Our Morning Basket for 12th and 9th Grades ll 2025-26 Picks!

Morning Basket has been a part of our homeschool for so long.... I don't even remember what year we implemented it.  It must have been a long time ago because I just can't imagine starting our days any other way.  As I've said before, Morning Basket became a foundational part of our homeschool day out of necessity.  A way of bridging the gap between waking up and charging full force into learning.  A way of sweetening our morning, building shared experiences, and finding time for delight and beauty.

Now entering year 14 of our homeschool, morning time is still going strong.  It grows and changes with our family and needs.  But it still unites us... it still brings us into shared experiences and stories... into rich discussions and lively opinions... into family memories and fine arts.

Today I'm sharing with you how we make morning time work with our older kids.  How we hit the subjects that bring us the most joy and keep challenging them, even in their teen years.

Folksongs/Hymns:

I love the idea of learning hymns and folksongs in our homeschool.  There's so much rich theology and history woven into music.  However, I have one student who really hates singing and one who really loves it.  Instead of requiring my kiddos to sing the songs, I use them as a call to Morning Time.  We utilize Folksongs and Hymns on YT and rotate through Hannah's songs of the month.  This way my students hear each song every other day, and it gives them 2-4 minutes to gather their things for meeting at the table.  My kiddo who loves to sing can do so, and my other child just has to hear it and meet us to start.  We do one song a day.

Memory Work:

We use a memory box system.  I found a nice Sterlite box from Dollar Tree a few years ago, and now it's filled to the brim with Scripture we've memorized over the years.  We use this system for memorizing Scripture, but itwould be great for any memory work you have in your homeschool.  Adapt it to work for you. Again, this is something we do every morning.

Current Events:

We found World Watch News 2 years ago, and love it.  It's 10 min segments of world news presented at the student's level.  It's very similar to CNN10, but from a Christian perspective.  And it's been great for me to learn what's going on in the world as well.

Bible:

We're continuing our way through Rod & Staff's Bible series.  This year, we're picking up about 1/3 of the way through level 8.  Level 7 and 8 both go over the New Testament, specifically the culture, customs, and background information of the time.  And then the curriculum ties it into what the authors were actually saying when they taught.  I introduce the lesson on Monday mornings, the kids work independently throughout the week to cover the material, and we discuss the lesson on Friday mornings.

Ballet Study:

This year we're using a study I personally created covering Coppelia.  It utilizes several easily available books to study the ballet from several angles.  We did a ballet study last year from Delightfully Feasting.  We enjoyed it immensely, but wanted to study some ballets that she didn't have study guides for.  I spent the summer preparing a few studies of my own that we're excited to explore.  We will do this once a week, and this study will cover approximately 12 weeks.

Artist Study:

We're again using Ambleside Online's artist study.  I love that this one is free and only takes about 5 min a week.  It's taught us so much about artists we've never even heard of.  This year we'll be studying Pissarro, Fragonard, and Bierstadt. 

Shakespeare:

Shakespeare and I have a love/ hate relationship.  I love Shakespeare, but I couldn't find a way to draw my kids into it... until last year. We used Lamb's Shakespeare and Nesbit's Shakespeare for Young Readers to read a paraphrase of the play.  Then we found a YT production to watch together, broken into approximately 12 weeks. making it bite-sized for morning time.  We're going to watch the play rather than read it as that's how it was originally meant to be enjoyed.  I'll have a written copy for my 12th grader if she wishes to follow along with that as well.  And we're pairing it with lots of discussion.  We'll be studying Othello in the fall.

Nature Study:

We really enjoy nature lore books.  While my kids are aging out of them, there is still something there for my 9th grader to delight in.  We'll be picking up a few books here and reading a few chapters a week.

Misc:

I also try to include picture books related to our curriculum as they apply.  It's a good way to whet my kids' appetite for further study.

Read Alouds:

We always end our Morning Time with a read-aloud.  I still like to read before bed, but as the kids have gotten older and are out more evenings of the week, we've also added a block of reading in our mornings so our books don't linger.  I shared our Read Aloud List for 25-26, but it's ever-growing.  Sometimes we detour off that list.  However, I try to at least prioritize the read-alouds that go with our history curriculum.

So, that's what I have planned so far for our 2025-26 Morning Time and how I'm making it work with older students.  

Do you do Morning Time in your homeschool?

And what are some of your favorite resources?

It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn {Review}

 

Just reading this title probably strikes fear into the heart of a parent.  "Wait... WHAT?  I can't talk about THAT."  We've all been there... stuck at the crossroads of "I want to prepare my kids for real life" and "Wait!  No!  Too Real!"  But the world isn't afraid to talk to our kids about porn.  In fact, the world isn't afraid to get our kids addicted to porn.  So what is a parent to do?

Enter Greta Eskridge's newest book.  This quick read is packed with information, questions for crafting a family plan, scripts for having hard conversations, and more.  Written with grace and frankness, How to Talk to Your Kids about Porn gives parents tools to wade into very murky waters.  Biblically supported, Eskridge offers resources and hope for families, no matter the children's ages.  This is a great book for both new parents and seasoned parents as they attempt to have an open dialogue with their kids.  Full of information, this title would be wonderful for anyone who parents or works with kids and teens.

*Disclaimer: I recieved a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Twelfth Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks ll 25-26

Here we go again... another senior!  I have no idea how this happened, and I can tell you that I'm certainly not prepared for it.  This is going to be an interesting year as I get ready to graduate my only daughter.   

We are true eclectic homeschoolers, so you'll notice a variety of curricula planned for this year... secular to Christian, traditional with a little Charlotte Mason, and some dual enrollment thrown in as well.  She's chipping away at her A.A. as well as eyeing a culinary arts certificate.  Therefore, she's utilizing our local community college to fulfill some of her credits.  All that to say, I'm pretty hands-off with her this year. It feels weird to be checking in so little, and I'm really hanging on to the few things I'm assigning.... really,  I'm just hanging on as long as I can.

So here we go with my lovely daughter... planning out senior year!

American Civics:

I saw this course when it first came out, and I've been excited for one of my kiddos to take it.  It's presented by Michael Farris, the founder of HSLDA.  This full-year course appears very rigorous and challenging.  Scheduled for 30 weeks, there are videos, field trip ideas, writing assignments, quizzes and tests, and more.  I feel very confident that she'll have a thorough understanding of government and civics upon completion.

Anatomy:

I really wanted her to have one more science on her transcript, and she absolutely DID NOT want to take chemistry.  We tossed around the idea of doing a DE class, but then she mentioned that she does enjoy anatomy.  This seemed like a good fit as she's been a dancer since she was 5 years old, and occasionally talks of owning a studio one day.  I'm hoping this will give her some very practical knowledge about her own body as well as knowledge that she can pass on to her students.

Economics:

This is a course that we'll add on in the spring.  We've used Notgrass in the past for World History, as well as US History, so we're both very comfortable with the format.

Performing Arts:

She'll continue to take dance classes, and this year we'll label that time as performing arts as well as P.E.  I can definitely see this girl dancing throughout her life.  Between classes and performing in our local theater, she'll have more than enough hours for a credit in both.

Bible:

Besides establishing a regular devotional time, we'll also be using  Rod and Staff's Bible curriculum.  This curriculum runs from level 5-10, but that doesn't necessarily coincide with grades.  Rather, each level looks at a different part of the Bible, what was happening culturally with the people, what was the background, etc.  This year she will finish level 8 and move on to level 9 to take a deep dive into the New Testament.

Dual Enrollment:

English IV:

For English this year, she'll be taking Eng 102 at our local community college.  We're not quite sure what to expect as it's a "new to her" professor, but we're thankful that she has the opportunity to take college classes at such a low rate while still in high school.

Intro to Hospitality:

We were trying to decide on a second DE class for the fall when she mentioned Hospitality.  This will go well with her Culinary Arts classes, as well as peek her interest in other hospitality areas.  My only hesitation is that it's a 3 credit course smashed into 8 weeks while she's also balancing other class so we'll see how it goes.

Morning Time:

I'll go more in-depth into the specifics of our Morning Basket soon, but some subjects we'll explore this year include apologetics, Shakespeare, and the ballet.  These are enrichment topics that we'll be learning together with my 8th grader.

Outside Classes:

BSF-- We're trying BSF for the first time this year.  I've been trying to fit it in for years so this fall we decided to take the leap.  She loves studying the Bible and our family feels this is a lifelong habit worth developing.

What curriculum do you use in the high school years?

Pros and Cons of Dual Enrollment in High School

 Having graduated one high school student, and getting ready to graduate a second, our family has had some experience with dual enrollment in the past couple of years.  The term Dual Enrollment refers to when a high school student takes a college level course for both high school and college credit.  This is most easily (and inexpensively) accomplished through a local community college.  However, there are a variety of colleges and universities that offer Dual Enrollment to both homeschoolers and public schoolers.  The challenge is to be aware of whether your student is ready for DE and to find the right program for your family.   And with everything, there are pros and cons.

Pros:

*Your student can take one class and earn credit for both high school and college.

*Your child is responsible to someone else for their work.

*Your student earns a grade from someone other than you, which can add some legitimacy to their transcript.

*Your child can explore interests that might not be as easily accomplished in homeschool... culinary classes, vocational classes, speech and debate, etc.

Cons:

*Maturity is key.  Students must be ready to take responsiblity of for their learning and these grades will be on their transcripts.

*Not all colleges accept DE credits... at least not for both.  Your child may be put in a position where they must choose another college, or choose to put the classes on either their high school or college transcript.

*If attending an in-person class, your student must display a level of maturity that matches the class.  They may also be exposed to material and ideas that you're not prepared for them to face.

While DE shouldn't be feared, these are all issues to consider before jumping into college classes.  Take your time, research your colleges and professors, and know what track your child is on.  If college is in their future, DE COULD be a great option.

Has your child ever taken DE classes?

What was your experience?

Ninth Grade Homeschool Curriculum Picks ll 25-26

Wow!  Where did summer go?  Here we are already in August and getting ready for Back to School.  And this year is extra crazy in our house because we are welcoming our youngest child into high school.  It's hard to believe that we're officially out of the elementary years and only have four years left.  Where has the time gone?

My 9th grader is young (hello, fall birthday!), but beyond capable when it comes to high school level work.  We are true eclectic homeschoolers so you will notice a variety of curriculum planned for this year... secular to Christian, traditional schooling to a little Charlotte Mason, and more outsourcing than I've used with him in the past.

So here's to two kiddos in high school and a great year coming up!

Math: 

We'll be transitioning from Sadlier-Oxford (which we love in the elementary years) to Saxon Algebra I.  He did quite a bit of Algebra last year with Sadlier-Oxford, so I'm confident that this will be just fine for him.  I'm actually debating putting him into Shorrmann Algebra, so if anyone has experience with that curriculum, let me know.

LA:

This year, I want to put a greater emphasis on writing.  We've had a good experience with IEW in co-op classes in the past so I'm hoping it will work for us at home.  We'll be using level 1C this next year as it's a good starting point for high school.  I'm hoping this will be a good launching pad for college-level courses in a few years.

My 9th grader is a very strong reader.  However, since IEW is not a full 36 week course, we'll be using Rod and Staff on the lighter weeks.  We didn't quite finish level 8 last year so we'll pick up there.  Rod and Staff has a lot of high-level literature.  We also appreciate the fact that all the selections are clean, and build into our children's character.

In the past, we've used Rod and Staff grammar.  While I love that program, we've gotten to a point where it's college-level.  This year, we're looking for something quick, to the point, and effective.  I've used Easy Grammar with my oldest and liked it.  So we'll be returning to that for my 9th grader.

Biology:

My daughter LOVED Abeka, but I've heard a lot of good things about Apologia.  Since I was able to get a free copy of the Apologia curriculum, we're going to give it a try.  I've purchased a student notebook, and found many of the labs online.  Hoping to give a more thorough review after this year.

Human Geography:

I'm really on the fence about this one.  We used BJU's Human Geography for my daughter in her 9th-grade year, and it's TOUGH!  We ended up using the tests as a study guide and giving her extra days in the schedule before the tests.  It's a very challenging curriculum. I'm planning to fill out this course with lots of historical fiction.  If we get into it and it doesn't go well, I'm looking into Thinking Tree's Seven Amazing Continents.

French:

I've tried to get all three of my kids to take Spanish.  I've been out of luck all three times.  So online French it is.  My oldest used Rosetta Stone, and I wasn't very impressed with the voice recognition.  However, I haven't been able to find a course that our charter will pay for, and still covers the speaking element.  Any advice?

Computer Science:

This is probably the class that he's most excited for.  He is heavily motivated to learn coding and programming so we've signed him up for a computer science course through Acellus.  He started the course over the summer and is putting extra time into it because he's just enjoying it that much.

PE:

He's still taking gymnastics/ trampoline classes, but to round out his PE credit, we'll be adding in swimming and cycling, and weight lifting as the weather turns.

Bible:

We're continuing with Rod and Staff level 8.  This curriculum runs from level 5-10, but that doesn't necessarily coincide with grades.  Rather, each level looks at a different part of the Bible, what was happening culturally with the people, what was the background, etc.  This year, he's in level 8 which takes a deep dive into the New Testament.  Additionally he'll keep reading through the Christian Heroes series.  I've picked out 12 books for us to read and be inspired by this year.

Morning Time:

Next week, I'll go more in depth into what exactly is in our Morning Basket, but some subjects we'll explore this year include apologetics, Shakepeare, and the ballet.  These are enrichment topics that we'll be learning together with my 12th grader.

Outside Classes:

Choir--He will be continuing on in the senior high choir and will be involved in that for about 12 weeks in the fall, and then 12 weeks in the spring.

Youth Group and Worship Team--He'll be entering his first year of high school youth group where he'll be a part of a discipleship group and attend camps and Bible study intensives

Trampoline-- 1-2x/week, he'll continue trampoline lessons in big trampoline, double mini, and some tumbling at our local gym.

BSF--We're going to try BSF as a family this year.  It will be the first time we've done something like this,  and I'm hoping it's a good fit.

A lot of the curriculum that we're using this year, we've used in the past with great success.  While I try to tailor our year to each child's needs, I also find that when we find something we like, it's best to stick with it.  So many of these curricula are returning from previous years.  Plus, he's been very lucky to find several outside opportunities that fit his interests this year.  He'll certainly be busy, but I don't think my social butterfly would have it any other way.

What curriculum did you use for your 9th grader?