Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Teach your child how to write a letter!

 My husband and I volunteer as Co-op teacher and help with religious education at our church.  We led a Faith Camp and wanted to thank our priest for all of his help.  Naturally, we had the kids write letters.  Many children do not know how to write a letter or how to address an envelope.  Rob and I are old-fashioned and mail thank-you notes.  Here is a post on letter writing, which includes thank-you letters, complaints, and invitations.  Here is an example showing how to address an envelope, which has become another lost art.  The first day of Composition class, the kids are writing letters to service members.  Operation Gratitude has Letter Writing Instructions.  Your Co-op may want to send a care package as a service project.  One year, during VBS, a parishioner was deployed to the Middle-East.  Claudia was a VBS volunteer.  The children wrote letters and drew pictures, which we sent.  Claudia showed her letters to everyone!  My son, Fr.Josh, is a priest and chaplain in the Air Force, currently assigned to Japan.  The kids on base might enjoy some letters.  I’m getting excited to teach Composition!

Monday, July 29, 2024

Elementary Readers

Initially, home-school families need to help their child learn to read.  Many families make reading their focus in the early primary years.  These families mainly do Math and Reading.  Once the child can read, English or Language Arts become trickier.  I like Kolbe’s Literature manuals.  The Primary and Elementary Literature manuals have a book list, reader’s questions, and vocabulary from the books.  I had Paul read 20-30 minutes from a book on the list, answer questions, and look up terms in the dictionary.  (This was also a means to practice handwriting.)

Let me recommend adding a Basal reader to English, especially for children in grades one through six.  A Basal reader is a reading book, full of stories, brief biographies, poems, even songs.  This is no longer a popular approach.  However, a Basal reader exposes kids to a huge variety of Literature.  I put together a list of Basel readers to consider.

1. Kolbe offers Catholic National Reader Books, such as Book Three.  

2.  Open Court is one of the oldest series of reading books.  Let’s Kill Dick and Jane explains how Open Court revolutionized reading.  (McGraw Hill has Open Court Reading 2016 and Open Court Reading 2023.  I’m not a fan.  These are newer programs which cost a fortune and require many, many books, assessments, etc to use properly.  I’m not sure I even like the stories!)  Here is a testimonial.  Scroll down for the titles to books in the Basic Reader, or RISE series, the Headway Reader series, and the third  Revised Reader.  If you continue to scroll, you can see the table of contents.  Old fashioned or not, these readers have The Little Red Hen, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and Pocahontas and Captain John Smith. Can you tell I love Open Court readers for younger children? These textbooks are harder to find.  At the bottom are screenshots with prices.

3. I know one family who use McGuffey Readers. Free copies are available on Google Books and The Gutenberg Project.  Families use these primers for literature, morality stories, and for copy work—another neglected teaching tool.  Have your child copy a passage or do a dictation.  Each passage has loads of vocabulary to use for spelling.  

4. I used an older textbook, an anthology, from Houghton Mifflin for Paul.  I bought the workbook; however, I mainly used the textbook as reading enrichment.  Again, you can do dictionary work, copy work, or simple reports from any story.

Below are several screenshots of the books described above.




















Do you need to buy a curriculum or enroll in an online school?

 I teach with the local Co-op.  Before we relocated to the Quantico area, I taught in West Virginia.  Additionally, I worked with a number of home-school families.  WV requires all home-school families to have a certified teacher evaluate their portfolios and submit an evaluation letter to the local school board office.  Do you need to buy a curriculum?  What about enrolling in an online school?  The short answer is ‘No.’  When COVID struck and schools closed, I ordered a variety of materials for Paul.  The following school year when we home-schooled him, I registered with Kolbe Academy.  Why?  Kolbe offered the syllabus, tests, and support.  By submitting materials quarterly, I felt Kolbe held me accountable.  

However, you can create a successful curriculum on your own.  The families I’ve worked with are split; about half enroll in a program and half go it alone.  The more experienced home-school families are less apt to rely on an online school or curriculum.  They already have loads of books and equipment.  They have vetted programs and know what works with their children.

One family started with a question, ‘What is important for my child to learn?  Then the mom set out her program.  Do you have a college degree?  If you don’t, you are going to feel more confident working with an online school.  See if your region has a home-school Convention*.Typically vendors and online schools attend, permitting you to ask questions and look at materials.  My friend, Crystal, and I went to a Catholic home-school convention in Virginia to select a school before I home-schooled her step-daughter, Lacie.

Home-schooling is not an ‘all or none’ proposition.  My friend, Jen, enrolled her children in Classical Conversations, which meets once per week.  I work with her teen son weekly on Latin.  Jen uses a wide range of materials for her kids, apart from assignments through Classical Conversations.  Many local families use Co-op or online classes for Math and Science; otherwise the teens take classes through an online school.  (As a Co-op teacher, I comply with the requirements for their respective schools.)  

If you want to design your own curriculum, talk to veteran home-school teachers first.  Start with the core, four subjects: Math, English, Science, and History.  Join a Co-op.  They plan field trips, organize music or art classes, and share resources.  Every Co-op is different—especially in terms of its organization and offerings.  Co-ops allow you to network.  Mention your child is struggling with math and stand back.  Moms will swoop in with advice.  

I recommend buying textbooks and workbooks, at least at first.  The Young Explorers Science Series has a syllabus in the notebook.  If you use the textbook and complete the workbook, you’ll have a year-long science class for your elementary-aged child.  The Young Explorers series has loads of experiments and projects.  They offer two levels of student notebooks for each textbook.  The Junior notebooks have printing and handwriting exercises, along with projects.  The other workbook has more questions and vocabulary exercises, such as crossword puzzles.  The same is true with Saxon Math and the Catholic Textbook Project.  Here is an example of the Saxon home study kit.  Saxon has 120 lessons, designed for a year-long program.  The Catholic Textbook’s History program has a student textbook, teacher’s textbook, and student workbook.  They provide tests and quizzes in a pdf file.  Again, this is enough material for the whole school year.  

English is trickier.  Young children need to learn how to read. Once they learn to read, start reading the classics.  I like the  Primary and Elementary Literature from Kolbe.  You can get the books at the library.  Download the audiobooks from Hoopla and listen in the car.  I copied the questions from the teacher’s manual into a notebook.  Paul read 20-30 minutes each day and answered questions.  The number of books depends on your child.  You can select vocabulary words to use from the books.  I had Paul look up words in dictionary and write them into the notebook.  You might have your child write answers in cursive.  We also used Classical Composition from Memoria Press. Here is a sample.  




Faith formation is a given for the home-school families I know.  Some enroll in the religious education programs at church; others teach religion at home. (BTW many Catholics use Faith and Life , both home-schooled families and religious education programs.)

Do you need a program?  It is easier to home-school by enrolling in an online school.  But, you can create your own program, too!




*Here is the link for a Catholic home-school conference, which was online in 2024.  

Sunday, July 28, 2024

Themes for Composition: Should you get a tattoo?

I’m teaching Composition again this Fall.  The kids in class are all freshmen.  I want to do loads of different writing exercises.  One of my favorite themes is ‘Should you get a tattoo?’  When I taught in public school, the administration initiated writing exercises in every class.  I looked for provocative topics.  When I introduced tattoos, the kids wrote volumes.   I use Chemmatters: Tattoo Chemistry Goes Skin Deep.  We write a list of pros and cons of getting a tattoo.  We discuss reasons people get tattoos, such as tributes, heritage, etc.  Finally, they write an essay explaining whether or not one should get a tattoo.  Recently, there are studies which suggest tattoos may cause lymphoma.  Some kids are fiercely opposed, often saying their bodies are temples of God.  While I don’t have or want a tattoo, many, many teens do.  Try this topic; you’ll have such a rich discussion and powerful essays.

Saturday, July 27, 2024

Inspired by Paint by Sticker—Substituted with Painter’s Tape

Have you seen Paint by Sticker?   I liked the idea a lot for VBS and Faith Camp. But, I wanted faith based coloring pages.  Instead we used colorful painter’s tape with coloring sheets. I bought every color I could find.  We ripped off strips of tape for the kids and passed out coloring sheets.  It was a hit!  





Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Have a dedicated space.

 Our basement is dedicated to Co-op classes.  You may not have that options.  But it helps to dedicate an area to homeschool.  Many families reorganize the dining room space.  They line the walls with shelves for books and supplies.  The table makes a convenient place to work.  Our family does use the dining room for guitar lesson and one-on-one Latin studies.  Any teen who needs extra help works at our dining room table.  Use bins or baskets to house materials.  In our basement classroom, we have resources organized on shelves, too.  Remember we teach several science and math classes and have a lot of materials.  Have pencils, markers, paper, textbooks, index cards, etc in one spot near the work space.  You’ll save time.  You want to spend time working on school rather than rummaging for supplies.  I took a few shots of our basement.  Your area doesn’t need to be set up as a classroom.  Just have a space where kids understand they are here to work.





Sunday, July 21, 2024

A few more tips for new home-schoolers!

 Let me share a few more tips.  Let’s assume you are focusing on the basics: Math, English, History, and Science for your lessons.  What about Art, Music, PE, or Faith studies.  Make extra studies fit into your routine seamlessly.  I’ll bet you have Faith, Bible, or Catechetical lessons in your curriculum already.  Add art.  This mom makes icons with her kids.  Embellish triptychs.  Make art projects as birthday and Christmas presents.  Add art to Bible lessons.  Make a Monstrance.  Make your own Christmas and Birthday cards.  For Music, join the children’s choir.  Older kiddos might take a lesson.  Ask a relative to give free lessons.  What about PE?  Play outside.  Sure, you can join a soccer league.  But, let your children bike ride, run, and swim.  Plan a walk outside together after lunch.  Lacie kept records of her physical activity with a FitBit.  You can, too!  Keep a log of weekly exercise. Do fun runs as a family.  Electives are a great way to be creative.  Start by making cards as an art project and go from there.

Are you a new home-schooler?

 I’ve advised a few new home-schooling families—usually with back-up from veteran families.  I lean on my teacher experience.  I’ve only home-schooled a little.  But I have loads of teacher experience.  My advice is to focus on the basics the first year—or at least the first term.  There are loads of Curriculum. Make your focus on math, History, English, and Science.  

Start with Saxon Math.  Here is a scope and sequence to help with planning.  Plan to do math every day.  If your child struggles, use the previous year.  It’s more important to master math than to be on grade-level.  



 Bob Jones University’s Heritage series is popular.  History really depends on your faith.  The Catholic Textbook Project has textbooks for grades 4-high school.  We use Light to the Nation I and II with Lacie in high school because the format worked for her.  You’ll need the teacher’s manual, textbook, and student notebook.  Catholic Textbook’s provide digital versions of the test with answer keys for the workbook, quizzes, and tests.   Plan to do one chapter each week.  Read the chapter and complete the workbook pages.  Take the quizzes and test.  



 

Younger children might take Daily Geography Practice in lieu of history.  You might want to try Even-Moor’s History Pockets. Younger kiddos need to spend time reading and learning math facts.  Keep History light.


We enrolled Paul at Kolbe Academy online.  Below are his English books.  For many families new to home-schooling this is a recipe for disaster.  Instead, use Kolbe’s Elementary or Primary Literature Manual.  Start with four books.  These are classics.  Reading these books, fables, and stories will elevate English.  Answer questions in a notebook.  Write a book report.  Here is a simple template.  Practice handwriting by answering questions in complete sentences in the notebook.  Make a list of new vocabulary words and look them up in the dictionary.  Bonus points for weekly spelling tests of these vocab words!  Postpone Easy Grammar and readers, or Classical Composition until you have a good system going with your school lessons.









What about science?  I love Apologia’s Young Explorers’ Series. You need the textbook and student notebook.  The syllabus is in the student notebook.  These books are widely available used.  The series has loads of hands-on activities.  These books are great for kids in grades 1-6.  You can finish one book in a year.  

We used Hartcourt Science when we home-schooled Paul.  This is more academic.  There is a little lab in the book.  I supplemented with labs and projects.  Full disclosure—I’m a high school Biology and Chemistry teacher.  


How long does this take?  Most home-school families focus on about three hours of lessons in the morning.  We started lessons right after breakfast, usually around 8:30.  Math included problems, a check of the answers, and corrections.  Include time to read the history and English lessons.  Plan a lab or hands-on activity each week.  If you use the Young Explorers series, there are several, fun activities in each chapter.  Here is a sample.  Turn ahead to see a Try This!  Do all four subjects everyday.  You’ll have time for Bible or Catechesis lessons, too.  Remember, you want to succeed as a home-schooler.  Don’t sabotage your efforts by including so many materials you find yourself overwhelmed.  

Create a Reading Log!

 One tip I share with home-school families is to create a reading log of the books the child reads.  It can be as simple as a list on paper, a form, or a spreadsheet.  Try to have your child create and maintain the log.  Be sure to add the list of books read to your portfolio.

Saturday, July 20, 2024

A few planning tips….

 I’m in the middle of a two-week Faith Camp.  This camp is different from VBS; my husband and I do VBS, too.  Faith Camp is two weeks and designed for kids behind in their religious education.  We meet Monday to Friday from 9-noon.  It has be thinking about ways to improve instruction.  Here are a few tips.

1.  Plan more ideas than you think you can realistically accomplish.  I planned about 50 projects for Faith Camp: games, little field trips, crafts, stories, video clips, skits, etc. I do the same thing when I teach.  I have a list and supplies ready for about six activities for Co-op class.  We seldom complete all six activities in one class.

2.  Change things up a bit.  When I home-schooled Paul and Lacie,  I kept a stack of lessons ready each day.  We did math first and read 20-30 minutes everyday.  But, we changed up the order of lessons, too.  Mondays, we did a week’s worth of Geography.  We doubled up Theology to be ready for an online lesson with Father Josh on Thursdays.  We did different English lessons each day: Vocabulary, Composition, Literature, Hand-writing, etc.  

3.  Enlist help!  My husband and I tag team regularly.  When we home-schooled Lacie and Paul, Rob taught Math.  I organized lessons and taught Science.  Most of the grading and reporting fell on me; however, Rob checked tests and grades work, too.  When we teach, the teens pitch in all the time.  The kids do their own clean up after labs.  I assign stronger students to lead lab groups.  This Fall, Rob and I are team-teaching both Biology and Algebra because there are several kids with learning differences.  There are also several bright teens who’ll need a challenge.  Two teachers will make it easier to differentiate instruction.  I’ve had parent stay to help with Co-op classes, too.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help.  It’s half the reason Rob and I teach Co-op. 

Saturday, July 13, 2024

Digital Portfolios

 Every year, I review portfolios.  West Virginia Home School Requirements typically require families to engage a certified teacher to evaluate each child’s portfolios.  (I taught in WV and retain permanent certification.). I have seen a variety of portfolios.  Here is an example.  One family keeps a family photo journal of trips, service projects, etc.  This family submits a digital copy of the curriculum, with each subject, work samples, and grades.  Let me share a few tips.

1.  Start a blog.  Photo experiments, dioramas, lapbooks, etc.  Try to take photos and make posts each week.  You can add the blog link to your portfolio.  Name the blog after your homeschool.  If you upload photos each week, it’s easy to add copies to a slide deck.

2.  Take a set of photos of all the textbooks, kits, test booklets, workbooks, etc.  Put these in a slideshow.

3.  Add to the slideshow.  First add titles for each subject.  Add the photos with samples weekly.  Put in the blog address on the title page with the school year.  

4.  Edit your slideshow—your digital portfolio.  If you use an online program, make a slide with the name of the school and its website.  If your child plays a sport, add it under the heading, PE, and include the league’s website.  The same is true for scouting groups, such as FNE Explorers.  

5.  Scan all tests.  Be sure to add tests, essays, reports, etc to the slide deck.  Be sure to have everything graded.  Include all of this in one slideshow. Do you have  a copy of your college degree?  Scan that, too.  Hopefully, you can submit the portfolio by email.  You can always save the slide deck on a jump drive to mail or give to the school board.   

Friday, July 12, 2024

How do you know when a program just isn’t working?

 Usually failing grades are an indication something is wrong.  But sometimes the child isn’t performing well because she is bored.  In my career and in my own experience, I’ve taught some bright kids.  (My own kids and Paul are bright, too.). A few kids were likely at the Mensa level.  (Not my own. Paul’s daddy is that bright.)  Some bored kids don’t complain; instead they might stop working.  Try a more challenging  class.  Let the teen help choose the class.  You might need to accelerate the math and allow him to test out.  How?  Just do all of the tests.  As your teen finishes a test, correct it and have her make corrections.  There may be a few topics which require more time.  But together you’re challenging your child and giving her a goal.  This strategy can work for Science, too.  Your kid might have already read the textbook and dreads all of the questions.  Let her take all of the tests.  Just do the labs.  If he can master the material quickly, let him!

Friends who have two bright daughters, allowed the girls to take as many classes as they desired.  The girls started community college at age 15.  The two had finished Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus by the time they were 15.  The girls aren’t sure how many different classes they took in high school. Homeschool Connections  has unlimited access as an option.  The girls asked to home-school because the pace at the Catholic school was too slow.  You know your child better than anyone else.  Your teen may be bored and just need a more demanding program.

Summer School

 During the summer I help with VBS, a Faith Camp for kids behind in their sacraments, and host Science Camp.  We still take a vacation and spend time with family.  But Summer represents an opportunity.  Some home-school families opt to teach year-round.  One family I work with has her children work during the summer to complete unfinished work.  This is a great way to get kids to complete assignments because they want a break.  I think kids should read and listen to audio books over the summer.  I assign summer assignments to do before Fall.  My Bio kids must create a list of 100 local species.  The Algebra class is doing an orientation to TI 83/84 graphing calculators.  The teens in Composition are reading four books of their choice.  Another idea is to have your teen take an online class with the Community college or some of the free online classes from Hillsdale College.  Plan to include the classes in the teens’ portfolio.  Hillsdale offers loads of options.  We started Geometry with Paul this summer.  We won’t get far because we’re working around his and our busy schedules.  Consider your options.  The kids can sign up for the summer reading contest at the local library and try to log 100 books.  But you might look ahead to Fall and jump start school this summer.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Is my child at the right Math level? When should my child start Algebra?

 Math is developmental.  I bet you already have made adjustments in the child’s Math courses.  If the math seems to easy or too hard, try changing the level.  You may need to change the curriculum.  Take a look at the number of different Math programs there are.  Ask your home-schooling friends.  They’ll have loads of opinions.  Saxon Math, while popular, is dry.  However, there are loads of Saxon Math levels. 

What about Algebra I?  When are kids ready?  A few are ready in sixth or seventh grade.  It is not unusual for a bright child to be able to understand Algebra I and succeed.  Many kids can cope with Algebra I in 8th grade.  If your child has any math issues, wait!  Try Algebra I in ninth grade.  It’s fine to do Pre-Algebra in ninth grade.  You may want to spread Algebra I over two years.  This gives your child time to get ready for Geometry.  You’ll know whether your teen can survive Algebra II or Calculus.  When we home-schooled Lacie, she took Algebra I over three years and Consumer Math.  Paul took Algebra I in eighth grade and will be ready for Geometry this Fall. 

We have a large group of kids who are in ninth or tenth grade taking Algebra I this Fall at Co-op.  We know that the class has highly capable teens and students with profound learning differences.  Rob and I are team-teaching so I can help kids with learning differences.  We plan to have study sessions after class (and lunch) twice a week.  We are using Glencoe Algebra I because it’s more engaging than Saxon.  I’ll keep you posted about their progress.  


When should your teen take Chemistry?

  Chemistry is tricky.  There is some Algebra required.  Math is a good predictor because Chemistry requires algebraic logic.  For example Stoichiometry is really applying ratios and solving for x.  However, kids who do not have a solid background in Algebra struggle.  When are teens generally ready?  Most college-bound teens in tenth or eleventh grades can handle Chemistry.  At that point, the kid can drag their math outside math class into Chemistry, even if it’s reluctantly.  Can younger kids succeed in Chemistry?  A few can.  I have had eighth graders take and thrive in Chemistry.  Usually, these same kids were taking Algebra II at the time, which means they took Algebra I in sixth grade.  I’ll allow a few kids in ninth grade to take Chemistry if they’re bright and willing to work hard.  My advice is to wait a bit and assign Chemistry later in high school.

When should your teen take Physical Science?

I was on the Apologia Facebook group site, when a mom asked about her 7th grader skipping General Science and just taking Physical Science instead.  First, here are the samples for Apologia’s third editions of General Science and Physical Science curriculae.  Compare their modules.  Did you use Apologia’s Elementary Science Curriculum?  If you did, your child may be well versed in many of the General Science modules already.  Will it hurt to skip some of this and charge into Physical Science?  Probably not.  The math in the Physics portion of Physical Science requires some Algebra. How is your child’s math?  Borrow a Physical Science textbook and start with the Physics module.  Can your child handle the problems.  Math is developmental.  Your teen might be ready in 7th grade, 8th grade, or 9th grade—when Physical Science is frequently offered at public high schools.  General Science is a bridge to high school -level, science subjects.  You are in the best position to decide if your child is ready.  Although I worked with one family who had their kids take Physical Science early and then repeat it for credit.  The mom thought the additional exposure helped prepare her kids for the rigor.  It’s up to you.

When should your teen take Biology?

  Facebook has an Apologia group.  A mom was asking the group whether or not her 7th grader is ready for Physical Science.  I’ve taught many, many kids.  The answer is, It depends on the child.  When I taught in prep schools, the 7th grade Life Science class was Biology stripped of Biochemistry.  A few bright twelve year olds can handle Biology.  Some eighth graders can tackle Biology.  I had an eighth grader this past year; she handled most topics well.  DNA transcription and translation, along with Biochemistry were tough.  She made revisions until finally, she understood the material.  Ninth or tenth grade is when most teens are ready for Biology.  If your child has a learning difference, wait even later or plan to take Biology twice.  Biology requires so much vocabulary!  Is your child ready?  Is she a good reader?  Does he like a challenge?  Does she complain that Physical Science seems too easy?  Is he diligent?  You know your child best.  Decide whether Biology is a worthwhile challenge based on your teen’s strengths.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Buy used!

 Update: I need to add library or nonprofit sales!  Our library has monthly sales.  Churches and even hospital systems have terrific sales.  Sorry I didn’t think of this sooner.  I just came from the library and there was a sale.

I’m a big fan of used science and educational materials.  Let me share a few ideas for deals.  One tip…think creatively.  Don’t limit yourself to books.  Look for instructional DVDs, test and solution manuals, Chemistry kits, scientific calculators, and math manipulatives.  Whenever possible, buy used.  

1.  Host a Co-op swap.  Our Co-op has a large swap at the Fall picnic.  Families bring textbooks and teaching tools, such as math tiles.  All of us have books we no longer use.  Clean out your home classrooms.

2.  Shop Good Will, online or at local store.  Better yet, try local thrift stores.  Our church hosts a thrift store.  Home-schoolers visit often.  I shop for educational materials such as graphing calculators online at Goodwill.  I’ve gotten the best deals for used science kits from Good Will—more than eBay or Amazon.

3.  Compare used textbook prices on a Google search.  ThriftBooks, Abebooks, Better World Books have their own web sites and list on eBay and Amazon.  Books are overpriced at Good Will online, especially with shipping.  

4.  Avoid used electronics.  I have had good luck with used calculators, less so with Kindles, microscopes, or laptops.  I look for sales, such as Prime or Black Friday instead.  Amazon’s iPad sales can be exceptional.  

I’ve had the best luck buying used books from ThriftBooks and used calculators from Good Will online.  Most of the used science kits were also purchased from Good Will online—even the MicroChem kits.  But, I still do loads of comparative searches before I buy.




Saturday, July 6, 2024

What do you think about Saxon Math?

We’ve used Saxon Math with two kids, the only kids my husband and I home-schooled.  We teach home-schoolers in Co-op, which is vastly different from home-schooling.  Rob tried teaching Lacie Algebra I with Saxon Math.  She didn’t get it at all.  We switched to Glencoe Algebra I and Lacie eventually made it through the course.  The problem may have been a math problem.  Rob likes Glencoe more because the math textbooks have more variety.  I like all of the graphing calculator exercises.  

When we home-schooled Paul, he was in fifth grade.  We used a sixth grade Saxon Math textbook.  He liked it and performed well.  The built-in review, quizzes, and tests didn’t make him flustered.  He’s entering high school and taking Geometry this Fall.  Paul is good at math.  Here is my advise.  Try a used copy.  See if your child likes the format.  Because my experience is so limited and so skewed, I’m not sure if the issue is the textbook or the child.  Rob likes Glencoe better than Saxon for teens—except for Consumer Math.  We’re hunting for a replacement.  Here is the moral of the story.  Every kid is different.  You need to see if the math level is too hard to too easy.  Talk to friends who home-school.  Trust me they will have opinions, such as Teaching Textbooks.  Borrow books and test a few examples with your kids,

A little background about my experience….

 I have taught Co-op classes locally to home-schoolers for years.  However, I’ve only home-schooled individual kids a few years.  I first taught Co-op after-school at the public high school, where I taught science classes.  Most of my prior experience was in private schools.  One year, after leaving public school, I taught Co-op classes and taught two days at a tiny Christian school.  Both experiences were similar.  My husband and I moved to help with family.  We both teach a number of classes with the local Co-op.  

When I taught in private school, I was assigned just about every type of science class: Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, AP classes, Environmental Science, and Human Biology.  At one time, I taught some French and English classes.  College Board governs AP classes.  I did some work and consulting for College Board.  I’ve done a little training and loved consulting.  I like to work with teens.  In public school, I taught an AP class, three college-bound Chemistry classes, and two Conceptual Chemistry classes.  The two Conceptual Chemistry classes were shock full of kids with profound learning differences: autism, behavioral or emotional issues, dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADD, and ADHD.  

My friends who home-school first asked me to teach Co-op science.  I had held science camps for years.  These friends found Biology and Chemistry courses daunting.  The kids were enrolled at Mother of Divine Grace School (MODG).  We used the recommended textbooks from Apologia and did all of the labs or equivalent labs.  I took loads of photos and documented the classes on my science Blog. I still document my classes for the online schools.

Subsequently, my varied experience has helped.  Some of the kids I teach in Co-op have learning differences.  I have a few tools which help.  Years of teaching means I have loads of materials.  I try to bring all of my background to all of my classes. I believe God directs our paths to the place He wants us.  It is a privilege to teach Home-school teens.