So, you see my children graduate with a minimum of 31.5 credits--far more than the state of Florida requires! But I have my own set of requirements so that my children are equipped for living a productive life that honors the Lord and can move in any educational direction they choose.
Before we start talking about making a sample plan, you might want to review, Design Your Own Classes I.
Now let's talk about making a sample plan. I keep a folder for each child's homeschool plan on my computer. One file in that folder is their high school plan. I start one for each child when they are in eighth grade. Each year, I have to adapt the plan as opportunities arise for them to take various classes.
Pretend that the following is your high school plan for you high school child.
Eighth Grade: Old Testament Survey/World History I/Algebra I/Western Literature (3.5)
Ninth Grade: Church History/World History II/Geometry/Biology/Oral & Written Communication/British Literature/Spanish I/P.E./Drama (0.25) + Piano (0.25) = 0.5 Fine Arts Credit/Growing in Christ (0.5) + Courtship & Dating (0.5) = 1.0 Character (8.5 credits)
Tenth Grade: New Testament Survey/USA History/Algebra II/Chemistry/Essays & Research/American Literature/Spanish II/P.E./Sewing (0.5 Homemaking)/Godly Womanhood (0.5 Character) (8 credits)
Eleventh Grade: Worldview & Apologetics/Government & Current Events & Politics/Pre-Calculus/Shakespeare/Fiction Writing/Drawing & Watercolor (0.5) + Drum Lessons (0.5) = 1.0 Fine Arts Credit/The Christian Family (0.5) + Starts own Business (you make it a course) (0.5) = 1.0 Life Skills (6 credits)
Twelfth Grade: The Great Commission/Economics & Business & Personal Finances/Calculus/Great Books/College Prep Writing/Runs own business as course 1.0 Life Skills/Leading worship as a course 1.0 Fine Arts (6 credits)
Total credits (32 credits)
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Before we start talking about making a sample plan, you might want to review, Design Your Own Classes I.
Now let's talk about making a sample plan. I keep a folder for each child's homeschool plan on my computer. One file in that folder is their high school plan. I start one for each child when they are in eighth grade. Each year, I have to adapt the plan as opportunities arise for them to take various classes.
Pretend that the following is your high school plan for you high school child.
Eighth Grade: Old Testament Survey/World History I/Algebra I/Western Literature (3.5)
Ninth Grade: Church History/World History II/Geometry/Biology/Oral & Written Communication/British Literature/Spanish I/P.E./Drama (0.25) + Piano (0.25) = 0.5 Fine Arts Credit/Growing in Christ (0.5) + Courtship & Dating (0.5) = 1.0 Character (8.5 credits)
Tenth Grade: New Testament Survey/USA History/Algebra II/Chemistry/Essays & Research/American Literature/Spanish II/P.E./Sewing (0.5 Homemaking)/Godly Womanhood (0.5 Character) (8 credits)
Eleventh Grade: Worldview & Apologetics/Government & Current Events & Politics/Pre-Calculus/Shakespeare/Fiction Writing/Drawing & Watercolor (0.5) + Drum Lessons (0.5) = 1.0 Fine Arts Credit/The Christian Family (0.5) + Starts own Business (you make it a course) (0.5) = 1.0 Life Skills (6 credits)
Twelfth Grade: The Great Commission/Economics & Business & Personal Finances/Calculus/Great Books/College Prep Writing/Runs own business as course 1.0 Life Skills/Leading worship as a course 1.0 Fine Arts (6 credits)
Total credits (32 credits)
An Unexpected Turn of Events
You have followed this plan until the beginning of tenth grade. Now, you realize that there is an opportunity for your daughter to take a Shakespeare class, a Worldviews class, and an Economics class in the fall. You really want to take advantage of this opportunity. What should you do? My advice would be: DO IT! Simply readjust your plan. Your new plan will look like this:
Tenth Grade: Worldviews/Economics/Algebra II/Chemistry/Essays & Research/Shakespeare/Spanish II/P.E./Sewing (0.5 Homemaking)/Godly Womanhood (0.5 Character) (8 credits)
Eleventh Grade: New Testament Survey/Government & Current Events & Politics/Pre-Calculus/American Literature/Fiction Writing/Drawing & Watercolor (0.5) + Drum Lessons (0.5) = 1.0 Fine Arts Credit/The Christian Family (0.5) + Starts own Business (you make it a course) (0.5) = 1.0 Life Skills (6 credits)
Twelfth Grade: The Great Commission/USA History/Calculus/Great Books/College Prep Writing/Runs own business as course 1.0 Life Skills/Leading worship as a course 1.0 Fine Arts (6 credits)
Juggle Things Around
All you have done is juggle things around. You just keep juggling things around as opportunities arise for your child to take different classes!
Some classes, of course, need to be take consecutively (like Math!), but most classes do not! My high school plan for each child changes every year. But it helps to have the basic plan, because I realize that all the classes have to fit in somewhere.
Another thing to remember is that you can do an intensive class in a month during a break from normal school or you can do semester classes like colleges do. With math and literature, I don't recommend shortening the time frame because your child can only do so many hours of math a day before he is burned out!
Next time we will talk about designing individual classes. For that column, you will need your list of things you want to teach your child and a basic plan! Until then, may your homeschooling journey be joyful and successful! Blessings to everyone!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
Tenth Grade: Worldviews/Economics/Algebra II/Chemistry/Essays & Research/Shakespeare/Spanish II/P.E./Sewing (0.5 Homemaking)/Godly Womanhood (0.5 Character) (8 credits)
Eleventh Grade: New Testament Survey/Government & Current Events & Politics/Pre-Calculus/American Literature/Fiction Writing/Drawing & Watercolor (0.5) + Drum Lessons (0.5) = 1.0 Fine Arts Credit/The Christian Family (0.5) + Starts own Business (you make it a course) (0.5) = 1.0 Life Skills (6 credits)
Twelfth Grade: The Great Commission/USA History/Calculus/Great Books/College Prep Writing/Runs own business as course 1.0 Life Skills/Leading worship as a course 1.0 Fine Arts (6 credits)
Juggle Things Around
All you have done is juggle things around. You just keep juggling things around as opportunities arise for your child to take different classes!
Some classes, of course, need to be take consecutively (like Math!), but most classes do not! My high school plan for each child changes every year. But it helps to have the basic plan, because I realize that all the classes have to fit in somewhere.
Another thing to remember is that you can do an intensive class in a month during a break from normal school or you can do semester classes like colleges do. With math and literature, I don't recommend shortening the time frame because your child can only do so many hours of math a day before he is burned out!
Next time we will talk about designing individual classes. For that column, you will need your list of things you want to teach your child and a basic plan! Until then, may your homeschooling journey be joyful and successful! Blessings to everyone!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
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