Today is our first day of high school!

[Christy B]

And I still haven't worked out our plan for history. :tongue_smilie:

I am determined that this year, I will NOT let perfectionism paralyze our homeschool. I could wait until I am "ready" with history, but by that time, I will have found another subject to tweak . . . and it will be September.

Both girls were raring to go, so here we are, starting with math on this lovely July morning.

I can't believe I have a high schooler . . . and I can't believe that the first week of high school I find out that dual enrollment at community college (a HUGE part of our high school plan) is quite possibly going to be out of the picture for us (we're in NC and it isn't looking good).

So, school starts with a whisper instead of a bang this year. :001_smile:

[jibaker103]

And I still haven't worked out our plan for history. :tongue_smilie:

I am determined that this year, I will NOT let perfectionism paralyze our homeschool. I could wait until I am "ready" with history, but by that time, I will have found another subject to tweak . . . and it will be September.

Both girls were raring to go, so here we are, starting with math on this lovely July morning.

I can't believe I have a high schooler . . . and I can't believe that the first week of high school I find out that dual enrollment at community college (a HUGE part of our high school plan) is quite possibly going to be out of the picture for us (we're in NC and it isn't looking good).

So, school starts with a whisper instead of a bang this year. :001_smile:

Congrats on the start of the new yeear!!! :001_smile: What are the ages and grades of your girls? I am starting today with ds 8th grade but we are calling it 5 years of high school!!! I'm excited but he hasn't come down yet :001_huh: He's got 15 min :auto:

Jennifer
Mother to Noah Age 13

[Christy B]

Congrats on the start of the new yeear!!! :001_smile: What are the ages and grades of your girls? I am starting today with ds 8th grade but we are calling it 5 years of high school!!! I'm excited but he hasn't come down yet :001_huh: He's got 15 min :auto:

Jennifer
Mother to Noah Age 13

This is the first year that my girls have been more excited than I am to start school! Last year my older dd went to a local Christian school, so the first day was BIG -- new clothes, new backpack, lunchbox, out to lunch with my parents (they had a half day to start). It's just strange, after all that "hoopla" to wake up, shower, wander to our desks and pull out the books. But, it's a GREAT feeling (she did NOT have a good experience once she got past the fun of the first day!)

So I have a 14 yo 9th grader and a 10 yo 5th grader (actually, she's turning 11 next month, and "should" be in 6th grade but due to severe speech problems in her preschool and K years, and several months of illness last year, we decided to do two years of fourth grade, and we're sooooo glad).

I'm just glad they *want* to be homeschooled; it's not a hill I would die on kwim? High school is SO intimidating, though.

[jibaker103]

This is the first year that my girls have been more excited than I am to start school! Last year my older dd went to a local Christian school, so the first day was BIG -- new clothes, new backpack, lunchbox, out to lunch with my parents (they had a half day to start). It's just strange, after all that "hoopla" to wake up, shower, wander to our desks and pull out the books. But, it's a GREAT feeling (she did NOT have a good experience once she got past the fun of the first day!)

So I have a 14 yo 9th grader and a 10 yo 5th grader (actually, she's turning 11 next month, and "should" be in 6th grade but due to severe speech problems in her preschool and K years, and several months of illness last year, we decided to do two years of fourth grade, and we're sooooo glad).

I'm just glad they *want* to be homeschooled; it's not a hill I would die on kwim? High school is SO intimidating, though.
I'm extremely nervous about high school as well. I'm a planner and my ds is action and tell me the end result (not all the stuff in the middle), lol! This is a big adjustment for both of us but he begged to be homeschooled. I think my biggest hurdle is the raging hormones, due to puberty, causing arguments and the need to sleep 10-12 hrs :tongue_smilie: It's now after 9:30 and he hasn't shown up...the kitchen is officially closed :D

Jennifer
Mother to Noah Age 13

[schoendb]

Congratulations on your first day of HS--even if it is "just a whisper"! I will be starting H.S. for the first time with my oldest in a couple of weeks...she, too, is excited and ready to go. Hope you have a great year! :)

[April in CA]

Hi Christy,
Just a note from "the other side" - in a few weeks I will be starting school for the last time with my older son - his senior year has come so soon. Don't worry about perfection - none of us has achieved it, an neither will you. Don't you feel relieved?

We use TOG for history, and i love it. But, there are lots of ways and programs to cover History. What do you want to accomplish with your studies? That could help you zero in on the best option for your family.

Whatever you decide to use, remember that you are the teacher and the curriculum is you servant, not your master. Take time to enjoy the homeschool journey - high school is serious business, but also a precious time of really enjoying our children as they are maturing before our eyes into young adults. Remember that learning how to learn and how to think and how to communicate are the most important tasks our children have. They may not remember all the content of each course (I certainly don't) but if they have those skills they are set for a lifetime. And you have the awesone priviledge of helping them achieve those goals! Have fun with your girls!
Blessings,
April (who feels just as trepidatious about the looming college hunt as you do about high school!)

[Christy B]

Hi Christy,
Just a note from "the other side" - in a few weeks I will be starting school for the last time with my older son - his senior year has come so soon. Don't worry about perfection - none of us has achieved it, an neither will you. Don't you feel relieved?

We use TOG for history, and i love it. But, there are lots of ways and programs to cover History. What do you want to accomplish with your studies? That could help you zero in on the best option for your family.

Whatever you decide to use, remember that you are the teacher and the curriculum is you servant, not your master. Take time to enjoy the homeschool journey - high school is serious business, but also a precious time of really enjoying our children as they are maturing before our eyes into young adults. Remember that learning how to learn and how to think and how to communicate are the most important tasks our children have. They may not remember all the content of each course (I certainly don't) but if they have those skills they are set for a lifetime. And you have the awesone priviledge of helping them achieve those goals! Have fun with your girls!
Blessings,
April (who feels just as trepidatious about the looming college hunt as you do about high school!)

Excellent advice, April! Thanks so much for the encouragement.

I have been so tempted by TOG, and I did realize one night as I sat up until the wee hours, surrounded by stacks of history, geography, literature, and world view materials that I *really* should have ordered it!

My inability to make a plan and stick with it comes from 1)perfectionism and 2)fear that we will end up sending dd back to a traditional school. So, between wanting to use all my favorite programs, AND constantly wondering if we should follow the traditional geography/world history/American history sequence, I keep chasing my tail.

Today we had a great start in math, English, literature, and science, so I'm going to take this week just to "settle in" to those subjects. That will give me an idea of how much time and energy we can devote to history, geography, and theology studies (all of which are wonderful but not everything can be *top priority*).

[April in CA]

Well done, Christy! Congratulations on a good first day!
Blessings,
April (in the midst of planning before vacation..)

[Kareni]

Today is our first day of high school! ...

Welcome to the high school years! It's a wild and crazy ride but a lot of fun, too. And there are lots of people here to lend a virtual hand.

Regards,
Kareni

[Debbie in IL]

Hey, Christy - I'm glad you had a great first day! We start hs in a few weeks - I'm off to plan. Yikes!