ChristiansUnite Forums

I have made numerous posts on the Biblical perspective of parental responsibilities in the teaching of their children. Please check out these threads on this subject also.

http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=16759.0

http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=14457.0

http://forums.christiansunite.com/index.php?topic=9951.0


We are told throughout the Bible that as parents we are held responsible for what our children are being taught and that we are to insure that it is in the ways of the Lord not in the ways of the world. With public schools taking it upon themselves to teach our children the non-Christian views of God, homosexuality, abortion, and many other liberal viewpoints it has become even more important for us.

Many people have a hard time adjusting to this idea because of finances, assumed costs of teaching their children, time involved and much more. It is also difficult for some parents as they have grown accustomed to allowing others to carry this responsibilty for them. Yes, private Christian schools can be expensive but there are alternatives. These alternatives in fact insure that you know what is being taught and are an actual part of their learning.

The intent of this thread is to assist parents with information that will give them viable alternatives that are more affordable. Much of this information is available throughout the internet. I have compiled it together and modified it somewhat to fit a Christian objective of teaching and into one source.


A couple of things to contemplate:

When It Comes to K-thru-12 Education,
Why Are So Many Christian Children
Instructed by the World Instead of Christ?


Compulsory Funding and Attendance is  a Govt.
Establishment of Religion (Humanism) !

Get Creative: Home Education May Be an Option Yet

Before you decide that home education is not an option because of difficult circumstances, consider the possible solutions. There are few simplistic answers when it comes to child-rearing, but for the determined and committed parent, there are often options that just have not been thought of.

One way to come up with creative solutions is to decide that home education is as necessary as food. After all we are feeding both the minds and souls of our children. Once you look at it this way, you begin to think in a survival mode, which promotes creativity. Does that sound desperate? We live in a desparate society so this page is intended to help desperate parents.

Many parents around the world must resort to extreme means just to keep their children alive and spiritually safe. That thought can help keep things in perspective. You won’t have to starve yourself or steal to homeschool, but home education is highly important, so you may have to take some unconventional steps to make it happen.

Imagine the lessons your children will learn from it all!

A List of Creative and Sometimes Unconventional Ideas to Help Get You Started

If you can’t be home full time or if there are financial, health or other difficulties that create obstacles for you, consider these ideas:

Younger Children

(Keep in mind that children should never be left with someone who is not completely known and trusted by you.)

Could you work with your child after hours or on weekends and have a grandparent, other relative, babysitter or retired person from church work with him some (homework that you assign, maybe)?

Or maybe one of the above people could take on the whole job of teaching. One-on-one tutoring/teaching does not take nearly as long as classroom instruction and can be reinforced through games, play, daily work and casual conversation.

Could you rearrange your schedule to be with your child more? Or could you find work that would allow you to be with your child more? Several ladies I know run in-home daycares and are able to homeschool their own children as well as teach other children some things. Another lady always held jobs that allowed her to take her children along.

If you’re a single parent, could you share housing with another single parent wishing to homeschool, reducing living costs and sharing schooling responsibilities? Or could you reduce living costs by sharing housing with a parent or retired person?

Could you manage a live-in nanny – a retired person (or someone else) who would help with either finances or teaching in exchange for rent?

Could you find a college student majoring in education who could help with teaching in exchange for the experience?

Contact a local home education group and see if any help is available through them.

Can you trade a skill or work for tutoring/childcare?

Can you live more frugally? Can you find less expensive housing, reduce regular expenses, etc., so you don’t need to work as much or can take a more flexible job?

If you have the skills and meet the qualifications in your state, can you take work homeschooling other people’s children along with your own, even considering a position as a live-in helper for a well-off homeschooling family?

Do you have relatives or friends who could lend a hand with tutoring a tough subject?

Would a parent be willing to invest in your child’s education by helping you out financially?

Instead of using preset curriculums that can cost from $300.00 to $600.00 per school year use free resources on the internet or try going to your local library. There are some excellant science sources on the internet such Answers In Genesis (AIG) and Institute for Creation Research (ICR). There are also many web sites that offer free Bible studies, math and many reading/literature books. Many good books can be obtained through some of the Homeschool Groups, both new and used. Check the books carefully though because many of them may not be Biblically sound.


Older Children

Older children can be left alone some of the time as long as they’re responsible and can work on their own. Learn the laws in your state about leaving children alone (some states have age restrictions), and be sure your child can contact you and others if necessary and can deal with emergencies.

An older child can also help pay for his or her own education by trading skills or work for tutoring. Family, friends, retired people might all be willing to consider such an arrangement.

Apprenticeship is another great way to “finance” an older child’s education. He or she learns skills in exchange for helping at a business. Children can also gain valuable skills and experience through volunteer programs at such places as hospitals or nursing homes.

Older children are sometimes more welcome as tag-alongs in a workplace. Can your child go to work with you, at least part of the time? Or maybe there’s a library or some other place near your workplace where he could work on assignments.

Maybe your church or place of worship would allow your child to study in its library (or some other room) while some of the staff is on duty.

Think of other places that have atmospheres conducive to study and might like a mature and serious helper who would crack the books quietly while she wasn’t needed: law offices, accounting firms, libraries, etc.

Could another homeschooling family make room for your child?

Take a look at the options for younger children, too. Many of them apply to all ages.

Print up the above list and start brainstorming. Make a list of possible jobs you could take that would allow you to homeschool or ways in which you could alter your living circumstances to make home education possible. At first, it may all seem off-the-wall, too different, but as you think and plan, you’ll realize you’re engaging in an old-fashioned American habit – innovation!

Start Home Education

Step-by-Step Suggestions

1.      Find out the law in your state and do what is necessary to comply with it.  HSLDA has some good information on this http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

2.      If you’re removing a child from school, make sure you withdraw him formally, so the school doesn’t think he’s truant.

3.      Locate a homeschool group in your area and connect. They’ll be able to help you learn more about materials and will probably have activities you’d like to participate in. They will also be able to help you understand and deal with home school laws.

4.      Make a list of the subjects you wish to cover.

5.      Next to each subject, jot some notes about how you plan to cover it, including any books you might like to use.


A list for a second grader might look like this:

Reading:

Books from the library, books at home (especially the Bible)

Math:

Math is Great or Happy Publishing Math, games, workbooks

Science:

Books from the library, Cool Science 2nd grade text

Language Arts:

Weekly writing assignment, workbooks from school supply store

History-Social Studies:

Books from library, American Kids series, textbook as guide

Geography:

Games, maps, globe

Penmanship:

Best Writing workbooks

The following is an example for a basic idea of what is usually taught at each grade level. It may not be what you'll choose, but it's a good jumping-off point. Each child may vary on their abilities in each subject. For this reason it is a good idea to remain flexible in the curriculum and another reason that homeschooling is much better than public schooling as your children can go at their own speed in the various subjects.

You might also want to include things like music or art, PE, health, etc. The Bible can be instituted in a number of different subjects like literature, history, social studies and a separate course on faith. After you’ve listed your options for each subject, cross off any you decide against and narrow your options until you’ve made a final decision.


Preschool Curriculum Guide
Size

* Understands big and little.
* Understands long and short.
* Matches shapes or objects based on size.
Colors and Shapes

* Recognizes and names primary colors.
* Recognizes circles.
* Recognizes rectangles.
* Matches shapes or objects based on shape.
* Copies shapes.
Numbers

* Counts orally through 10.
* Counts objects in one-to-one correspondence.
* Understands empty and full.
* Understands more and less.
Reading Readiness

* Remembers objects from a given picture.
* Knows what a letter is.
* Has been read to frequently.
* Has been read to daily.
* Looks at books and magazines.
* Recognizes some nursery rhymes.
* Identifies parts of the body.
* Identifies objects that have a functional use.
* Knows common farm and zoo animals.
* Pronounces own first name.
* Pronounces own last name.
* Expresses self verbally.
* Identifies other children by name
* Tells the meaning of simple words.
* Repeats a sentence of 6-8 words.
* Completes incomplete sentence with proper word.
* Has own books.
* Understands that print carries a message.
* Pretends to read.
* Uses left-to-right progression.
* Answers questions about a short story.
* Tells the meaning of words heard in story.
* Looks at pictures and tells a story.
* Identifies own first name in manuscript.
* Prints own first name.
Position and Direction

* Understands up and down.
* Understands in and out.
* Understands front and back.
* Understands over (on) and under.
* Understands top, bottom, middle.
* Understands beside and next to.
* Understands hot and cold.
* Understands fast and slow.
Time

* Understands day and night.
* Knows age and birthday.
Listening and Sequencing

* Follows simple directions.
* Listens to a short story.
* Listens carefully.
* Recognizes common sounds.
* Repeats a sequence of sounds.
* Repeats a sequence of orally given numbers.
* Retells simple stories in sequence.
Motor Skills

* Is able to run.
* Is able to walk a straight line.
* Is able to jump.
* Is able to hop.
* Is able to alternate feet walking down stairs.
* Is able to march.
* Is able to stand on one foot for 5-10 seconds.
* Is able to walk backwards for five feet.
* Is able to throw a ball.
* Pastes objects.
* Claps hands.
* Matches simple objects.
* Touches fingers.
* Able to button a garment.
* Builds with blocks.
* Completes simple puzzles
(5 pieces or less).
* Draws and colors beyond
* a simple scribble.
* Able to zip a zipper.
* Controls pencil and crayon well.
* Cuts simple shapes.
* Handles scissors well.
* Able to copy simple shapes.
Social-Emotional Development

* Can be away from parents or primary care givers for 2-3 hours
without being upset.
* Takes care of toilet needs independently.
* Feels good about self.
* Is not afraid to go to school.
* Cares for own belongings.
* Knows full name.
* Dresses self.
* Knows how to use handkerchief
or tissue.
* Knows own sex.
* Brushes teeth.
* Crosses residential street safely.
* Asks to go to school.
* Knows parents' names.
* Knows home address.
* Knows home phone number.
* Enters into casual conversation.
* Carries a plate of food.
* Maintains self-control.
* Gets along well with other children.
* Plays with other children.
* Recognizes authority.
* Shares with others.
* Talks easily.
* Likes teachers.
* Meets visitors without shyness.
* Puts away toys.
* Able to stay on task.
* Able to work independently.
* Helps family with chores.

Kindergarten Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Meanings of holidays, traditions, and customs
* Understanding and appreciating other cultures
* Individual's role in family, home, school, and community
* Relationship of the individual to the group
* Work and jobs
* Safety rules and symbols
* Basic human needs
* Self-respect and self-awareness
* Awareness of others
* Location of home and school
* Diagram of home and school
Science

* Observation of everyday, familiar things
* Common animals and plants
* Interrelationships of animals and plants
* Classification of living things
* Farm animals
* Care of pets
* Like and unlike plants
* Indoor plants
* The sun: our principal source of energy
* Weather and seasons
* Temperature
* Light
* Colors
* Senses
* Earth, moon, stars, planets
* Simple measurement
* Beginning experimentation
Language Arts

* Phonics
* Choral reading
* Listening to literature, music, poetry
* Nursery rhymes, fairy tales, fables
* Social listening
* Constructing visual images while listening
* Oral communication skills
* Role play
* Following and giving directions
* Paraphrasing and summarizing
* Organizing ideas
* Experience stories
* Relating events and experiences using complete sentences
* Listening for correct speech habits and word usage
* Beginning writing process
* Manuscript handwriting
Health and Safety

* Personal hygiene
* Good eating habits
* Good grooming
* Care of teeth
* Major body parts
* Physical fitness
* Safety to and from school
Mathematics

* Simple counting to 20
* One-to-one relationship
* Concepts of more, less than, same
* Sequence of events
* Correspondence of quantities
* Ordinal-cardinal relationship
* Number-numeral relationship
* Recognition of basic sets
* Meaning of addition and subtraction
* Introduction to number line
* Estimation
* Elementary geometry (shapes)
* Calendar and clock
* Denominations of money
* Basic problem-solving strategies
* Basic chart and graph concepts

Grade 1 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Holidays, traditions, and customs
* Our American Heritage
* Different cultures at different times
* Family, school, neighborhood, community
* Farm and zoo
* Neighborhood helpers
* Jobs and careers
* Social skills and responsibilities
* Basic geography terms
* Making and reading a simple neighborhood map
Science

* Grouping and classification
* Living and nonliving things
* Animals
* Pets
* Farm animals
* Zoo and circus animals
* Woodland animals
* Common birds
* Plant and animal habitats
* Seeds, bulbs, plants, flowers
* Weather and seasons
* Day and night
* Solids, liquids, gases
* Air and water
* Magnets
* Fire and temperature
* Sun, moon, stars, planets
* Simple machines
* Beginning experimentation
* Scientific method and scientific inquiry
Language Arts

* Reading
- Phonetic analysis
- Structural analysis
- Establishing sight vocabulary
* Reading informally: names, labels, signs
* Simple pantomimes and dramatic play
* Creating stories and poems
* Telling favorite stories
* Organizing ideas and impressions
* Enunciation and pronunciation
* Presenting information orally, in sequence and with clarity
* Book reports and critiques
* Discussion skills: taking part in group discussion
* Beginning dictionary skills: alphabetizing
* Beginning spelling
* Beginning grammar: nouns, verbs, adjectives
* Introduction to punctuation and capitalization
* Manuscript handwriting
* Handling books
* Using table of contents
* Development of a class newspaper
Health and Safety

* Personal hygiene
* Dental health
* Good eating habits
* Exercise and rest
* Diseases
* Common cold
* Dressing for weather and activity
* Safety rules to and from school
Mathematics

* Counting and writing to 100
* Counting by 2's to 40
* Simple number patterns
* Beginning ordinal numbers
* Using 10 as a basic unit
* Simple properties of zero
* Simple properties of sets
* Beginning addition and subtraction facts
* Number-line use
* Place value and numeration
* Concepts of quantity and size
* Concepts of equality and inequality
* Concepts of ordinal and cardinal numbers
* Using 1/2 and 1/4 appropriately
* Estimation
* Geometric patterns and figures
* Basic customary and metric measurement
* Recognizing time: clock and calendar
* Value of penny, nickel, dime, quarter
* Solving simple word problems
* Basic probability and chance
* Basic chart and graph concepts

Grade 2 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Holidays and festivals
* Patriotic celebrations
* Communities in other lands: past and present
* Family and family history
* Families around the world
* Neighborhoods
* Community services and helpers
* Shelters, stores, and food
* Citizenship and social responsibility
* Interdependence of people
* Basic geography: oceans, continents
* Map skills
Science

* Useful and harmful animals
* Life cycle
* Birds and insects in winter
* Animal babies
* Animal defense of themselves and their young
* Plant and animal food
* Dinosaurs and other extinct animals
* Food chain
* Plant reproduction and growth
* Habitats and homes
* Weather and its effects on earth
* Effects of the seasons on the lives of people, animals, and plants
* Climate
* Water cycle
* Air and atmosphere
* Magnets and forces
* Gravity
* Earth and sky
* Sun, moon, planets
* Simple constellations
* Exploring space
* Scientific method and scientific inquiry

Language Arts

* Reading silently for purpose
* Dramatizations and interpretative or oral reading
* Use and meaning of quotation marks in reading
* Story development: beginning, middle, end
* Simple book reviews
* Listening skills
* Organizing ideas and impressions
* Alphabetizing through second letter of a word
* Using dictionary guide words
* Vocabulary development
* Homonyms, synonyms, antonyms
* Methods of word attack
* Ways to study spelling
* Simple punctuation and capitalization
* Refining manuscript handwriting
* Writing independently in manuscript form
* Brief and simple letters and journals
* Narration, description, letters, poetry
* Increasing skill in handling books: table of contents, and index

Health and Safety

* Personal cleanliness
* Dental hygiene
* Basic food groups
* Communicable diseases
* Preventive measures against disease
* Neighborhood safety
Mathematics

* Counting, reading, writing to 1,000
* Counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, 5's, and 10's
* Ordinal numbers to 10
* Zero as a place holder
* Using sets and number facts
* Addition and subtraction facts to 20
* Basic multiplication and division facts
* Multiplication and division facts as inverse operations
* Multiplication properties of 0 and 1
* Place value through 100's
* Fractions in daily life
* Decimal numeration system
* Basic concept of ratio
* Geometry puzzles and activities
* Estimation
* Common customary and metric measures of time, weight, length, volume, shape, temperature
* Telling time and using the calendar
* Handling money (coins)
* Problem solving
* Charts and graphs

Grade 3 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Holidays and folk customs
* Native Americans
* Explorers and pioneers
* Appreciation of different cultures, races, religions
* History and development of local community
* Community helpers
* Consumers and producers
* Sources of food and clothing
* Shelters of animals and people
* History and development of transportation
* History and development of communication
* Citizenship and social responsibility
* Basic human needs and wants
* Local geography and topography
* U. S. geography and regions
* The continents
* Flat maps and globes

Science

* Animal helpers
* Dinosaurs
* Life cycle
* Plants and animals of the desert
* Plants and animals of the sea
* Common birds, trees, flowers
* Forest plants
* Conservation of plants and animals
* Weather and climate
* Earth's changing surface
* Magnets and electricity
* Compass
* Gravity
* Light and color
* Energy and its sources
* Force and work
* Machines
* Moon and stars
* Earth satellites
* Scientific method and scientific inquiry

Language Arts

* Silent reading
* Reading prose and poetry aloud
* Oral presentations: reporting experiences orally with accuracy
* Alphabetizing through the third letter of a word
* Dictionary skills
* Developing word-attack methods
* Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms
* Spelling
* Beginning cursive writing
* Concept of paragraph
* Using period, comma, question mark, apostrophe, quotation marks
* Writing short, original stories and poems
* Postwriting skills: editing and proofreading
* Increasing indexing skills

Health and Safety

* Care of eyes and ears
* Dental health
* Proper balance of activities
* Healthful leisure activities
* Prevention and control of diseases
* Parts of the body
* Nutrition
* Health with relation to food, shelter, clothing
* School and community health services
* Home safety hazards
* Safety in the community
* Simple first aid

Mathematics

* Reading and writing numbers to 5 places
* Beginning Roman numerals
* Rounding numbers
* Positive and negative numbers in daily life
* Simple fractions and equivalents
* Properties of one
* Numeration systems
* Addition and subtraction facts to 25
* Multiplication and division facts to 100
* Perimeter, area, volume
* Geometric constructions
* Similar and congruent figures
* Properties of solid figures
* Customary and metric measurement
* Time to 1- and 5-minute measures
* Estimation of outcomes
* Problems-solving analysis
* Word problems
* Charts and graphs

Grade 4 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Types of community life
* History and development of the local state
* Relation of the state to its region, nation, and the world
* World cultures
* Reasons for our laws
* Regions of the world
* Continents
* Time zones
* Earth's resources
* Climatic regions of the world
* Map skills: longitude, latitude, scale
* Using a globe

Science

* Structure of plants
* Environment of the local region
* Biological organization
* Classification systems
* The insect world
* The reptilian world
* Plants and animals of the past
* Structure of plants
* Seeds
* Ecosystems
* Balance of nature
* Human body
* Weather's influences
* Weather instruments
* Climate
* Cause of seasons
* Earth and its history
* Oceans and the hydrosphere
* Air and water pollution
* Magnets and electricity
* Light and color
* Solar system and the universe
* Living in space
* Scientific method and scientific inquiry

Language Arts

* Silent and oral reading
* Choral reading
* Listening skills
* Telephone skills
* Making and accepting simple social introductions
* Summarizing simple information
* Listening to literature
* Critical reading
* Short stories, chapter books, poetry, plays
* Spelling
* Increasing dictionary skills
* Cursive handwriting
* Simple outlining
* Writing letters and informal notes
* Written and oral book reports
* Creative writing
* Developing skills in locating information
* Increasing indexing skills
* Developing encyclopedia skills
* Utilizing parts of a newspaper

Health and Safety

* Personal and mental hygiene
* Dental health
* The body and its functions
* Skeletal and muscular systems
* Care and proper use of the body
* Principles of digestion
* Basic food groups
* Good nutrition habits
* Diseases
* Safety
* Substance abuse

Mathematics

* Reading and writing numbers
* Roman numerals to C
* Prime numbers less than 100
* Prime factoring
* Numeration systems
* Subsets
* Decimal and fraction equivalents
* Addition and subtraction facts to 7 places
* Multiplication and division facts to 144
* 1-, 2-, and 3-digit multiplication problems
* 2- and 3-digit dividend, 1-digit divisor problems
* Meaning of mixed numbers
* Finding simple averages
* Geometric concepts
* Customary and metric measurement
* Time to the second
* Problem-solving methods
* Charts and graphs

Grade 5 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Exploration and discovery
* Establishment of settlements in the New World
* Colonial life in America
* Pioneer life in America
* Revolutionary War in America
* Westward movement in America
* Industrial and cultural growth
* Democracy's principles and documents
* Life in the U. S. and its possessions
* Geography of the U. S.
* Natural resources of the U. S.
* Canada and Mexico
* Relationship between the U. S. and Canada
* Comparative cultures of Canada
* Countries and cultures of the Western Hemisphere: Central America, West Indies, South America
* Map and globe skills
Science

* Biological adaptations
* Biotic communities
* Animal and plant classification
* Fish
* Reptiles
* Bacteria
* Molds
* Trees
* Plants and their food
* Conservation
* Cells
* Human body
* Landforms
* Properties of air and water
* Time and seasons
* Temperature and thermometers
* Magnetic fields
* Use and control of electricity
* Conduction and convection
* Light and optics
* Force systems
* Chemical systems
* Sun and solar system
* Space and space exploration
* Scientific method and scientific inquiry

Language Arts

* Silent and oral reading
* Types of literature
* Presenting original plays
* Listening skills
* Dictionary use for word meaning,
analysis, spelling
* Common homonyms
* Homophones and homographs
* Synonyms and antonyms
* Using a thesaurus
* Spelling
* Plurals and possessives
* Kinds of sentences
* Parts of sentences
* Cursive handwriting
* Outlining
* Paragraph writing
* Writing letters, stories, reports, poems, plays
* Preparing a simple bibliography
* Proofreading skills
* Parts of a newspaper
* Using study materials: keys, tables, graphs, charts, legends, library catalogs, index, table of contents, reference materials, maps

Health and Safety

* Dental hygiene
* Our water supply
* Sewage disposal
* Care of the eyes
* Nutrition and diet
* Diseases
* Germ-bearing insects and pests
* Community health resources
* Elementary first aid
* Bicycle and water safety
* Preparing for puberty
* Human reproduction
* Substance abuse

Mathematics

* Reading and writing numbers to 10 places
* Mixed numbers
* Set of integers
* Numeration systems
* Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of whole numbers
* Fundamental processes: whole numbers and common fractions
* Common and decimal fractions * Decimals to the thousandths
* Ratio and percent
* Exponents
* Customary and metric measurements
* Extension of geometric concepts
* Word problems in daily life
* Charts and graphs: picture, bar, line, and circle graphs
* Concept of sampling

Grade 6 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Global and regional studies
* Countries and cultures of Africa, Latin America, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and Europe
* Native American cultures
* The Roman Empire
* Relationships among nations: customs, traditions and beliefs, political and economic systems
* United Nations
* Milestones in human achievement
* Transportation and communication
* World trade
* Citizenship and social responsibility
* World geography
* Map and globe skills

Science

* Classification of living things
* Ecosystems
* Ecology and the environment
* Microbes
* Algae and fungi
* Human body
* Food for growth and energy
* Climate and weather
* Recycling of resources
* Elementary geology
* Oceans
* Electric and magnetic interactions
* Electricity and its uses
* Sound, light, and heat
* Nuclear energy and radioactivity
* Solar and geothermal energy
* Conservation
* Elements and compounds
* Universe
* Simple astronomy
* Space and space travel
* Scientific theory
* Inventions and discoveries

Language Arts

* Reading silently and skimming
* Critical reading skills
* Introduction to mythology
* Types of literature
* Lyric, narrative, dramatic poetry
* Listening skills
* Nonverbal communication
* Extending dictionary skills
* Vocabulary building
* Homonyms, synonyms, antonyms
* Using roots, prefixes, and suffixes
* Spelling
* Concepts of noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb
* Sentence structure
* Diagramming sentences
* Cursive handwriting
* Types of writing: narration, description, exposition, persuasion
* Simple note taking
* Writing outlines, letters, factual matter (reports, newspaper articles), verse (limericks, ballads), creative prose (diary, stories)
* Bibliography building
* Organization of a book
* Using reference books and indexes
* Using on-line information services, CD-ROM's, and other electronic reference materials

Health and Safety

* Personal appearance
* Dental health
* Health maintenance
* Our food supply
* Exercise and fitness
* Cure and prevention of common diseases
* The heart
* Accident prevention
* Safety and first aid
* The health professions
* Understanding emotions
* Coping with stress and anxiety
* Preparing for puberty
* Human reproduction
* Substance abuse

Mathematics

* Exponents
* Operation of powers
* Set of the integers
* Factoring
* Fundamental operations with fractions, and decimals
* Fundamental operations with compound denominate numbers
* Multiplying and dividing common fractions and mixed numbers
* Relationship between common and decimal fractions
* Problems in percent
* Properties, identification, and construction of geometric figures
* Identification and measurement of angles
* Concepts of similarity, congruence, and symmetry
* Scale drawings
* Customary and metric measurement
* Problem analysis
* Interpreting graphs
* Concepts of averaging and sampling
* Use of calculators and computers

Grade 7 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Lands and peoples of the Eastern Hemisphere
* Prehistoric peoples
* Greek, Roman, and Middle Eastern civilizations
* The Middle Ages
* Renaissance and Reformation
* Scientific Revolution
* Age of Reason (Enlightenment)
* Industrial Age
* Yesterday and today around the world: Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific
* World trade and resources
* Contemporary problems and issues
* Environment
* World geography
* Advanced map and globe skills

Science

* Scientific classification
* The cell
* Heredity and genetics
* Effects of weather and climate
* Properties and uses of water
* Atmosphere
* Air pressure
* Rocks, soil, and minerals
* Ecology and environment
* Conservation
* Heat and temperature
* Laws of motion
* Energy
* Scientific method
* Laboratory techniques and safety

Language Arts

* Improving reading skills
* Literary terms
* Novels, short stories, plays
* Myths, legends, ballads
* Types of poetry
* Biography and autobiography
* Planning and producing dramatizations
* Speech activities
* Listening skills
* Refining dictionary skills
* Spelling
* Parts of speech
* Person, number, gender of nouns and pronouns
* Punctuation of conversation
* Clauses and phrases
* Compound sentences
* Writing descriptions, reports, journals, and letters
* Note taking and outlining
* Extending reference skills: atlases, directories, encyclopedias, periodicals, on-line information services, CD-ROMs, and other electronic reference material
* Library organization

Health and Safety

* Good grooming and posture
* Dental health
* Healthy habits and lifestyles
* Exercise and fitness
* Effects of stimulants and narcotics
* Functions of the body
* Circulation and respiration
* Germ theory
* Sexually transmitted diseases
* Family life
* Toxins and antitoxins
* Antibiotics
* Immunization
* Chemotherapy
* Genetic disorders
* Personal and public safety
* Accident prevention
* Personality development
* Substance abuse

Mathematics

* Prime and composite numbers
* Square root
* Order of operations
* Absolute value
* Inequalities
* Numeration
* Properties of nonnegative integers
* Rational numbers and fractions
* Ratio, proportion, percent
* Finite, infinite, and empty sets
* Basic geometry concepts and terms
* Development and use of formulas
* Perimeter, circumference, area
* Metric and customary measurement
* Reading and constructing graphs
* Measures of central tendency: mean, mode, median, range
* Elementary business mathematics
* Use of calculators and computers

Grade 8 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Our African, Asian, and European backgrounds
* Exploration and discovery
* Growth and development of the United States
- Colonial life
- Struggle for independence
- U. S. Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Westward movement in America
- American Civil War
- Reconstruction
- U. S. as a world power
* Meaning of democracy
* Our American culture
* U. S. political system
* U. S. economic system
* U. S. government
* U. S. geography
* Advanced map and globe skills
Science

* Scientific method
* Scientific nomenclature
* Scientific measurement
* Ecology and environment
* Conservation
* Composition of the earth
* Ocean, atmosphere
* Weather
* Water and its uses
* Weathering and erosion
* Recycling of resources
* Magnetism and electricity
* Heat and light
* Forces in liquids and gases
* Wave, mechanical, electrical, and nuclear energy
* The earth's movement
* Newton's three laws of motion
* Machines
* The atom
* Periodic table of elements
* Compounds and mixtures
* Chemical changes
* Astronomy
* The universe and Milky Way
* Space and space travel
Language Arts

* Independent reading
* Literal, inferential, and evaluative reading skills
* Literary terms
* Novel, short story, narrative poetry
* Nonfiction
* Biographies of great Americans
* American poets and storytellers
* Creative dramatics
* Listening and speech activities
* Advanced dictionary work
* Extended vocabulary
* Figures of speech
* Spelling
* Infinitive, participle, gerund, predicate nominative, predicate adjective, direct and indirect object
* Kinds of sentences and their parts
* Functions of sentence elements
* Writing simple business letters
* Report-writing skills
* Improving skills in using basic reference sources
* Inductive and deductive reasoning
Health and Safety

* Grooming
* Functions of the body
* The body's utilization of food
* Types and functions of foods
* Environmental hazards
* Community sanitation and health
* Health care services
* Sexually transmitted diseases
* Accident prevention, safety, and first aid
* Mental hygiene
* Substance abuse
Mathematics

* Maintaining skills in fundamental operations
* Factoring and products
* Sets and simple sentences
* Numeration systems
* Using fractions and decimals
* Ratio, proportion, and percent
* Equalities and inequalities
* Simple formulas and equations
* Graphing an equation
* Powers and roots of rational numbers
* Polynomials
* Metric and nonmetric geometry
* Pythagorean Theorem
* Scale drawing
* Right-triangle trigonometry
* Customary and metric measurement
* Permutations
* Probability statistics
* Statistical terms
* Mathematics of insurance, banking, and taxes

Grade 9 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Basic human communities
* Community, state, and national government
* Political parties and elections
* Comparative cultures and religions
* African American, Hispanic, and other ethnic studies
* Urban studies
* Women in our history
* Conservation, including human conservation
* Resource management
* Elementary economics
* Labor and management
* Taxation
* Foundations of American democracy
* U. S. Constitution
* Rights and responsibilities of good citizenship
* United Nations
* World geography
* Advanced map and globe skills
Science

* Earth's history
* Earth science
* Ecology and environment
* Weather and climate
* Air and air pressure
* Air masses and fronts
* Water and its uses
* Erosion
* Air and water pollution
* Heats and fuels
* Electricity and electronics
* Solar and nuclear energy
* Nature and uses of light
* Simple and complex machines
* Atomic structure
* Chemistry of matter
* Molecular theory
* Nature and use of chemicals
* Metals and plastics
* Space and astronomy
* Space travel
* Nature and causes of disease

Language Arts

* Evaluating material for accuracy
* Reading the newspaper
* Analyzing propaganda
* Advertising
* Drama and film
* Analyzing poetry
* Dramatic poetry
* Using poetry anthologies
* Novel and short story
* Folklore and myths
* Structure of a play
* Parable and allegory
* Interpretation of literature
* Listening skills
* Effective discussion techniques and questioning skills
* Preparing a speech
* Public speaking and debate
* The unabridged dictionary
* Vocabulary
* Foreign words used in English
* Grammar
* Fundamentals of composition
* Report writing
* Extended reference skills
* Special indexes
Mathematics

General mathematics
* Ratio and proportion
* Basic concepts of statistics
* Mathematical vocabulary
* irect and indirect measurement
* Banks and banking
* Investment
* Budgeting
* Insurance
* Taxation
* Graphs and tables
* Informal geometry
* Elementary algebra
* Customary and metric measurement

Algebra 1
* Absolute value
* Sets and their relationships
* Properties of polynomial forms
* Equations
* Signed numbers
* Fundamental operations
* Equations of the first degree
* Ratio, proportion, variation
* Relations and functions
* Special products and factoring
* Fractions and fractional equations
* Square roots
* Radicals
* Quadratic equations
* Elements of probability

Grade 10 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Prehistoric peoples
* The earliest civilizations
* The early Greeks
* Early India and China
* The Islamic world
* The Middle Ages
* African civilizations
* Civilization in the Americas
* The Renaissance
* The rise and fall of monarchies
* Birth of modern democracy
* The French Revolution
* The Industrial Revolution
* Nationalism
* Imperialism
* Science and industry
* The world wars
- World War I
- Between world wars
- World War II
* The Cold War
* The Vietnam War
* The search for peace
* Democratic ideals and values
* The rise and fall of Communism
* The collapse of the Soviet Union
* World interdependence
* World problems and issues
* Role of women in today's societies

Science

* Characteristics of life
* Classification
* History of plants and animals
* Microscopic life
* Simple organisms: algae, bacteria, fungi
* Vertebrate life
* Mammals and birds
* Plant life
* Photosynthesis
* Cells
* Protein synthesis
* Genetics and heredity
* DNA-RNA
* Genetic engineering
* Reproduction and growth
* Human biology
* Nutrition and digestion
* Behavior
* Conservation of human resources
* Environmental issues
* Energy in ecosystems
* Scientific method
* Biology and space travel
* Disease and disease control

Language Arts

* American literary heritage
* Cross-cultural literature
* Folklore and ballads
* Regional customs, traditions, folkways, and language
* Literary interpretation and critique
* Novel, short story, and essay
* Understanding poetry: lyric poetry, and the sonnet
* Drama
* Distinguishing between fact and opinion
* Persuasion and argumentation
* Listening skills
* Public speaking and debate
* Extending dictionary skills
* History of the alphabet
* Vocabulary and etymology
* Geographical dialects
* Grammar
* History of writing
* Techniques of writing
* Journal writing
* Writing short stories, poetry, and plays
* Writing term papers
* Constructing footnotes
Mathematics

* Origins and uses of geometry
* Terms, postulates, theorems
* Sets
* Nature of proof
* Inductive and deductive reasoning
* Ratio and proportion
* Algebra in geometry
* Angle relationships
* Parallel and perpendicular lines
* Congruent triangles
* Right triangles
* Pythagorean Theorem
* Circles
* Polygons
* Relationships between circles and polygons
* Mensuration theory
* Measurement of geometric figures
* Simple constructions
* Loci
* Transformational geometry
* Introduction of symbolic logic
* Coordinate geometry
* Trigonometric functions of angles greater than 90 degrees
* Special angle relationships
* Problem solving with geometry

Grade 11 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Age of exploration and discovery
* Colonization of America
* A new nation is born
* Constitution of the United States
* Development of a new nation
* Period of nationalism
* Sectionalism
* American Civil War and Reconstruction
* United States as a world power
* Struggle for women's rights
* World War I
* The Great Depression
* World War II
* The Cold War
* The nuclear era
* Civil rights
* Delinquency and crime
* Psychology
* Problems of mental health
* Urbanization
* Public education
* Role of women in today's society

Science

* Matter and its behavior
* Carbon and its compounds
* Formulas and chemical equations
* Acids, bases, salts
* Atomic theory
* Periodic law
* Water and solutions
* Chemical bonding
* Molecular theory
* Equilibrium and kinetics
* Spontaneous reactions
* Titrations
* Ionization and ionic solutions
* Colloids, suspensoids, and emulsoids
* Oxidation-reduction
* Nonmetals
* Metals and alloys
* Electrochemistry
* Energy: forms, chemical changes, and measurement
* Nuclear reactions and radioactivity

Language Arts

* American literature
* Cross-cultural literature
* Analysis of plays
* Vocabulary of poetry
* Critical and evaluative reading
* Propaganda techniques
* Mass communication
* Advertising
* Music and painting
* Architecture and sculpture
* Listening skills
* Vocabulary development
* Grammar
* Story writing
* Editorial writing
* Journalistic writing
* Writing term papers
* Proofreading symbols
* Use of Reader's Guide and other reference aids, both print and electronic
Mathematics

Algebra II

* Relations and functions
* Square roots, surds, radicals
* Rational roots
* Linear equations and analytic geometry
* Quadratic equations
* Binomial theorem
* Imaginary numbers
* Exponents and radicals
* Logarithms
* Progressions
* Higher-degree equations
* Vectors
* Determinants
* Permutations, combinations, and simple probability
* Estimation and approximation

Trigonometry

* Solutions of right triangles
* Use of table and interpolation
* Measurement of angles
* Properties of trigonometric functions
* Complex numbers and vectors
* Concept of a limit
* Graphs of functions
* Solutions of oblique triangles
* Logarithms
* Identities and equations
* General triangle solutions

Grade 12 Curriculum Guide
Social Studies

* Principles of U. S. government
* The democratic ideal
* Basic documents of the U. S.
* Agriculture in the U. S.
* Urbanization
* Conservation
* Business and industry in the U. S.
* American party system
* Propaganda and public opinion
* Comparative governments
* Comparative economic systems
* Consumer education
* Crime and delinquency
* Psychology
* Labor-management relations
* Economic concepts and theories
* Taxation and finance
* Distribution and exchange of goods and services
* International relations
* American foreign policy
* International organizations
* Public education
* Women's role in today's society
* Family economics and management

Science

* Physics
* Electricity and magnetism
* Photoelectric effect
* Heat
* Light and optics
* Sound and acoustics
* Wave motion
* Quantum theory
* Relativity
* Force
* Mechanics
* Space, time, and motion
* Work, energy, and power
* Electronics
* Nuclear energy
* Nuclear physics
* Solid-state physics

Language Arts

* English literature
* Shakespeare
* Literary, social, and political heritage of England
* Literature of the 1900's
* World literature
* Cross-cultural literature
* The theater
* Nature of tragedy and comedy
* Techniques of acting
* Film as an art form
* Critical and evaluative reading
* Current periodical literature
* Mass communication
* Comparative study of mass media
* Radio and television
* Listening skills
* Parliamentary procedures
* Identifying verbals
* Report writing
* Writing social and business letters
* Writing book reviews, précis, essays
* Writing term papers
* Bibliography development
Mathematics

Calculus

* Derivative of a function
* Logarithmic and trigonometric functions
* Indeterminate terms
* Computation of derivatives
* Rate of a change of quantity
* Maxima and minima
* Integrals
* Length of curves
* Volume and surface areas
* Computer analysis of graphs

Advanced Algebra

* Sets of numbers
* Binomial theorem
* Progressions
* Complex numbers
* Theory of equations
* Permutations
* Functions and their graphs
* Combinations
* Probability
* Determinants
* Inequalities
* Matrix algebra
* Mathematical inductions
* The derivative

Probability and Statistics

* Tabular data
* Graphs
* Measures of central tendency
* Quartiles and percentiles
* Measures of dispersion
* Simple correlation
* Statistical inference
* Permutations
* Combinations
* Binomial theorem

6.      Decide on a schedule. This will depend in part on what sort of teaching style you use, but it’s good to think ahead about the best way to conduct each day. There are some subjects you may want to do only twice a week and some you’ll certainly want to cover every day.

Allow for fun and outside activities, and don’t fall apart if your schedule doesn’t always go according to plan – nobody’s does, including classroom teachers.

7.      If you have older children, you may want to brainstorm with them. See what they’d like to study, let them help pick materials and have them help make a schedule.

8.      Gather all the materials you’ll need and decide where they’ll be kept when not in use. It’s extremely frustrating to begin each day searching for the right books.

9.      Start each day in a way that’s pleasant for everyone. Personally I think it is best to start out with a prayer with your children and perhaps the reading of a short devotional. There are some excellent devotionals posted here on this forum for various age groups.

10.  Make close homeschool friends. They will be your best source of support and information, and you’ll be the same for them. You’ll share new ideas, resources, teaching methods, and you’ll cry on one another’s shoulder once in a while.

11.  Go into this venture with a positive attitude. Love your children and enjoy them. Cherish the time you have together. Enjoy learning together.

12.  Manage stress. Life has stress and homeschooling is part of life. Plan how you’ll deal with the normal stresses of teaching your kids yourself.

13.  Ask for help if you need it. You’re not Superman/mom. If algebra is stressing you out, find someone who can help - a tutor, a friend, a relative, someone at church - ask around.

14.  Remember, education is a journey. It happens one day at a time. Your child will not grow up illiterate because he’s having trouble reading at six years old any more than he’ll grow up to wear adult diapers because he wets his bed when he’s five.

This isn’t like institutional schooling where a child can get left in the dust. You’re plugging away at teaching and are always aware of what he knows and doesn’t know. Progress will be made, he will learn, he will become an educated person, because you won’t give up on him or fail to notice that he needs a little extra help.

15.  Kids get stressed, too. Cut them some slack from time to time. Make sure learning is mostly enjoyable for them, that your home is a happy and peaceful place to learn and live, and that your attitude is right before you correct their attitudes.

16.  Be flexible and open-minded but not wishy-washy.  First, use what you have consistently and faithfully - but be willing to switch methods or materials. Make decisions to change based on careful thought and observation and not on emotion or a sales pitch.

17. Don't forget that the Bible can be incorporated into many of the subjects listed in the above curriculum guide line and can be used to meet many of these objectives. (i.e. charts, math, graphs, history, science, reading ....  )