**Update - I do not reccommend Write at Home - which you will see below. It ended up being a bad choice for us.
***For a list of places for discounts and sales - scroll to the bottom of the page.
We decided to change the grade level of one of our children for the upcoming year. So now we have two 8th graders, one 9th, one 10th and one 11th.
Now that all the kids are getting older and expressing some of their own interests, our curriculum selection is getting to be quite fun! The following is what we are doing this year - click on the words in Bold for more information.
8th Grade - (referral)
Bible - Journey Through the Bible Book 2
Grammar - Growing with Grammar 8
Literature - a selection of books, some chosen by the kids, some chosen by me
Health - Total Health - Middle School Edition
Geography - One of my 8th graders is doing Mapping the World with Art by Ellen McHenry. My other 8th grader is doing World Physical Geography By Runkle.
Science - Anatomy and Physiology One of our 8th graders is doing this with Body of Evidence. The other one is doing Physical Science. I found an alternative to the Apologia and I am very excited about it.
Chinese - Mango Languages One is doing this, while the other is doing Spanish 1 with BJU.
Algebra - Chalkdust One is doing Algebra, the other is doing Pre-Algebra - both through Chalkdust.
Writing - One child is doing Write at Home the first semester, both children are doing WriteShop through Big River Academy second semester.
PE - Both of our 8th graders are quite active. One is completing her Black Belt in Taek Won Do this year. The other is continuing with mixed martial arts and will be doing a season of basketball with a local Christian School. Both will be participating in our Homeschool PE co-op once a week.
9th Grade -
Bible - Modern Parables by Compass Classroom1st semester and I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist 2nd semester
English 9 -
- Wordly Wise
- Spelling- Building Spelling Skills
- Literature - When Worlds Collide
- Writing - Big River Academy
- Life of Fred Language Arts book A and B
Geography - Mapping the World with Art by Ellen McHenry.
Psychology - 7 Sisters Intro to Psychology 7 Sisters has great products and a fantastic selection of items that are hard to find for teens.
Algebra 2 - Chalkdust
Chemistry - Through a local co-op group
Career Development - 1st semester - 7 Sisters Career Development Bundle - we are hosting a teen co-op this year.
Government - Notgrass Government - 1st semester
Personal Finance - 2nd semester this will be a combination of Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance, Life Prep - Life Skills for Homeschooling Teenagers and 7 Sisters Financial Literacy.
Economics - Notgrass and Compass Classroom - We will be watching the Economics for Everybody videos by Compass Classroom.
Speech - 2nd semester speech class
PE - Homeschool PE Group
10th Grade - Our 10th grader has some special needs, so her curriculum looks a little different.
Bible - Journey Through the Bible Book 2
English 10 -
- Growing with Grammar 8
- Literature - a selection of books, some chosen by the kids, some chosen by me
- Wordly Wise
- Writing
Science - Anatomy and Physiology with Body of Evidence
PE - Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing
Choir - Choir with local Christian School
Speech - 2nd semester speech class
Geography - World Physical Geography By Runkle.
Life Skills - We use two different things from Attainment Company - Budgeting and Life Skill Lessons - We only do life skills from these books 2-3 times a week, so they have lasted us several years.
Math - Teaching Textbooks
Fractions - Life of Fred Fractions and Zillions of Practice problems
Amharic - Euro Talk Ultimate
11th Grade -
Bible - Modern Parables by Compass Classroom1st semester and I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist 2nd semester
Health - Total Health - High School Edition
Algebra 2 - Teaching Textbooks
College Prep Book List - Jesus Freaks, Preparing Your Teen for College, You Can Negotiate Anything, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, How to Win Friends and Influence People, The World is Flat, Life Skills 101, Just Do Something, Switch, The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert, Thriving at College and Tipping Point
Writing - Write at Home
Life of Fred Financial Choices
Career Development - 1st semester - 7 Sisters Career Development Bundle - we are hosting a teen co-op this year.
Personal Finance - 2nd semester this will be a combination of Dave Ramsey's Foundations in Personal Finance, Life Prep - Life Skills for Homeschooling Teenagers and 7 Sisters Financial Literacy.
PE - Aerial Acrobatics
Here is how I make homeschooling affordable -
- I make a list of what I need vs what I want.
- I rarely buy anything new. I always shop ebay, the scratch and dent and clearance sections of various curriculum sites, and local curriculum sales. I also use a variety of online sites with discounted book - I have posted links below.
- If I do buy something new - I will make sure it is something that I intend to use with other kids down the road, make sure it has a good resale value or purchase it digitally. Digital curriculum is fantastic as you can get it, often for a fraction of the price. Print what you like or use an edcuation discount to have it printed and bound - if you really need to. It also saves room - My shelves are full, my cabinets are full, and my bins are full - I don't have room for more books.
- I always resell what I no longer need. I first sell on FB pages - no fees, then ebay - then local book stores and curriculum sales. What I can't sell - I donate.
- I always use the library - if you haven't check into inter-library loans - do so - you can find amazing things!
- I enter giveaways - but not alot.
- I follow blogs - often times there will be coupons and discount codes mentioned
- I sign up for limited newsletters. Most newsletters will have a discount or coupon code, as well as great information.
- I watch for sales that I know are good and only happen once or twice a year. - Such as the Build Your Bundle Sale.
List of sites for good used book prices -
- Exodus Books
- I Do Books
- Abe Books - If you have an ebates account you can get a rebate right into your PayPal account or a check sent to you for clicking through ebates first. If you don't have an account you can sign up HERE - it saves me a few hundred dollars each Christmas alone.
- ebay
- Half.com
- Homeschool Resources Bundle Sale