World History High School:
For Total Health, Wyatt completed his project. He had multiple projects from his Total Health's previous chapters to choose from, and they were listed by page number in his WH guide. He looked at each one and decided that creating a project to show the nervous system, the heart, tissues, and cells was his favorite choice - though logging what he eats each day and the exercise he has each day in a food and exercise diary was a close second. He told me he chose the project he did because writing everything he is eating these days would take way toooooooo long!
I agree. He is now 6 feet tall, so the amount of food he consumes matches his growth spurt.
Anyway, once he chose his project, he had 5 class periods to work on it. It was to be graded on effort, accuracy, neatness, and either overall presentation or conclusions drawn. He chose to research each part of his project, draw/outline/color/label each portion on a separate 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock paper, and then, tape the 4 sections together to create one large poster. He did a good job of breaking the project into smaller increments to be completed by its due date, and he was so pleased with the way it turned out that he took multiple pictures of it himself. I think he did a super job on it too!
Looking ahead to post secondary options, I am glad he is already learning the skills to have a project with a due date that is 'out there,' so he has to break down the project himself into portions he'll complete each day, so that it is completed on time by the due date. I also like that he was able to choose the project himself. That immediately made him more personally invested in doing his best on it. I can see how all of this incremental teaching of skills is going to help him be successful with college level work after high school!
In Pilgrim's Progress this week, Wyatt and I discussed how Christian lost his roll (or the Word), and had to go back to get it to be able to face the lions that were in his path. We also talked about how the lions were chained, but invisibly, so it appeared that by continuing down the path he would be devoured, but that really wasn't the case. We talked about struggles we've had in faith, and Wyatt shared that he struggled with death and wondering if there really is a heaven sometimes, but that he had worked through that now. I shared that when my Dad died, I was (and am) clinging to God's promise that there is a heaven, and that those who believe in Him will have eternal life there with Him. That means I will see my Dad again! Without the promise and certainty of heaven, I would not be able to handle the loss of my Dad as well as I am, though I admit I still am just so sad that I can't talk to him or hug him anymore. I shared that the times that I have had a little voice in me saying "what if there isn't a heaven?", I take time to look at Creation. I look out the window to see a sunrise, the fields, trees, the clouds, our pets, or I even just consider how our bodies have been made so wonderfully to be able to function as they do. I am reminded that the God who made all of that so intricately and fearfully and masterfully has promised that heaven is mine if I just believe, and then I feel 100% certain there is a heaven. I also told Wyatt that there is a longing in my soul to believe, that everyone has that urge to believe in something or someone, and that is because we have a heart and soul created to worship our Lord. That stirring proves His existence and heaven's existence too. So, those are some defenses we have in place when Satan tries to whisper doubts about heaven or about our Lord and Savior in our ear. Creation and the very stirring of our soul itself shouts there is more! There is a heaven, there is a Savior, and there is hope of life everlasting in a more perfect place than we can imagine - and our loved ones that believed so will be there too to welcome us when we come! THAT makes the loss of my Dad easier to bear.
We talked about how sharing with loved ones the certainty of your belief in God and of going to heaven is something that brings great relief and joy to those who are left behind when they die. I shared that Papa often told us he knew he was going to heaven, that he loved the Lord with all his heart, and that he wanted all of us to meet him there - that he would wait for us by the Eastern Gate. I told Wyatt that I know I am going to heaven, that should I die unexpectedly that I would be there waiting for him to join me someday, and I too would meet him at the Eastern Gate, with Papa, and with all the other people we have loved that have gone to that beautiful place before us. It was a wonderful discussion of the heart, and I am so so thankful that HOD has time planned in the day for studies and discussions such as Pilgrim's Progress so that there is precious time devoted to this!!!
The rest of Wyatt's school is going so well. I just am enjoying seeing my boy grow into a man and yet wishing I could slow time down at the same time. For those of you questioning whether you can continue homeschooling through high school, perhaps consider questioning whether you can bear NOT homeschooling through high school. I know it can be overwhelming, and a somewhat scary thought to homeschool in high school, but it also provides a way to continue this journey we have begun with our dear dear children. It is a way to keep God in their school days, and hopefully, faith in Him growing. It is a scarier thought for me that all of that could come to a screeching halt otherwise, should we not continue down this homeschooling path. Certainly every family needs to make whatever decision is best, and sometimes it seems that decision is out of our hands, but if at all possible, I just want to encourage you that homeschooling in high school is the harvest of all that has come before! It is the bountiful harvest of the hard work of preparing the ground, planting the seeds, patiently overseeing and encouraging its growth, weeding out the weeds even though sometimes they keep coming back, and then... a beautiful harvest is the reward. So, so, so worth whatever came before it.
In Christ
Julie
Well, I guess that's a good streak to be on. 
I love that idea! I wrote out the verse on index card and then pasted onto colored card stock cut down to fit into a 4x6 photo page. We keep it in her binder.