While publishing progress reports for my rising high school senior, I noticed my mistake. I had forgotten to share the final segment of the twins’ eighth-grade progress report. I’m not sure how this post slipped through the cracks, but I certainly want to share how my youngest students earned their first high school English credit this year.
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
Although I’ve wondered what Progeny Press’ literature study guides were like for several years, we had never tried one until last month. When an opportunity arose for the twins and me to review the Animal Farm Study Guide, curiosity won out, and I signed us up. George Orwell’s famous novel was intriguing, and the study guide drew us into the cultural climate in which the book was written. We learned new vocabulary, answered comprehension questions, practiced literary analysis, and even explored each chapter through the lens of Scripture.
For my history-loving daughter, earning a social studies credit is usually a piece of cake. This year, however, it took us a while to find a workable curriculum. Since she already had credits in World History and US History, I encouraged her to study American Government. But that’s not all she learned about. Thanks to a visit to the Far East and free online courses, she also explored various topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to Taiwanese Culture. It was an exciting year.
Math—students either love it or hate it; they thrive at it or muddle through it. Three of my children excel in math. The other two find subjects like English and History more palatable. Algebraic concepts don’t come as quickly to them, and they have to work hard to succeed in math.
For my sixteen-year-old daughter, math is laborious. For the past few years, we’ve tried various Algebra curricula, searching for one that would help the concepts click. Although the perfect math program still eludes us, she made tremendous progress this year.
Since science doesn’t come naturally for my high school daughter, it was tough to determine what course she should study in her junior year. After Physical Science and Biology, Chemistry usually follows. A typical Chemistry class, however, requires students to have some understanding of Algebra 2. At the time, my daughter hadn’t even finished Algebra 1. How could she earn a science credit this year?
As the year unfolded, my daughter’s science journey led down unexpected paths. In addition to studying Chemistry, she also learned about Forensic Science, Osteoarchaeology, and Archaeoastronomy.
Since the twins and I enjoyed Sonlight’s literature-rich Eastern Hemisphere curriculum, it seemed natural to start a new Sonlight Core after returning from Taiwan. The girls are the perfect age to benefit from Core H: World History, Year 2 of 2. To stay informed about current events, we also renewed our God’s World News subscription.
Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
At the end of April, our family had the opportunity to review a product from The Critical Thinking Co.™ Always happy to help my daughters develop their critical thinking skills, I perused the options with them. My math-minded twin teens were both a bit interested in Mastering Logic & Math Problem Solving. I was excited when we received the ebook and eagerly downloaded it to take a peek.
During 2019, the twins studied Eastern Hemisphere geography. First, they learned about Asia. After summer break, they encountered the Arab world then wrapped up by exploring Africa.
What better way to expand their understanding of the Eastern Hemisphere than travel to that part of the world? After considering destinations like China or Singapore, our family eventually decided on Taiwan, where my mother-in-law lives. Six weeks of experiencing Taiwanese culture broadened the girls’ horizons as no traditional classroom ever could—though we did visit a few of those along the way.
One of the primary reasons we homeschool is to provide our children with a solid spiritual foundation. We want them to understand the Truth and be equipped to share it with those around them. Engaging in Bible study, being inspired by Christian missionaries, and reading God’s Word are excellent preparation—not just for high school, but for life.
As we close the doors on our homeschool year, I’m busily writing up progress reports. Today’s subject: Bible. At the beginning of our fall semester, that coursework consisted mainly of an outside class and youth groups. Realizing that building a biblical foundation is the most critical part of homeschooling my daughters, we stepped it up for our spring semester.
When I first saw the latest SchoolhouseTeachers.com promotion, I practically started drooling. Receiving 19 gifts with a paid membership to the site seemed tantalizing.
An annual membership includes everything you need to teach all of your kids from pre-k through high school. The 19 gifts are like extra icing on the cake. Come scroll through the bonuses with me as I highlight three of my faves.
