Time to start thinking about curriculum for next year

I feel somewhat lost thinking ahead to next year...How easy it would be just to throw the towel in and sign B up for a brick and mortar school but right now I still believe that homeschooling is the best option and we have been successful with it, so why change it.

Math--I don't even know where to begin.  It's always a struggle.  There are days and even weeks when everything goes so smoothly it seems surreal and then the bottom falls out...

We love the Life of Fred series and whether we continue to use them or not I will go ahead and purchase the Algebra II and Geometry books because I have an insane need to have this complete set.  Yes, I know he has a whole Elementary series now...P will be in Kindergarten before I know it!!!

people who drew this picture

Science--This has been our first year to get away a religious science course(Bio I).  Bryan has really enjoyed learning Science.  I always thought Science should be taught as Science and Bible and Religion should be taught in a Bible and/or History class.  We will continue to use the Reece/Campbell AP Biology I/II textbook.  A youtube series(Bozeman Biology)  has been a great help with Biology this year, too.

History--we will be finishing up U.S. History from The Great Courses.  I haven't decided if we will continue on with their World History DVD program or take a year and study World Geography and then pick up World History the following year.

Writing--I am very interested in Peace Hill Press's The Creative Writer Level Three: Building Your Craft by Boris Fishman.  It is supposed to be published sometime this year--hopefully before we start the next school year!  Bryan has loved the One Year Adventure Novel series but I feel that it is time to move on to the next step if he is serious about being a writer.

Spanish--we'll continue on with Arriba.  It's my textbook from College.  I have nothing good or bad to say about the series other than it was already bought and paid for.  Saving money is always a good thing!

Literature--Ahh my favorite part of putting together a homeschool curriculum and would you believe that I have not even looked at my notes or booklists for next year?!?  I know I want to go back and pick up C.S. Lewis' Space Trilogy.  We have already read Out of the Silent Planet.  I want to do a concentrated unit on Poetry.  I really need to sit down and get working on this one.  Of course, we will have to do a Shakespeare play.  I'm going to ask B which one he would like to do.  As you can see I still have a lot of work to do for Literature--but I enjoy it--just need to find the time!

This year we have read  The Red Badge of Courage, Sherlock Holmes and something else that escapes my memory at the moment.  I still have Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, and The Hiding Place on this year's list.  If we have time I would like to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  If we don't get to it we will definitely read it next year.

We will  include SAT/ACT test-taking strategies to school this year and will continue with a Vocabulary program.  B will have finished all the Word Roots Series this year.  I am going to look into Vocabulary From Classical Roots to use next year.

Electives are always up in the air...interests, costs, classes offered all come into play and those aren't usually known until the last minute...well at least a month or so before school starts.