Hello Friends! I am finally working on my Homeschool Curriculum posts for 2023-2024. Despite it being on my to-do list since July (!), I am just now getting around to sharing our curriculum choices with you all.
We started school at the beginning of August, so we just completed Week 6. There were many kinks to work out in terms of scheduling and logistics, and honestly, I am still working very hard on making our schedule run more smoothly.
It is a daily work in progress.
Since my oldest boy is away at college this year, my second oldest child is now my oldest homeschool student.
Here is what we will both be learning during her 11th grade year! My daughter is taking a balance of online classes and classes with me, and I will share details of each below.
➡ Read more: How I Educate Myself as a Classical Homeschool Mom
➡ Browse through all of the homeschool curriculum posts here at Mama’s Learning Corner.
Mama’s Learning Corner uses affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Aside from my affiliate links, I’m not presently affiliated with Memoria Press, BJU, or any other curriculum provider in any way. I’m just a very grateful and satisfied homeschool mama!
11th Grade U.S. History
Last year, I combined my oldest two children for World History, and that worked out so beautifully. This year, I decided to try combining my two oldest girls (11th and 9th grades) for U.S. History, and so far, so good!
We are using BJU Press U.S. History set this year as we complete a one-year survey of American History. I prefer living books for all ages and stages, but in an effort to progress on in our studies, we are using BJU’s text.
My children do surprisingly well with text books, so that is helpful in putting my guilt to rest that we aren’t using living books in high school.
Like the World History set I described last year, I have been through every page of the BJU Press U.S. History set, including the text itself, the Teacher’s Guide, the Student Activity pages, and the tests provided by BJU. I am thoroughly pleased with the content and got the bulk of the planning completed for the whole year.
We are in the middle of Chapter 3, and so far, the girls are able to keep up and work well together.
🇺🇸 Looking for the perfect American History curriculum? Click here for the BIG List of U.S. History Homeschool Curriculum.
11th Grade Literature
Because my 11th grade girl has a fairly difficult year ahead of her academically, I have been quite reluctant to create firm literature plans. I know that her Classical Studies class has very heavy reading (see below), so I am adjusting her 11th grade Literature plans based on her reading load with that class.
A very hard lesson I learned a few years ago: Every class cannot be hard and challenging.
In an effort to make sure she doesn’t become overwhelmed, I am tweaking as we go along.
Our tentative plans are as follows, using various selections from Memoria Press, including the Teacher’s Guides and Student Workbooks.
I mentioned in last year’s 10th Grade Homeschool Curriculum post that my daughter would read The Scarlet Letter, however, life circumstances dictated that particular novel would have to wait.
She started off this year with The Scarlet Letter set, and is almost finished. The story of Hester Prynne always leads to much discussion!
Also in the queue are The Great Gatsby set and the To Kill a Mockingbird set. I intentionally chose three American authors since we are studying U.S. History in depth this year.
We will also add the Romeo and Juliet set in the spring if there is time and bandwidth.
Scattered throughout the year at specific times, I also included a few selections from British Tradition III: Poetry from the Romantic to the Victorian Age (1785-1901 A.D.).
11th Grade Composition
I am outsourcing the composition instruction for all three of my girls this year again through Memoria Academy (formerly known as Memoria Press Online Academy).
The fruit I have seen from studying the progymnasmata year after year has been nothing short of glorious. I am so thrilled that I took that leap of faith years ago and started them with Fable!
➡ If you would like to know more about the Classical Composition model for writing skills (the progymnasmata), Memoria Press has an excellent article explaining the method itself and why it’s valuable to learn: The Before Exercises – Composition as Training in Virtue
This year, my 11th grader is finishing up the last three levels of the progym in one combined class: High School Composition III. This class combines Characterization, Description, and Thesis & Law.
My oldest son took this same class last year during his senior year, and it was excellent in helping him hone the thought process and writing skills of the progymnasmata.
➡ Click here to see all levels of the Classical Composition writing curriculum that teaches the progymnasmata.
11th Grade Classical Studies
Since we have a classical homeschool, classical studies are included in each year’s curriculum.
This year, my daughter is taking Classical Studies IV through Memoria Academy.
The first portion of the class focuses on studying Cicero through his works The Republic and the Laws and On Obligations. The last portion of the class will focus on St. Augustine’s famous work City of God.
Even though my son and I read through City of God last school year together, I decided to outsource this particular class to Memoria Academy under the teaching of Dr. Dray. My daughter has had a variety of classes with Dr. Dray, and we value his wisdom, teaching style, and background.
So this class is a great fit for her!
You will not see a specific Christian Studies course in my daughter’s list of homeschool curricula this year, since City of God certainly is a study of the Christian life.
11th Grade Material Logic
Also outsourced to Memoria Academy this year is the study of Material Logic. My 11th grader is taking this one semester course with Mr. Hanson, who is another favorite MPOA teacher here at the Hill House.
So far, this has proven to be an enjoyable course for her.
11th Grade Math
Well, math. Sigh.
I have written a few times, albeit vaguely, that my 11th grader did not receive a great foundation in middle school math due to various circumstances.
Despite most of it being based in my own ignorance of not understanding learning styles or the teaching required for solid understanding, I own every bit of that.
Even though my 11th grader completed BJU’s Algebra I with me in 9th grade, she is repeating Algebra I in one semester with Mr. D’s online in-person class.
This one semester class is worth 1 high school credit.
I was very concerned that since this was a condensed one-semester class that this not-math-loving student would drown in the work.
But she has done very well so far!
I am not sure yet if she will take the one-semester Algebra II class in the spring, or if we will do a traditional year-long Algebra II through the spring and summer. I will wait and see what the rest of the school year brings before I make that call.
11th Grade Chemistry
My 11th grader is taking BJU Press’ Chemistry here at home with me this year. I searched and searched for an in-person option for this class, but alas, there was none to be found that would meet our schedule or needs.
Because science and math do not come easily to me, I have had to really study to teach her this material. With lots of hard work, we are seeing success so far!
While there are many options for self-paced classes and on-demand Chemistry videos to do the teaching for me, I didn’t see this as a viable option for us. My children need a live person to answer questions and talk about concepts.
I am using the same method for teaching Chemistry that I used for teaching her BJU Press Biology last year, and that is going well so far.
I have the lab manual, however, we are not completing labs chapter by chapter. I think we are going to do several lab intensives throughout the year. Once I plan what those will look like, I will share them with all of you!
Are you teaching 11th Grade this year? What are your children studying? I would love to read any comments, so please share! ❤
Here’s a quickie recap of our 11th Grade curriculum choices for this year:
→ Math: One-semester Algebra I with Mr. D math; 2nd semester is TBD but probably one-semester Algebra II with Mr. D math
→ Science: BJU Press Chemistry
→ Classical Studies: Classical Studies IV which includes The Republic and Laws, On Obligations, and City of God
→ Literature: Various selections from Memoria Press – The Scarlet Letter, The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, Romeo and Juliet, and several selections from British Tradition III: Poetry from the Romantic to the Victorian Age (1785-1901 A.D.)
→ Composition: High School Composition III which includes the last 3 levels of Classical Composition
→ U.S. History: BJU Press U.S. History
→ Logic: Material Logic
More High School Homeschool Curriculum Posts:
Blank Fall Writing Pages
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