I have been reading everyone’s post on their chosen curriculum for 2013-2014. We had plans, big plans. We had discussed what she wanted to do, Keilee had everything written down, notebooks were made. Since we follow more Unschool/ Interest Led sort of things we never have tons of pre-purchased curriculum. I’ve gone that route in the past but it sits unopened after 2 or 3 lessons.
So last night we were talking about this upcoming year. Keilee said to me, ‘Mom I just don’t have time to do everything I want to do.” I want to do some different internships, I am doing Co-op, I want to start an Etsy Shop. So what if I take this 8th grade year and do just that.” What did this Mom say? Well of course I said, ‘Go for it’. So we sat there and figured out exactly loosely how this 8th grade would look.
We school year round from September 1 to August 31. This is not our public school schedule but that has never bothered us a bit.
So here are Keilee’s plans for her 8th grade Year:
- Internship at Dishman Animal Clinic – 5 hours a week [Science]
- Internship at Old State Bank – 4 hours a week [History]
- Internship at Morgan Co. Archives – twice a month [History]
- Co-op : Photography, Art Journaling, Drama- weekly
- Jesus Calling
- Run Etsy Store [Math, Marketing]
- Keep a blog – [Writing]
- Write Around Town – [We got this idea from Jessica at Teachable Moments. We are going to various places around town to do nothing but write]
- Tons of reading
- Plays and a Film- At least 2 plays this 2013-2014 year, maybe 3. More on the film later.
- Saxon Math/Khan Academy – Algebra I [She wants to do this]
- Voice Lessons- weekly
- Volunteer opportunities – We are talking to some people about volunteering in our community once a week.
- Various Science courses at Sci-Quest a nearby Science Museum.
- I will check into classes at Hudson Alpha/Institute for BioTechnology. Genetics is another love of hers.
- Lots of day trips to various places.
- Plenty of knitting and creating always
- Online courses with Currclick [She is still deciding what she wants to take]
- Audio Books – we always have an audio book going in the car
- There is always history in our house. Keilee watches huge amounts of historical films and documentaries.
- She has several history and Science YouTube channels that she watches.
- Sit in on some college lectures. She finds them online. Currently she is crazy about Quantum Physics!
- SQUILT Mary at Homegrown Learners has this awesome music study we plan to do.
- Mapping The World With Art– I fell in love with this curriculum and showed one of the videos to Keilee. She wants to do it so I ordered it. Here is the video that convinced me to purchase it.
And the rest….whatever takes her fancy and her fancy is taken A LOT! The only ‘textbook’ is Saxon and I am sure she will use Khan Academy for Algebra much more than the Saxon book.
So there you have it, 8th Grade, Homeschool Girls Style.
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
PS. All plans subject to change at any given time. 🙂
“Life learning is about trusting kids to learn what they need to know and about helping them to learn and grow in their own ways. It is about respecting the everyday experiences that enable children to understand and interact with the world and their culture.” ~ Wendy Priesnitz
“All I am saying…can be summed up in two words: Trust Children. Nothing could be more simple, or more difficult. Difficult because to trust children we must first learn to trust ourselves, and most of us were taught as children that we could not be trusted.” ~John Holt
Linking up with IHomeschoolNetwork Not Back To School Blog Hop
You hav a relly good plans fot this year :))
Good LUCK!!
Oh, I am so in awe of your daughter’s initiative and ambition! That is quite a hefty – and very exciting – list! Do you think she can talk to my oldest and convince her to take more challenges in math {grin}? You both have much to look forward to and I am excited where all the paths will take Keilee! Have a blessed Sunday!
What amazing plans! I love all that you all are doing and what a unique education she is getting. What a blessing to homeschool.
Blessings, Dawn
Your plan sounds beautiful! It’s exactly what I needed to see today, because I am sitting here stressing over what Chloe (also 8th grade) is going to do this year. I’ve been trying to take back the wheel here…and it’s so silly really! When I see everyone else with their stacks of curriculum, I start to think that maybe I just didn’t give that approach a fair try, or maybe it would be easier, or better or whatever! Thank you for the reminder that I don’t need to do that – to myself or to her. She has so many interests too…I need to let her pursue them. 🙂
Er, you knew I would come say I love it, right? I think those internships are AMAZING. Sarah and I have talked about that and she goes, “Well, but I’m kind of an intern alpaca farmer, right?” Have to say she had a point – I just need to remember to think outside my box of “official” and realize what experiences she does have.
You guys rock. Happy eighth to us! 🙂
I love this! We are kindred spirits, I tell you:)
Checking out the Mapping the World with Art right now! Sounds like something that Abby would love!
What a wonderful line up — an exciting mix of learning from life, exploring her talents and passions, and a bit of creative curricula.
I love that John Holt quote. I have a firm commitment to trust my children more this year. I’m excited about what’s possible!
And I love Keilee’s plans. She is going to have some amazing experiences, thanks to your trust in her. By not being forced to learn a little of EVERYTHING, she is free to learn as much as she wants about a wonderfully diverse range of subjects that interest HER. Imagine a world where every child had that freedom!
I love your lifestyle and homeschool philosophy. I also love that I think it would give me panic attacks daily to homeschool that way, but I can SO appreciate and see the beauty in how YOU do it! 🙂 It all looks so wonderful, and so tailormade just for Keilee, Karen.
God made us all so different – and wonderful! Hugs to you!
A new year, new possibilities! Sounds like she is making the most of it! And good for you for letting her!
We are using Mapping the World with Art this year, too. I think it is wonderful how well you two communicate and work things out. I can’t wait to see her year unfold. Oh, BTW, I thought you guys might be interested…I am teaching a drama class at our newly founded co-op this year.
Karen,
I LOVE this idea. It makes perfect sense to me. This year we will have most of our learning out of our home. (marine biology, ecology possibly, guitar, piano, bible study, sign language, gymnastics and I am super duper excited about a visit I have planned for today to a design studio for Lilah). This leaves three large blocks of time at home to do the things that we find interesting like history, current events, our writing group, etc. I want to find time for Mary’s Squilt and I am going to buy Mapping the World with Art. But I think I may actually have to block out the time to do it! A loose-scheule just to keep us moving forward.
I love Keilee’s creative energy and her loving spirit. She is going to have an incredible year. Is she blogging again? I keep popping over to her blog.
I bet this post has inspired so many people to toss the workbook aside in favor of experiencing learning through life.
I really like the internships. Any one of those would be an amazing opportunity. Three, I simply don’t have words for.
It looks like you’ve got some great things planned, making for a very unique, personalised education. I love the idea of internships.
Wow! She will certainly have an awesome year. Love all of the internships. What fun!
Popping in from the blog hop.
Looks wonderful and SO much fun! I am so impressed that your daughter is so mature and has the incentive to develop this. Wow! 🙂
Those plans sound like something that definitely fit both of your personalities and needs. She always has so much learning going on, without organized curriculum. It sounds like a fun year! I can’t wait to hear more about the plays and film!
Thank you for sharing the links for Mapping the World with Art! We already have our history spine, but now I am thinking about adding this to our routine. Any time I can combine art with a school subject is a GOOD thing for my art girls!