The Taffy Academy

Every year, I write up a new Homeschool Proposal. I started doing this when I first started homeschooling.  My husband was a businessman and in my desire to include him in our homeschool, I would write up a "proposal" for him.  So he could see what I wanted to buy, easier to read it than listen to me go on and on.  Now I do it because it helps me make a budget since most of our homeschool money comes out of our tax return.  Doing this has been a great way to keep track of the past year choices as well.  I usually have three lists:  The one you see here that I share with curious friends, one I make for Mr. Taffy with prices and another I make for myself that I can write all over to mark off what I find and for how much.  I don't always stick to my list 100%, sometimes I have to change my plan because financial restraints or from the Lord's leading.  I always get asked what we use though, so I'll keep a running list here so if you are curious, you can look it over!

2012-2013 Taffy Academy Proposal

(You can read the entire proposal here.)*

Banana Taffy~12th Grade 17 years old

He'll be starting his second year of being dually enrolled in our homeschool and a local college.  He started out his  adventure in college classes pursing a degree in business.  He has since decided to pursue a degree in Law Enforcement to become a police officer.  We are still working out the details if he will get an AA in LE or a Bachelors.  It will probably depend on how credits transfer and scholarships.  He will be paying for his higher education on his own but we want to help him make wise choices so he doesn't graduate with an enormous debt, we are thinking about our future grandchildren!  :)    So, without further narration, here's what he's taking fall semester of 2012:

• College Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry
• Ethics
• Psychology
• Speech

After we talk with a guidance counselor we'll decide what classes he'll take spring semester.  He's also going to take the SAT this year with a few practice tests on the calendar.  He is NOT a good test taker, so he'll be studying some test taking skills and doing an SAT class at home.

Chocolate Taffy~12th Grade 16 years old

Chocolate is also dually enrolled.  He'll be going off to college most likely...sniff...sniff...he wants a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  We are exploring our options of having him go to the Marines to get his education paid for.  So many questions and options, we are trusting the Lord to lead us and guide us.  This is all so over my head!  Mr. Taffy and I didn't go to college after highschool!  Here are the classes Chocolate is enrolled in for the spring semester:

• College Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus & Trigonometry
• Ethics
• Spanish 1
• Cultural Studies-Italy

We also have a lead on a mission trip that we are hoping the boys can go on!  We want to send them on a Mission trip before they graduate highschool, or soon thereafter, to expand their horizon's and give them a bigger perspective on what's important and how blessed they are.

Strawberry Taffy~ 10th Grade 14 years old

• Math-Algebra 2 (Teaching Textbooks)
• Science-Biology (Apologia), including dissection specimens.
• Language Arts-Excellence in Literature  English 2 Literature and Composition (So excited about this because most of the books are FREE on Amazon for her kindle!  Strawberry really enjoys literature!
• Latin- Latin Alive 2 (Classical Academic Press)
• History-Ancient World and Medieval World by Susan Wise Bauer, WonderMaps
• Extras-Thinking Putty & Learning HTML(Dad directed from various on-line resources.)

Blue-Raspberry Taffy~4th Grade 9 Years Old

• Math-Grade 4 (Teaching Textbooks)
• Science- Anatomy and Physiology (Apologia),Anatomy and Physiology Lapbook (Live and Learn Press)
• Language Arts- Easy Grammar, Various Reader, Writing Through the Proverbs, Learning Language Arts Through Literature*.
• Latin-Latin For Children A (Classical Academic Press)
• History-The Story of the World Vol. 2, Draw & Write Through History x 2

Bubble Gum Taffy~2nd Grade 7 years old

• Math- Mathematical Reasoning C
• Science-See Blue-Raspberry
• Language Arts-All about Spelling (Kit and Level 1), Various Readers, Handwriting Through the Proverbs, Learning Language Arts Through Literature*.
• Latin-Repeat Song School Latin 1 unless Song School Latin 2 is ready by August, then I’ll be getting that for her and Laffy Taffy.
• History-See Blue-Raspberry

Laffy Taffy~Kindergarten 4 years old (He'll be turning 5 shortly after school resumes)

• All About Reading-pre-reading program
• Song School Latin
• Lots of Math Games

*I made a few changes to my original proposal because of expense and time and other factors.  If you notice some discrepancy's that's why.

2011-2012 Taffy Academy Proposal

(To read the entire proposal with links click here.)

Banana Taffy-11th Grade-16 Years Old

He is dually enrolled this year, as both a homeschooler and a college student. The classes he’ll be taking in college for first semester are:

• Intro to Business
• Macro Economics
• Interpersonal Communication
• English Rhetoric & Research

The classes he’ll be taking at home are:

• Geometry
• Chemistry
• Logic

His goal is to run and own a family-friendly restaurant. He’s changed his mind several times, but this is the option he’s exploring currently. He’s very much a people person and he has an amazing gift of serving, delegating and giving. These are the goals we have made together:

• Graduate High School with an AA
• Take Clep Exams as he completes his homeschool courses, i.e. Chemistry and Geometry.
• Apply for a Vision Forum Internship after High School
• Take a mission trip his Senior year (This is MY goal for him.)

I still have to figure out the credits for an AA and how many in each subject are required for that degree, I think that will happen over the next month as we meet with various advisors from the college.

Chocolate Taffy-11th Grade-15 Years Old

Also dually enrolled as a homeschooler and college student. His college classes are similar to Banana’s, but not exact.  First semester:

• Speech
• Macro Economics
• Interpersonal Relationships
• English Rhetoric and Research

The classes he’ll be taking at home are:

• Chemistry
• Geography
• Logic
• Drafting

Chocolate Taffy has some pretty lofty career goals and we are still working through the details of his plans, but he is very sure he wants to be an engineer. He comes from a long line of engineers so this doesn’t really surprise me. He’s leaning toward Mechanical Engineer because of the wide range of options. The goals we’ve made together include:

• Graduating from High School with an AA.
• Take Clep Exams as he completes his homeschool courses, i.e. Chemistry and Geometry.
• Go on a Mission Trip his Senior Year.
• Transfer to a 4 year university to get his degree in engineering.
• Go on to get a Master’s in his area of specialty.

I’m fairly confident that he will be able to get some grants for his schooling, he gets very high scores on his tests. We’ll look into that more as time goes on. His assignment this week is to confirm what kind of degree he wants and then we will look into various colleges so we can see if they take CLEP transfers and to make sure he takes the classes he need for that degree.




Strawberry Taffy-9th Grade-13 Years Old

We’ve actually started making some goals for her as well. From what I learned at that seminar, she can start taking CLEPS now, as she completes high school classes, so she’ll be even more ahead by the time she’s ready to do PSEO. At home this year she’ll be studying:

• US and World History
• Algebra
• Composers
• Physical Science
• Writing a Novel
• Latin

She’ll be able to take the CLEPS for Algebra and History, giving her 6 college credits in 9th grade. In 10th Grade she’ll be doing Algebra 2 and Biology. I know there is a CLEP for Biology, there might be one for Latin. I bought this book to help us get ready, but I haven’t looked through it enough to know everything! She has a heart for missions. Our goals for her are:

• Graduate High school with an AA
• Go on a Missions Trip her Senior Year and possibly her Junior Year.
• We are exploring Christ for the Nations and North Central College for a degree in Missions. Personally I don’t think she needs a degree in missions to be a missionary, but it might be a good idea for connections and opportunity’s. We are still exploring this and will trust the Lord to lead us to the specifics as it gets closer. 

Blue-Raspberry Taffy-3rd Grade

Math-Teaching Textbooks 3

History- Early American History (Beautiful Feet)

Language Arts-
Easy Grammar 3/4
A Reason for Writing Book C (Timberdoodle)
AVKO Spelling 1

Science-Astronomy (Apologia)
Astronomy Notebooking Journal

Bible-Bible Nurture Readers, Balancing the Sword

Bubble Gum Taffy-1st Grade

Math-Developmental Math

History-Early American History (Beautiful Feet)

Language Arts-
A Reason for Writing Book A
Draw Write Now
AVKO Spelling 1

Bible-Bible Nurture Grade 1, Balancing the Sword

2010-2011 Taffy Academy Proposal

Banana Taffy-10th Grade


Math- Teaching Textbooks- Algebra 2

Science-Apologia Biology with dissection kit

Language Arts- Grammar-Grammar Plus & Tests

                        Writing- Jump In

                        Spelling- AVKO

History- Beautiful Feet Medieval History with Time Line

Geography-Ultimate Guide to Geography and Timelines

Foreign Language- Spanish



Chocolate Taffy-9th Grade

Math-Teaching Textbooks-Algebra 2

Science-Apologia Biology with dissection kit

Language Arts- Grammar-Grammar Plus & Test

                        Writing-Jump In

                        Spelling-AVKO

History-Beautiful Feet Medieval History with Time Line

Geography-Ultimate Guide to Geography and Time Lines

Foreign Language-Spanish


Strawberry Taffy-8th Grade (I’m letting her skip 7th grade because she’s already ahead in math and her standardized tests come back off the charts for her grade level and it will be easier to lump her in with her two older brothers for teaching.)

Math-Teaching Textbooks-Pre Algebra

Science-Apologia-Physical Science

Language Arts- Grammar-Grammar Plus & Test

                         Writing-Jump In

                         Spelling-AVKO

History-Beautiful Feet Medieval History with Time Line

Geography-Ultimate Guide to Geography and Time Lines

Foreign Language-Spanish



Blue-Raspberry Taffy-2nd Grade

Math-Saxon 2 w/manipulatives

Science-Nature Readers and Lapbooks

Language Arts-
Reading: Pathway Readers and Workbook, Rod & Staff Bible NurtureReaders, Christian Light 2nd grade Reader

Spelling: AVKO

Handwriting: A Reason for Writing

History-Beautiful Feet Early American History

Geography-Galloping the Globe


Bubble Gum Taffy-Kindergarten

Math-Developmental Math 2, 3 & 4

Science-Lapbooks

Language Arts-
Reading:Teach Your Child to Read in a 100 Easy Lessons, Explode the Code- 1-3

Writing:Start Write

History-Beautiful Feet Early American History

Geography-Galloping the Globe

Homeschool Proposal 2009/2010

Banana Taffy-9th Grade

Math- Teaching Textbooks-Algebra

Language Arts- Abeka

Science- Apologia

History- Abeka

Reading- Abeka

Latin- English from the Roots up II

Foreign Language- Rosetta Stone-Spanish

Art- Line Design

Geography- Abeka



Chocolate Taffy-8th Grade

Math- Teaching Textbooks-Algebra

Language Arts- Abeka

Science- Apologia-Physical Science

History- Abeka

Reading- Henty/Ballantyne/Abeka

Latin- English from the Roots up II

Foreign Language- Rosetta Stone-Spanish

Art- Stop Motion Animation



Strawberry Taffy-6th Grade

Math- Teaching Textbooks-6th grade/7th Grade

Language Arts- Abeka (English and Spelling)

Science- Apologia- Zoology 1 & 2

History- Abeka

Reading- Christian Light (Calls to Courage)

Latin- English from the Roots up II

Foreign Language- Rosetta Stone-Spanish

Art- Lamb’s Book of Art II



Blue-Raspberry Taffy- 1st grade

Math- Developmental Math 3, 4 & 5

Language Arts- Sequential Spelling 1, Language Arts for the Very Young

Science- Nature Reader & Lapbooks

History- Lapbooks

Reading- Pathway Readers & Workbooks

Latin- N/A

Foreign Language- Sign Language

Art- Little Lambs



Bubble Gum Taffy- Pre-K

Math- Developmental Math 2

Language Arts- Rod & Staff Workbooks

Science- Lapbooks

History- Lapbooks

Reading- N/A

Latin- N/A

Foreign Language- Sign Language

Art- Various Crafts with Momma