How We Homeschool

In the last few days, I’ve been reading over a few different homeschooling blogs. I’ve noticed that many people homeschooling list the books they use to teach their children. We aren’t homoschooling due to our religious beliefs. We’re homeschooling to provide a higher quality education for our son.

I’ve found that many parents who are doing secular homeschooling have limited resources, so I thought I’d share what we use to homeschool CT (Cool Teen – his online moniker). Here is a list of the classes he’s taking and the books he’s using this year.

For reference, CT turns 14 on November 5. He’s in 8th Grade.

History/Social Studies – American History
Book Used: The Americans – McDougal Littell
The Americans Workbook – Used Sporadically
The Presidential Elections Handbook
Online – The Americans Book Activities @ Classzone

Movies: The Adams Chronicles
Gods and Generals
Schoolhouse Rock: Election Edition
Gettysburg
Hilter: The Last Ten Days

Science – Life Science
Middle School Life Science – McDougal Littell
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Workbook Grade 8
Standard Test Practice Workbook Grade 8
Online – Life Science Book Activities @ Classzone

Movies: Evolution: Darwin’s Dangerous Idea
Wolves (Blu-Ray)
Bears (Blu-Ray)
Planet Earth
The Blue Planet

Math – Algebra
Algebra I – McDougal Littell
Algebra I Workbook
Benchmark Tests for Algebra I
Algebra Manipulative Kit
Online – Algebra I Book Activities @ Classzone

English – Language Arts
Language Network Grade 8 – McDougal Littell
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Workbook
Vocabulary & Spelling Workbook
Online – Language Activities @ Classzone

Health & Sex Education Add On Unit
Pearson/Prentice Hall Health
Pearson/Prentice Hall Health & Human Sexuality Unit – Extended Unit for Teens (Stresses Abstinence)
Teen Talk Video Series (Excellent!)
Online – Health Activities @ Pearson/Prentice Hall

Reading & Literature
Flowers for Algernon
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
Where the Red Fern Grows
Anne of Avonlea
The Call of the Wild & White Fang
Dicey’s Song
The Miracle Worker
Peter Pan
The Neverending Story
Jason and the Golden Fleece
My Brother Sam Is Dead
The Princess Bride

Reading Worksheets, Projects, & Tests – Hand Designed to accompany each book. He also watches the movie version of the book if it’s available (after reading, of course)!

CT has to do one major paper per quarter. His first paper was for Science. It discussed genetic diseases. He decided to do his paper on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (his choice!). He also has a paper in History (pick a Famous Civil War Figure), Health (Research a Particular Drug), and Language/Literature (Choose your favorite Literary Period you’ve studied – Compare/Contrast Literature from that Period).

So, that’s pretty much what we use. He also has a Graphing Calculator for Graphing Calculator activities in his Algebra book. There are several activities and investigations that he does for each subject. We buy craft products needed for these on an as-needed basis.

CT has four subjects a day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. We handle any appointments and group activities/field trips/etc. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which are his days off.

So, do you homeschool? What’s your homeschool schedule like?