Year by year plans for high school

[momgineer]

In another thread, it was mentioned that we should share our year by year plans and how we choose to fit various subjects in. Here’s mine for my 6th child who is currently

[momgineer]

Ugh- well that accidentally posted and I know better than to try to edit and get in edit jail.

My 6th is a sophomore enrolled in MA’s diploma program. He has followed the accelerated track since 3rd except other math and we switched science around a bit. Just for reference on why that looks off- he took algebra 1 in 7th and geometry in 8th and took Introductory Physics in 8th.

9th:
At Home:
Algebra 2
Biology
At co-op:
Theology and career development but not assigning credit
With MA:
Henle 2
Chreia/Maxim with Ref/Con
9th literature
Greek Tragedies
Medieval history

10th:
At Home
Pre-calculus
Chemistry for Accelerated Students
At Co-op:
theology, American lit (half credit) and speech/drama no credit
MA:
Christian Latin
HSC2
Dante
AP Euro History
Material Logic/Rhetoric

11th: hopeful plan
Calculus (either at home or community college)
Physics: Modeling Nature (either at home or MA)
MA:
Henle 3
HSC3
Classical IV (Cicero/Augustine)
AP American
5th class will either be Classical VI (Art) one semester with moral philosophy next or senior literature seminar. Might do the art class at home or co-op
theology at co-op plus Bristish lit 1/2 credit


12th: currently thinking to maybe do
calculus 2 and a science at community college
AP Latin
senior thesis/Econ
Am Gov and political philosophy
Classical V Intro philosophy
that might be it if I convince MA that community college replaces an MA class. Else maybe apologetics/informal fallacies. Or senior lit seminar if we didn’t do it junior year. He *really* wants to do it junior year
co-op theology and some kind of 1/2 credit lit class

I am completely overloading junior year. We might do calc at the college over the summer to lighten the load. He really wants all these extra classes and I really need the basics- he would be happy to skip history and composition 😂

[Beorn]

I am completely overloading junior year.

Yes, yes, you are.

[smithamykat]

I don't know if our plan will be helpful to anyone. My oldest is a freshman and is highly intelligent and capable of making good grades, but definitely not enthusiastic about academics of any kind. His dream is to be a hunting guide after high school, sell his stained glass pieces, and mow lawns. I know he's young and plans might change, but he is dead set against going to college, although we might encourage him into a trade school. All Latin has been an uphill battle for him. He dislikes math and writing. The things he does enjoy are reading and discussing literature, classics, history, and science. However, he is a slow reader, and writing on those topics is a chore. So our plan is not nearly as ambitious as the one above, but here it is.

9th (halfway through most of this):
Classical Composition IV plus Abeka Grammar
Third Form Latin
9th Literature: Beowulf, Gawain and the Green Knight, Middle Ages, British Poetry I, Midsummer Night's Dream, Hound of the Baskervilles
World History and Geography (online with CLRC)
Algebra I (online with CLRC)
Novare Biology
Story of Christianity
Classical: The Odyssey, Book of the Ancient Romans

10th (planned):
Classical Composition V plus some grammar support
Spanish I (online with CLRC)
10th Literature
European History
Algebra II (online with CLRC)
Novare Intro Physics
History of the Early Church
Classical: Aeneid, Greek plays
Drawing (online with CLRC)

I haven't made a firm plan for 11th and 12th because we will need to assess how these first 2 years of high school have gone and see where career ideas are leading. There are trade programs at a local community college that I might consider for dual enrollment when he is able to drive himself. I know for sure we will do geometry, chemistry, the next 2 literature packages, and U.S. history.

[DiannaKennedy]

Yes, yes, you are.

If that's one thing I've learned along the way -- LEAVE ROOM IN JUNIOR YEAR. I was not ready for this hot mess of stress and I had to adjust in October/November.

[DiannaKennedy]

I don't know if our plan will be helpful to anyone. My oldest is a freshman and is highly intelligent and capable of making good grades, but definitely not enthusiastic about academics of any kind. His dream is to be a hunting guide after high school, sell his stained glass pieces, and mow lawns. I know he's young and plans might change, but he is dead set against going to college, although we might encourage him into a trade school. All Latin has been an uphill battle for him. He dislikes math and writing. The things he does enjoy are reading and discussing literature, classics, history, and science. However, he is a slow reader, and writing on those topics is a chore. So our plan is not nearly as ambitious as the one above, but here it is.

.

Climbing up on the soap box to give my two cents .......

THIS is why I'm thrilled that momgineer started this thread.

I think you can ABSOLUTELY give a child an amazing education and not feel pressured to cram academics down their throats. The flexibility of homeschooling appealed to me back in the beginning, but I began to lose sight of it along the way because I became overly concerned with checking boxes and keeping up with everyone else. It took a health crisis for me and a rough patch for one of my children to realize that I needed to chill out. These days, I have blinders firmly in place, and I don't pay so much attention to the crowd. We do our own thing, with MP as a base.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and other parents post what you're planning for your students. I think it's so helpful to know how other families are working with their children and their interests and dreams.

[Jen_NH]

My older son is in the diploma program. Here's what we're doing this year and hoping for next year.

9th
MA
Latin - Henle 2/Caesar
Literature - 10 Grade Lit
Classical - Classical 3 - Greek Drama
Composition - HS Comp 2
Logic - Trad Logic 1 & 2

Home
Math - finishing Algebra 1 (from last year), starting Algebra 2

Seton
Science - Biology w/lab (in a co-op)
Theology - Catholic Doctrine

10th (hopefully)
MA
Latin - Christian Latin
Literature - Novel
Classical - Classical 4 - Augustine, Cicero OR
History - Medieval (or maybe do this at home? - then something else must give)
Composition - HS Comp 3 (which finishes the entire program)
Logic - Material Logic & Rhetoric

Home
Math - finish Algebra 2, Geometry
Science - Chemistry w/lab (only lab in co-op)

Seton
Theology - Sacred Scripture

11th???
MA
Latin - Henle 3/Cicero
Literature - Dante - The Divine Comedy
Classical - Classical 5 - Intro to Philosophy
History - AP European
Math? - Pre-Calc? - depends on if we get through Geometry
Science? - Intro to Physics??

Seton - Moral Theology (1/2); Mass & the Sacraments (1/2)

12th???
MA
Latin - AP
Literature - Senior Lit Seminar
Classical - Classical 6 (Art & Arch) 1/2 credit, + Political Phil? 1/2 credit
History - AP American
Gov't & Econ
Math - depending on where we are at the end of junior year - This is not his forte. He is a literature guy. He's looking for the minimum

Seton - Apologetics

I am at a loss regarding history. The requirements state 4 credits. I am not sure how to fulfill them. He did CS 1 & 2 in 7th & 8th. When I mentioned Medieval History, his eyes welled up. He said he's sick of Ancient and Medieval (the Dorothy Mills books). He wants to study more modern things - World Wars, American History. I plan on AP European & American in 11th & 12th. I don't know what to do about the other 2 credits. Even if he takes Medieval, that still leaves another credit.

My son LOVES literature. He doesn't care for STEM. We are looking to cover the basic requirements there.

I am unsue about a lot of things here. My son isn't sure what he wants to do, ultimately. He's somewhat interested in filming. He's not sure what he wants to do about college.

[momgineer]

Climbing up on the soap box to give my two cents .......

THIS is why I'm thrilled that momgineer started this thread.

I think you can ABSOLUTELY give a child an amazing education and not feel pressured to cram academics down their throats. The flexibility of homeschooling appealed to me back in the beginning, but I began to lose sight of it along the way because I became overly concerned with checking boxes and keeping up with everyone else. It took a health crisis for me and a rough patch for one of my children to realize that I needed to chill out. These days, I have blinders firmly in place, and I don't pay so much attention to the crowd. We do our own thing, with MP as a base.

I'm looking forward to seeing you and other parents post what you're planning for your students. I think it's so helpful to know how other families are working with their children and their interests and dreams.

VERY GOOD POINT! We need to adjust our curriculum plans based on student’s needs. It’s ok to push, it’s not ok to break. Some students want/need pushed. Others need a more gentle path.

I have a college freshman who took a very different path through high school with mostly MP. She did the following

9th- geometry, intro physics, classical II (Aeneid etc), American history part 1, Fourth Form, 2 MP lit guides, lit/composition at co-op, and theology.

10th- algebra 2, biology, Greek Tragedies, Am Hist part 2, Henle 2, 2 MP lit guides, lit/comp at co-op, and theology.

11th- pre-calculus, chemsitry, Dante, World history using non Mp material, 2 MP lit guides, lit/comp at co-op, and theology

12th- dual enroll 15 hours- college comp, pre-calculus (repeat but for credit), speech, government, drafting.

very different path than my son. Stopped Latin after Henle 2, no logic, no philosophy, stopped classical after Greek Tragedies and Dante, less history, no Classical Comp in high school. It was what she needed. She now has 30 college credits with all As but one B and is taking 18 credit hours this semester and loving it. She is studying interior design and construction management. I am very pleased with the level of her high school education and believe it prepared her well for college.

[DiannaKennedy]

This is the path that we chose for our junior daughter, who is going to be our first homeschooling graduate.

This sweet girl is likely headed to a small LAC, based on her interests. She doesn't want a big school, wants to know her professors, and wants to actually have conversation and dialogue. "I do NOT want to take a class in a big lecture hall." She's not sure what she wants to study, and we have yet to look at any schools seriously.

For background, she took Homer in 7th grade, Aeneid in 8th grade, as well as Common Topic. She went through the Forms series. She's also been primarily outsourced for her homeschooling years -- I'm the facilitator of classwork, not the primary teacher. We began high school with the HLCS Diploma program but dropped that after freshman year.

Freshman year:
Caesar translation (HLCS)
Traditional Logic I and II(HLCS)
Literature 9 (As You Like It, Pride and Prejudice, Julius Caesar, and The Scarlet Letter) (HLCS)
Greek Tragedies (HLCS)

Biology (MA)
Algebra I (MA)

Reformation and Renaissance discussion group with Vita Beata)

Extra Curricular: equestrian sports --- she works at the barn where she rides -- lots of lessons, shows, working
Bakery assistant -- she works at her sister's bakery filling orders, working the register

Sophomore year:
Spanish I (True North Homeschool Academy)
Chemistry (TNHA)

Material Logic and Rhetoric (HLCS)
Lit 10 (King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre) (HLCS)
Cicero & The City of God (HLCS)

Alg I/Alg II (MA and tutor)

EC: equestrian sports --- she works at the barn where she rides -- lots of lessons, shows, working
Bakery assistant -- she works at her sister's bakery filling orders, working the register, helping with decorating classes
Theatre -- worked on the costume team for Midsummer Night's Dream and Fiddler on the Roof

Junior year: (current)
Metaphysics (HLCS)
Lit 11 (Hamlet, Macbeth and Anna Karenina) (HLCS)
US History (HLCS)
Anatomy and Physiology (HLCS)

Psychology (dual credit with Campbellsville University)
Geometry (My Homeschool Math Class)

EC: equestrian sports --- she works at the barn where she rides -- lots of lessons, shows, working
Bakery assistant -- she works at her sister's bakery filling orders, working the register, helping with decorating classes
Theatre -- decided she wanted to be on stage, so she auditioned. Ensemble part in Our Town and choir/dance ensemble part in Tuck Everlasting

** I had plans for more dual credit, as the class from CU was 8 weeks long. She's really not interested. I MAY be able to convince her to take a CLEP test for US History, but that's still up in the air.

Senior Year:
(still a work in progress)

Confirmed classes:
Art and Architecture (HLCS)
Lit 12 (Dante) (HLCS)
Senior Thesis (HLCS)
Photography and Yearbook (HLCS)
* side note -- I am SO excited about this, as I spent two to three years on the yearbook staff in high school *

Tentative
Dual credit courses for history and science

Private tutor for math (likely a Geometry and Alg II combination)


EC: equestrian sports --- she works at the barn where she rides -- lots of lessons, shows, working
Bakery assistant -- she works at her sister's bakery filling orders, working the register, helping with decorating classes -- she wants to begin learning how to decorate cakes as well
Theatre -- definitely will continue this, as she has a goal of a bigger speaking part for senior year

[Nikkirxd]

Wow. Some of your kids are super over-achievers with 8 full classes each year! No wonder I don't think I can get it all in! I am planning 7 classes per year (not counting performing fine arts.) Here's the plan, for now, for my kids. Note they are less than 11 months apart in age, and over the years have merged into pretty much the same grade level. Subject to change, and it probably will! I welcome all advice from more experienced parents! * means not sure about this one. Also, considering moving Senior Seminar to second semester of Junior year.

2022-23 (current year) - 9th grade
KID 1	KID 2
With MA	With MA
Henle II Caesar	Fourth Form Latin
Encomium/Invective/Compar	Classical Comp II
9th grade literature	9th grade literature
CS III - Greek plays	CS III - Greek plays
At Home	At home
Algebra 1	Finish Algebra I and start Algebra II
Biology	Biology
Theology - scripture	Theology - scripture
Fine Arts	Fine arts
piano	piano
pottery class	pottery class
2023-2024 - 10th grade
KID 1	KID 2
With MA	With MA
Christian Latin	Henle II - Exercises
Classical Comp III	Classical Comp III
At Home	At home
Algebra II	Finish Algebra II and start Geometry
Chemistry	Chemistry
Cicero / Augustine (like MA CS IV)	Cicero / Augustine (like MA CS IV)
Traditional Logic 1&2 (with MP DVD)	Traditional Logic 1&2 (with MP DVD)
Midieval Hist/Church Hist and spirituality I	Midieval Hist/Church Hist and spirituality I
Fine Arts	Fine arts
piano	piano
2024-2025 - 11th grade
KID 1	KID 2
With MA	With MA
Henle III Cicero	Christian Latin
Material Logic / Rhetoric	Material Logic / Rhetoric
* CS V - Philosophy	* CS V - Philosophy
At Home	At home
Geometry	Finish Geometry and all of pre-Calc (maybe)
Physics	Physics
Modern World History (LTTN 2 as spine)	Modern World History (LTTN 2 as spine)
Church History and Spirituality II	Church History and Spirituality II
Fine Arts	Fine arts
piano	piano
2025-2026 - 12th grade
KID 1	KID 2
With MA	With MA
AP Latin	Henle III - Cicero
AP US History	AP US History
*American Govt. / Econ or Polit Philosophy	*American Govt. / Econ or Polit Philosophy
Senior Thesis (semester)	Senior Thesis (semester)
At Home	At home
Pre-Calc	finish Pre-calc and Calculus (maybe)
Literature - Dante (Esolan trans. /TAN)	Literature - Dante (Esolan trans. /TAN)
Theology - apologetics and morality	Theology - apologetics and morality
	advanced science of choice
Fine Arts	Fine arts
piano	piano

[momgineer]

It may look like mine is taking 8 classes, but consider that some are VERY light. He takes 5 MA classes. 4 of those are full classes, but the HSC, even at the combined pace, don’t take him much time. Logic was pretty light time wise too. He takes two classes with me- Math and science. Full classes but we can carry into summer if needed. That’s only 7. He takes theology at co-op but that is just an hour a week. No homework. Extremely valuable class discussions but no time commitment other than attend class and work on spiritual development. This year they are studying the anthropology of man which is even deeper than theology of the body and all about human dignity. He also does a lot class at co-op that earns half credit. It involves about an hour a week of reading and an hour in class plus some worksheets. Very light. His other co-op class takes no time outside co-op. That has been career development and now speech and drama. So really it’s 7 classes plus some co-op time that amounts to 4-5 hours a week.

[Mrs Bee]

Jen_NH, is the state requirement for *history* credits specifically, or is a more generic phrase like "social studies" used? Under this wider umbrella you can also fit classes like Government, Econ, and Classical Studies IV. And you should look into the possibility of counting Classical Studies II as a history high school credit, even though it was done in 8th grade.

[DiannaKennedy]

Wow. Some of your kids are super over-achievers with 8 full classes each year! No wonder I don't think I can get it all in! I am planning 7 classes per year (not counting performing fine arts.) Here's the plan, for now, for my kids. Note they are less than 11 months apart in age, and over the years have merged into pretty much the same grade level. Subject to change, and it probably will! I welcome all advice from more experienced parents! * means not sure about this one. Also, considering moving Senior Seminar to second semester of Junior year.

I think this is where really knowing your child comes into play. When I'm planning my year, I look at the individual child, younger siblings, parental responsibilities (new job for example), etc.
In other words, how does this student and his/her needs fit into the greater scheme of the entire family? Example: I'm going to have a senior in the fall alongside twin freshmen, one of whom may be recovering from surgery. They are my priority next year, and my newly minted middle schooler likely won't have a super tough academic year. I only have so much mental currency to spend.

My daughter does not take 8 formal classes. That would be a recipe for sure disaster here. I made the decision at the end of 8th grade to give her some breathing room in her schedule, and it worked very well for us. I'm still torn on the transcript about what to do about barn time, theatre time, etc. She's certainly spent enough hours in the barn to earn a credit, this year's theatre schedule has been busy, and her time in her sister's bakery could certainly fit under culinary arts. My boys will be in a similar setup, with lots of hours shifted toward sports (soccer and tennis) as well as aviation classes.

[Jen_NH]

Jen_NH, is the state requirement for *history* credits specifically, or is a more generic phrase like "social studies" used? Under this wider umbrella you can also fit classes like Government, Econ, and Classical Studies IV. And you should look into the possibility of counting Classical Studies II as a history high school credit, even though it was done in 8th grade.

We live in NH. Only 20 credits are required here to graduate!! For history they state, US and NH history, world history or geography, gov't, and economics. NH history can be covered by reading historical markers on the side of the road. hahaha! The MA diploma program requires 4 histories. They did say that the CS 1 & 2 satisfies the requirement, but won't count for credit for the diploma. I will have to ask the admin which of the classical studies can fulfill that requirement.

[momgineer]

Jen_NH are you referring to the MA requirement for 4 histories? I feel like I worked this out with Mr. Schaeffer, but can’t find my records about it. I know they counted Classical 1 and 2 having been completed in middle school. I can’t remember how that played out with 4 history requirements. We are only taking Medieval, AP Euro, AP history. That is certainly enough history to me considering that MA offers the same content in American history over two years. I can’t temper if Classical Studies counts as history. I would think the Cicero/Augustine one could. It’s certainly “social studies” anyway. Same with Intro Philosophy as that is basically history of philosophy. Art history might be history too. I’m pretty sure they told me it wouldn’t be an issue.
pschaeffer can you comment on how one could fulfil the 4 history credits required by MA if they already took Classical 1 and 2 in middle school and only want Medieval, AP Euro, and AP American in high school?