Curriculum Update: seventh Grade and fifth Grade

What’s Working in our Homeschool

• Shorter classes, extra topics. It virtually feels legal that I made them do an hour of math every day final yr (although I’d argue it was efficient). half-hour of math and different “core topics” like language arts and science is rather more manageable and offers us time for all of the “extras” that we regularly uncared for earlier than.
• The “extras.” Quotations round extras as a result of they aren’t superfluous by any means, however typically we’d push this stuff to the again burner. However, we’ve now integrated handicrafts, bible research, artwork research, poetry, reminiscence work, nature research, and composer research into our weekly classes. We even have learn aloud as a staple in our every day routine as a substitute of a enjoyable bonus we hoped to get to. This is making our days really feel actually gratifying and the time flies by.
• Online grading for math. We nonetheless LOVE Nicole the Math Lady and Saxon, and I’m actually glad I opted for on-line grading this yr. Both children thrive on the instant suggestions. We are going slower now that we aren’t skipping over components (like apply issues or psychological math quick info) however I really feel prefer it’s actually serving to nail down the ideas and the youngsters are each doing rather well with math. So am I, for those who’re interested- ha! I’ve develop into fairly competent in improper factions, components, exponents, complementary and supplementary angles, and so forth and so forth. Thanks, Nicole 😉
• World News Watch. With the ladies being 13 and 10, I’ve been eager to discover a approach to discuss extra about issues occurring on the planet (in an age applicable means). Enter- World News Watch, a every day 10 minute video episode about happenings on the planet by means of a Christian world view. So removed from what I’ve seen, I really feel they do an exquisite job of sharing info about exhausting hitting information (Helene harm, Iran attacking Israel), and balancing it out with fascinating tales of individuals doing wonderful issues from world wide.

What Wasn’t Working and What We Switched to

• Cover Story (inventive writing for my seventh grader)– I had excessive hopes of this curriculum with a journal and journal writing being a enjoyable selection. Maybe it was simply us however we by no means may get into an excellent circulation with it and H was simply not engaged; her eyes would gloss over every time. We switched to The Well Trained Mind’s Creative Writer, Level One (for Sixth-Ninth graders) and it’s SO good. Quality literature, open and go format, and better of all, it is sensible to her and is instructing nice ideas. She opted to spend an additional hour after faculty yesterday on her personal accord engaged on a brief story she’s been writing as a way to incorporate these new ideas. I believe that claims all of it!
• Bravewriter (for my fifth grader)– Ok cherished the subject (Encyclopedia Brown) however I simply couldn’t get in a groove with the instructing. I felt prefer it bounced in every single place. I used to be unclear on how a lot to introduce every day. It felt clunky and ineffective for us. I switched her to The Well Trained Mind’s Writing with Ease Level Three (with each Workbook and Student Pages). And… additionally adore it. Simple instruction, taught with high quality literature, open and go. The dictation has been significantly useful in our case.
• Doing language arts on the identical time. Language arts in all probability seems like a little bit of a jumble, however we even have an ideal system. Every different day we do writing for every woman, one thing I’ve to be fingers on for, so the kid I’m not working with throughout this time does a Synthesis Tutor lesson. On the opposite days, we do First Language Lesson Level Four collectively, then break up into IEW’s Fix It Grammar (have used and cherished for H for years) and All About Spelling (for Ok).
• Geography– I spotted our Beautiful Feet Geography books are all in storage someplace. Instead of alternating geography and science, we’re doing Weather Science. I’m supposed to show this in our new co-op at the start of the calendar yr so I’m contemplating this a dry run and am making notes on what’s working and what isn’t. So far I actually benefit from the e book, however the experiments have been duds.

Our Homeschool Schedule

I *** Thursday as a result of quickly this shall be our co-op day. However, for now we’re doing our classes Monday-Thursday and Friday is a extra relaxed/enjoyable day. We may do a craft or writing or watch Mystery science or work on a private ardour mission or area journey it someplace.

Current Homeschool Favorites

A couple of gadgets at present serving to our homeschool days to run easily and successfully.