Thursday, October 18, 2012

Schooling at Home


        I am a home schooled high schooler and this is my freshman year, which I am already thoroughly enjoying.  My mom teaches my subjects, well kind of, she more like gives me the assignments and I do them but if I don't understand them she is the one I go to.  Therefore, she is technically called my teacher.  There are some thing's home schoolers cannot do at home this is why I am taking a Biology Lab and Writing Lab on Friday mornings with other home schooled high schoolers.  I am also taking a Web Design Course from Allie Howard a Lamar State College Instructor.  This blog is part of my Web Design class.  I have wanted a blog for quite some time and this has been a great way to get one.
At the end of this year I will have eight credits.  Listed below are our course selections and descriptions by my mom.
 
English I
      Literature - Basically this is all novel reading with study questions, vocabulary, and a literary analysis paper.  The topic for each paper will differ throughout the year to include such topics as character analysis, tone,  narration,  conflict resolution,  parody, internal conflict, humor, plot, and theme.  Our hope is to get to as many of these as time will allow, this will depend greatly on the time it takes to read each of our novel selections.
     Writing - Natashia will also be taking a writing lab outside of her literature studies which will focus on such topics as keyword outlines, summarizing, journaling with Proverbs, essay writing, building grammar and structural editing, and SAT prompts.

Algebra II
     For this we are using Saxon Algebra 2 which will mean a full credit of Algebra 2 and a half credit of Geometry, if she gets through the entire book this year.

Biology
     We are using Apologia Exploring Biology Through Creation.  I will handle all the book work to include study guides and test.  She will be taking a Biology lab outside of home which will incorporate all of the labs she needs for the class.

World Geography
     This is probably the class Natashia is enjoying the best.  I am using World Cultures and Geography lesson plans I found at Harmony Art Mom.  It is a study of a different country each week with lots of map activities, art, world religions studies, and tons of notebooking pages.

French I
     This is all done with Rosetta Stone.  She has started with level  one and will continue through completing each level  for a full credit each year throughout high school.

Web Design
     This class is taught by a family friend and this blog is the result of all the learning she has done thus far.  I will be watching to see the blog blossom as she learns all the ins and outs of creating a wonderful website.

Physical  Education
     Currently Natashia is taking three dance classes: ballet, jazz, and clogging.  To insure this generates a full credit I am tracking her hours each week and have no doubt once we get through recital next June she will have all the hours she needs.

Theatre I
     This class is a little tricky because it involves some activities I generate as well as her involvement with our local theatres.  I am having her learn a monologue, prose and poetry piece each quarter as well as write a screen play for the Joseph Narratives this first semester.  We will be working on developing characters from prompts given and I hope to have prepare a skit with her twin sisters this holiday season.  In the spring she is scheduled to assistant direct a show and we hope she will have the opportunity to perform in a show before the end of the school year.


        I really enjoy all of my subjects and here are a few reasons why.  French is really enjoyable because I love being able to learn a different language and share what I am learning with my family, especially my little sisters.  I am learning so many facts in World Geography and Biology. In Geography I am always discovering places I would love to visit and in Biology I have found some locations that I would prefer to avoid due to bacteria and other substances.  While in Web Design, I have found that the things I have been learning can be used with all kinds of other things I do.  Literature has sparked quite an interest in reading, even though I used to think I hated to read.  Now, I can't wait to curl up with a good book in the evenings.  Algebra II, well although this started as Geometry which threw us for a loop I am now off to a wonderful restart and doing well.  Last but truly not least is Theatre, this is sometimes hard depending on what is happening at our local community theatres but we still do activities from a text book or just do some fun memorization no matter what I'm doing as long as it's theatre related I am a Happy Gal.

            Now I leave you with an "Au ver." (French, meaning: Good Bye).

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