Monday, May 11, 2026

Tentative High School Plans

But remember, even though school is important, camping as a family is more important....

	2026-27	2027-28	2028-29	2029-30
	I-9 J-8 K-7 M-5 S-4 A-2 R-	I-10 J-9 K-8	I-11 J-10 K-9	I-12 J-11 K-10
History & Great Books	Medieval	Early Modern	Modern	Ancients
Math	Algebra 1- IJ 76--KM	Algebra 2 –IJ Alg ½ --KM	Adv Math--IJ Alg 1---KM	Stuart’s Calc AB—IJ Alg 2—KM
Science	Biology Ecology/Agriculture	Conceptual Physics Astronomy	Chemistry	Freshman physics
Applied Science	Economics & Budgeting	Government	Computer Programming	Engineering
Hebrew	Biblical Hebrew 2 A w/B 1-100	Seow? Lambdin? A w/B 100-200	Read Tanakh 3 chapters/day Seow? Lambdin?	Read Tanakh 3 chapters/day
Skills	· Common Sense (finding games) · Summarize back my argument! · Find the Theme, summarize the story/article/chapter · Mulch (200 wheelbarrows) · Stucco · Paint the Stucco Wall · Build Shade-Structures · Put in shade sales · Build Benches · Mount Gutters · Electrical (lights, fans) Shed roof (waterproof)	· Gardening · Construction · Drywall [false wall,patching] · Painting (paint interior house) · ALL ELECTRICAL WORK (lights, fans) · Flooring · Meal Prep and batch cooking healthy meals	· Woodworking, build bookshelves etc. · Renovate a Kitchen · Drivers Ed · Meal Prep and batch cooking healthy meals · Build a NICE Pergola	· Foundation (House Shed) · Construction (House Shed) · Electrical (House Shed) · Interior Finishing Drywall Paint(House Shed) Flooring (house shed)

History and Great Books

Focus on Primary sources as much as we can. Try to show them how to find information. I want them to know how to use the tools of research to learn history and truth the rest of their lives. Help them to see everyone in history as a person. I want them to see Good v Evil in history. But I also want them to see everyone as a person, to study people on their own beliefs and motivations. Theory of the mind is important---to understand people on their own terms/religion/beliefs.

Only after you have understood someone can you really make a personal judgment about them.

Only Jesus is Judge of the Earth, because only He knows the struggle in every human heart.

Math

Saxon math until calculus, then switch to Stuart's calculus. Look for a good online program, with visualization for all the limits and integral stuff. A picture is worth a thousand words, especially in Calculus. When I was learning it, my biggest problem was seeing it as this mystical ritual. When I finally saw the pictures, and realized it really was just adding up lots of little slices, it actually made sense.

Science

I will teach Conceptual Physics at Co-op. Supplement with a cool Astronomy book and a bit on stellar evolution because it is cool. Teach Biology alongside its applications, Ecology (Greening the Desert and Brad Lancaster's books) and Agriculture (Use Jenny's Agriculture textbook....have Jenny teach it). Have Josh teach chemistry or outsource it. Then 4th year, teach Freshman Level physics using Halliday and Resnick. Or find a good online course to teach it, but really use the calculus here.

Applied Science

Economics and then Government. Because that's the direction I feel like you need to learn it in. Haven't figured out a curriculum yet, though I feel like some Thomas Sowell is needed. I may outsource these to online courses. If there's an online course that uses a lot of Thomas Sowell, I will sign on.

Computer Programming---find an online course or outsource this.

Engineering---find an online course or outsource this. Sign up I & J together.

Hebrew

Aleph with Beth to introduce it, DuoLingo's Modern Hebrew Course for reinforcement, Alef Press's Biblical Hebrew 2 for getting the basic grammar down.

When they complete that, then follow up with reading through the Tanakh every year (its actually only 2 chapters/day, not counting Psalms and Proverbs, which you can cycle through separately), to build vocabulary while working through either Lambdin's Grammar or Seow's or some other seminary level text. (Gesenius grammar???)

Skills

I want them to know how to do these things, at least a little. They don't have to master all of these skills, but to basically know how to do them, and enough to have the fear rubbed off of them, that if they actually have to do them, they can jump right in and hit the ground running.

How to Garden--how to start, from double digging, raised beds, build microclimates, using mulch and paths etc
How to Garden---how to work with your seasons, climate, recognize and find microclimates, find good plants for your climate (David the Good), and how to extend your seasons etc. Which vegetables to grow, etc.
How to Frame a shed/house
How to install a light junction box, how to tap into the power and install new electrical outlets, and how to make sure you don't overload the circuit!
How to put in a cieling fan.
How to mount drywall and mud it.
Painting walls and trim and ceilings. Installing baseboards etc.
How to hang a door
How to stucco a wall
How to build a Pergola
How to sew and mount shade sails
How to mount gutters and french drains (re-direct water)
How to patch drywall with a california patch
How to install flooring (vinyl plank, and roll-out linoleum)
How to build a shed roof
How to renovate a Kitchen on a budget....
How to budget, and balance a budget!
How to drive
How to cook and meal plan to maximize health and nutrition on a budget
How to batch cook and meal prep!!
How to write a resume
How to apply for jobs
How to build a shelter
How to build a fire
How to improvise a rocket stove
How to conserve water

Making Rivendell in the Desert

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