After three years of traditional school, I am bringing home two of my babies again and I could not be more thrilled! Although I loved our classical Christian school (as well as teaching there for two years) and will always cherish our time there, I am a homeschool educator at heart and thrive with the slower pace and freedom to make our own schedules (as well as study what we want to learn). With Brooklyn’s desire to immerse herself in studies of art and China, it just made sense for her. And with Ben’s learning differences, I really wanted him to focus on subjects about which he is excited … again I love the classical model but some of the subjects (like Latin, for example) as well as the academic rigor, were just not his thing. I’d much rather his efforts be put toward topics that get him excited about learning and going at a pace that fits his needs. Plus I want to work on some executive functioning skills to help him work toward more independent learning.

We have enrolled in a traditional Christian co-op that meets on Mondays and has an active high school group. I’ll be teaching a 1/2-credit intro to psychology class, which I think will be really fun! It’ll be great to use my psychology background and share about it from a Christian perspective. Co-op doesn’t begin until mid-September, but we’ll start our at-home studies August 12. It’s several weeks earlier than we have started in the past, but I am building in week-long breaks after every 9 weeks (as well as 2 weeks for Christmas and 1 week for Easter) and we’ll still finish before Memorial Day.

With that said, our lineup for the 2024-2025 school year is full. We’ll adjust as needed, but this is what we are planning as of now:

Brooklyn (9th grade)

Bible: Answers in Genesis Family Devotionals, Not Consumed’s Uncovering Mercies at the Manger and  Uncovering Mercies at the Cross study, Driven by Grace’s Gospels to Revelation study (if we go through everything else – I like options), Co-op class

Language Arts: Classic Chinese Literature & Composition (1 credit self-created class that we are SO excited about with a heavy load of awesome classic reading texts) using a combination of IEW’s The Elegant Essay, Teaching the Classics, and Windows to the World for literary analysis

History: Chinese History (1 credit self-created class using a variety of resources) and the Mystery of History’s Medieval History (co-op class that we’ll use as an elective)

Science: Clover Creek Physics (online)

Math: Mr. D Math Geometry (online)

Art: Beginning Watercolor Painting with online lessons from The Postman’s Knock and Let’s Get Artsy (1/2 credit)

Foreign Language: Westlake Chinese Academy Level 1 that meets online two times per week

Physical Education: FCA Volleyball

Electives: Masterbooks Intro to Forensic Science (1/2 credit co-op class) and Psychology: A Christian Perspective (1/2 credit co-op class) with 7Sisters Intro to Psychology from a Christian Perspective as a supplement

Benjamin (5th grade)

Bible: Answers in Genesis Family Devotionals, Not Consumed’s Uncovering Mercies at the Manger and Uncovering Mercies at the Cross study, Driven by Grace’s Gospels to Revelation study (if we go through everything else – I like options), Co-op class

Memory Work: CC Timeline song, Claritas Cycle 2

Language Arts: Reading assignments from my Cycle 2 Reading List paired with Not Consumed’s Elementary Reading Journal, Progeny Press study guides for Door in the Wall, The Sword in the Tree, and The Bridge, IEW Medieval History-Based Writing Lessons, Evan-Moor Grade 5 Spelling, 240 Vocabulary Words Kids Need to Know Grade 3 and Grade 4, Claritas Cycle 2 Fundamental Grammar

History: Story of the World’s Middle Ages (co-op class) and reading assignments from my Cycle 2 Reading List

Geography: Masterbooks A Child’s Geography’s Explore Medieval Kingdoms

Science: The Good and the Beautiful Space Science and Botany

Math: Math Mammoth Grade 4 (for review) and Grade 5, Xtramath

Art & Music: Co-op classes and local homeschool art classes

Health: Campfire Curriculums Natural Medicine and Made in His Own Image

Foreign Language: Beginning Mandarin private study using My First Chinese Reader with the online subscription, Duolingo (free version), and resources we already own

Physical Education: Daily calisthenics exercises at home, possibly Ninja Warrior

Electives: Type 2 Learn, Campfire Curriculums Survive Off the Land