9th grade plans please...

[LunaLee]

Sorry guys, I know it's been posted recently, but I can't find it...

Thanks.

[gardenschooler]

Jacob's Geometry
Henle Latin 2 w/MODG
Spanish I @ co-op
Apologia Chemistry
BJU Writing & Grammar 9
Wordly Wise 9
Walch's Writing with a Purpose
Walch's Reading & Writing Poetry with Teenagers
World Literature
BJU Cultural Geography
Current Events/Gov't

She asked me yesterday if we could start Italian. I think we can fit that in. :eek: Latin could end up on the chopping block, though - probably not this year, but I can't see doing 3 languages at once. Do people do that? Latin's the only one she isn't asking for, so...we'll see.

I sort of want to do BJU's new edition of Physical Science, since it seems more user-friendly, and I'm not real keen on doing Chemistry next year. But I went and got her hooked on Apologia, so we'll see. BJU's over my head, even in 9th grade (I've done that one before - well, did the best I could and added Apologia - good thing that one didn't care about science!) This one did Apologia Physical in 7th, but it's really not the same scope as BJU - not nearly as much chemistry. On the other hand, she wants to do Apologia Chemistry, and I'm sure we can swing that. If not, I've got a co-op.

Don't ask about history. I'm either doing a year of world geography and following a traditional sequence, or I'm starting a 4-yr. cycle. I'm a fake WTMer, I know. :(

I am still not certain about Jacob's, but until we try out the book, I'm not taking it off my list.

She *LOVES* the Walch stuff. We're doing Prose & Poetry (green and tan - I only meant to do green, but she's eating it up) and supplementing with lots of good poetry.

She also loves Wordly Wise - it strikes the 'competent Carl' in her.

We're doing BJU Grammar & Writing because I paid so much for that, I'm getting my $$ out of it! I don't know if we'll continue with that after 9th, though. How much grammar do you need? (Not that she seems to remember any of it from year to year). We'll probably focus more heavily on writing, literature, etc. I can't think about new grammar programs. If she needs more, it'll be BJU.

Making decisions makes me buggy!

Edited to say: Still completely undecided about history. BJU is my default, but I got a copy of another World Geography (Glencoe) used today for $3. Looks very easy, though, almost like it would be more appropriate for middle school. We may use some of it and do a 4-year rotation. Or we might do something else. Or I might drive myself crazy with this!!

[Lori D.]

Literature - Literary Lessons from the Lord of the Rings
Writing - Put That in Writing 1 (*greatly* modified)
Spelling - individualized
Grammar - tried Analytical Grammar, but it fell out of the picture this year
Math - Jacobs Geometry
Science - Apologia Biology
History - (ancients) Spielvogle's Human Odyssey; ancients Great Books a la WTM


Once a week extras:

PE - tennis; swim laps; other
Logic - Thinking Toolbox
Vocabulary - (Greek/Latin roots) English from the Roots Up
Art - Draw Squad (casual, just for fun)
Filmmaking - (casual, on his own)



Younger brother as 9th grader next year:

Literature: Lightning Literature 8
Writing: Wordsmith
Spelling: Megawords + individualized spelling
Grammar: formal instruction: ?; editing: The Chortling Bard (going to try it)
Math: MUS Algebra; supplement with Jacobs Algebra
Science: Prentice Hall Biology (?); don't know if we want to do Apologia again
History: (middle ages) Spielvogel's Human Odyssey; a few historical fiction books on his own; a few (middle ages) Great Books a la WTM


once a week extras:

PE: ?
Logic: with dad, using dad's old college textbook, spread over 2-3 years
Vocabulary: ?
Art: ?
Personal Interest/Elective: ?

[Jane in NC]

Great Books ala WTM (Ancients--this included Oedipus Rex, The Frogs, The Republic, Herodotus Histories, The Aeneid, etc. Work on The Aeneid was supplemented by The Teaching Company Lectures.)

Additional language work with Vocab from Classical Roots and Stewart English

Spielvogel as history spine

Logic: The Art of Argument

Oxford Latin

French in Action

Conceptual Physics

Geometry

Throw in recreational hockey, 4-H activities, volunteering at a wildlife shelter and life in general and you have one busy kid who sleeps well at night.

[Michelle in AL]

History, Literature and Bible: Omnibus I
Science: Biology with Scholars Online
Worldly Wise 6
Algebra II with either Chalkdust or Dr Callahan
Haven't decided on an elective yet, either Spanish, art, ethics or logic.
Michelle

[Linda in NM]

Literature - living books from Trisms 9th grade AOR
Writing - IEW (as it accompanies Trisms)
Language Arts - various sources for grammar, vocabulary
Math - finish VT Algebra; do Geometry (maybe concurrently)
Science - probably Apologia Biology with the expanded syllabus from MODG
History - (ancients) Trisms (includes geography, art history, and architecture)
Music - continue classical viola studies
PE - continue hockey (basically, daily); baseball (Jan-Nov) at club level; training once/week with personal trainer
Logic - maybe Thinking Toolbox...
Latin - Latin Prep
German - Rosetta Stone
Art - Meet the Masters (once/week)

[Gwen in TX]

History, Lit, Theology - Omnibus I (ancients)
Writing - IEW
Language Arts - Abeka, Vocabulary from Classical Roots
Math - Saxon Advanced Mathematics
Science - Apologia Chemistry
Music - trumpet lessons, Pep Band at local university
PE - Basketball team, weight lifting, ballroom dance lessons
Logic - Traditional Logic
Latin
Spanish - co-op
Apologetics - co-op
Public Speaking
Bible Study - Living by the Book (Hendricks)

[Jill, OK]

Very, *very* rough plan for 9th grade...

Literature - WTM-style Great Books, tied to history, which will either be...

Spielvogel Western Civ. or History, A Human Odyssey (can't decide)

Continuing with Foerster's Algebra until finished...then we'll see about what they're ready for.

Writing/Grammar...this is a puzzle. I had planned to do Put That In Writing II, but now I'm leaning towards using an old college book of mine (Writer's Handbook) and Analytical Grammar (took a break from Rod and Staff this year, and I may yet go back to it, but this looks like an attractive alternative). Or...some of the IEW materials. I. simply. don't. know.

Science - Apologia Physical Science. I don't know that they're ready for Biology, and one of our science museums has a group opportunity that would dovetail nicely with it. Dd also really wants to do it, and I'm so excited that she's loving something science-y, that I'm going to go along. I would have liked to outsource their science, as biology, to a co-op, and I may yet do that with ds (leaning towards a science major).

Foreign Language - Taken at co-op, if we are accepted (Spanish for dd, Latin for ds)

Phys. Ed. - skateboarding for ds, indoor rock gym membership for dd

Piano - dd only, looking into guitar lessons for ds

Volunteering - they may continue to volunteer at our church's Parents Night Out, but dd is interested in volunteering at either the hospital or an infant crisis center. Ds wants to volunteer at the zoo, but won't be old enough in his freshman year.

I think that's it. :-/

[Linda in NM]

my son "attends" Clonlara, and one of their requirements for highschool is community service. Our church youth group is forming, so we're thinking of some opportunities through that, including, possibly, a house-building trip to Mexico with a group from Santa Fe...

[April in WA]

Lori,

Could you give examples of what changes and why you have modified PTIW? Also, why are you switching your son to Wordsmith next year over PTIW? I'm looking at both of these programs for 7th-9th grades and would appreciate your answers.

Blessings,
April in WA

[Chris in PA]

Here is my 9th grade dd's schedule:

Saxon Algebra 2
BJU Physical World
BJU Spanish (co-op class)
Intro to literature (co-op class)
Ancient History (Truthquest Guides/Notgrass split over 2 years)
SAT Vocabulary Prep with Vocabulary Vine
Easy Grammar
Writing assignments to go along with literature and history (using Write Source 9th grade as a resource)
Choir

Blessings

[CynthiaOK]

9th this year (14 yob):

Lial's Alg. 1 finish/Chalkdust Geometry (rest of the year)
Biology (BJU)
Logic (1 sem)
speech (1 sem)
Sonlight 200 History (adding in Speilvogel's Human Odyssey)
English 9 (PTIW, Jensen's Punctuation, Wordly Wise 3000)
Spanish (Rosetta Stone)
Private Music lessons (piano, guitar)

[Lori D.]

Just by way of preface, I have to say I have a sort-of "love-hate" relationship with PTIW. I really LIKE the variety of types of writing they cover, and they have GOOD information on what these different types of writing include. But... the writing style of the teaching text drives me nuts (seems overly formal and elevated for having been written to the student), and their examples of "good writing" all seem too similar and dull. Also, while it's great that they've included grammar instruction and exercises, the grammar exercises are also repetitive and dull.

Anyways, I bought PTIW 1 to use last year with my (then) 8th grade son, we got 7 weeks into it and just couldn't make ourselves go on. I almost sold it, but decided to keep it for reference. This year son (now 9th gr.) and I are trying it again, but with the folllowing modifications:

1. Dropped all the grammar exercises.
2. Skipped lesson 1-8 (basic overview of writing, components of paragraph, etc.).
3. Substitute own writing assignments from out of our other coursework.
4. Set our own schedule for finishing a writing assignment based on the writing lesson -- anywhere from 1 day to 6 weeks.

So, basically how we use is PTIW is: we pick a lesson on a type of writing; read the teaching text portion out of PTIW, and then come up with our own writing assignments out of our history, science and literature, and take 1-6 weeks (depending on what we're working on) to put that type of writing into practice.

Once this son finishes going through PTIW 1, he'll do Wordsmith Craftsman to help him move towards more independent writing, and then in 11th and 12th grade he'll most likely do writing through an on-line writing course or community college course.


My game plan with the younger son is a little different, as he really struggles with writing. He did Wordsmith Apprentice in 7th gr., and is doing Jump In this year. He'll do Wordsmith next year in 9th grade, as it is gentle, easier to connect with, and can more easily be broken into small "bites" at a time. Then in 10th grade, we'll do the modified PTIW with him.

Many people use PTIW with no problems, just as it is. I think we are less formal and classical than some here, so the tone of the Wordsmith series has connected better for us. However, PTIW really does have good info in it -- I wouldn't have come back and given it a second shot if it didn't.

Probably waaayyy too much info, but hope something there is helpful. : ) Warmest regards, Lori D.

[Lori D.]

Conceptual Physics looked interesting -- could you give a little description and a review of it? Would like to know more about it. Thanks! Warmly, Lori D.

[April in WA]

Lori D.,

Thank you for your lengthy response. I will take all this information into consideration when I make decisions for the future.

Blessings,
April in WA

[Jane in NC]

Conceptual Physics looked interesting -- could you give a little description and a review of it? Would like to know more about it. Thanks! Warmly, Lori D.

The book is highly readable and presents physics in a truly conceptual fashion. Personally I have had a hard time understanding the hows and whys of physics, although the math never poses a problem. I wanted my son to get a handle on some of the intuitive concepts before tackling the mathematical aspects of physics later. I recommend Hewitt's book.

Some kids benefit from just reading through he book. My son answered the review questions and did the "plug and chug" problems (algebra only at this level). We also included labs. Hewitt seems to reach out to both the scientifically oriented and the non-science crowd simultaneously, which is quite a feat.

[Phyllis in Canada]

Math: Finish Abeka Algebra 1
Lit: Scholars Online Western Lit to Dante
Writing: Scholars Online Creative Writing
Science: Putting together my own program--lots of reading real books & essays, Joy of Science DVDs from TC, looking into Connect the Thoughts
French: The Easy French 2-3
Logic: Finish Traditional Logic II, Start Material Logic
History: TRISMS Discovering the Ancient World

[Lori D.]

We really LIKE hands-on labs/experiments, so it helps a lot to know you're adding that component. So, would Conceptual Physics be a nice *supplement* to a more interactive program? And what grade level would you say it's written to? Thanks so much for your time! Warmly, Lori D.

[yinne]

This is my plan for my dd this fall.

Math - Jacobs Geometry
Literature - Sonlight 200 Lit Selections
Grammar - Analytical Grammar HS Reinforcement Book 2
Writing - Subject Driven (finishing IEW Continuation this spring)
Science - BJ Biology w/ DVD
History - BJ Geography
Vocabulary - Still deciding
Latin - Latin in the Christian Trivium Book 3
Music - Piano
Office XP Course
Bible - Positive Action's Route 66

Yvonne in NE

[Denise in NE]

Teaching Textbooks Algebra II
BJU Earth and Space Science
Analytical Grammar High School Reinforcement
Vocabulary From Classical Roots A/B
Lightning Literature
IEW Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course B
Fallacy Detective/The Thinking Toolbox
Speech (taken at our local home school cooperative)
Bible: Life of Christ (Positive Action)
Rosetta Stone Spanish
Sonlight 5
Piano lessons

[Rhondabee]

Cynthia,

Do you have a schedule for adding in Human Odyssey to SL-200? (please, pretty please!)

[Karri]

English - ABeka Grammar & Comp; Tapestry of Grace Literature; Poetry & Prose

Math - Lial's Intermediate Algebra

Science - Apologia Biology

History - Tapestry of Grace

Spanish - Switched on Schoolhouse

Health - Switched on Schoolhouse

Computer Fundamentals - Discovering Computers (Shelley & Cashman)

[CynthiaOK]

Unfortunately, I don't have much. I simply picked the chapters that dealt with the same time period as SL 200 and am having him work through 1 chapter every 2 weeks which will finish the section by the end of the school year. I think there were about 7 chapters starting with chapter 7.

He is to read the chapter utilizing the study guide which I purchased to go along with the textbook. When he reaches the end of the study guide and chapter, he will do some of the chapter review (can't remember which part) as a test. He just started on this so we haven't gotten to a test yet.

[Laura K (NC)]

History: Sonlight 20th c., and a co-op class on finances

Lit: 20th c.

Math: Foerster Algebra (we've turned this into a 2 year program)

English Grammar: How to Read a Book, Jensen's Format Writing, Vocab. from Classical Roots, SAT prep

Science: Finished A Beka biology from last year, doing Chemistry (Zumdahl) in a private school class.

Spanish: at a co-op, "Spanish is Fun." Would not have been my first choice.

Extracurriculars:
Boy Scouts,
church obligations,
homeschool and YMCA basketball teams,
homeschool and neighborhood swim team,
homeschool cross country team,
triathlons,
guitar lessons.

[Suzybearybake]

Plans for child 1
Abeka- Grammar, Health, Physical Science
Saxon - Advanced Math
Omnibus 2 -History
Rosetta Stone Level 2 2nd half and Advanced Grammar( Prado)- Spanish
Henle 3- Latin
Piano
Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student -Rhetoric
BJU - Geography spread over three years to coordinate with Omnibus

Plans for children 2 and 3
Abeka- Grammar , Health, Physical Science
Saxon- Algebra II
BJU- Geography
Rosetta Stone Level 2 1st half and Breaking the Spanish Barrier 3- Spanish
Traditional Logic I & II-Logic