~Bona Vita~

Now, for homeschooling your 9th grader…

This should be a transition year for students. It’s time for the big leagues. Grades and record-keeping are important; therefore, everyone needs to be diligent and disciplined. Yet, you still have time to work out the organization and maintainance of your records. By next year, this all should be set in stone. Efficient record-keeping will make your life so much easier when it is time to send off transcript material to colleges.

9th grade is a fun year as well. Your kids are becoming more independent. The material that they are studying can be meaty and rich. You will enjoy discussing their literature and history selections. I spend the year equipping my 9th grader with study and reading skills that will carry them through high-school and into college.

Start keeping track of your child’s reading material if you have not already. Simply create a file on your computer and have them update their reading list when they finish a book. Similarly, if your child plays an instrument keep track of the music that he or she performs.

Grade 9

• Bible Study – Survey of the Old Testament (Christian Schools International)
• Algebra I – Saxon
• Biology (with lab) - Apologia
• World Geography (1st semester) – A Beka
• Ancient History (2nd semester)
• Language – A Beka
• Latin II – Alethea Academy (utilizing Wheelock)
• Writing – Alethea Academy
• World Literature – A Beka text accompanied by ancient literature selections (see reading list)
• Piano – private instructor (IPFW Community Arts Academy)
• Physical Education

Reading List

• A Christmas Carol
• The Best of Father Brown
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekly and Mr. Hyde
• The Gammage Cup
• Jane Eyre
• Oliver Twist
• Treasure Island
• The Silver Branch
• The Trumpeter of Krakow
• The Yearling
• Old Man and the Sea
• Hound of Baskervilles
• Great Expectations
• Selected Poetry
• Selected works from: Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Plato, Aristotle, Herodotus, and Virgil

I plan my children’s school year with hope and “great expectations”. But, I always remain flexible. Life throws you twists and turns and you need to be able to roll with the challenges. Homeshooling  can be stressful and overwhelming at times. Try to keep it upbeat and enjoy spending this time with your children.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9

Tags: books, curriculum, homeschooling

This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 at 7:34 pm and is filed under Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.