Our 2024/2025 Homeschool Curriculum Choices for 11th Grade....BIG Changes Ahead!

Today I'm sharing what curriculum choices we have made for my rising 11th grader. I explain my reasons for some huge changes in what we are using and how we'll approach some different subjects. (Fair warning-this is a chatty one!). I'll also share how many credits I'm assigning and how it will appear on his transcript.
*Quick correction- Early American History uses A Patriot’s History as the spine book, not an online textbook.
Links to videos/curriculum mentioned:
Discovering Design with Physics: www.rainbowresource.com/ddpws...
Advanced Mathematics: www.rainbowresource.com/01825...
Nicole the Math Lady: nicolethemathlady.com/
Guest Hollow Early American History: guesthollow.com/store/high-sc...
Wordly Wise 11: www.rainbowresource.com/ww11s...
Easy Grammar Ultimate 11: www.rainbowresource.com/eg11s...
Elegant Essay: iew.com/the-elegant-essay-tea...
Advanced US History Based Writing: iew.com/advanced-us-history-b...
Applied Inspirations Electronics Elective: www.appliedinspirations.com/
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Bundle: www.christianbook.com/learn-b...
God's Plan Unfolds Student Book by CPH: www.cph.org/gods-plan-unfolds...
Daily Grace Co Devotionals: thedailygraceco.com
*Practical Life Skills Course: Releases 5/21/24 and will be available in my shop linked below
*Mental Health Course: Releases Fall of 2024 and will be available in my shop
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www.buymeacoffee.com/practica...
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Curriculum Choices Playlist:
• Curriculum Choices
How Do I Homeschool Playlist:
• How do I....
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• Guest Hollow Curriculum
Goals and Intentions Playlist:
• Goals and Intentions
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• DITL
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Meals and Recipes Playlist:
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Music featured in this video:
Cody Francis/ Rose in the Garden/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

[@michellecalais2482]

I absolutely love your videos and recommendations! My kids are much younger (5th and 2nd), but I'm taking notes for sure!

[@chrissyt6959]

I am so encouraged to have found you. I actually found you looking for a review for Guest Hallow Chemistry. I have an 11th-grader. I homeschooled all his life until last year. He went to a Christian school right by our home due to some health issues I have but he is finishing this year and senior year at home. I needed fresh hope and ideas. YOU helped me. :) Thank you. I love the idea for literature study and plan idea.

[@sarahbennett7235]

I am excited to see what he thinks of the electronics course! I am always looking for different things. I unfortunately cannot attend a convention I am sure they are amazing!!!

[@radioabi88]

Absolutely love how you've made History and English flow together! Also, I love how you adapt the curriculum so well with your children's future plans.

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

That’s one of the things I love about homeschooling- the ability to adapt what we do to each of my kiddos

[@thelearninghill]

Thank you for the reminder about the Elegant Essay! I've had that sitting on my shelf for years! Have you looked at Teaching the Classics for Literature?

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I briefly looked at it. My understanding is that it is more to train the teacher on how to teach classic literature. I feel pretty confident though about leading them through novels. (I had some amazing English teachers and professors when I was younger and they really helped me understand how to analyze what I was reading). That being said, IEW puts together great courses so it could be a great option for anyone who wants to incorporate more classic literature into their homeschool

[@homesteadschooled4587]

Thank you for sharing! My 14 year old son did a very similar electronics course this year through 42electronics, and it was similarly expensive, so I think that's just the way it goes with those courses. It's been a good fit for him, though, and he's been able to do it all independently, which has been great for me!

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I definitely hesitated when I saw the price but I figured it was a worthwhile investment given how interested he is in the field. If it means I get fewer Starbucks drinks this summer, it will be worth it!

[@rachelsaunders3800]

I would love to see a video on actually making a transcript!

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I have a couple on my channel. There’s at least two that talk about what to include and how I put them together. Then I have one where I share the excel worksheet I created to make doing all the calculations automatically easier.

[@flyingsignals]

Have you ever considered BJU Press Math? It seems like they offer more practice of the new material and then includes the review of previous lessons learned, so a combo of mastery and spiral. We’ve been doing Saxon, but looking at it for this year. I’m curious if you have used it or looked at it. Thanks! Thanks so much for sharing the electronics kit curriculum, it looks so cool! Have you considered doing amateur radio for him too?

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I never really looked into BJU math. We were so pleased with Saxon for many years that I didn’t think about alternatives until we tried Shormann. Though I always think it’s great when programs include that spiral review. It really does help with mastery of math concepts

[@user-qd5qv1vj6y]

My son is going into 11th next year, so this video is timely. Thank you. Does Berean Builders have video instruction that goes along with the text? I'm trying to decide between Chemistry and Physics for next year. But I definitely need the videos. (i'm not sure why when I post, it doesn't show my name, but I'm Shelle. I'm the one who recommended "The Women."

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

Yes there are options for online classes and recorded classes if you go to the Berean Builders website

[@sherrikmcintyre]

Did Guest Hollow change the AH1 course? We just finished it and did not have an online text book. We used A Patriot's History as the spine. It was an incredible course!

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

No that was a total misspeak on my part. Patriots History is the spine book. I had their Junior American History on the brain 🤦🏼‍♀️which does has a textbook. Plus I’m getting ready to do a big combo video on all 3 levels of the course for the upcoming release of the version for younger students. So I keep going back and forth reading them all.

[@ReiverGrad14]

​@@mypracticallyimperfectlifeI believe you can use the Jr level text book with the high school level if you don't want to use the high school spine book.

[@susan825]

My son has also shown interest in going the trade school route as opposed to classic college...do you have any idea/resources for how to help them find a reputable one/how to follow this path? Just a totally different world from my experience (I'm also a nurse)

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I started by talking with a few people in our family who are in various trades. We also have a community college with multiple locations in our state that has course programs for different trades. Here’s that school’s info page about them and their apprenticeship programs. Even if you’re not in Indiana it’s good info and you may have something similar in your area. www.ivytech.edu/programs/special-programs-for-students/apprenticeships/

[@Kim-pq1rx]

For physics, did you consider Guest Hollow for their literature based physics? Or did you need something more algebra based?

[@sandrap.8268]

We also did Shormann for Precalculus and Algebra 2 and I was kind of disappointed. After Algebra 2, we were hesitant to do Shormann Precalculus , but i was afraid of creating any learning gaps by changing curriculum. For Calculus, we we plan on switching to something different (but not sure which one yet). We were incredibly disappointed with Shormann Chemistry (more so than the Shormann math).

[@jhaub305]

What were you disappointed with if you don’t mind?

[@Ibyte8256]

I’m just curious, now that you’ve done both BB and Apologia, if you had to start high school again which would you choose for Biology? I keep going back and forth for my rising 9th grader. I’m excited to hear about the electronics course. Mine has also decided to go the trade route.

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I’d go with Berean personally. We just have a strong preference for Dr Wile’s writing style and attention to detail.

[@Ibyte8256]

Thank you!! After reading a few pages for their samples online I decided to go with Berean Builders and possibly add in some of Guest Hollow’s recommended books.

[@michellefowler4312]

Would you mind sharing how you started teaching note taking.

[@rachaelbreneman4418]

Oooo, that would be so helpful!!!

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

Sure! That would be a great future video this summer

[@brandiknutson2192]

I was interested in looking at the things available in your shop how do I do so?

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

In the description box of each of my videos, you’ll find a link to my “Buy Me a Coffee” page. On that page is a Shop tab where a ton of my homeschool resources are available. Many are free!

[@ReiverGrad14]

What paper do you use when you print double sided?

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

Just regular printer paper from Walmart for the most part. I’ll use cardstock for cover pages when making our spiral bound notebooks

[@sandybarth1]

I don't know if you are aware of the language and innuendo in The Children's Blizzard. It is a good book, but I thought I would let you know.

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

It’s one of the few on his list I haven’t read yet, but I do try to read everything I assign to them beforehand.

[@sandybarth1]

I just saw that there are at least 2 books with that title. The one I was referring to was written by Melanie Benjamin. I wanted to clarify. Thanks!

[@JunkStyleHome]

What are you using for German?

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

We used Klasse from Klett. Very solid German courses (we have used years 1-3). However, it is ALL in German, including the teacher guide. It worked for us since I took 4 years of German in HS and still can speak and read it. But if your student is going to be learning German on their own, I would look into some online programs as an alternative

[@valeriecolvin6977]

Following your recommendation we are finishing up Guest Hollow's Cultural Geography. I've used some of her recommended books in the text along with it extensive library to create a "cross- cultural literature" course for my 16yo dd's sophomore year. Caution! the books recommended in the online text are not all appropriate for Christian high school students. Some books have adult sexual scenes. So be very careful when accepting their recommendations.

[@therusticroad]

We have found this caution to be true for us as well. Thank you for mentioning it!

[@mypracticallyimperfectlife]

I usually look at the notes they include on the booklist. GH does a pretty good job of noting if books are more mature or have topics that may be of concern. Plus I do all that reading in advance which helps