School Plans- Y10 AO, 11th Grade {Fox}

How strange to be planning for only one student; for just one year. So, so strange. He has two years left of high school. I will try to just enjoy this.

We are still with Ambleside Online, going into Y10 for Fox's 11th grade. This is a year that Lee really liked and I am hopeful Fox will as well.

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We have most of the books but for science. Last year he did biology with an assortment of resources. This year he will do physics. We have nothing for physics and so I am searching for resources. The first is to find living books, then maybe textbooks. {Actually it appears we have one book on physics: The Cartoon Guide to Physics by Larry Gonick and Art Huffman* -that I bought at a used book sale many years ago.}

These are the ones I have purchased recently and am awaiting their arrival:
Secrets of the Universe by Paul Fleischer* {still waiting}
Six Easy Pieces: Essentials of Physics Explained by Its Most Brilliant Teacher by Richard Feynman* {arrived}
Physics Around Us: How and Why Things Work by Ernest Henley and J. Dash* {arrived}

I still would like to get {but really not sure if we will}:
Mr. Tompkins in Paperback by George Gamow*
Physics 101

Now that I have that there, the schedule for these is still to be determined; pending arrival and perusal of the books. But if it is listed on AO's Y10, I'll follow that schedule most likely.

Otherwise, the year will be as written on AO's site with these possible exceptions or notes:
Bible: The main devotion book will be The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson* Lee struggled a bit with this book but I thought it very well written and the doctrine good. The other book will be Pilgrim's Progress*. I do have Imitation of Christ* (or look here*) but haven't read it myself to add it to the list.
History: We'll use both Churchill and Johnson. I was going to drop Johnson because I'm concerned there is just too much reading this year but Fox really doesn't want to.
We'll use Lincoln in the World* for biography, and the Douglass, Crockett, and Washington listed.
Worldview: We are only going to be using The Deadliest Monster by Baldwin*. It is listed in Term 2 but we will use it in Term 3, after Frakenstein and Dr. Jekyll and My Hyde are finished.
Literature: The new scheduled Y10 utilizes Invitation to the Classics, which is probably an excellent book {I do not doubt it is}. We will still use Marshall's History of English Literature as both of my kids have really appreciated the book, and we have it on the shelf already.
Grammar/Composition: We aren't really doing any formal grammar this year and will continue with POWA* We will continue with written narrations and he'll do a weekly research/report. By now he has these down; he knows what is needed. If there are any other little things that need work, we'll bust out one of the many writing handbooks we have. But I'm confident he's doing just fine in this area we won't spend much formal time on it.
Math: We are going to use a Contemporary Math book that Lee used in a college class not long ago. We'll also be utilizing Math According to Mike. It is very short, but with the math he'll be getting in when working on Physics, I'm satisfied he will be doing enough math. Also, he's continuing on with the Recordkeeping book he started last year from Rod & Staff {not wonderful program but it has its good points. If nothing else, he is having the idea of being neat, thorough, and consistent solidified!}. It covers some personal finance as well.
Science: We are adding in the books I mentioned above. I'd wanted to use Secrets in a previous year {perhaps 7?} but the cost was outrageous! I found a copy recently for around $25.
The cartoon physics book I have mentioned will be available but not actually scheduled. This website, Physics Classroom, is {I hope} going to be helpful to this mom who barely understand simple laws of physics let alone the technicalities.

I think that is about the extent to the differences from AO and my tweaked schedule. It's fairly close to the curriculum. It will make exams super easy, too! I'm determined to get all three this year.

I am going to give it a real good try to get Shakespeare into our week. It's been tough every year but I'm convinced it's my own lack of consistency and focusing on the society promoted more important subjects {math...}.  Also, geography often got left behind. We have Seterra on the computer which he really likes to compete with himself. But this year, I really want to focus more on being sure he is acquainted with an atlas and what these places look like. We're going to work more on map drills.

The photo below are all the physical books for the next year. There are speeches, documents, short stories, poetry, etc., that are on the Kindle or online.

One thing about this Y10 is that I've 'gone through it already'. *smile* This will be such a help to me going through it with Fox.

I'm really looking forward to Y10!