2014-2015 School Plans

We're into August, so it's time to gear up for a new school year! I'm pretty sure I'm more excited about this than Elise and Erik are, but they will be excited for new readers, read alouds and history. I know Elise will not be excited to resume her 3 day a week relationship with the dreaded NEM(esis). 

We'll be studying World History again focusing on Empires & Exploration through Modern History. We will have a strong geography focus this year as they draw maps of the different continents and regions of the continents coloring and labeling the landforms, countries and capitols. I'm also planning on having them label natural resources and when we get to wars the battle sites. 

Readers will align with our history and will include a variety of historical fiction novels. Some of these are quite meaty reading, while at least a few are fun light-hearted reads. I look forward to exploring these books with them and to seeing their personal growth as they identify with the main characters and the struggles some of these characters face, searching for honor and redemption.

We have a number of read-aloud books that for the most part will also align with our history studies for the year, although a few are just for fun.

For Language Arts, we'll use a combination of resources. Both Erik and Elise will use Easy Grammar for grammar/punctuation reinforcement. We're also looking at trying The Critical Thinking Company's "Editor-in-Chief" software. Writing assignments will be a combination of Sonlight's Language Arts for Core H and using the novel writing workbook from NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). Erik announced that he wanted to write a longer story this year, I'm assuming kind of like we wrote longer fairy tales this year and NaNoWriMo looked like a good fit (and I LOVED the price--free). I don't know that they will actually write an entire novel, but we will use this as a springboard to writing a longer story. We won't confine ourselves to getting the entire thing written in just one month, though! 

For science they will each be going their own way. Elise will be exploring Physical Science and Erik focusing on Zoology. Elise will be using Apologia Physical Science and doing a number of experiments. If she has time, she can add in some extra TOPS modules. I happen to know she would like to do TOPS Focus Pocus, which studies light and lenses. She can also add in modules dealing with the Solar System and Solutions if she is motivated. 

Erik will be using Apologia Swimming Creatures of the 5th Day and Apologia Land Animals of the 6th Day. He will have projects and some experiments to do with this. I'm sure his favorite experiments will be any dealing with raising an animal. His goal will be to earn 4 different Boy Scout merit badges as we complete these studies: Oceanography, Reptiles and Amphibians, Nature and Mammal Study. This is going to be a VERY full year of science for him!

Math will consist of the much loved Life of Fred and the dreaded NEM(esis) for Elise. (NEM is the older Singapore math secondary program and stands for New Elementary Math. The (esis), well that describes how she feels about it, that it is HER Nemesis.) She'll be finishing up LOF: Beginning Algebra and moving into Advanced Algebra. She has already completed virtually all of the Algebra 1 concepts in LOF and is onto the Algebra 2 concepts. She has a couple of chapters of NEM 1 to finish before embarking on NEM 2. However, I think she'll find about half of NEM 2 to be review and I expect it to move more quickly than NEM 1. 

Erik will finish up Singapore Primary 6, start NEM(esis) 1, and start Life of Fred: Beginning Algebra. That may require some strategic planning so they aren't both fighting over the LOF book at the same time at the beginning of the year. 

Bible will consist of turning their bedroom into a bible college as they learn to take responsibility for their own bible study, no longer relying on Mom or Dad to lead them in this endeavor. While I've enjoyed our bible time together, I'm excited to see them take ownership in this area of their lives, making a commitment to study our Lord and His word. Throughout the course of the year, they will read almost the entire bible (I think), part on their own and part with us. They also have a goodly amount of scripture to memorize. Their "swords" will be getting quite a workout this year! We also will be working to complete our God and Church study we've started through P.R.A.Y ministeries.

I'm not entirely sure what they will do for electives, except that Erik will have soccer, swimming and baseball for PE. Elise will continue on with dance, dancing at the apprentice level with our local company. They will have some art and some music, probably mini composer studies. They have several other subjects they can choose from as time permits, including electronics and computer programming. I think Mike would like them to have some cooking and food preparation classes.