This will be our fifth year homeschooling (wow!!) and each summer I get quite excited for the coming year. I am probably far more excited than Care Bear is, but of course I’m setting up the work and she’s completing it, hehe.
So, what’s exciting this year?
First year of high school
Ah! We’re really doing this! It’s so exciting and nerve wracking at the same time! Just this new stage in life is a reason to be excited.
The course list
I have gone over the high school plan for hours upon hours, and at least for 9th grade, I’m feeling pretty good about it. It sounds like a solid year with what we have planned so far, and in sha Allah it won’t be too hard to get it all done week by week.
I’m more prepared than previous years
I have all of US History planned out for the full year. Yep. It rocks. I still need to get Writing and Government typed out in a lesson plan, but this is far more than I’ve done in previous years, plus I have dates attached. Without the dates attached, it’s too easy to forget where we should be and to get behind.
Solid resource list
I’m feeling pretty good about the resource list. You’ll see the full list when I post the curriculum listing (button is at the top of the page) for this year. Stay tuned!
More independent work
Care Bear’s work is largely going to be independent (though there will be more grading for me to complete). It’s kind of a double edged sword because she tends to just do her work on her own and tries to avoid asking for help (which has both pros and cons) but she likes her subjects that she does with other people better than independent subjects. Still, I’m looking forward to watching her grow as a student in her independent work.
More time with the little ones
Since Care Bear will be more independent this year, in sha Allah, that means I can focus a bit more time on the little ones, especially Little Miss. I am really looking forward to watching her learn and grow, complete projects, and start down the road of “school”.
Less things on my plate
After I got laid off in 2009, I signed up for a ton of volunteer work and made myself quite busy with volunteering, classes, direct sales work, and taking care of my family. I wasn’t a very happy person half the time. Each year I have been taking one or more responsibilities off my plate so I can focus more on my family. I have to remind myself that there’s a season in life for most everything, and as a dear friend’s mother said, this is the time for us to be with our families. In sha Allah I can dedicate more time to the masjid when my kids are grown up and don’t need me as much. This year is no different as I’ll be completing my term as a co-leader at the secular homeschooling co-op. It’s been fun, but it’s time to free up a bit more time.
Stronger deen
Alhamdulilah, I’m walking into this school year with a stronger deen than last year. In sha Allah that keep strengthening, or at the very least, remains stable.
What are you looking for to this school year?
Leave a Reply