"For Real" School

High School seems so much more "for real" for some reason, and with that comes more pressure, or maybe I should say perceived pressure.  The reality is you just keep doing what needs to be done, just like every other homeschooling year.

Thankfully, Texas is homeschool friendly.  Actually, in Texas homeschools are considered private schools and are able to set their own standards and requirements for course of study.  However, I thought it best to stick close to what our local requirements are, with a few modifications.  I consulted my state's education website, as well as local school districts, to see what courses and credits they require.  I used this as a guide when considering my course of study.  If college is in the future, it is also recommended to see what their admission requirements are, which I've also done.  Two other helpful resources have been Debra Bell's book, The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens and Janice Campbell's Easy Transcripts.

Once I had it all written out it my stress level dropped.  Now it's just a matter of working the plan.  Of course, some curriculum choices may change and a few blanks remain to allow for special interests or changes in interest.  It's still a big responsibility to make sure it all gets done, but just like most other things you just take one step at a time, and that first step of working out a plan is DONE!  And when you know what needs to be done - you just do it!

Course                       Credits Required

English                                    4
Math                                       4
Science                                   4
Social Studies                          3.5
Economics                                 .5
Foreign Language                    2
PE                                           1
Fine Arts                                  1
Speech                                      .5
Electives                                  5.5

Freshman Year

English I:  Excellence in Writing & Introduction to Poetry

Math:  Teaching Textbooks Algebra I

Science:  Apologia Physical Science

Social Studies:  Monarch World Geography

Foreign Language:  Monarch Spanish I

Physical Education:

Electives:  Bible & Guitar 


Sophomore Year

English II:  Notgrass

Math:  Teaching Textbooks Algebra II

Science:  Apologia Biology

Social Studies:  Notgrass World History

Foreign Language:  Monarch Spanish II

Electives:  Bible & Guitar 

Junior Year

English III:  Notgrass

Math:  Teaching Textbooks Geometry

Science:  Apologia Chemistry

Social Studies:  Notgrass Exploring America

Fine Arts: 

Electives:  Bible, Technology & Guitar 

Senior Year

English IV: 

Math:  Teaching Textbooks Pre-Calculus

Science:  Apologia Physics

Social Studies:  Notgrass Exploring Government

Economics:  Notgrass Exploring Economics

Speech:  EIW Speech

Electives:  Bible & Guitar