This post will be viewed by our evaluator. I will be working on this, and updating it for the next month. I keep some physical samples to take with us, and she also follows what we are up to on my Facebook page. You may see affiliate links in this post.
Because it is the easiest, I will start with Math
Caitlin first did the Pre Algebra, on Edx.com, which is free by the way. She whizzed through it, and did quite well. However, when I moved her into Saxon Algebra 1 textbook, she just didn't seem to retain any of the info she had learned. So, I went to Aleks.com, and that is where we will be for the remainder of her 3 years of High School. It is not free, 20 dollars per month. However, it is worth every penny. I don't have to do anything. They send me weekly reports, and she is regularly tested on new, and old information. So, she actually retains it. I am all in with Aleks.
Today, I am adding the Science section of this portfolio. When we started grade 9, we started with Apologia Physical Science. I got it on the Kindle, with Kindle Unlimited for free, so I could not resist. Unfortunately, Caitlin did not care for it all that much, and we did half a year, for 1/2 credit. I then rediscovered Easy Peasy High School, and she offers a great Oceanography with Lab. The lab part is important because it is required in Florida. We did half of it, marked where we left off, and will finish the second half for grade 10, and the labs. She only needs 3 Science credits, so there is plenty of time, and no need to rush. You can purchase the Apologia textbook, on Kindle, below, it isn't free though, and the link for Oceanography is highlighted. Science is definitely not this child's favorite topic, though she really is talking a lot about the Environment. So, I might be able to squeeze that in, but she has to do Biology first.
Now it is time to add Language Arts. I am so glad I keep a written log book, as well as this blog, because I had forgotten about some of the things we covered. This is actually a requirement in Florida, so it isn't like I thought of it myself. We started the year off using Virtual Homeschool Group website. I actually very much like this website. You can do live lessons, they fill up fast, so get in quick if you like that. They start enrolling August 1st. We opted for the at your own pace options. We did 3 books, with the lessons on this website: Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. We then watched a very old series based on the book. It was quite interesting. The Time Machine, which I did not finish reading. My son was tasked to read this book with Caitlin. She can read quite fine, but likes to be read to, so they would alternate, and of course discuss as they went. Animal Farm was the third book, and there was some quite animated discussions with this book. That took us half way through the school year. The second half of the year we concentrated on Grammar, using dailygrammar.com There were some writing topics thrown in for good measure, but still an area that needs much work.
She did a beginner French course, that she will receive a 1/2 credit for. She did not retain much, and didn't show as much interest as she thought she would. So, for grade 10 she has opted to switch to Sign Language, on Virtual Homeschool Group. She will need to do 2 years, and she is aware of that. Of note, I think I will do 4 classes at a time instead of 5, and make up over Summers if we need to. It is just too long of a day with 5 classes, to do a great job, imo.
History: We covered American History from the beginning, to World War 2. I used no official curriculum. Rather I found a timeline online, and found videos, books, unit studies, and various other resources to make it a little more interesting than just textbooks. We watched the Hatfields and McCoys on Netflix, which produced a lot of conversation, from both of my children, even the one that is in college. For Grade 10 we will be covering the elections in a Civics and Government Class. If you prefer a more traditional type of History, see a few examples below.
Caitlin chose to not do Drama this past year, because she did not like the play choice. She continued with her 4H group, but sadly that group had it's last year, this year. She does not feel she will join another group. In April we started Horseback riding, at Cavalli Farms in Jonesville. At the end of July, she requested to stop until October, because it is just too hot. So, she will pick it back up in October, unless she decides to do drama. Then we will have to discuss if she thinks she can handle both.
For my part I have encouraged much more focus on Writing, Socialization, Attitude, Communication Skills, Home Skills, and Following Directions. These are the same skills we will work on in the next school year. In January 2020 I will sign her up to take the online Driver's Ed course, for FLVS, so after she turns 16 she can get her drivers permit. By grade 11, I fully expect she will be able to take at least one FLVS writing class.
Because it is the easiest, I will start with Math
Caitlin first did the Pre Algebra, on Edx.com, which is free by the way. She whizzed through it, and did quite well. However, when I moved her into Saxon Algebra 1 textbook, she just didn't seem to retain any of the info she had learned. So, I went to Aleks.com, and that is where we will be for the remainder of her 3 years of High School. It is not free, 20 dollars per month. However, it is worth every penny. I don't have to do anything. They send me weekly reports, and she is regularly tested on new, and old information. So, she actually retains it. I am all in with Aleks.
Today, I am adding the Science section of this portfolio. When we started grade 9, we started with Apologia Physical Science. I got it on the Kindle, with Kindle Unlimited for free, so I could not resist. Unfortunately, Caitlin did not care for it all that much, and we did half a year, for 1/2 credit. I then rediscovered Easy Peasy High School, and she offers a great Oceanography with Lab. The lab part is important because it is required in Florida. We did half of it, marked where we left off, and will finish the second half for grade 10, and the labs. She only needs 3 Science credits, so there is plenty of time, and no need to rush. You can purchase the Apologia textbook, on Kindle, below, it isn't free though, and the link for Oceanography is highlighted. Science is definitely not this child's favorite topic, though she really is talking a lot about the Environment. So, I might be able to squeeze that in, but she has to do Biology first.
Now it is time to add Language Arts. I am so glad I keep a written log book, as well as this blog, because I had forgotten about some of the things we covered. This is actually a requirement in Florida, so it isn't like I thought of it myself. We started the year off using Virtual Homeschool Group website. I actually very much like this website. You can do live lessons, they fill up fast, so get in quick if you like that. They start enrolling August 1st. We opted for the at your own pace options. We did 3 books, with the lessons on this website: Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. We then watched a very old series based on the book. It was quite interesting. The Time Machine, which I did not finish reading. My son was tasked to read this book with Caitlin. She can read quite fine, but likes to be read to, so they would alternate, and of course discuss as they went. Animal Farm was the third book, and there was some quite animated discussions with this book. That took us half way through the school year. The second half of the year we concentrated on Grammar, using dailygrammar.com There were some writing topics thrown in for good measure, but still an area that needs much work.
She did a beginner French course, that she will receive a 1/2 credit for. She did not retain much, and didn't show as much interest as she thought she would. So, for grade 10 she has opted to switch to Sign Language, on Virtual Homeschool Group. She will need to do 2 years, and she is aware of that. Of note, I think I will do 4 classes at a time instead of 5, and make up over Summers if we need to. It is just too long of a day with 5 classes, to do a great job, imo.
History: We covered American History from the beginning, to World War 2. I used no official curriculum. Rather I found a timeline online, and found videos, books, unit studies, and various other resources to make it a little more interesting than just textbooks. We watched the Hatfields and McCoys on Netflix, which produced a lot of conversation, from both of my children, even the one that is in college. For Grade 10 we will be covering the elections in a Civics and Government Class. If you prefer a more traditional type of History, see a few examples below.
Caitlin chose to not do Drama this past year, because she did not like the play choice. She continued with her 4H group, but sadly that group had it's last year, this year. She does not feel she will join another group. In April we started Horseback riding, at Cavalli Farms in Jonesville. At the end of July, she requested to stop until October, because it is just too hot. So, she will pick it back up in October, unless she decides to do drama. Then we will have to discuss if she thinks she can handle both.
For my part I have encouraged much more focus on Writing, Socialization, Attitude, Communication Skills, Home Skills, and Following Directions. These are the same skills we will work on in the next school year. In January 2020 I will sign her up to take the online Driver's Ed course, for FLVS, so after she turns 16 she can get her drivers permit. By grade 11, I fully expect she will be able to take at least one FLVS writing class.
