2013-14 School Schedule & Curriculum Choices

 

It's hard to believe that we are now into our 15th year of homeschooling here at Prairie Hill Farm.  The memories are sweet and we cherish each day with our two Blessings! 

Amber, Jeff, Jane, Anna

We graduated our oldest in May of 2012, who is about to open her Etsy shop of selling her own vintage-inspired creations; and when not working on the biz, she is leading a girls Bible study, an Awana leader, volunteering at the nursing home, playing violin for weddings, and still helping out around the farm.  Oh, and she still enjoys joining us in Hebrew study and sometimes history.

  Our baby is now in 11th grade (grades are somewhat arbitrary here) and also helps lead in Awana, volunteers at the nursing home, plays piano, and helps with the farm.  She is our animal lover extraordinaire, and it's fun a challenge to try to find additional studies to help her on her way to have a career with animals that doesn't compromise our young-earth creationist and holistic beliefs.

I already know this is going to be lengthy, just skip what you like.  I like to keep a record of everything to print out for our records so I don't forget as I'm very eclectic and always pulling together the best of the best for us. 

 

 

Our Educational Philosophy & Teaching Approach: (for anyone new to my blog)

 

Biblical

We firmly believe that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and base ALL of our learning upon Sola Scriptura (Latin, "by Scripture alone"). Therefore, we look first to see what the Scriptures, God's Holy Word, say about any and all subjects, issues, and doctrines rather than the mere philosophy of fallible man. Our entire school day, as well as our 24/7 living, is saturated in God's Word.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up, ~ Deuteronomy 6: 5-7

Hebraic and Providential 

Our homeschool style is more of a Lifestyle of Learning – incorporating all of life in our learning process. And although we maintain high academic standards, more important than academic knowledge is the development of Godly wisdom and to walk in a manner pleasing to our LORD; therefore we use a Biblical (Hebraic) approach to education with God and His Word paramount. We teach the totality of Scripture! HIStory is taught chronologically and providentially. Science is studied in the order of the days of Creation, centered on God’s Word and God’s World. We do a lot of lapbooking, timelines, interactive notebooking, mapping, hands-on, and field trips as well as an occasional unit study or workbook.

he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. ~ Deuteronomy 32:46-47

The Schedule:  

 

Our 2013 - 2014 School Schedule

Click to enlarge

 

Our schedule has pretty much kept the same look throughout the years, with only the curriculum changing each year.  I don't put in any "times" for my own sanity, but we are usually at it right after 7 a.m. barn chores and breakfast, so around 8 or 9 a.m..  This year we started on Thursday, September 5th as we had an extended Labor Day weekend mini-vacation.  I should have waited until October 1 to start as harvest/canning/freezing is in full swing (late due to our late spring), but we love school and my daughter was anxious. 

 

You will note that we don't have a separate subject for "Bible".  This is because most all our subjects are saturated in Bible and we all have our own personal quiet times as well as family devotions most evenings plus extra Bible study time on Shabbat (the Sabbath).

 

 



So here we go with this year's curriculum choices (in the order of how they appear on the schedule).... 

 

*Note: I buy almost all my books used, so even though the links might show some pretty pricey books, you might be able to snatch them up for a song like I did.  My favorite go-to places are Amazon, Homeschool Classifieds, and Ebay.



 

The Curriculum:  

 

Note: I ALWAYS buy way too much curriculum, but the beauty with homeschooling is we can continue throughout the summer or just pick up where we left off next year.  This year we look forward to incorporating a lot of dvds and mp3's into our lessons by people who are smarter and far more eloquent than I.   On the down side of this is that Anna will not be able to rush through school like she is accustom -- after all, you can't speed up an hour-long dvd and it still make sense.     

 

Biblical Hebrew
 

This is a continuation of their (Amber joins us) Hebrew studies over the last couple of years, first using Zola's Introduction to Hebrew.  The girls continue to love learning God's pure language and this year it has grown closer to a unit study with a short lesson from me and an accompanying workbook, dvd, and cd (songs).  

 

Biblical Hebrew

 

Once they have completed the year's lessons, they will move on to the curriculum's Jonah Copybook: An Interlinear Hebrew Translation Workbook where they will translate the entire book of Jonah using the Copybook and Hebrew Bible.

 

Hebrew Lit. 

As part of the Biblical Hebrew "unit study", we will also be reading aloud the following:

Sofer: The Story of a Torah Scroll by Eric Ray

The World Jesus Knew by Anne Punton

Listening to the Language of the Bible by Lois Tverberg, Bruce Okkeman

Stones of Witness: Images of the Holy Land by Stewart Custer 

History of Christianity and the Christian Church

 

We begin with Genesis and move chronologically until modern times in America.  (This may take 2 years to complete).  I know the below list of curriculum looks rather intimidating, but I am listing everything I plan on using just so I don't leave anything out.  Most of these are not used on a daily basis and many don't begin until later in our studies or will end after we are done with Holy Land/Ancient times.  Amber wants to join us on these great lessons as well.

 

History of the World 2006 Mega-Conference with BC/AD  by Vision Forum (10 dvds & 40 mp3
     lectures & study guide)

The History of Christianity and Western Civilization by VF (over 50 mp3 & dvd lectures)  

Drive Thru History Holy Land (Volumes 1 - 4/ 12-episode dvds)

Drive Thru History Ancient History XL Series (12-episode dvds)

100 Most Important Events in Christian History by Curtis, Lang, Peterson

Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History by Richard M. Hannula
DK The Story of Christianity by Michael Collins & Matthew A. Price
History of the Christian Church (Sonlight 220 Parent Guide) selected portions only
From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya: A Biographical History of Christian Missions by Ruth A. Tucker
Reformation Time Line by Rose Publishing
Drive Thru History American History Series (Episodes 1-12)
Drive Thru History Foundations of Character study guide & dvd
Homeschool In The Woods: Old Testament Lapbook (started yrs. ago & we will finally finish and put
    inserts in our history notebook instead of a lapbook)
History Through the Ages: Record of Time (Timeline book - I am printing out my own online images)

Trail Guide to Bible Geography and Bible Lands Activity Maps from Geography Matters

Hammond Atlas of the Bible Lands (out of print, but worth the hunt)

...and other online sources in case this isn't enough, ha. (I've already found some and I'm wondering if I can fit them in (I know, crazy talk).

Music

Amber

Amber has taken violin lessons for 13 yrs. and still takes lessons even now, only every other week.  She enjoys playing for ministry and special events or weddings.




Anna

Anna has moved from violin, to guitar (& still plays for ministry and fun), but now devotes her time to her first love (musically speaking) of piano.  Although she has taken piano for only about a year, she has quite an ear for it and is to the point where she could teach beginner piano (if she wanted to).

 

 

Vocabulary & Typing 

    

High School Vocabulary (2 words/wk from a list I have from Inga Cannon)
Vocabulary Cartoons.com (1/day - 3 days/wk) will finish in 25 wks.
Scholastic Dictionary of Idioms by Marvin Terban (3/day - 3 days/wk) will finish in 9 wks.
Words on the Vine by Claudia Vurnakes (3 pgs/wk) It is geared for 5-8th grade, but many high school
    teachers use it too.  Fun.  Good stuff! 
Bible-based, Self-paced Computer Typing Curriculum by Jackie Newbrough (out of print)

Math  (12th Grade courses)

 

Math U See Stewardship

Landmark's Freedom Baptist Curriculum Business Math

 

I'm combining two great curriculum.  I like MUS for it's common sense practical teaching and because Mr. Steve Demme includes a devotional with each lesson and is pretty like-minded with our family.  I like LFBC because they delve into the spiritual and moral aspects of some math issues; for example, they not only teach about taxes, but address the issues of whether Americans should even have a "Social Security".  Love that!

 

Science

Apologia Zoology III
E-Training for Dogs  (can receive CEUs for course work)
... and possibly other online college-level courses in zoology

Art

See the Light Art Class by Pat Knepley 1 day/wk         
 (a 9-volume dvd Christian art class by a master artist) 

 

Tada!  That about covers it!

Stay tuned for our classroom makeover reveal and First Day of School photos.