Before our homeschool journey even began, my husband and I committed to crafting curriculum options that would meet the needs of our individual kids. After seven years of teaching in a traditional classroom, I knew the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all learning. It erroneously assumes that every child is exactly like all the others and that they excel and/or struggle in all the same areas of academics and at the same rates. But the truth is, just as kids learn to walk and talk at different ages, they learn to do other things with their own timetable too. That's why we've never really homeschooled with grade levels.
When my middle son was little, it was clear that he excelled at many things, reading especially. And so he often ended up a whole grade level or two ahead of his peers. He continued through homeschool at a pretty steady pace, sometimes surpassing his older siblings in certain areas. However, much in part due to puberty and the social shifts that always come in middle school, we've decided to pull back a bit. Subjects that used to be easy for him, have become more of a struggle. On the flip side, things that were once laborious have become rather easy.
For this reason, we took his learning quite slowly last year, reviewing and repeating many lessons to shore up some foundational skills. This year, instead of moving him on to 9th grade which would have been the natural next step, I've decided to continue on with more 8th grade-type material. I don't count last year as a loss. It was a great chance to dig deeper with my son.
This simple tweak to the plan will put him on pace with the "grade" he's actually supposed to be in because of his age and will allow him some extra time to mature emotionally and socially before high school hits.
That's the beauty of homeschooling, after all. We never have to be bossed around by an outdated educational prescription. Our forward motion can be our forward motion.
Here's what he'll be learning. Since we only homeschool 4-days a week, you can assume that each of these subjects will only be covered four times each week unless otherwise indicated.
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Content-rich Subjects
Language
- Writing & Grammar 8 from BJU Press
- Finish All About Spelling level 6.
- Read for pleasure. (every day) I will gather a list of titles including those on my Middle School Must Read list for him to choose from each month. (Vetting titles in bulk is a great way to provide some helpful discernment while still offering a tween/teen a choice in their reading selection.)
- Word Roots Level 1- He'll complete the second half of the book that he started last year.
Math
- Abeka Intermediate Math Video Lessons-- Last year while in pre-algebra, I found that he needed a bit more practice with basic math skills, so I had him join his younger brother for some foundational lessons. They are only 14 months apart and are used to doubling up together on many things. This worked quite well and so, I've decided to continue duo math in the coming year.
- free online review games and apps (like Math Mateer and Monkey Math) for math process review (every few days)
Extra Curriculars
Life Skills
- Clean his room and make his bed each day.
- Daily chores: sweep the kitchen, sweep the hallway landing and stairs, sort the laundry in the laundry room
- Weekly Chores for his child-of-the-day privileges and responsibilities: help make lunch/dinner and do two loads of laundry (Wednesdays)
- Monthly Chores: three chores that he randomly selects from our chore jar one Saturday each month
- Manual to Manhood (read 1x a week, practice 3x a week)- This is a book that he'll complete over the next couple of years. Since some of the units do not currently apply to him, he will only read through the following three sections during 7th grade: Social Skills & Manners, Grooming & Personal Hygiene, Clothing & Style (This mostly deals with learning to do laundry and ironing clothes.)
I love that you do what is best for the child. We did Teaching Textbooks last year with our daughter because I thought she just needed something else, we still use BJU but TT is like our "tutor". Sometimes we have to look at the bigger picture as well to see if their maturity is ready. I don't want to put my child ahead when her level of maturity isn't ready for what is in her future path. She may be 13, but she isn't mentally 13 and that is okay! Way to go mama, and thank you for being a word of wisdom for this "newish" homeschool mama!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that encouragement. We used TT for many years and enjoyed it. I just knew we needed a bit more.
DeleteWould you be willing to share the 14 books you chose for the book club choices? I also have an 8th grader that LOVES to read :)
ReplyDeleteI hesitate to share them until we've actually read them all. I've vetted them all, but have only personally read 3. I hope to put a list together eventually.
DeleteGood Morning! I noticed that you used BJU this year instead of LLATL. Did you like BJU? And why the change? We are currently using IEW kinda piecing it together but for 8th and high school I need something more open and go and less planning on my end. Also when will you be posting curriculum for this year;)
DeleteIt's a change but not really. I only use LLATL for the lower grades and then switch in 9th grade. This particular son was ready for more robust grammar in 8th.
DeleteOne of my sons took a writing class that used IEW and I thought it was a great program for kids who didn't already possess great writing skills. This particular son was/is an exceptional writer, so it was a bit clunky for him.
I will be posting my new curriculum choices in June and the first part of July. Stay tuned.