Class of ‘25

 I seem to have blinked, and we went from this

To this:

We joined together with a gaggle of other homeschoolers to have a ceremony together—front row, closest end.

A quick reception afterwards

Got to see her boss out at an event on the way from lunch

Next stop…college!

Geography

One of the things I have never had a super strong grasp of is world geography.  Nate has had an interest in it for several years, so before he needed to start being concerned with high school level classes, I decided we’d dedicate this year’s history/social studies to regular geography study.

We’ve sung songs, made mnemonics, and learned a good bit of geography.

So often the path of learning isn’t clear, so this was awesome to compare…August (prior to any instruction in geography) to December (completely from memory).  They are not perfect, but oh my how much they have learned!!

So proud of these two!

Full

 

In July we moved

With help of friends and family

Headed off to camp with these two before the other house was even empty

Turned in our key

Gabby completed her Stars & Stripes Project

She built bookcases

Put wallpaper under the benches

And created a mobile, with help from friends

Gabby finished Driver’s Ed (and ACT Prep)

Ellie started gymnastics

And that brings us to the start of school:

Aesthetics 

Home

And dual enrollment through Union (English)

Accidental Graduation

Katie has been looking at some aesthetics programs over the past nine months to a year.  Our original plan had been dual enrollment, but after sitting on a waiting list since last May for the most economical school, we toured another school in mid-December.

She loved it.  However, they did not allow dual enrollment.  You had to present a diploma or GED.  I reached out to our homeschool umbrella to ask about blocking out just the second semester English credit (the only thing she needs to graduate) in the first two months of the year and graduating early.  I also noted we had completed a full book of Lightening Literature in the fall term, averaging a couple hours a day with all the readings, comprehension questions, and papers she wrote.

I got back an email that said, in short, “Congratulations to you both, input her grade as a full credit (their rules on credits are completing a textbook or a certain number of hours—our fall accomplished not just one, but both of those), she can graduate now.”

This news came on the last day of our planned semester with one (history) final to go and a packed day at work for her.  I told her she had the option to do whichever she wants—graduate in May with her friends or wrap it up now.  In a few hours, she decided surprise graduation it is.

Cap and gown are here.  Party planning has commenced.

Surprise and Congratulations, Katie!

You did it!

A Bit Lately

 We’ve had a lot going on around here!

Gabby and some friends played with makeup! 😮. She’s been working with some friends on both the Pet Care and Money Management badges with some friends. After they finished up one evening, they had some fun.

Lucy was spayed.

Our family was able to light the first Advent candle at church.

We learned about Purim and made cookies to share with our friends.  We decided our friends live entirely too far apart, as we were dropping things off all over creation!

Ellie was asked to walk Brandy (the dog) down the aisle at a friend’s wedding next fall.  Brandy, who was originally socialized to be a seeing eye dog (but was not able to pass some of the requirements), so she is such an amazing dog, will be the ring bearer.

And these gals were asked to be bridesmaids.  They are so excited.

Ellie lit the joy candle in Children’s church.

We looked at the planets by telescope

I took Ellie out for cocoa and to have the Santa talk.

There were lots of unusual activities, like outdoor Christmas parties this year.  Masked events.

Ellie picked out a dress for the wedding, and had some fun with photo editing.

A puzzle over our Christmas break.

Half Way Through the TOG Year

 ...not to be confused with halfway through the school year.

We are in Tapestry of Grace year one, for the second time.  If you aren’t familiar with classical education, there is a four year cycle of roughly: ancients, Middle Ages, early modern, and modern.  Then children are divided by grade/ability in Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric.  Each child would, if beginning in first grade, make their way through each rotation three times at different levels, gaining more depth each time.

I’ve found we could combine a couple of the weeks this time to give us more flexibility in our schedule for field trip or project days later.  So last week we reached the end of TOG week 18.   87 days of school, then.

In high school we’ve read Egyptian literature, the Iliad, and the Odyssey.  They’ve all read Greek myths, studied the ancient cultures of Sumer, Egypt, The Maya, China, Israel, and Greece.  We’ve written poetry, labeled maps, and learned to write reports of various types.  Katie studied essay tests, Nate studied outlines, and Gabby covered persuasive essays.

Poetry Tea

With their own poems to read.

Drama masks

Overseen by Gabby & created by Nate and Ellie

A salt map of the Near East by Ellie & Gabby (FYI, while it might look like icing as it dries, it doesn’t taste like icing)

Gabby & Ellie reading about King Solomon

I do love ancients!!

“Back” to School

 We had an odd summer, with a few weeks of school worked in, but today we are starting with our normal five day a week schedule.  Well, as normal as a week with a new puppy can be.

We are so grateful that learning at home is already our routine, that the library is at least open for pick up, and that we get to learn together again.

Ellie says spelling is her favorite.

Gabby is excited to study and teach mythology.

Nate likes The Physics of Superheroes.

Katie has always loved Egyptian history, so that’s her favorite of this year.

Of course our mascots needed to join us for a photo.  I’m not sure Bellum has been outside the house without a carrier before!  Big day for the guinea pig.

These are *most* of our books for the year.  We still use the library of course, but these are quite a few of our books for Tapestry of Grace and some math and science.

Happy School Year!!