This week I received an email from Pioneer Woman reader, Pat in Indy, asking me whether I managed to incorporate genealogy into our 2012-2013 curriculum, and any updates for how I decided to work fiscal responsibility into the upcoming year.
Unfortunately, only two months into our 2012-2013 homeschool year our family dealt with some extreme health issues with Kenny.
Then, a few days before Christmas my grandparents were in an automobile accident that took the life of my grandfather, and required months of around the clock care for my grandmother, Momma Milly.
Of course, it was our honor to pull together as a family in whatever ways were needed. My cousin, who previously homeschooled with us on Fridays, became a daily fixture, while her mother, my mother, and another aunt split up the daily care for Momma Milly; out of town family members drove up weekends to relieve them.
It was a long year – a painful year, but our fears were covered with peace, and we found joy in the midst of sorrow.
I write all this to explain the title of this post.
This year made it readily clear that regardless of our homeschool plans, there must be room for flexibility. We finished strong, but we were forced to let things go along the way: Emelie was only able to complete the first semester of her ASL 3 course; we did not get started on the genealogy unit; Kenny had to stop training for the Presidential Fitness Award – though he did earn the National Physical Fitness Award after his one mile run on one of the last days of Co-op; and, we did not get to finish up golf lessons for Kenny either.
And yet, I still count it as a successful year and look forward to a slightly more relaxed, decidedly tentative 2013-2014 homeschool year schedule.
Kenny (6th Grade)
BIBLE: AWANA + Inductive Bible Study: Foundations 1 – Old Testament (Co-op course)
HISTORY: American History, Part 2 of 2 (Co-op course + budget for recommended readers)
LA: Sentence to Paragraph (Co-op course using curriculum from The Write Foundation)
KEYBOARDING: Still seeking online curriculum.
SPELLING: Sequential Spelling 4
SCIENCE: Geology, Physics & Origins (Co-op course/labs + journaling notebook at home)
MATH: Teaching Textbooks 6
P.E.: Running at the track with family 3 days/week + Karate (?)
Meredith (8th Grade)
BIBLE: Inductive Bible Study: Foundations 1 – Old Testament (Co-op course)
HISTORY: World History, Part 1
LA: Paragraph Writing, Part 2 (2nd half of Co-op course using curriculum from The Write Foundation)
KEYBOARDING: Still seeking online curriculum.
SCIENCE: Physical Science (Co-op course/lab + journaling notebook at home)
MATH: Teaching Textbooks Pre-Algebra (Includes Co-op class lecture.)
P.E.: Running at the track with family 3 days/week
MUSIC: Piano Lessons, 2nd year
EXTRACURRICULAR: Cake Decorating
Emelie (Senior)
Toward the end of last year, Emelie asked us to help her fast track to graduation. I remembered feeling that way my Junior Year. I looked at my schedule of primarily electives (had finished most required coursework) and wished I could merge it into a single year. Em has a dream she wants to pursue, but for now it involves putting her nose to the grind and finishing the last of her academics. Together we looked over her high school “plan” for graduation, removed all the fluff, and this was left:
BIBLE: Daily readings
SCIENCE: Chemistry (Co-op course/lab)
MATH: Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2 (Includes Co-op class lecture.)
ECONOMICS: Exploring Economics (Co-op course using curriculum from Notgrass Company)
P.E.: Running at the track with family 3 days/week
Our Co-op classes are on Mondays.
On Mondays, the kids attend classes/lectures from 9:00 am to noon, break for an hour lunch and resume from 1:00 to 4 pm; then, they take home assignments to complete throughout the week.
As I’ve written before, there are pros and cons to involvement in a homeschooling cooperative. When knee deep in the Spring and Summer planning stages it can be miserable. I fuss, whine, and then get over it because ultimately I am free to choose my level of involvement, and the homeschool cooperative is the strength where I am weak (i.e. upper level Math and Science).
Ready, Set, Go!
At this point, all curriculum and most of the supplies have been purchased. Jeff and I have started an allowance/work/budgeting system with the kids this summer, but we are not integrating a full financial course at this point. I have some preparation left for 3 classes I am scheduled to teach this upcoming year: Creating Sentences (3rd-4th), Sentence to Paragraph (6th-8th), and Paragraph Writing, Part 2 (8th grade +). Other than that, we are enjoying our last 6 weeks of Summer!
Are you prepared for the 2013-2014 homeschool year? Involved in a co-op? Starting a new curriculum?
Heather Sanders is a leading homeschooling journalist who inspires homeschooling families across the nation. Married to Jeff, Heather lives in the East Texas Piney Woods and homeschools her three children, Emelie, Meredith and Kenny.