We don't have too many changes to what we're doing this year. The biggest difference is that now that we're doing high school, the girls do much more independent work. Instead of us reading together the majority of the reading is done independently and then we just discuss the books they read so I can make sure they understood everything. Part of me is excited that I don't have to do as much school as I have in the past, but the other part of me misses the snuggling on the sofa while we read great books and discuss them together.
A big part of what they need to learn over these next four years is time management. That's a skill that is going to take them far into the future so it's super important. We've been slowly working on that skill over the years as they have always had independent work to do, but this year almost everything is on them to manage and do alone. I know if they can thrive in this they'll be able to do whatever life throws at them from a school/work/life standpoint. My babies are growing up!!!
- Bible: Daily Bible Study, Misc Books, and Scripture Memorization
- Math: Math U See - Geometry
- English: Essentials in Writing - Level 10
- Literature: Sonlight American Literature
- History: Sonlight Core 100 - American History
- Science: Apologia Physical Science & Labs
- Language: Rosetta Stone - Spanish
- PE: Swimming, Hiking, Peloton Classes, Gym Membership
- Music: Piano Lessons & Voice Lessons & High School Worship Team
- Electives: Typing Instructor
English & Literature - Last year we used the grading service for Essentials in Writing for the first time and I can't speak highly enough about the entire process. The girls had a different mindset about their writing knowing that someone other than me was reading and grading it. They did amazingly well and got all A's writing at a high school level when they were only 8th graders. Even though the curriculum and writing assignments are a little repetitive from year to year, it gives them good practice with a variety of different writing styles and they've become really great writers. For this reason we're sticking with Essentials in Writing and we again added the grading service. In addition to their writing we're doing the Sonlight American Literature program. They have SO many great books to read this year and I can't wait for the discussions we're going to get to have about all of them!
Math-U-See - Geometry - This curriculum is still one of my favorites. Mr Demme has made math so easy to understand and the mastery approach has made it so that the girls have never gotten behind and only thrived in math. They were so nervous about doing Algebra 1 last year and were sure they were finally going to struggle with math... nope! They mastered each lesson before moving on so they were always ready for whatever came next and before we knew it the year was over and they hadn't struggled at all. I predict this year will be another great one without any issues.
The Sonlight Science for this year is actually an Apologia course. The girls are only a week into it so far and are really loving it. They do it completely on their own including labs and lab reports and said it's really fun. The workbook is really inclusive and I can tell when I grade their notes that they really understand what they read and learned as there is lots of summary work for the questions so unbeknownst to them they are putting their English skills to work as well.
For Bible this year the girls are doing a Bible Study sampler which is a bit more inductive in style and really allows them to focus on what God is specifically showing them in each passage of scripture. I think it's so important for them to know how to study the Bible on their own without a study or guide and this is much more geared towards that so I can't wait to watch their spiritual lives continue to grow. I'm already so proud of who they've become and the walk they each have with God. They both love him and have a desire to grow in their relationship with him and are such a good example to their friends and everyone around them.
We're ready to start our first year of High School and are praying God's blessings over each of us as we journey this year together!
