Emma earned 8 high school credits her freshman year, and my plan for her tenth grade year has her earning 6.5 to 7 credits. Here are her classes and curriculum picks.
(This post contains affiliate links.)
- English 2 (American Literature) & American History — Illuminations 4 which uses All American History volumes 1 & 2 as a history spine
- Math — Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2
- Science — Apologia Chemistry, taken at our local co-op
- Art — AP Art, taken at our local co-op
- Health (required half credit) — PACES
- Driver’s Education — maybe this?
- Foreign Language — Arabic 2 via Rosetta Stone plus weekly sessions with a tutor (who is from Egypt) using IQRA’ Arabic Reader Textbook: Level 2
I can’t believe we are using PACES. I mean, those are about as far removed from my educational philosophy as anything could be. But I researched a few options, and let Emma make the final call. She wanted to take the “get it done” approach and fulfill the minimum requirements on that course. So as silly as the material is, she is plodding through it to earn the credit required.
Illuminations 4 schedules both volumes of American history into one year for high school students. It also includes the literature guides and reading assignments. I took the literature guide and history test files to my favorite Office Depot to be printed out. It cost me about $30 and saved me a lot of time and hassle. For the schedule pages, Illuminations has a nifty grid that Emma can add her other subjects to and keep track of her work.
Whenever I get those admiring comments from people who find out that I homeschool my teen, I am quick to point out that at this point of her education, she is pretty much studying solo without my help. She tells me what she needs, and I place orders for books and art supplies. She checks in periodically and reads funny quotes from the Health PACES to make me laugh. But for the most part, she is a fully independent learner. How did we get here? Slowly, through years of one-on-one homeschooling with an easy transition to more and more independent work.
This post is linked up in the iHomeschool Network Not Back to School Blog Hop. Join us here.
Jimmie, thanks for the post outlining your(and your daughter’s) 10th grade choices. I’ve already graduated one, but am approaching the high school years again and am thinking about reevaluating our approach based on the differing needs of my son. Please keep us informed on how your family does with PACES.
I can’t believe your daughter is in 10th grade. The years just fly by. I have one (who I am not homeschooling this year because of extreme reasons) who prefers the get it done approach to everything. It looks like a great year ahead for you all.
Blessings, Dawn
I can’t believe she is in 10th grade. I wondered about you using PACES but given the subject, I agree that is probably the best way to get that done.
It’s wonderful when teens take charge of their own education.
We go the ‘get it done’ route on a few subjects or topics – it’s great to knock out some of those credits that aren’t really essential to their chosen career path.
Hi – we’re doing 9th grade at home right now and have started drivers ed using http://www.driversedinabox.com. If you’re not aware of that one, take a look. So far it’s been a VERY thorough undertaking and I am benefiting from the brushing up, too! Just passing it along because it’s a good program. Thanks!
Hi Jimmie, thank you for sharing your 10th grade plans. This is very helpful! If you wouldn’t mind sharing with you are using for 11th grade this year, I’d really appreciate it. How did you and your daughter enjoy using ILM Year 4 for 10th grade? I have always looked at it, but was concerned that the doubling up of AAH volumes I and II were going to be too much. What is your experience with ILM overall? Thanks so much!
How did you like these resources? I really like how you did a before and after for 9th grade and would love to see one for the additional grades.