Periodic updates are great for my sanity. Our homeschooling journey has evolved. Courses I originally planned to incorporate fell by the wayside. Other opportunities I didn't even know to consider cropped up. I'll admit, sometimes I feel some degree of anxiety when I "switch things up" because changing something typically signifies that I've spent money on "unhelpful" curricula. Also, I feel my OCD surface when we are not "on time" or "on target to finish" the course by the (arbitrary) "deadline" that the end of an academic year signifies.
When the children are new (or the parent is new) to homeschooling, there are lots of adjustments. Therefore, it follows that Haley is "the most difficult" to homeschool because everything is "new" and "unfamiliar" with her. Hana, is the "easiest" to homeschool because, Ian was just THERE 2 years ago (I still have the books, the "expertise," researched information is still relevant, etc). Hana only requires slight "tweaks" and repurchase of consumable goods. Additionally, at the younger ages, the curriculum that's provided by Hybrid School is adequately complete. Very little supplementation (based on interests or talents) is necessary.
In this post, we will discuss the "more difficult" tasks of schooling Haley and Ian.
***
BIOLOGY
This year Haley had biology. It is our plan to have her participate in the US Biology Olympiad, and take an end-of-year SAT Biology Subject test. It is necessary for the biology curriculum to be secular (you cannot ignore reproduction, be ignorant to evolution or other 'evidence of science' and be successful in a scientific area as a student). This required heavy supplementation to Hybrid school's course from the outset. For that we purchased Barron's SAT II Biology study-guide. From that, I integrated her Hybrid school lessons with the study-guide information. Finally, I incorporated online videos from Crash Course and Khan Academy into the weekly lessons to coincide with the topics being discussed in class, exams being taken, and labs being done.
I also subscribed to Shmoop for added clarification and further explanation of topics and concepts (since the study-guide is only a *guide* and her class text book was inadequate).
This worked well enough until very recently. Now, for the 2nd semester, we have been informed that the biology instructor at Hybrid school is no longer going to be at Hybrid school. A substitute is stepping in until a permanant replacement is found. The problem with a substitute teacher is....s/he isn't going to really take OWNERSHIP of the course. Also, stepping in half-way through the year is difficult!!
So, we had to step up our home-supplementation game. As such, we enrolled Haley into Thinkwell's online biology course.
Thinkwell is a GREAT course. It is better organized than Shmoop. Is more detailed. Has printed notes, lecture transcripts, and offers test/quizzes for evaluation. I'm not sure how long I have access to Shmoop (1 year?) but I feel like it was a "wasted" expenditure.
***
LATIN and SPANISH
It was in the plan to have the children learn Latin. Seems cool, and is very popular in homeschooling circles (particularly in using The Well Trained Mind/Classical Education Method). I purchased a book and DVD a couple of years ago. Haley started the course. But, got busy with the other (more pressing) aspects of the curriculum. I then realized (always learning and realizing new things on this journey) Haley didn't love foreign languages, and is not very interested in putting forth the effort to learn them. Therefore, Latin is the "wrong" language to stuff down her throat as compulsory. If I only get one, it HAS to be Spanish! So she is in Spanish class at Hybrid School (this is actually her 2nd year).
Learning from experience (and decreasing the stress that accompanies attention divided) the younger 2 kids are *also* doing Spanish (at this time, foregoing Latin). However, their Spanish classes are more "conversational" and at the home of a friend who hires una Professora to come to her home and teach a group of friends fun, easy-going, Spanish.
***
WRITING
I purchased a few books in The Complete Writer series: Writing with Ease, and Writing with Skill set for Ian and Haley at their respective levels. It was my intention to have them *write more* and *correctly.* A change in the tutoring situation (we had an in-home tutor/English major graduate that is no longer a tutor for us) shifted the onus of going through the book/course on me. For Ian (4th grade) the book sufficiently helps the parent instruct the child at a level considered superior for their age. However, for Haley (middle school), I really wanted someone who "does English for real" to work with her. So we now have a teacher that stays after school with her and works with her one-on-one with writing (planning, composition, etc). This teacher prefers the book "The Power in Your Hands." So Writing with Skill is on the shelf.
Additionally, the Hybrid school's 4th grade teacher is from South Africa (and she is about business). We LOVE her. She is *serious* about writing, geography, and literature. This is EXCELLENT because that leaves math to me (which works well because I am VERY familiar with mathematics resources, and having been through this with Haley, tutoring HER all the way up to algebra, I have fresh pre-algebra and at least intro algebra on the tip of my tongue!!).
However, this also means that the Writing with Ease book, while we ARE working our way through it, its going very slowly (because the priority in writing are his Hybrid school papers and exercises which doesn't leave much time to work through WWE). So, it sits on the shelf quite a bit.
***
HISTORY
Initially we started Haley out at Hybrid school in history. The class was VERY project-heavy (read, time-consuming), to the detriment of her ability to fully participate in math and science (her forte). So we pulled her out of that project class, and she was to read US History with Dad and discuss, etc. Dad and Haley started discussing more modern history (for debate prep) and going to debate tournaments, leaving the US History books on the shelf. This year, she is taking World History (which includes US History during the timeline) at Hybrid school. She initially struggled with it because it is an Honors class, with heavy writing, and is a high-school class (she is in 7th grade). But now after a semester focused on writing, and continued writing tutoring, she's doing MUCH better in World History.
History is being covered very well in Ian's Hybrid School curriculum. Video links sent home. Discussions and projects in class. Presentations of historical figures. There is no additional supplementation necessary for Ian. The curriculum being used is The Story of the World. For the US History component there is a supplementation with the Liberty's Kids Series.
***
MATH
Haley is doing FANTASTIC in Algebra 2 in Hybrid School using Holt Algebra 2 text. She has almost a perfect grade. She is "the best in the class" if she's telling it. And she spends most of the time with her tutor now on *enrichment.* Her tutor still comes to the home 3 times a week for 1 hour.
Ian: we have stepped up Ian's study in math and is accelerating him. In addition to continuing via a spiral technique toward mastery (which is good for him) with operations with rational numbers, we have introduced pre-algebra topics such as ordered pair graphing, solving simple 1 and 2 step equations, PEMDAS, exponents, square-roots, and problem solving (word problems, but also logic and competition math).
In addition to using Bob Jones Math via Hybrid school, we supplement with Holt Course 3, and Art of Problem Solving's Beast Academy level 4 (which is plenty challenging). THIS semester, we intend to incorporate Thinkwell 8th grade math (I think I may like that better for HIM than Holt Course 3 at this time).
Math enrichment includes:
AMC exams (8, 10A, and 10B). Her Awesome Math meetings have prepared her well for these competitions. These exams are being organized and administered by her math club (Awesome Math) for $10 each. A good score on AMC 10 or 12 results in an invite to sit for the AIME. [Haley]
MathCounts. This competition is upcoming. Entering was $30 for an individual (which is the only way a homeschool student can participate). The advantage of being a homeschooled student is, she gets to go to "Local/Chapter" competition automatically. Most students are competing *within* their school/districts with interal exams to ascertain who will represent the school and make the representing team. Haley is on no team, and she is the "top" student in our School, so she gets to go. [Haley]
Mathleague. This competition is not very popular in this area, as such (or likely due to the fact that) there aren't many exam/competition administrations in the DFW area. They DO offer 1 mail-in competition (cost is $30). We are awaiting further instruction from the Mathleague on this. [Haley]
USAMTS (USA Math Talent Search). Haley has completed all 3 rounds of this competition. The children have an entire month to answer 5 questions. They upload their answers. Those who score well enough are invited to sit for the AIME. This is free. [Haley]
MOEMS (Math Olympiad for Elementary and Middle School). This competition allows a homeschool to enter as a team. There are some stipulations, and a fee ($99). The exam is administered by a PICO (person in charge of olympiads) at our home. It is open to other local homschoolers (but for now, its just Haley and Ian). In the fee, the children get some goodies, and great practice. [Ian and Haley]
Purple Comet. Free. Online. Upcoming in Spring.
Math Kangaroo. Upcoming (more information forthcoming).
***
Lower Grammar School (2nd grade - Hana)
Note: Hana is in 2nd grade, and her curriculum is almost exclusively covered by Hybrid School (handwriting, language arts, history, science, and math). She has school days, and at-home days. Projects, spelling tests, and quizzes. Outside of Hybrid, she takes Spanish lessons. She also does viola lessons, junior orchestra, and we are considering fencing vs. swimming/water polo. She had swim lessons this summer, but is not comfortable swimming yet. She LOVES the water, but she prefers to splash around. She has no desire to be competitive (yet). She is too young to join our local fencing club. And there is a question of her maturity and ability to follow direction (for safety). Therefore, we'll have to make an assessment after her next birthday. We'll likely introduce the sport of fencing to her either this summer at a camp, or next summer.
