High School Science: Biology Daddy Style

Here at the Brush household school is back in full swing.  All the different grades keep me hopping! 

A lot of times when people find out that we are homeschooling they ask if we are going to “do high school” at home.  My answer is always the same.  Until God directs us otherwise we will be doing all the years of our children’s schooling at home. 

Is it perfect? NO 

Is it easy?  Not hardly. 

Would I change anything? Um yeah lots but they’d still be home.

(also if I could have a 30 hour day that would be great).

High School Science in Home Schooling

This year Elizabeth gets to tackle biology.  She is enjoying the information.  She likes to learn new concepts.  However she says so far the vocabulary is not her favorite—there is too much of it. 

And well . . . experiments? 

If she could skip all that dissecting stuff she would be thrilled.

Dad Teaches Dissections

Elizabeth meeting her fish

The sciences are one area that I don’t teach in high school. 

I also like to learn the concepts and don’t really enjoy the experiments(snicker if you need to).  I am truly blessed to have a husband whose job revolves around animals and surgery. 

He is the one who takes care of biology and all those dissections!  This division of labor seems to work for our family & I am truly glad!

Good Curriculum

We use Apologia Biology for our curriculum and yes we have a microscope.  Any self respecting science loving daddy couldn’t teach without one.

He does a great job.  Our oldest son decided after taking biology he did NOTwant to follow in his fathers footsteps.  Too funny but Steve is still holding out hope for our youngest, Joshua.  He likes to watch surgery videos with Steve(eww) and he’s only 9.

Of course the material is more challenging than in jr high but he makes sure that they know it.  It is fun to step back and watch how he gets it done.  I just like to smile and remember when they were little and did fun things like learn about bones & make paper skeletons. 

Actually I just found these cute pictures and had to share them!

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Sunshine in a jar

I think of the tomatoes I’ve canned, peaches in the freezer and they zucchini bread we’ve baked as stashing away a little bit of sunshine for a snowy cold day.

Last week I canned 18 quarts of tomatoes.  It is probably the last of the season.

My garden is just about done. 

I haven’t been out there taking pictures of the wonderful produce we’ve been harvesting because well it is pretty much all picked.  I haven’t pulled the tomato plants because there are still a few tomatoes here and there and the zucchini is still producing a few.

But we are basically eating what comes in and not storing any up.  Don’t get me wrong I would rather pick a tomato that go buy one at the store!  They are still delicious but my mind isn’t focused on what needs to be done in the garden each day.

The seasons are shifting.  School assignments not watering and weed pulling are dominating my days.

It is time to do more book work instead of yard work.

I miss summer already. 

Maybe I will try to turn over some dirt and try a fall planting of lettuce.

I am not ready to let go of summer and sunshine just yet.

First day of School 2011

One of the biggest parts of our lives is homeschooling. 

Yesterday we talked at breakfast about the privilege from God that we have to be able to homeschool.  I think I forget that sometimes amid the day-to-day grading, planning & keeping it all running. 

Homeschooling is a job(one I do only by God’s grace).  Being a student is a job.  But ones that we are hugely grateful to be able to do everyday.

There are 3 students in the Brush Creek Academy this year.  One in high school, one in jr high & one in elementary.  Crazy huh?  Keeps me on my toes.

After our discussion about the “privilege” of homeschooling, I reminded them that being thankful for something would mean not grumbling or groaning about it.(snicker snicker)  There were some groans from all persons involved last week as we realized that our summer hours were going fast.

As our day went on, I was so blessed that they all had good attitudes & worked steadily on their assignments.  Some of the lessons this year are academic and as always there are many that are life lessons.  Chores, cooking, being organized, home repair etc.

We didn’t tackle a full load of school.  I like to start at about 1/2 so we can work out the kinks(missing books, where to put assignments, etc)

So we were done by noon & headed to the library.

We normally do this on Tuesday once all our activities start back up but I also had some grocery shopping that HAD to be done. 

We saw some friends at the library.  The mom’s decided that a trip to the park was the perfect thing for the first day of school(theirs too!)  Unfortunately we were so busy having fun that I forgot to snap any photos while we were there.

It was a great first day of school & I am ready to tackle the next . . . well week or so.