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Our Curriculum for the Next School Year

Yippee!  I’ve finally finished planning our learning for next school year! (Well, except for a few minor decisions.)  Here’s the list for our five children, grades 12, 10, 8, 5, and 2/3.  It is very long, so I’ve color coded the different grades to make it easier to find a particular grade.

If you’re interested in what curriculum other families use for learning, you’ll love this week of the Not Back to School Blog Hop. It’s all about curriculum, and currently almost 300 families have joined in to share their plans for the year.

Not Back to School Blog Hop

So here are our subject and curriculum choices, color coded as follows:  Grade 12, Grade 10, Grade 8, Grade 5, Grade 2/3

All of us 

Memorize John 3-8

Keep reviewing last year’s memory work (John 1-2, Prov 1-4, Ps 125, Ps 92)  as well as texts from other years

Learn more hymns and Psalms

Read church history

Drill French conjugations and idioms

Read aloud in English and Dutch

Miss 17 (grade 12)

Bible and Worldview

Bible (Hebrews to Revelation)

Church history review

Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Universe Next Door, Seven Men Who Rule the World from the Grave, The Deadliest Monster, Postmodern Times and parts of  Beyond Opinion

Reformed faith classes

English

BJUP British Literature

The Roar on the Other Side by Suzanne Rhodes (poetry)

Classics to accompany history (1500 to present), with reports

Two science biographies or other science books, with in-depth reports

Wordsmith Craftsman, partially

Rod and Staff Building Christian English 9/10

Elements of Style

Math

Finish New Additional Math from Singapore

Calculus and/or statistics (university texts and ALEKS)

University of Waterloo Math competition and preparation

Corporate accounting (ALEKS)

Sciences

Advanced Chemistry (Apologia and ALEKS)

Advanced Physics (Apologia)

Anatomy and Physiology of Large Animals (yes, this is a vet course, but she really wanted to do this for advanced biology. She will need to learn background material as well.  I think I’ll grade it by having her do a report or a hands-on project for each chapter.  She has at least two job shadowing days planned with vets, so that will help.  If this becomes too challenging, we will change our plans.)

History

Second half of Spielvogel’s The Human Odyssey, including map work

Read relevant Truth Quest guides and do the assignments

Read and report on classic literature from the time period

Two essays

Time line work

French

Finish BJUP French 2,

French Three Years from AMSCO

Rosetta Stone Levels 2 and 3

Various readings

Speak with co-workers

Dutch

Finish Rosetta Stone level 2

Visit the Netherlands

Read novels and nonfiction

Finish Hugo’s Dutch in Three Months and then begin Taking Dutch Further (if I can get a copy) or some other intermediate level grammar book.

Greek

Finish Elementary Greek 2, an unfinished commitment from the past

The Arts

Music:  organ as well as flute, guitar, or fife

Picture Study

Physical Activity

Judo:  work on brown belt

Other

Work on dairy farm, full time September and October, part time for the rest of the year

Trip to Netherlands, December

Gary North’s Study Habits (free download at garynorth.com)

Prep and write SAT

Apply to universities and scholarships (This means I need to get transcripts and reports finished!!)

Puppy training

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Mr 15 (grade 10)

Bible and worldview

Bible book summaries (Psalms to Nahum)

Promise and Deliverance (Volume 2 lesson 44 to end of Volume 4)

Church history review

Lifeviews and The Consequences of Ideas by RC Sproul

Catechism classes

English

18 quality works of literature, with reports

Finish The Grammar of Poetry

Three science biographies or other science books, with reports

Rod and Staff Building Christian English 8

Website writing

Wordsmith Craftsman

Peterson Handwriting

Type It by Joan Duffy (until typing speed is 50 wpm)

Math

Geometry (ALEKS and Jacob’s)

New Elementary Math 4A, Singapore

New Additional Math, Singapore

University of Waterloo Math competition and preparation

Logic: computer programming

Computer

Website building (HTML, CSS, XML)

Intro to programming (Java or C, to be decided)

(Optional: prepare for and take University of Waterloo computer competition)

Sciences

Finish Biology (Apologia)

Begin Chemistry (Apologia and ALEKS)

Nature study, nature notebook, and nature walks

History

Streams of Civilization, volume 2 with one report per chapter

historical fiction for each chapter

Powerpoint geography presentation for each chapter

Time line work

French

Finish BJUP French 2,

Start French Three Years (AMSCO)

Rosetta Stone 2

Read short stories 

Dutch

Finish Rosetta Stone level 2

Read several exciting teen novels

Finish Hugo’s Dutch in Three Months for grammar

The Arts

Music:  organ and recorder

Music theory and history

Picture Study

Physical Activity

Judo:  work on brown belt

Swimming lessons

Other

Drivers Education

Volunteering with therapeutic riding

Puppy training

Gary North’s Study Habits (free download at garynorth.com)

Bee keeping

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Miss 12 (Grade 8 )

Bible

Finish Show Me Thy Ways 6

Then quickly do Covenantal Catechism 4

Church history review

Catechism classes

English

18 quality works of literature, with reports

Rod and Staff Building Christian English 6

Spelling Bee

Rod and Staff Spelling 8

Blog writing

Writing Strands (finish level 4, do level 5)

Math

Algebra 1 (ALEKS)

Key to Algebra books 5-10

New Elementary Math 1, Singapore

Start New Elementary Math 2

University of Waterloo Math competition and preparation

Math Score (drill/review)

Building Thinking Skills: Book 3 Verbal

Sciences

Physical Science (Apologia)

Three science biographies or other books, with reports

Nature study, nature notebook, and nature walks

History

CLP Streams of Civilization volume 1

historical fiction for each chapter

mapwork for each chapter

Time line work

Geography

Contact Canada (with The Home Works Study Guide)

French

Finish French is Fun 1,

Begin French is Fun 2

Rosetta Stone level 1, 2

Dutch

Finish Rosetta Stone level 2

Read at least one novel

Do copywork

The Arts

Music:  organ and recorder

Music history and theory

Picture Study

ArtPac 7

Physical Activity

Swimming lessons

Cross country skiing

One organized activity, to be decided

Other

Volunteering with therapeutic riding

Puppy training

Sewing

 ————————————–

Miss 10 (Grade 5)

Bible

Show Me Thy Ways 4

Covenantal Catechism, level 2

English

Living Together, Pathway reader and workbook

Natural Speller

Spelling Bee

Intermediate Language Lessons

Type It by Joan Duffy

Peterson Hand writing

Math

Key to Decimals

Finish Key to Metric Measurement

Math Galaxy: Decimals Proportions and Percent Fun

Quarter Mile Math for drill

MathScore, drill and review

Sciences

Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day (Apologia)

Nature study, nature notebook, and nature walks

History

A Pioneer Story, A Pioneer Thanksgiving, A Pioneer Christmas, and The Kid’s Book of Canada by Barbara Greenwood

Fifty Famous Stories by James Baldwin (from Ambleside Online)

Historical novels

Story of the World, all volumes by Susan Wise Bauer (just reading)

Time line work

Geography

Finish Homelands Around the World

French

Powerglide Junior or Rosetta Stone 1 (haven’t decided yet)

Dutch

Finish Rosetta Stone level 2

Read alouds and songs

The Arts

Organ and guitar

Picture Study

ArtPac 4

Physical Activity

Swimming lessons

Judo

 ————————————————–

Miss 7 (Grade 2/3)

Bible

Covenantal Catechism Level 2

English

Climbing Higher, New Friends, More New Friends (Pathway readers and workbooks)

All About Spelling 2

Finish English for the Thoughtful Child

First half of Primary Language Lessons

Peterson Handwriting

Math

Miquon Blue Book, Green Book, and maybe begin Yellow Book

Math Galaxy:  Whole Numbers Fun

Quarter Mile Math (drill)

Sciences

Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day (Apologia)

Nature study, nature notebook, and nature walks

History

A Pioneer Story, A Pioneer Thanksgiving, A Pioneer Christmas, and The Kid’s Book of Canada by Barbara Greenwood

Fifty Famous Stories by James Baldwin (from Ambleside Online)

Geography

Finish Homelands Around the World

French

Powerglide Junior or Rosetta Stone 1 (haven’t decided yet)

Dutch

Finish Rosetta Stone level 2

Read alouds and songs

The Arts

recorder

Picture Study

ArtPac 3

Physical Activity

Swimming lessons

13 Comments

  1. Carmen says:

    I came over from the “Hop”. Looks like a fabulous line up! I hope you have a great school year.

  2. LOVE that puppy training is on the list! This is what makes homeschooling so wonderful. We also have puppy training on our list. Best of luck in the new year!

    1. Annie Kate says:

      Thanks! The puppy training is the one thing I’m nervous about, though! LOL

      Annie Kate

  3. Carrie says:

    WHEW! I am so tired after reading your list. You are an awesome mom and I pray huge blessings on your for the difference you are making in the world!

    1. Annie Kate says:

      Hi Carrie,

      It’s the children doing the work, so I won’t be as tired as you’d think. 🙂 Although the very thought of starting school again makes me tired.

      I’ve also been careful to choose curricula that don’t require me to be a teacher. That makes a huge difference.

      Thank you for your prayers.

      Annie Kate

  4. LaDonna says:

    found your post first; going to explore the hop later. I love finding Canadian homeschoolers. I especially appreciate your Canadian history selections. Need to look into those. I have a couple kids at that age (girls).

  5. Tina says:

    I enjoyed seeing all your “classes” for your kids! I appreciate that you have on there “finish” ______. I finally after years of homeschooling realized that when summer break came I needed that break! What ever was not done would wait till fall! I am working on lesson plans now and finally getting motivated for the fall.

    Thanks for your kind words. Yes it is difficult to imagin 200 steps….and please continue to pray for total healing. I pray every day for that! It has been 10 years since the diagnosis…we have seen Gods hand in it all. He is not wheel chair bound, He is not totally crippled. ( orginal prognosis) He does live in constant pain and discomfort. We were just sharing today how this difficulty in our lives turned us more toward God.

    1. Annie Kate says:

      Absolutely! Finishing a book need not coincide with finishing a year, or even finishing a grade. Realizing that was a major breakthrough for me, too.

      God bless you and keep you close to Him. And, yes, I’ll keep on praying.

      (((Hugs)))

      Annie Kate

  6. Kristen says:

    I’m tired too! It looks like a great plan Annie Kate.

    BTW, since you’re apparently coming from a Reformed perspective, TOG would probably suit you fine, opinionated or not ;-). But, you seem to do just fine without it!

  7. LarabaK says:

    Wow, that is an impressive list! Of course, even my kids get a lot done every year and it amazes me how much. High school intimidates me, but I know it’ll work out by the grace of God. As you say, they can take control of their schooling more and more as they mature.
    Thanks also for identifying our gigantic “tomato hornworms” which is as descriptive a name as I’ve ever come across. We were admiring the horns. And they sure liked our tomato plant!

  8. LaDonna says:

    Just wanted to make sure you saw my reply to your comment on my blog. I’ll repost it here:

    Annie Kate,

    The meme is weekly and it’s all about being Canadian. We all get the linky; it’s the same on every page; there is a code (Get the code here).

    And my schedule, well, this is the first year I’ve done it so detailed. We’ll see how it works. I’ve been experimenting with MOTH and it’s been working, so we’ll try. In fact this week I have not been following our schedule and the house and the kids are MISERABLE!!!!

  9. Stephanie says:

    Your plans look terrific. It looks like your family has a rich year of learning ahead.

  10. sevensmiths says:

    You certainly will be busy this year! Quite a few interesting subjects on your list. I am still compiling the last of our own list, but I am thinking about posting it this week or weekend–even though it is too late to join this blog hop.

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