9th Grade Curriculum

As promised, here are the things we will be using this upcoming school year for our ninth grade son:

BIBLE
Most important to our family is Bible study. Last year we really enjoyed Wise Up, Wisdom in Proverbs by Positive Action Bible Curriculum. This curriculum goes deeper than just reading scripture and memorizing it. It really gets to your child's heart issues and takes their relationship with Jesus to a higher level. Since my son is entering high school, I asked for more of his input when picking out his curriculum. He obviously enjoyed Wise Up, Wisdom in Proverbs because he wanted to check out Positive Action Bible Curriculum again. I was very happy with his choice, The Life of Christ, Explore the life of our Savior through the Gospel of John.

This book takes your child on a journey through the Gospel of John. My hopes is that this book will not only teach my son more about the life of Christ, but take his relationship with the Lord even deeper. The Life of Christ features maps, photographs, and re-creations of biblical landmarks, and examines the ministry and work of God’s Son within Israel’s historical and geographical context.

GRAMMAR AND WRITING

Grammar and writing will be combined this year in a DVD program called Essentials in Writing.

What I like most about this is that it is not parent intensive. I love being involved in my children's school work but since I will have 2 boys doing school work and 1 baby to take care of, my teenager and I picked out curriculum that is very independent for him. Here is a video that highlights some of the benefits of this program:

MATH

Next is a curriculum that we have used for the past few years and decided to stick with it. It's a great CD program for math called Teaching Textbooks. This year we will be doing Pre-Algebra and if we have enough time we will move on to Algebra I.

Here are some of the features that I think makes Teaching Textbooks so awesome:

Automated grading

A digital gradebook that can manage multiple student accounts and be easily
edited by a parent

Over a dozen more lessons and hundreds of new problems and solutions

Interactive lectures

Hints and second chance options for many problems

Animated buddies to cheer the student on

HISTORY

History was a tough one to find. My son wanted a simplified version. He didn't want anything that had added fluff like timelines, cut out cards, or several different activities needed for each chapter. For the sake of simplicity and keeping his work independent, we chose ACE's 10th grade World History.

I like that ACE is a Christian based curriculum that my son can work through at his own pace. He will be learning about ancient civilizations, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Colonialism, the Age of Revolution, and the history of Europe between 1850-1990s. 

SCIENCE

We are both really excited about science this year for a couple of reasons. For starters, we haven't truly done science in a few years. It's not required in our state so unfortunately, it was the first thing to go when life got really busy with babies and moving. The 2nd reason we are so excited is because we found an awesome curriculum that provides everything you need (except for liquids). It's a very hands-on kit and is taught by an instructor on DVD. Our 9th grade science curriculum is Exploration Education Science.

Click HERE to watch a great video that explains the

advanced course that my son will be taking.

ELECTIVE

My son was so excited when I purchased his elective, that he has already started on next year's school work.  He is taking a course on Mod Design 1 through Youth Digital Online. He is learning Java programming by modifying Minecraft and creating his own Mod from start to finish. 

My son will also be reading a lot of great books this year and writing a few book reports. We will frequent the library often! I'm always on the lookout for fun things to do during our school year. We love taking field trips and exploring new places and things. Check back after August to follow us on our high school journey!

Be blessed my friends!

Blimey Cow

I've seen these kids before but forgot all about them. While searching for homeschool curriculum for next year, I stumbled upon them again. They are hilarious, former homeschoolers who produce a new video each Monday. Most of their videos give practical advice, but deliver the message in a hysterical format. Since we are homeschoolers, this is currently one of my favorite videos. Check it out!

For more of their videos, you can search Blimey Cow on Youtube or go to their website, BlimeyCowBeta.com.

Be blessed my friends!

14 Days of Homeschool

Stinky Face ~ My Little Dare Angel

This is my Stinky Face's newest trick. Normally I would've freaked out and told him to not do that anymore, but he is wearing a helmet and he is a boy. I'm trying really hard to let him grow up a little bit and have fun. He enjoyed this so much. He did it over and over for at least half an hour. I can't wait for the weather to warm up so we can enjoy the outdoors more.

JOHN 1:1

 

They are never too young to start learning God's Word. This is my son who just turned 4 years old. This is the first Bible verse I've taught him. It took less than a week for him to have it completely memorized. 

I MELT IN HIS PEACE

I get to sing this song at church tomorrow night and I know I'll get emotional because Jesus has delivered me from so many things that would taunt me. So many fears, many of them irrational, had a grip on my life and took away my freedom. Each new fear would take another chunk out of my mind, until the fears would literally paralyze me, leaving me debilitated, sitting around in a fog, sick to my stomach. But, through reading and meditating on His word, what He has to say about peace, and praying and believing with other Christians, I have been set free! I have His peace; a peace that flows through my heart like a calming waterfall that washes all the things away that Satan tries to fill my mind with.

Is there a specific fear that taunts your life? I want to help you get through it. If He can deliver me from the deepest of fears, He can do the same for you! It is life changing to be free from fear and other forms of bondage. That's what it is...bondage. Wow! I was going to give you a word from the Bible, but when I turned on my son's I-pod to look it up, this was the verse of the day: "There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life ~ fear of death, fear of judgement ~ is one not yet fully formed in love." 1 John 4:18-19

How can I pray for you today? I want you to experience this freedom and joy...supernatural peace!

Be blessed my friends!

Day 3 to a Healthier Me

I'm not missing my chocolate milk as much as I expected, but I really want some pop...and my refrigerator is loaded with it. My head is feeling better today. It's not completely back to normal, but I am trusting God to get me there. I asked God to give me a scripture to stand on regarding mine and my husband's healing and this is what I opened up to, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." ~ John 14:12-14  I am standing on this scripture and asking God for mine and my husband's healing, in Jesus name. I know He is fully capable of restoring our health completely and because I asked, I am calling it done and I give Him all the glory!

Today I plan to start stretching, along with all the other steps I'm taking to better my health. I seem to carry all of my stress in my shoulders and neck, so I'm going to start stretching them out daily. I've also started using a special shampoo and conditioner from Garnier called Fall Fight. It's supposed to help me save up to 1500 strands of hair from falling out each month. Here's a video about it if you want to try it too. I'll let you know how it goes for me!

I also have kept my hair down for 3 days now. It takes a little extra time, but I'll do anything for my hair to grow back. I drank about 3 or 4 bottles of water yesterday and plan to increase that today. The thing I'm having the most trouble with is taking all my vitamins. At minimum, I need to take 4 different pills each day. I just don't do well with pills, and especially now that I'm not drinking my chocolate milk. I always started my day with the chocolate milk and it seemed to make the pills go down easier. Taking pills with water just leaves a yucky taste in my mouth.

Oh, I almost forgot! Since I'm drinking all that water and eating better, I lost a pound! I was so happy when I realized the number had gone down, instead of up in the direction it had been going. Yay! Be blessed my friends!