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Homeschool Curriculum 2023-2024

I've always bought into the "one-room schoolhouse" ethos, but this year, it feels especially true. I have five school-age children! We are busy busy busy, but settling into our new school year routines in what seems like a manageable way. 

Levi: 9th grade
Levi was accepted into an amazing scholarship foundation at the end of seventh grade. His schoolwork and even some extracurriculars are now paid for by the foundation, opening up doors not just for him, but for the whole family as that part of our budget is assisted significantly.

Math: AoPS Intermediate Counting & Probability and Introduction to Number Theory

Science: physics 1 and 2, in preparation for both AP tests

History: American history (to 1877), with Land of Hope as a spine, plus various other online resources

Literature: a combination of Excellence in Literature American Lit and Apologia American Lit (again, just the material up to 1877)

Language Arts: IEW's Advanced U.S. History-Based Writing (again, part this year, part next year, with a few extras thrown in to round out the year)

Foreign Language: German 2 at the local high school

Bible: Knowing God's Truth, an introduction to systematic theology

Extras: piano, youth group, karate (including one evening a week volunteering at the karate studio)


Owen: 7th grade

Math: AoPS introduction to algebra

Science: a combination of Apologia General Science and Physical Science, focusing on scientific principles from the former and physics in the latter (I was gifted old editions of both texts years ago and decided to use what I have on hand this year!)

History: Because I like to make life hard on myself (eye roll), we're meshing together Mystery of History and Notgrass America the Beautiful (again, a text I was given for free years ago) -- basically, covering world history from Renaissance through Civil War, but taking extra time on topics/events specific to American history.

Literature: books from history topics, using this Reading Journal and/or literature guides I've collected digitally over the years

Language Arts: Spelling Power, Climbing to Good English 7 (another workbook I was gifted...do you see a pattern this year?), some Reading Detective, Jump In!

Foreign Language: Biblical Hebrew, that he's been working through slowly for a year or two now

Bible: I'm still looking for something that suits him.

Extras: art, karate, youth group


Silas: 6th grade

Math: Saxon 8/7

Science: with Owen

History: with Owen

Literature: books from history topics, using both what's included in America the Beautiful and using his own Reading Journal (different level) 

Language Arts: Reading Skills, Spelling Power (picked up free at a used curriculum sale!), First Language Lessons 4, Jump In!

Foreign Language: he is again choosing to alternate between Spanish and Italian on Rosetta Stone

Bible: Meeting with Jesus

Extras: violin, karate, Central MN Youth Orchestra, typing (if we ever remember to do it)


Toby: 4th grade

Math: Math Mammoth 4

Science: Elemental Science physics for the grammar stage

History: with Owen and Silas

Literature: some of what's included in America the Beautiful, and some from Beautiful Feet Early American History (I picked up the teacher's guide cheap at a used curriculum sale)

Language Arts: Spelling Power, First Language Lessons 4, history-based copywork, and I still haven't landed on writing

Foreign Langage: Latina Christiana

Bible: Meeting with Jesus

Extras: piano, art, karate


Calvin: 1st grade

Math: Math Mammoth 1-2 (he's tested about halfway into grade 1)

Science: with Toby

History: He listens into the big kids' lessons, reads corresponding picture books when available, and will do some of the Beautiful Feet material separately

Language Arts: First Language Lessons 1, copywork, Beyond the Code 3 

Bible: he reads a little bit every day. I haven't landed on anything more structured for him yet.

Extras: cello, karate, some Scratch coding with Toby's help


Tessa: age 4

She's been intensely interested in what sounds letters make lately, so we're lightly starting Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I've had the same philosophy about reading since the beginning: if they ask to learn, we might as well give it a go; if it becomes stressful, we'll put it aside until later. 

Grandma School, for all other preschool things

Extras: beginning viola, Tiny Tots karate


As a side note, we're at the end of our first week of school, and I noticed today how content and comfortable I feel, back in our daily routines. We've had more than a few rough moments this week, but overall I love being home, walking my kids through their educational journeys. (So let's not talk about my having a kid in high school, mm-kay?)

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