A few years ago, my children surprised me by revealing a deep interest in politics, economics and in current events! I have been even more surprised to discover that it was not just a passing fancy! In fact, on any given evening you can find them arguing over who gets to read the “World” Magazine first, perusing the internet for the newest ”Louder with Crowder” video from PJ TV, or involved in a passionate discussion of economics!
So I decided that I would turn this integral interest in Government into coursework for my 9th Grader this year. When developing this course, I decided that I had to keep some of these things in mind:
1) Longterm goals (independent learning!)
2) Short term goals (a quality, generous High School regimen and hopefully – SCHOLARSHIP $$$ for Higher Education)
3) Our “Year Round” schooling schedule (real learning takes “time” and doesn’t stop for Summer)
4) Our family’s Christian Worldview (nuff said)
5) Our educational foundations and philosophies (In a nutshell: Strong basic skills, along with integrated, “interest driven” learning which utilizes my student’s academic strengths to teach to their weak areas, will be the most effective way to ensure that my students will be lifelong learners and leaders in our community!)
6) Choosing to use “Whole” books and “real life” activities, rather than using only textbooks and written work, will enable my students to develop a love for learning as well as allowing them to delve deeper into the topics that they find most interesting.
7) We learn best when we are required to apply new information to an activity, or when we acquire new information that we need to have in order to complete that activity! (Learning by doing)
Taking all those things into consideration, I helped her arrange those activities and interests into a part of her academic program for credit this semester.
Here are just some of the resources and activities that we used:
The Fallacy Detective ( Logic and Debate)
The Deadliest Monster (Philosophy and Literature – Frankenstein, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and other literature of this genre)
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard Maybury (Basic Economic Principles and History)
How Should We Then Live? by Frances Shaffer (DVD Set) (Philosophy, History and Governments of Western Civilization are integrated here)
Drive By History with Dave Stotts- DVD’s ( Ancient History including Asia, Greece and Rome and their influence on Western Civilization)
Internet Research
Original Documents such as The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and a study of the amendments.
Various 4H Projects- including writing and researching a Speech on the application of Second Amendment Rights which she presented at the District and State levels (integrating communication skills)
Participation in a Student Government position in our local 4H Club
Learning about “Parliamentary Procedure” at a Seminar
Our Local Newspaper
World Magazine, Citizen Magazine and the Mainstream Media outlets
Current Editorials; including editorials and news clips from those who would be considered “liberal”, and those who would be considered “conservative” and those who would be considered “Libertarian” in their political views.
Discussion
As you can see, we utilize a variety of materials in our learning program. This is to keep the interest level going :0) and because there are so many quality resources available that are “high interest” (other than her textbooks), we chose to include them as a vital part of her academic work.
Many of these things, she would have chosen to study on her own anyway because she loves to learn about the things that interest her. Mainly, I think that she just loves to know more than me about any given subject!
I guide the topics that she loves into the context of her coursework so that she becomes more challenged to keep her focus on them. As my reward, I have seen her develop projects on her own, where she is going to be using the information she has gained.
The benefits of this kind of education are obvious to me. Although it is sometimes more difficult to organize those materials into a list of resources used for a particular course, because some of them cross over into other subject areas, it is well worth the extra work when you begin to see your children make those kinds of connections on their own. It is then that they are developing the kind of thinking skills that will grow them into the creative, thoughtful individuals that all societies need.
I am still learning a lot about how to help my 9th Grader plan each elective and get all the required courses in as well, and I am enjoying sharing my ideas and thoughts here!
I hope that if you are teaching a homeschooled High Schooler you will be encouraged that others are still figuring it all out too! And I hope that if you are thinking of teaching your Highschooler at home you will see that with some perseverance and good resources it can be done.
Have a great weekend and remember this Mission is not only possible … it is worth the investment!
I am off to prepare for my next mission - Grades and Transcipts!
MeritK



















