My Curriculum Choices for My Teens. This post should have been written and shared a long time ago, but just like you, I am always running to catch up, and guess what? I don’t think I will ever catch up.
Being caught up. What does that really mean anyway? When raising a family, or empty nested there is always something to clean, cook, buy, or plan!
Plans in the future, like trips, sports practices and games, recitals, plays, church activities, family time, field trips, the list goes on and on and it should because we are living life!
But now I am here, sharing with you all the classes that my four children took in their teen years. (Some I have forgotten exactly what they took! Seventh grade for my first child was fifteen years ago! I can’t be that old!)
To make it easy, I am going to list all my curriculum choices by subject and grade. Listed below each subject are the suggested credits needed for high school graduation.
With four children, I changed the curriculum and the years that they took these classes to best fit their needs. I did not use all of these listed with every child. We did not finish every book. We skipped around sometimes. I added extra or fun resources to mix it up every now and then.
Because I homeschooled when there were fewer options,….. if I was homeschooling now, I know my choices would have changed. I could have better tailored their passion and needs withe some of the options that are available now.
So here goes….
MATH
3 Credits
Algebra 1– 8th grade or 9th grade Math-U-See
Geometry– 9th or 10th grade Math-U-See
Algebra 2- 10th grade or 11th grade Math-U-See
Review and ACT Prep– 10th or 11th grade
I did not use College Prep Genius to prepare my teens for college admission tests because I did not know about them, but I definitely would have used them!
Math 1010 (concurrent enrollment) -12th grade
Took classes through the local public high school that worked with one of our state’s universities
Other math courses that I did not use but are available through YHBR or partners
Life of Fred– textbooks
Saxon Math– textbooks
School House Teachers– online courses for middle school
School House Teachers– online courses for high school
Multiple choices at Homeschool Buyers Co-op
SCIENCE
2-4 Credits
Health and Nutrition- 7th or 8th
Exploring Creation with Health and Nutrition
Physical Science– 9th grade
Apologia Exploring Creation with Physical Science
Biology– 10th Grade
Apologia Exploring Creation with Biology
Apologia Exploring Creations with Marine Biology
Chemistry– 11th grade
Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry
Advanced Biology– 12th grade
Exploring Creation with Advanced Biology
Child Birth Education–
One of our daughters, who was interested in being a labor and delivery nurse, shadowed a Doula (friend) for a semester.
Other science courses that I did not use but are available through YHBR or partners
Homeschool Buyers Co-op– multiple choices for middle and high school science courses
School House Teachers online science courses for high school
School House Teachers online science courses for middle school
Junior Homeschool Academy- Middle school and High school courses. (I think my teens would have enjoyed this one!
LANGUAGE ARTS
4 Credits
GRAMMAR AND MORE
Easy Grammar Plus– 7th/8th/9th grade
Daily Grams– 7th-9th grade
Wordly Wise 7th-10th grade
Classical Roots– 8th-10th grade
WriteShop– 7th-9th (WriteShop now has a video course too!)
WriteatHome 10th grade
Spelling Power– a little pricey but works for all your kids! 3rd grade through high school. I loved this. And yes, some of my kids still needed spelling help in high school 😄
ACT English and reading prep
I did not use College Prep Genius because I did not know about it but I definitely would have used them! I highly recommend it.
English 1010-fall semester(concurrent enrollment) 12th grade
Took class through local high school
English 2010 (concurrent enrollment), spring semester 12th grade
Took class through local high school
LITERATURE
Part of Sonlight Core 300 10th,11th or 12th grade
Part of Notgrass Exploring Government and Exploring Economics 11th or 12 grade
Other language arts courses that I did not use but are available through YHBR or partners
School House Teachers online language arts courses for middle school (email me and ask for the $100 of membership discount code! contact@yellowhousebookrental.com)
School House Teachers online language arts courses for high school
Homeschool Buyers Co-op– multiple choices for middle and high school language arts courses
HISTORY/GOVERNMENT
2-4 credits
World History
Sonlight Core G- 7th 8th or 9th grade
20th Century World History (Solight)- 10th or 11th grade
The Mystery of History Vol 1,2,3,4- 9th through 11th grade. I did a little Mystery of History scattered throughout Sonlight. Both are so good!
American History
Sonlight Core 100– 7th grade
The Mystery of History Vol 4 has a large amount dedicated to American history
U.S. History 1700 (concurrent enrollment) 12th grade
Taken through the local high school as an online course
Government
Notgrass Exploring Government 10th, 11th or 12th grade
Notgrass Exploring Economics 10th, 11th or 12th grade
U.S Constitution 10th grade
FINE ARTS
1-2 Credits
Depending on the child and their gifting and interests, I used a variety of the following to fulfill their fine arts credits.
Chalk Pastel High School Fine Art courses for all ages
Dance classes and competitive dance
Piano, Guitar, Voice lessons
Worship team
Music Theory AP clas Online course
Dance studio- opened their studio and taught dance and tumbling- 10th- 12th grade
We did private voice lessons, but a great alternative and money saver is the Singing Made Easy online course for all ages
Below are other available courses that we did not use but are available through our affiliate partners
How Your Teen Can Earn an Arts Program- Credit for High School
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
1-2 credits
Spanish- 7th -12th grade
Beginning Sign Language
Courses taken at our local library and an online course
Below- other courses available that we did not use but are available through our affiliate partners
Homeschool Buyers Co-Op Foreign Language Options
School House Teachers Foreign language options
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
1-2 credits
Depending on the child and their gifting’s and interests I used a variety of the following to fulfil their physical education credits
Dance, Snowboarding, Soccer
ELECTIVES
5 credits
Drivers Ed- 9th grade- Class taken at a local high school
Bible Class-Taken at our local high school
Apologetics
Equipping Minds Critical Thinking
Career Planning 11th or 12th grade through Unbound
Personal Finance Foundations in Personal Finance
YouTube Filming and Editing Online course
Overseas internship with Y.E.S.- intense dance and ministry, 3 weeks- 12th grade
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT COURSES
All of the following courses were taken at Unbound
Psychology
Principles of Supervision
Intro to Computing
Information Management
Principles of Marketing
Foundations in Personal Finance- Through Dave Ramsey as a college course
Shakespeare Plays- taken through our local university
More curriculum options that I would have loved to use with my teens
Learning how to be a great entrepreneur- I used a different book, but if this were available, I would have used Teen Entrepreneurial Tool Box
The Tuttle Twins Teen Academy– 36 video courses on economics, civics, history, and critical thinking. The subjects that actually prepare your teen for life.
School House Teachers electives options for middle school and high school
Visit our Curriculum Directory for even more options!
I urge you to remember the freedom you have in homeschooling and choosing the curriculum and best time to teach it to your teen. Find their passions and add as many courses as you can to help them grow in their God given gifts. You can homeschool your teen successfully!
Join me over at Homeschooling Teens Successfully on Facebook.
Grab the Four Styles of Learning Freebie here
Enjoying the journey,
Michelle
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