Homeschool Curriculum 2022-23

Over the years, homeschool planning has been pretty simple since we use Classical Conversations as our spine. Automatically, I spend the summers, combing through online sources to add diversity and inclusion using the different learning methods: auditory, reading/writing, & kinesthetic. Here is what we have for the upcoming school year:

5TH GRADE TWINS

MATH:
Saxon 5/4
My Math Assistant. Game changer for me! Grading site created by a homeschool dad that grades their work, provides videos for extra assistance and keeps a running tally of assignments, tests, and facts practice!

ENGLISH & WRITING
Classical Conversations Grammar
Students learn how to parse the English language, focusing on all the parts of speech and how to recognize them. This includes an excellent practice of diagramming one sentence 4 days per week.

Editing
Learning how to use punctation correctly, recognize spelling and grammar mistakes is an essential part of the language process. They edit a paragraph of Scripture 4 days per week.

Writing
We use the IEW writing process that introduces structure and style to writing. Students write about historical events.

Presentations
Students do weekly presentations. Since our homeschool lacks in people of color and female contributions, my kids tend to enlighten their classmates with notable characters that enhance historical contributions.

PACES CURRICULUM
Paces is an Easy-To-Implement, Rigorous and Biblically-Centered Workbook Curriculum For Grades Prek-12. We use them for Bible Reading, Social Studies, and Science.

Bible Reading
This year focuses on the life and parables of Christ.

Social Studies
PACES Social Studies. I love these books because they are easy, informative, and keep God as the focus. Students learn about all kinds of careers.

Science
PACES Science. This year’s focus is on water, matter, and gas.

Art
Usually, I rely on the 6-weeks dedicated to the basics of art through Classical Conversations.

Health
Horizons Health

PE
Mateo – Soccer
Inez – Tennis

8TH GRADE CURRICULUM

Classical Conversations – Challenge B
Classical Conversations has been our core for over 10 years. When a student gets to the Challenge years (7th – 12th grades), the work becomes more rigorous and uses a classical Christian process for learning. Essentially subjects are used to teach a skill. For example, Math is used to teach Logic, Latin is used to teach Grammar, etc. Following is the 8th Grade curriculum for this year:

LOGIC – Math Saxon

GRAMMAR – Latin

RESEARCH
1st Semester
History of Astronomy. 15 weeks of researching different Scientists that have left on mark on modern society. We include black inventors and the origins by which Greek scholar acquired their info.

2nd Semester
10 weeks discussing the Creation/Evolution debate w/ the last 5 weeks devoted to chemistry and how to use the periodic table.

REASONING
1st Semester
Introductory Logic

2nd Semester
Intermediate Logic

EXPOSITION – Literature & Writing
1st Semester: Reading the following books, discussing w/ me, and write papers on each:

• The Phantom Tollbooth
• Little Britches
• Where the Red Fern Grows
• Hiding Place

2nd Semester:
Students transition to the adult reading level recommended in the higher Challenges by studying short stories from various famous writers they will encounter in Challenges I–IV. Students take the entire semester at home to write a short story of their own.

DEBATE:
1st Semester
The American Experience Storybook
Additional reads and discussions w/ mom and dad:
-Bible
-A People’s History of the United States
-Digging Deeper Document I created to add diversity and inclusion to the discussion

2nd Semester
Mock Trial

HEALTH: Horizon’s Health

PE: Basketball

ART: Free MOMA Class
Course: Reimagining Blackness and Architecture (FREE CLASS)

• Charles Davis on the expansive field of architecture
• Adrienne Brown on the Reconstruction era
• Kara Walker on 40 Acres of Mules, 2015
• Deana Lawson on Nation, 2017

This is the plan for the year. Our big girl is in college, so I’m down to three at home. Always make time for emotional check-ins, one-on-one time, field trips, and fun!

—

Jamia E.
Christian. Wife. Mother. Educator. Model. Actress.
Lord, give me the wisdom to navigate through this life all to your glory. 
James 3:13-18

Where’s your “faith”?

Faith. It’s one of those things we hear about all the time, whether one believes in God or not. It’s usually centered on believing something will or will not happen. But for the Christian, what does the Bible say about faith?

Faith or belief is not something that is given by God. It is something that man does or has in order to please God. Hebrews 11 is based on the fundamental idea that man is personally responsible for mustering up an “obedient trust”. Obedient trust…what is that? According to Heb 11 and other illustrations throughout the Bible it is a trust that provokes a prescribed action. The best illustration would be the “trust fall”. A person believes another will catch him/her therefore, they fall according to that trust. This is exactly how faith works. God “calls” individuals through His written Word (2 Thessalonians 2:14).

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” ~ Romans 10:17

Individuals build a “faith” within that word that then inspires obedience. In turn, the written Word can generate faith in the individual (Romans 10:17).

Rom 10:14-17 illustrates this exact sequence: (1) the preacher preaches; (2) the individual hears the preached word; and (3) the individual believes.

¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” ¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” ¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Then, as referenced by Heb 11:6, an obedient trust then causes man to act within God’s prescribed specifications, aka God’s Word.

So without a daily feasting on the Word of God, faith (or obedient trust) will be weak and/or lacking.

—

Jamia E.

Christian. Wife. Mother. Educator. Model. Actress.

Lord, give me the wisdom to navigate through this life all to your glory. 

James 3:13-18

Welcome to my new blog: Growing Sunflowers

“Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity.” ~ Brene Brown

For a long time, it’s been suggested and I have finally made the time to do it! I mean…why not? I’m taking a break from directing other’s kids this year, so I can dedicate some much-needed time to my four sunflowers and other endeavors. One of those endeavors is this longing I have to write…not necessarily for anyone, any specific topic, or for financial means, but to write as healing and strength for myself and encouragement for others.

Jamia E.
Christian. Wife. Mother. Educator. Model. Actress.

Lord, give me the wisdom to navigate through this life all to your glory. 

James 3:13-18

10 THINGS I LEARNED ABOUT HOMESCHOOLING

10 Things 18 years of homeschooling has taught me:

(1) I could never have done it without leaning on God’s strength;

(2) Patience is needed and cultivated with each day, but some days it’s lacking ;

(3)There are moment-by-moment victories & mistakes ; so don’t be a helicopter parent…God isn’t ! Grace and mercy coupled with the Word sow seeds in their hearts, which make for sincere change!

(4) While life is happening (births, death, trauma, sickness, moving, family turmoil, delays, etc.), learning is still taking place;

(5) Kids learn from your example (the good with the bad, & the things you THINK they are clueless about);

(6) Trust the process – growth happens in baby steps, not overnight;

(7) Trust that learning is happening even in “failure/mistakes” for parents and children;

(8) It’s better with a village of support than without;

(9) Discussion is the BEST assessment tool ;

(10) NEVER compare! Just don’t do it! It hurts everyone involved! Individual achievements build up our children! Celebrate accomplishments and work together to provide tools for improvements. Don’t “fix” mistakes, instead teach how to recognize them, then provide resources and guidance so they will learn how to be successful .

This HS process is always evolving. Be warned that everyone doesn’t know the labor you are pouring into your children. You May even run into naysayers ! Learn to rest in God’s approval and not necessarily the approval of all those around you. Sometimes labor is not evident to onlookers. But because growth is a process, know that your labor will never be in vain, and the fruit is the real evidence !