How we do home school

Home school at our house
Candy, at Keeping the home put up a post about how they do home school. I thought I would give a different perspective since my children are quite a bit older than hers are.

I have a 7th grade 13 year old and a 15 year old freshman. Both girls are pretty much in charge of their own schooling. They have a huge impact on what subjects they study and when and where they do their school work. They also help one another with their work and keep track of the subjects studied.

I have the girls keep a record of subjects studied, who the book is produced by and such as a beginning of their transcript. We start keeping records in the 7th grade. This allows us to complete their high school transcripts without having to try to remember after several years what was studied.

For instance, both girls are at higher grade levels in some of their subjects than the grade they are “officially” in. Hannah has already completed the science book intended for her for next year so she will just go on to the next level. Mollie is the same way.

The girls have been learning Latin for about two years now. We like to use Getting started with Latin by William E. Linney. http://www.linneyslatinclass.com/ We like it because you can listen to Mr. Linney on the computer for correct pronunciation of words and phrases. He also has online lectures for the more advanced students.

For math we like Saxon until about 8th grade. Then we use singing turtles for algebra 1 http://www.singingturtle.com/pages/HOMESCHOOLERS4.html and finally teaching textbooks for algebra 2 and geometry. http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/

For History it’s the Mystery of History. http://www.themysteryofhistory.info/
We like this curriculum because it incorporates secular history and biblical history in a continuous timeline. I always had trouble with what happened in world history and timing it to what was happening in biblical history. I also like it because all ages can use it. They just have different assignments. The girls can work together. This next year we will be using volume II.
From their website........
"The Mystery of History is a curriculum unparalleled in its field. Created as a guide through the annals of time, The Mystery of History will lead all ages clearly through the labyrinth that many find this subject to be. Up until now, most world history and bible history have been separated. Linda Hobar has taken the initiative to tell the whole story in a way that few have before. With a classical approach, she weaves the story line together of both world and Bible history in Volume I. Subsequent volumes continue to weave the message of the Gospel through the ages.

For Sign Language we found a free instruction online here: http://www.start-american-sign-language.com/ This is another class the girls can do together.

I like having classes the girls can do together despite being different grade levels.

Joy and now Mollie have taken parent taught drivers education through National drivers training. http://www.usdrivertraining.com/ In Oklahoma students need to have an 8th grade reading proficiency test in order to get their learners permit. All you have to do to get this is to call a local school and tell them that you home school and that your student needs to take the 8th grade reading test. They will call you when their counselor has time to administer this test. The test, at least for my girls was quick and easy. Just make sure they give you the notarized document stating your student completed the test and the score. At first the local school just had the counselor type something up and the drivers license bureau would not accept it. The drivers license bureau stated that they were obligated to provide the same document they did public school students. When I called the school, they said they didn’t know if they could do that. I told them that the drivers license office said that they could. They finally provided the correct papers and we have not had trouble about that since then. It is a state law that they provide the test and the proper documents when the test is completed.

Mollie uses Abeka Grammar and Composition. It is a high school course and takes more than one school year to complete. Hannah studied Language C by Abeka.

Both girls use the Bible for reading and handwriting. They also use it for keyboarding practice. Some days they write scriptures longhand and others they type them up on the computer. We also pray together and read chapters each day. We pray for people we know and give God praise. I like that the Bible can be one of our textbooks.

For Humanities the girls worked 30 hours each at the local food bank in Guymon. They filled orders, received new stock, carried out groceries, cleaned, did front desk book work and everything volunteers were asked to do.

Science~~~Hannah loved her Abeka health science book so much that she completed it early and started on the 8th grade Abeka health science. Mollie also completed her science early. She studied Biology for Christians Schools by Bob Jones University Press.

Domestic science. Both girls continually study this. They are both now able to plan for, shop and prepare meals using the best ingredients for their money. They can keep a home tidy and do deep cleaning jobs. I have had several compliments that I have trained the girls well as they can adapt to most situations and are able to look at what needs done and do it with out being instructed or told to help. They have both served funeral dinners, church dinners and the like. They have the skills necessary to maintain a household from the domestic point. Later we will study finances more in dept but for now they can find sales, use coupons etc.

One thing homeschoolers must do is to find out the graduation requirements of their state. Some states allow home scholars to participate in school sports or other activities. My girls participated in art, music, P.E. and computer at the local public school when we lived in Kansas. The Oklahoma laws are similar to Kansas but each district superintendent has the authority to authorize these types of activities or deny the student them as they desire. Where we live in Oklahoma the superintendent is not home school friendly and will not allow our students to participate in any activates associated with the local school.

We enjoy the freedom we have in home school. The girls can do assignments ahead of schedule if we have events we want to attend. They can do work on the road. They also do not have to wait until the teacher can get order in the class room to begin their studies. If they want to fiddle around they can make school last for hours, or they can get down to work and complete their work in a timely manner. Its their choice. They like being able to choose some of their subjects. For instance they have both completed the basic science courses and both are interested in physical science. So they do more of that. In public school there are not as many choices subject wise.

How does your family do home school? Leave a comment with a link to your home school schedule.

Edited to add: I forgot to list music. My youngest practices her guitar and the oldest is learning. Also, next year we may learn Quicken books if we can find it at a price we can afford. I have The Mystery of History II and timeline ordered for next year.
P.E. We do activities and are learnng the hula hoop.

Edited again to add: I forgot to list that the girls also have classical reading lists. They get a new list at the beginning of each year for their grade level. They read quite a bit. They can do pleasure reading as well as reading from the reading list.