Four Year High School Plan in Retrospect....

I'm officially in full planning mode here on Drywood Creek!  Planning just happens to be one of my favorite things :)  I will only have two students this fall after graduating our second child, the first through homeschool, in May.  After seven years of high school between two kids, it seems a bit strange not planning high school this summer. 

A while back, in this post, I talked about creating a four year plan when starting high school.  Recently on the SCM Forum, a question was asked regarding sharing of middle and high school plans.   This prompted me to reflect on our homeschool high school, which I thought I would share here in the hope of helping others in the high school planning mode. 

As mentioned in that former post, this was a fluid document that changed annually until graduation.  Here is the final version showing what curricula we used each step of the way...

 Drywood Creek Academy

Four-Year High School Plan

Subject	Required Number of Credits	Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
English including                    Grammar, Composition,     Literature, Speech, & Vocabulary	4	MFW English Queen Language Lessons Wordly Wise 8 (1)	MFW English Beautiful Feet Language Lessons (1)	Lightning Lit & Comp Beautiful Feet Spelling Wisdom (1)	Beautiful Feet Commas are our Friends MFW Speech (partial) (1)
Mathematics     Algebra     Geometry	2	Math –U-See Pre-Algebra (1)	Math-U-See Algebra 1 Keys to Algebra (1)	Math-U- See Geometry (1)	MFW Personal Finance (.5)
Social Studies including                      Geography    Ancient Civilizations    World History    U.S. History Government Economics	4	MFW Ancient History (1)	MFW World History Beautiful Feet (1)	Beautiful Feet U.S. History (1) Notgrass Government  Never Before in History Under God (1)	Beautiful Feet U.S. History TruthQuest AOR III  (1) A Beka Economics  Uncle Eric books (1)
Science    Physical Science    Biology    Chemistry, Astronomy,    Physics, Anatomy,    Marine Biology	4	Apologia Physical Science w/lab (1)	Apologia Biology w/lab (1)	Chemistry 101 DVDs TOPS Solutions 12 – labs The Great Course Chemistry – lecture DVDs Exploring the World of Chemistry + Misc. Books (1)	Master Books Pre- Med Studies (Anatomy) (1)
Bible/Theology     Old Testament     New Testament	4	MFW Old Testament (1)	MFW New Testament (1)	MFW Biblical Worldview (1)	MFW Spiritual Disciplines Starting Points (1)
Physical Education	1.5	Physical Education (.5)	Personal Fitness (.5)	Personal Fitness (.5)
Health	.5				Total Health (.5)
Electives – Music; Art; Logic; Ag; Life Skills, Computer, Foreign Language, Culture, etc.	4	Animal Science (.5) Typing for Christian Service (.5)	Ag Processing (.5) Choir & Music Appreciation (1)	Introductory Logic (.5) Natural History & Outdoor Recreation (.5)	Life Skills (.5) Art History (1) Intro to World Cultures(1)

**Please don't get hung up on credit assignment.  There are many ways to go about it.  This just happens to be the way it worked for our family. 

Commonplace Book...R.C. Sproul, Jr.

As I'm knee deep in planning the upcoming school year, I just came across this and wanted to share....

"Insofar as I am driven by a fear that my child might not measure up to some arbitrary academic standard I become a slave, no matter how well they do. Insofar as I instill in them a passion to serve our King, I encourage them to be free indeed (John 8:36)." - R. C. Sproul, Jr. 

There is great wisdom here!...and just what I needed as I'm once again sweating over math decisions :(    

Trouble at Otter Creek....

Trouble at Otter Creek by Wilma Pitchford Hays takes place in 1775 during the American Revolutionary War.  It is based on the true experiences of Ann Story and her five children, who settled near the town of Salisbury when Vermont was still part of the New Hampshire Grants. 

The year prior, Amos Story, "Papa", and fourteen-year old Solomon went twenty miles north through the wilderness to 100 acres of land Papa purchased on Otter Creek. They were intent on clearing the land and preparing a homestead.  After the cabin was built, Papa said he'd return to get the rest of the family.  However, Papa died and Solomon returns to the family alone.  Against everyone's wishes, Ann Story, "Mama", decides that she and the five young children must go to the cabin in the wilderness and farm the land her husband worked so hard to get. 

Life is difficult on this new frontier and the Indians are fierce.  Trouble at Otter Creek tells the tale of how Ethan Allen, leader of the Green Mountain Boys, helped Ann Story and her five children who were burned out by the Indians.  This 44 page reader is packed with high adventure and is bound to keep readers young and old sitting on the edge of their seat. 

Wilma Pitchford Hays is another of our favorite authors.  She wrote dozens of books for children including stories of animals and a holiday series.  Though, our family knows her best for her historical fiction.  Many of Hays' titles are out of print.  We've rescued several from discard sales.  They have come to be known as treasures here on Drywood Creek :)

Playing with Math...

I was recently sent a manuscript copy of Playing with Math: Stories from Math Circles, Homeschoolers & Passionate Teachers edited by Sue VanHattum.  Playing with Math is definitely not a math textbook.  It's a conglomeration of helpful stories and examples of how people who love math are sharing that love with others. 

The book is divided into four sections including: 1. Math Circles and More: Celebrating Math; 2. Homeschoolers Do Math; 3. Passionate Teachers: In The Classroom; and 4. Resources.  Each section starts with a brief introduction followed by stories from a variety of authors.  Each story is followed by an example of various math games, puzzles and problems for you to try. 

In Math Circles and More, I learned that groups of people gather to work on math problems together.  There are math circles, math clubs, and math festivals.  Math lovers even put together math trails where they map out an area and provide math questions that can be answered by observing that surrounding area.  Go figure!  (...no pun intended :)  I had no idea that people actually gather to solve math problems for fun.  Math Circles and More provides unique stories by people who have started or participated in these groups.  I was inspired at the possibility of gathering in a math club. 

Homeschoolers Do Math starts off with stories from bloggers you may recognize, Julie Brennan of  Living Math! and Jimmie Lanley from Jimmie's Collage and the Notebooking Fairy.  Both ladies, among others, share anecdotes about doing math while homeschooling.  Each mom shares her journey on helping their child become successful with math, from overcoming personal fears, to turning math haters into math lovers. 

The stories of Passionate Teachers are shared in section three.  These teachers rise above standardized tests, government mandates, and misc. grading policies to help children succeed with math both in the classroom and for life.  The introduction states, "Good teachers have always worked valiantly to provide a rich learning environment for the children in their care, and to overcome the limitations imposed by the structure of schooling. In this section, you’ll get a peek at a few teachers who discuss their work and their struggles online. One of the themes is how textbooks get in the way. We’ve ceded much of our power to textbook publishers, and finding ways to move beyond the textbook can be very powerful."  As a homeschooler, I can personally say that I've let textbooks rule my way for teaching math because of insecurity.  I think homeschoolers and classroom teachers alike can glean from the wisdom here. 

Finally, the Resource section is packed with a plethora of ideas to support you whether you are a novice or math aficionado.  There are online resources and living math book lists.  I enjoyed perusing the Meet the Author section. 

You can click here to learn more about Playing with Math.  There is a brief video by Vanhattum and information for purchasing the book.  I can see Playing with Math being very popular amongst math lovers and not so much math lovers looking for a survival resource.  It appears to have something for everyone. 



Disclaimer - Though I did receive a free manuscript copy of Playing with Math, I did not receive compensation for my review.  All opinions stated here are a result of my personal research of the book. 

Birthday Baby...

I can't believe our baby is two years old today!!  It seems like only yesterday we were anticipating his birth...

...and now he's here walking and talking, running, jumping, and toddling around.   At times, he still seems so small and wee.  He loves to snuggle and sing songs.  Other times, he's way too big for his breeches.  Like a couple of weeks ago, when I asked him if I could cut his hair and he said, "No, beautiful hairs!". 

Ah, our days are numbered as the grains of time slip, slip away....but for today, here are a few of the many faces of Levi......

It's pouring rain here on Drywood Creek this morning.  We've had daily thunderstorms that, according to the forecast, will continue throughout the week.  It's the same as two years ago, the week Levi was born.  You can read more about his birth story here....

America's Ethan Allen....

I found America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook at a public school library discard sale and I'm so glad I bought it!!  Ethan Allen was a patriot and soldier who led the Green Mountain Boys in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775.

This 1949 illustrated biography is told in story form.  It portrays Ethan Allen as larger than life, legendary, with fierceness and vigor, yet it's fast pace and simple enough for elementary children. I would recommend it for grades 3-8, although I believe high school students through adult would also glean from America's Ethan Allen.  I know I sure did. 

Lynd Ward's amazing illustrations are like icing on the cake.  These illustrations alter between color and black and white.  Ward's vivid images give the reader a sense of reality in picture book form.  We are huge fans of his work.

I highly recommend America's Ethan Allen by Stewart Holbrook.  I don't know how I missed these characters during my youth, but I'm very grateful I've come to know them now!

Bible Study....

I'm looking ahead to next fall.  It seems strange, only planning an education for two kiddos but, I'm looking forward to spending more time with Riley and Ruben, focusing on a few key areas.  One of these is Bible Study.  I think it's time to dig deeper into scripture.

In the past, I've used the Egermeier Story Bible and The Child's Story Book by Catherine Vos.  Two years ago, we studied Proverbs and this past year we used Notgrass Draw to Learn Psalms.  Both the kids and I are ready for a more in depth study using a full edition Bible.  So far, I've narrowed it down to two choices...
 


1. Bible Study Guide for All Ages - This four year comprehensive Bible study offers 416 lessons for age 3 to adult.  The study is broke down into four units with different parts including Teacher's Guide, Student Pages, Wall Map & Timeline, and Bible Book Summary Cards.  I was fortunate to pick up Unit 1 at a used book sale.

You can find more details on choosing the materials to work best for your family here.    There is also an Order of Study here.  Bible Study Guide for All Ages covers a combination of Old and New Testament each year.  At the end of Year 4, the study has brought you through the entire Bible.  I love the idea that we can study the Bible together with different ages and abilities.  At this point, I don't think I'm going to order the Student Pages.  We looked at them at a sale and Riley was a bit turned off by the cartoon characters.  The kids prefer to draw their own illustrations.  I would add scripture memory and copywork. 



2. Bible Road Trip - This is a FREE online Bible Study offered by homeschool mom and author Danika Cooley.  Bible Road Trip is a three year study that also covers the entire Bible.   The study is aimed at youth PreK to 12th grade with notebooking pages available in four levels; Lower Grammar (Grades 1-3), Upper Grammar (Grades 4-6), Dialectic (Grades 7-9), and Rhetoric level (Grades 10-12).  Each year consists of a 32 week schedule.  Click here for an overview of what's covered in each of the three years as well as the books/resources used in each of the "grade" levels. 

One concern I have about this program is, "Bible Road Trip does not address specific theological or doctrinal arguments. (There are some discussions over the manner in which we approach Scripture in the upper grades.)  For example, though I believe in the literal Creation account, and I was careful to choose materials that did not discount that very valid view of the Bible, you will not find anything here that specifically addresses Creationism. There are many wonderful ministries that you can consult for additional materials.  Rather, weeks 3-5 of Year One of Bible Road Trip will acquaint students with the book of Genesis – its authorship, themes, storyline, and timing in actual history."  I guess this could be a pro or con.  Although, I personally want creationism and I'm thinking in terms of finding/adding yet another resource to accompany the study.  On the other hand, I love the literature that's incorporated at the grade 4-6 level.  I'm also attracted to the notebooking pages. 

I've read several reviews of both programs and overall they both look like solid Bible Studies. Decisions, decisions.....!  

What Bible Study program do you use in your homeschool?  Feel free to comment below, especially if you've used either of these programs.   I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas! 

I do plan to write a follow-up after deciding :)

Jean Fritz Books....

Whenever I pull books off the shelf to decide which to read for a new topic, the kids always pick Jean Fritz titles.  Fritz is an American children's author of history and biographies.  She's been writing for four decades.  We find her books witty and fun while maintaining accuracy to each character's life.  Fritz allows the reader to get a different, more personal perspective on each historical figure she writes. 

I read on a Houghton Mifflin website that,  "In her books about real people of the past, Jean Fritz never makes up dialogue. Instead, she draws on the real letters, diaries, and journals of those people, using only words that they actually wrote or spoke."  This must be challenging as a writer, yet so beneficial to the reader studying each of her historical characters.  I appreciate the time and energy Fritz puts into to each historical biography she writes. 

Many of Fritz's titles are recommended reading through Sonlight, TruthQuest History, and Beautiful Feet.  Some of the Jean Fritz titles we've read so far are....

Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?
Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?
King George's Head was Made of Lead
The Cabin Faced West
Homesick
The Lost Colony of Roanoke
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
The Double Life of Pocahontas
Brady
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May?
George Washington's Breakfast
The Great Little Madison
Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Beecher Preachers
Brenden the Navigator
George Washington's Mother

Are you a Jean Fritz fan?  If you've never tried one of her books, you should!

Paul Revere....

Pictured above are some must reads if you're studying Paul Revere or the start of the American Revolution...

Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is one of a collection of twenty-one long narrative poems in the Tales of a Wayside Inn, published in 1863.  This particular poem has been retold many times by various children's authors.  The above edition was illustrated by Paul Galdone, who spent a good deal of time in the area of Massachusetts while preparing to illustrate this book.  Another popular edition is illustrated by Ted Rand and recommended as a Five in a Row title.   Whichever you choose, Longfellow's poem is a worthwhile addition to your study.

If you haven't met Esther Forbes, America's Paul Revere illustrated by Lynd Ward is a wonderful way to get acquainted.  "The inspiration for America's Paul Revere occurred to Lynd Ward one day while reading the Pulitzer prize-winning biography Paul Revere and the World He Lived In, by Esther Forbes. Mr. Ward began to wonder if there could not be books for younger children that would, through words and pictures, create for them a sense of the reality of American history and the lives of the men who have helped make this country great." As Ward contemplated Revere's life, illustrations for such a book came to mind.  He approached the publishers of Paul Revere... with his plan for a children's book and it was enthusiastically received.  America's Paul Revere is the result Ward's brainstorm. 

Ward's illustrations are as enjoyable as Forbes words.  Both are rich and give the reader a real sense of Revere's life and times.  Do not miss this book!  It is a Beautiful Feet recommendation.

You can see our review of Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes here. 

And Then What Happened Paul Revere? is one of Jean Fritz's many works of historical fiction.  Fritz writes in a witty yet knowledgeable way that allows the reader to learn more about the personality of her characters.  In this story of Paul Revere, we learn not only of Revere's famous midnight ride, but also of his life and trade.  He was a skilled silversmith who also made false teeth and drew cartoons.  Our kids enjoy Fritz's books.  And Then What Happened Paul Revere is a Sonlight recommendation.  Consider giving it a try!

Fabulous Friday....

Riley experimenting with her hair....

Ruben working through mental math....

Levi who loves to color....

How Many Kernels on a Cob of Corn?

Today, for lunch, we were eating corn on the cob when Riley asked,"how many kernels are on a cob of corn"?  After a brief discussion about no two ears being alike and estimation, she decided to do some figuring.  She counted one row on her cob, which had 40 kernels.  Then she counted the number of rows, which was 16.  I suggested rounding to 15 for ease of mental math.  She knew that 40 x 10 is 400 and half of 10 is 5, so 40 x 5 must be 200.  Then, 400 plus 200 equals 600.  Riley determined there were approx. 600 kernels of corn on her cob.

This prompted Ruben to inquire, "If there are 600 kernels and you eat one kernel per minute, how long will it take to eat the whole cob?"  After seeking assistance from Angel, he determined it would take 10 hours to eat Riley's cob of corn :))

I love these teachable moments!

Seeing Past Dyslexia...

Recently our local news channel, WQOW News Channel 18, broadcast a three part series on dyslexia.  Morning News Anchor, Aaron Rhody, did a very nice job bringing awareness to the issue.  I've linked each part below and encourage you to check them out.  Each piece is approx. 5-6 minutes. 

Seeing Past Dyslexia, Part 1

Seeing Past Dyslexia, Part 2

Seeing Past Dyslexia, Part 3

Angel's Graduation....

Angel graduated last night.  This was our second graduate, but the first one through home school.  We joined with eleven other local homeschool families and participated in a graduation ceremony with a reception to follow.  It was lovely!  I have no regrets about homeschooling through high school and look forward to the upcoming years with our younger kids.  Congratulations Angel!

RileyAnn took Angel's senior photos.  Below is a sampling.....

Johnny Tremain...

It is 1773 in Colonial Boston, Johnny Tremain is a bright apprentice silversmith with a promising future.  After a malicious accident leaves Johnny with a crippled hand, he must come to grips with not only his new disability, but his pride.  While struggling with his new self image, Johnny finds himself in the middle of the American Revolution. 

If you have not read Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, YOU MUST!!  Johnny Tremain is historical fiction at its very best.  Not only will you find yourself transported to historic Boston, but you will come to know prominent Boston Patriots such as Paul Revere, Sam Adams, and John Hancock.

Aside from history, there are many lessons to be learned in Johnny Tremain.  As the story unfolds, we witness Johnny mature from a prideful youth to a young man facing his problems, trying to figure out who he is and what matters most to him.  Johnny Tremain is a coming of age story of man vs. self.  We highly recommend it!

Childhood of Famous Americans...

Childhood of Famous Americans is a wonderful series!  I have read several of them aloud and the kids enjoy them.  Riley enjoys them so much that she has taken it upon herself to read the books pictured above for fun as they fit into our history study. 

Most of this series is out of print, but you can usually find them at used book sales.  Some of them have been reprinted.  However, we prefer the original hardbacks with the silhouettes.  The reprints that I've compared have been edited from the original version.  Though they are a series, you can see from the photo that the books have been printed with an assortment of covers. 

I really appreciate this Childhood of Famous Americans chronological list from Paula's Archives.  It makes it very easy to fit these little gems into whatever time period you are studying. 

Sadly, many schools and libraries are discarding this series as out of date.  I can't imagine how history gets out of date.  We collect just about every one we see :))  These are books I plan to pass down to our children, grandchildren, and hopefully many generations to come.  If you come across discarded Childhood of Famous Americans' books, I would encourage you to snatch them up and pass them on to those special young people in your life.  You will be giving them a great gift!

Book of Centuries....

I had an "Ah-Ha" moment over the weekend.  I'm currently reading through The Living Page: Keeping Notebooks with Charlotte Mason by Laurie Bestvater.  In addition, I was doing a bit of CM research online when I came across these two posts by Laurie Bestvater at Charlotte Mason Institute...

The Book of Centuries Revisited

The Book of Centuries Revisited Part II

The first is from 2010 and the second is from 2011, both of which were written before the 2013 copyright of The Living Page.  

 

Apparently, the Book of Centuries contained a two page spread for each century. One being a blank page, and one being a lined page numbered in five year increments.  The student then drew pictures/illustrations on the blank page of artifacts connected with that century.  The lined pages were used to note event dates "characteristic" of that time period.  Therefore, each book was individual to the student, with no two books alike.  Rarely were pictures glued in, to prevent the book from becoming too bulky.  In addition, toward the back of the Book of Centuries were ten blank pages where the student could draw maps and other history descriptions. 

 

Reading these posts, along with seeing the Book of Centuries Notebook Samples found in Appendix B of the book, really helped me to get a better idea of what Charlotte was trying to accomplish.  We've been keeping timelines with the cut and paste figures.  Now it appears that we've been going about it all wrong.  Although, I'm actually relieved to learn the correct method.  It looks much simpler and more cost effective.  I also think it will better help the children remember a timeline of history, which is the goal :)

Total Health: Choices for a Winning Lifestyle VS. A Beka Health....

A friend recently asked me to review Total Health vs. A Beka Health for her high school student.  Angel completed the middle school TH book in 8th grade and the high school TH book this year in 12th grade.  We also used A Beka Health in 6th grade.  She much preferred Total Health.

As a side note, for 12th grade I paired Total Health with I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris and we used Hewitt Homeschool's Health Syllabus and Tests.   I thought this was a good fit.  Angel enjoyed Harris' book as well. 

Since Angel used both programs, I asked her to write the review.  Again, keep in mind that we've only used A Beka health in 6th grade, not at the high school level.  Maybe the high school level covers areas more comparable to Total Health.  For us, Angel loved Total Health so much in middle school, it was a no brainer for high school.  I really didn't even look at any other programs at that point.  Here are her thoughts....

“Total Health was a great program!  It presented the information in an interesting and readable manner and included thought provoking activities and discussion topics to review the material covered.  Total Health provided accurate information on not only physical health, but it also explained how important our spiritual, mental, and social health are to our overall well being.  It presented health information from a Biblical perspective which made it much easier to apply the lessons learned to my life personally.  Overall, the program was well worth the time and effort put into it.  Total Health is a wonderful in-depth program that can be understood and enjoyed by all high school students. 

A Beka’s Choosing Good Health is also a good Biblically based health program and has its perks for those who like the textbook education method, but it is not as thought provoking or in-depth as Total Health.  Below are some compare/contrast points for both programs.” 

Total Health	A Beka Health
Readable and interesting; conversational, as if a teacher was speaking to you	Textbook reading and presentation of material; dry
Covered overall health from physical, mental, social, spiritual, etc.; not just nutrition and exercise	Covers mainly the human body, good nutrition, exercise, first aid, etc.; does not cover mental, social, or spiritual health
Included thought provoking explain/discussion questions that allow the student to think about the subject or issue being covered in the text themselves, coming up with their own opinions or answers	Included standard textbook multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, etc. questions that allow the student to find the answer in the reading rather than having the student actually think about the issue being covered; no thought provoking or essay questions
Has only two tests, one for each quarter; has a review that contains explain/discussion questions after each chapter; no quizzes	Has 4 tests, 8 quizzes and 11 worksheets throughout the program; no activities that  allow the student to apply the material they have learned