at our local homeschool co-op (and that’s a big deal, ya know-right?!) and our little boo-bear, S (who just turned 3yo this weekend, already?!), is in to just about everything the rest of us are doing!
To top it all off, we’re living in a new, highly regulated state now (PA is classified by HSLDA as a “red state” homeschool-wise), where we happen to know just about… nobody! (Yet.) Living here in PA, we’ll have to do things a whole lot differently registration and reporting-wise every year= *fun*. Honestly though, when I’d first started researching and reading about how we’d have to be accountable to our school district now, submitting yearly evaluations (interviews of the kids, with their portfolio reviews done by certified grade-level evaluators, along with testing, etc.) to our local district, I was a bit intimidated about the whole (annually scheduled registration and reporting on a yearly timetable) process.
However, though it’s a lot more paper work and effort, and the principle of it still irks us completely (that we should even be required to report to such absurd lengths to the State regarding our children in the first place, when we haven’t had to in other states- arrgh!), I’m choosing to look at the positive aspect of this, which is that the accountability will just help me to do a better, more consistent job of record-keeping! Right-okay?! I’m sure that will a blessing in the end someday, as it comes time to put together our kiddos’ formal highschool transcripts anyways, or as I submit their course records to an accredited diploma program (if we’re still here), which is another PA homeschooling aspect I’m still working on figuring out.
Don’t get me wrong though, once I went through the whole entire registration process, I was relieved to find that it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it would be, actually even quite doable, and should be easier next year, now that I’ve gotten my records all in order, etc. Also, now that N14 is officially registered with our school district as a 9th grader, he is already enjoying one of the benefits of homeschooling here in PA (as opposed to other states we’ve homeschooled in thusfar)- which is that here in PA, homeschoolers are now able to participate in the athletic program(s) at their local public schools. But I digress, and will share more on that later.
I think most of my waning brainpower, obsessive second-guessing, pleading desperately with the Lord for guidance and HELP!! prayerful planning and compulsively-curious-curriculum-catalog-browsing (when I haven’t been busy packing, painting our rental house’s interior, driving across the country-a few times, or un-packing!) has primarily revolved around how to BEST coordinate my study plans for N14 and for homeschooling through highschool in general with those of T11, my middle schooler… while at the same time giving little S3 all of the attention she needs (read: without resorting to videos each day)!
I really didn’t want us studying separate time periods and wasn’t sure whether we should continue with our cycle through ancient history this year, or not. Thus, I turned to my man, our homeschool’s “principal” (*snicker*, though it’s true, he’s got my back!) and asked him what he thought. He suggested that we dive into American History, in depth, since living here, we’ll be visiting so many wonderful American monuments, historical sites and museums (like Washington D.C. and Gettysburg, etc.). And so, that was the definitive direction I needed for mapping out our family’s (formal- because we never know what life and the Lord may throw in, unplanned!) study plans for the next few years.
As a side note: I was so blessed to have stumbled upon this post from the Deputy Head Mistress a couple of weeks ago, as her gentle reminder to continue evaluating what matters to me, to us, to Adonai, was a timely encouragement… You really might enjoy reading it too… Who Needs a Philosophy of Education?
I may not need a couple of those worrisome workbooks after all. (Duh, right? I mean, I know this, but still get sucked in every now and then by the creeping doubts and fancy catalog promises.) *sighs* So… on with the show! Here’s what I have planned (so far), listed in the order that I’m hoping our daily routines will pretty much fall. Starting tomorrow, we’ll be gradually getting back into our weekly study routines and daily rhythms.
Brew*Crew’s Studies: 2010-11 School Year
Independent Time
N14 and T11 work independently on the following while I’m waking up, situating little S3, and making our morning kefir/fruit smoothies and coffee. This routine has worked well for us for the last couple of years.
Journal Time: See this helpful, short video by Hannah Keeley, for an explanation on how (and why) we do our “Journal Time”, along with a few other lesson-planning tips. Even our 3yo pre-schooler, Savi, has her own journal!
Individual Devotional Readings: This is also their personal “Bible Journal” time, for which their individual resources are listed separately, in their individual year’s plans (below). N and T usually get their own breakfast, either before or after this time, it’s up to them.
Math: Teaching Textbooks
We’ll also be using these great *FREE* video tutorials at Khan Academy along with Life of Fred. If it works out well, and the kids like the combo better, we just might actually drop TT (which is sooo expensive) next year. 
- N’s still working through Pre-Algebra and will soon be starting Alg. 1
- T’s working through TT6 and will be starting TT7 sometime during this school year.
Geography: Work on The Global Puzzle or Geography Songs while waiting for Mom to be ready for “Couch Time” (below), if not already.
Couch Time (together)
Weekly Torah Portions & Hebrew Studies
Torah Club, Vol. 1 with cd’s for reading, listening and discussion together, with N14 and T11 each having their own corresponding Jot & Tittle Workbooks for learning and practicing the Hebrew alef-bet as we go through the weekly portions.
This is “Torah 101” for everyone. Torah Club Volume One: Unrolling the Scroll offers Christians a Messianic Jewish study from Genesis to Deuteronomy with easy-to-read, devotional-styled commentary on the weekly, synagogue Torah readings. Peppered with insights from ancient rabbis and anecdotes from modern Christian life, Volume One demonstrates the value of Torah for Christian living today. Includes connections to the New Testament and writings of early Christians.
This volume introduces students to both the Hebrew Roots of Christianity and the world of Messianic Judaism. More than just a weekly reading guide or Bible commentary, Torah Club One is filled with new insights and practical implications which exhort us to practice righteousness while developing a deeper relationship with our Father in Heaven.
- Bibles
- Personal Journals, which the kids write in each day. Written narrations AND personal thoughts regarding their daily Bible readings. We’ve been doing this for a few years now, and has become an enriching habit.
- The Student Bible Atlas
- The Victor Journey Through the Bible by Beers (The kids and I love pouring through this one- fascinating, it’s hard to put down!)
- Who’s Who in the Bible
- Remembering God’s Awesome Acts also provides a wonderful Bible-study for Genesis 1 through Exodus 12, we’ll be using parts of this for our Bible notebooks.
- Adam and His Kin by Beechick. Finish this read-aloud we began last year.
I am so excited that we will be using the Torah Club, Volumes 1-5 over the next 5+ years or so, at least, as part of our homeschool/family Bible studies… I’m thankful, and so thrilled to see how Yah’s provided (it’s been on my wishlist/plans for highschool for years; to take my kids through the Torah Club volumes- however, I’ve prayerfully wondered how we’d ever be able to afford it, along with the rest of our curriculum?!). However, once again, Adonai has provided!
We met some dear, new friends last year who own ALL five of the TC volumes and have volunteered to loan them out to me/us for as long as needed!! Yippee- right?! How wonderful it is to see the Lord’s hand of confirmation and provision, like this, in my study plans for our home school over the years. So encouraging to receive this timely reminder that He will even equip me to do that which He has called me to, providing every thing and every one (because He’s sure blessed my kiddos with some amazing tutors and coaches over the years as well) I/we need to meet our childrens’ needs, in ever way.
Hebrew: I’m also going to attempt at keeping up with Tim Hegg’s online Hebrew Language Studies this year (using the First Hebrew Primer), for my own sake (I hope to one day think and dream in Hebrew!), and also to be able to better help the kids with learning Hebrew as well, of course! I’m hoping that T11 will even want to join N14 and I for this course, but she’s pretty immersed in learning her ASL (this has been her own idea and self-motivated project for awhile now), so the Jot and Tittle workbook may be all she does of the Hebrew this year.
Also, the Ancient Hebrew Research Center provides free online learning resources, which we’ll be taking advantage of. We’re gradually learning Hebraic prayers and blessings from the Authorized Daily Prayer Book in both Hebrew and English.
We also have this Alef-Bet Memory Game that little S3 loves to play, which helps us all to learn as well.
Prayer & Praise
Recitations & Poetry (unless we wait until lunch for this). Hopefully we’ll be better about ACTUALLY getting TO IT this year! *aye-yi-yi!*
Life of Fred Math lessons (as we have time), for review, a different (fun) approach to our arithmetic, but mostly just because we’re fans of Fred! We are all working through these texts together, at the same time… Fred always provides a good laugh, while reinforcing math concepts the kids are learning in their individual TT courses.
Sonlight Core 100 We will be spending this and the next two years covering American History (In Depth: 3 years altogether) using resources listed in Amblesides Online’s Years 4, 5, and 6, as well as some of those recommended by House of Education’s Years 9, 10, and 11. However, since we are now living here in PA (and not really sure how long we’ll necessarily be here) and planning on enjoying lots of *living history* by way of as many fun field trips visiting local American historical sites, museums, etc. as possible, we also wanted a quicker survey-type-tour of American History. This is where Sonlight’s Core 100: American History In-Depth comes in! This will be our main history focus this year, and hopefully its Instructor’s Guide will SIMPLIFY my/our school year.
Independent Studies/Electives, Curriculum to supplement Sonlight Core 100
(Much of what I’ve listed here individually for N and T will naturally overlap in the form of read-alouds and shared activities, discussions, etc.)
N14: 9th Grade, using House of Education Online’s Year 9<<Click to view. (morphed with Sonlight’s Core 100).
T11: 6th Grade Studies {Ambleside Online Y4: American History in Depth, pt. 1}<<Click to view. (morphed with Sonlight’s Core 100).
S3: Our precious Pre-Schooler who always keeps our days lively and interesting!! We’ll all be reading lots of lovely picture books with little Savi, from our own library, as well as from the “fun” public library (AO 0). As well as:
- Before Five in a Row (here’s some BFIAR resources we’ll be drawing from) preschool curriculum just for ideas, and to be spread over the next couple of years.
- Shalom Sesame It’s Sesame Street, Hebraic style- gotta love it- well, we do anyways!
- Music and Bible: Kingdom Songs and ABC Bible Memory Verses, found here (pdf) (ht to LindaFay for that list).
- I’ll also be printing out these adorable alphabet cards from Jan Brett’s website, where she has lots of other activities and cute printables all available for free.
