Starting our Homeschool journey

[KBCraig]

Well, tomorrow (Friday, 2/10/2006) is Sarah's last day of public school. We've drawn up a rough curriculum, not for formal schooling, but as a list of subject areas in which she should be competent before heading to higher education.

She's 16, and has made all A and B grades for the last three years, but her marks only reflect the horribly low standards of our public school system. In the next two or three years, we hope to bring her up to the level where she should already be.

Here's our outline. I'd appreciate feedback.

Liberal arts
   Language
      English literature
      Contemporary fiction
      Creative writing
      Public speaking
      Foreign languages
   Arts
      Music lessons
      Music appreciation
      Art appreciation
      Drawing
      Photography

Science and math
   Mathematics
      Basic math
      Business math
         Accounting and bookkeeping
      Geometry, plane and solid
      Algebra
      Trigonometry
   Physical science
      Chemistry
      Biology
      Botany
      Astronomy
      Physics

Civics
   American history and geography
   World history and geography
   Political systems and ideology
   Survey of religions
   Law

Life skills
   Economics
      Budgeting and planning
      Checkbook
      Saving and investing
   Cooking
   Driving and auto maintenance
   Home maintenance and repair
   Physical education
   Health
   Sexuality
   Self-defense

[Kat Kanning]

You doing all that this year?   

[Lex]

Wouldn't it be easier to just say you are going to teach her everything? Less typing that way

I don't see calculus under math though...

[KBCraig]

This isn't a yearly plan. This is more of a checklist of "stuff to do before college". 

A lot of it is stuff she's already doing or interested in (music, French, photography, fashion, reading, etc.) Almost everything else is "stuff she should know but wouldn't unless we made her learn it". Parents of teen girls should understand.

You won't find calculus on our list, Lex. She inherited her mother's math gene, so Algebra II will be an accomplishment. Trig is really pushing it. And by "physics", I mean the basics: how stuff bounces, and which way it will go. Billiards and ballistics stuff.

The very cool thing about home schooling is the lack of artificial barriers. We can take as much or as little time as is needed to master a subject. We can tie different subjects together easily.

We're really looking forward to this!

Kevin

[Kat Kanning]

Sounds like you all will do very well!

[Lex]

Best of luck to you Kevin!

[Kat Kanning]

Too bad you're not moving to Keene...be fun to have you in our homeschool group.

[Lex]

You probably already know about this but a few people have recommended this World Book Encyclopedia to me for when my daughter gets a little older, you mind want to get one for your daughter too:

http://store.worldbook.com/wb/

[KBCraig]

We had World Book when I was a kid, and I loved it. It's still upstairs in the original book rack at my mother's home. I was surprised recently to look up an article or two and find quite a statist slant. But, this was an earl/mid-1960s edition, when the UN was our great salvation.

I can always take a look at getting the updates from the last 35 years.

Kevin

[Lex]

We had World Book when I was a kid, and I loved it. It's still upstairs in the original book rack at my mother's home. I was surprised recently to look up an article or two and find quite a statist slant. But, this was an earl/mid-1960s edition, when the UN was our great salvation.

I can always take a look at getting the updates from the last 35 years.

Kevin

Well, you don't have to teach her politics from those books. I'm sure there is a lot of good apolitical stuff in there :-D

I'm assuming you're teaching econimics and politics from Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard and Lew Rockwell? :-D

[Dreepa]

   Economics
      Budgeting and planning
      Checkbook
      Saving and investing

I think this is a super important topic... good to see you doing this!  Most kids in public schools have no clue about this kind of stuff.

[Fluff and Stuff]

You won't find calculus on our list, Lex. She inherited her mother's math gene, so Algebra II will be an accomplishment. Trig is really pushing it. And by "physics", I mean the basics: how stuff bounces, and which way it will go. Billiards and ballistics stuff.
Kevin

Yeah.  I don't see why the average person would need this info-

Science and math
   Mathematics
      Geometry, plane and solid
      Algebra
      Trigonometry
   Physical science
      Chemistry
      Botany
      Astronomy
      Physics

[KBCraig]

I'm assuming you're teaching econimics and politics from Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard and Lew Rockwell? :-D

Economists are completely boring, none moreso than von Mises and Rothbard.

Here's the only economics anyone needs to know: whatever you agree to exchange for goods or services is the true value for that transaction. Whatever you receive in exchange should be yours entirely, to keep or dispose of as you wish. You are solely responsible for your own food, clothing, shelter, and recreation, and saving and investment is the only way to ensure that you will have those things once you're unable to work.

Kevin

[dawn]

Best of luck on your homeschooling! This is our 8th year and we love it!

Unsolicited advice: As an unschooler, I would just put in a comment about not using a strict plan - could be tough on all of you. Start with the things that your child is most interested in and work from there. She should be able to work pretty independently.

Have fun!

[Kat Kanning]

We did "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?" and such books for economics.