about to scrap it all...please advise

[Tohru]

My ds is finishing up 8th grade and that means he is often a challenging and moody young teenager. We've been schooling CM-Classical almost from the start and now I'm about to throw it ALL out (at least put it on hold.) He is at a stage where his retention and motivation is very low.

 

He's not quite at rhetoric level work so I'm thinking of filling in with Unit Studies until he's ready. The problem is that all the Unit Study information that I've found is for K-8 or K-6. Are unit studies only for younger elementary grades?

OR maybe other suggestions to help with the retention/motivation?

[scrapbabe]

Unit studies can be used for all ages. Here's an example of a curriculum/unit studies program designed for high school

 

http://www.konos.com/www/index.html (click on the high school tab).

 

I am going to be using these books (see link below) beefed up a little with some historical fiction, some science experiments, and writing. We will use several in the series to cover American History this year. We will use a separate math and language arts program, although these subjects will be covered from time to time in the unit study.

 

(http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Franklin-American-Genius-Activities/dp/1556527578/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1294119818&sr=8-2)

 

I think you can definitely teach a middle-schooler/high schooler with unit studies. Everyone can benefit from them.

 

If you want some real hand holding Five in a Row has a unit study book for the older crowd. I haven't used it, but am just starting using the younger books with my 5 yr old.

 

http://fiarhq.com/fiveinarow.info/aboveandbeyondfiveinarow.html

 

Good luck in finding what works best for you and your son! The longer I homeschool, the more I realize how much I want to enjoy my kids and have them enjoy their learning. I think unit studies are a great way to learn together and enjoy the journey. :001_smile:

[BlsdMama]

The first question to ask should be is it him or what you're using? Because if it's him, the issues won't change with the curriculum.

[Hunter]

Most of the unit studies for highschoolers are very Biblically based. Is that acceptable to you?

 

Have you checked out American School? It was a godsend for my oldest, who wanted to teach himself, do the bare minimum, and go out to work. He started AS a year early and skipped the 8th grade. I just wrote "home schooled N/A" on the form where it said, "last grade completed".

 

Some boys do better spending their days WORKING in a job where they sweat all day in pain, surrounded by other men all sweating and in pain. At 16 my son watched a coworker throw up his false teeth into the toilet and another coworker accidentally flush them. The coworker had to work a whole month in the eyes of the public with no teeth to be able to afford new ones.

 

That episode lit a fire in my son to never end out in a similar experience. A few months later he completed his AS studies and started putting himself through the local junior college. He graduated from there at 19, moved to Las Vegas and now 5 years later is getting married this winter and building a house.

 

The very strict, but short AS assignments graded by someone else were just what my son needed. They just kept sending the tests back until he did them right. He only spent about 2 hours a day doing school, attended an hour of family worship, and then went to work. Illegal, and negligent in the eyes of many...but it worked :-0 Cause look at him now :-) My baby is building a HOUSE :-0

Edited January 4, 2011 by Hunter

[Melissa in CA]

The first question to ask should be is it him or what you're using? Because if it's him, the issues won't change with the curriculum.

 

:iagree:

 

I also wanted to add that if it IS the curriculum, perhaps he might be happier with something concise like a textbook. My 8th gr ds revolted earlier this year over his history. He was not retaining the info, and he hated the struggle. He asked for a textbook....because they are concise and straightforward with questions after each section, etc. I gave him one and we have not had any trouble since. He likes to read dreadfully boring information and regurgitate it answering questions. Ack.

 

It's funny, because I hate textbooks, and lately I have been looking into other curricula for next year...namely Omnibus...and he told me, "Uh, I hope you're not looking at that for me cuz I'm happy with BJU." :lol: Yeah, I am looking at it for him, cuz it's possible he doesn't know what he wants, right? :lol:

 

We'll see...

[at the beach]

My ds is finishing up 8th grade and that means he is often a challenging and moody young teenager. We've been schooling CM-Classical almost from the start and now I'm about to throw it ALL out (at least put it on hold.) He is at a stage where his retention and motivation is very low.

 

He's not quite at rhetoric level work so I'm thinking of filling in with Unit Studies until he's ready. The problem is that all the Unit Study information that I've found is for K-8 or K-6. Are unit studies only for younger elementary grades?

OR maybe other suggestions to help with the retention/motivation?

 

Well, I know that the Moore's book--The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook talks about unit studies for all ages but it doesn't really give specifics from what I recall. Hmm, one thing I've wanted to do with my current 8th grader that seems almost like a unit study is MIT Open Courseware Kitchen Chemistry. Seems we never have time. Another idea for you might be one of The Teaching Company's shorter courses that could work as a jumping off point to your child doing some of his own research in an area. One suggestion in Cal Newport's book, How to Be a High School Superstar, is to spend time wandering in a bookstore and finding books that interest you, then going from there. I know these are rather random suggestions. What is your son interested in right now? Is there any academic area that he would like to pursue more or that he enjoys? How would your son like to see his days spent? That might help with suggestions.

[Carol in Cal.]

Stewardship claims to be 1-8, but I would have a hard time calling it 8th grade level work without significant beefing up.

 

Remember, though, that at this age math and foreign language are where retention is critical. History and science exposure and vocabulary are sufficient. I would not want to back off on them completely, but I would relax internally just a tad IIWY. (Just don't tell HIM!)

[Paisley Hedgehog]

.

[redsquirrel]

My friend has a moodier than your average bear teenager. She didn't change method but she did give him much more say about his content. Oh, and I think she added in some unit studies for interest.

 

History: he wanted to study ancient japanese history. Fine. Done. Same method just content he wanted.

 

Math: he had to continue with his math program but she added in much, much more 'real life' math. He helped with the family budget, sat down with his dad and helped pay bills. I seem to remember she found some math stuff that was about running a business?

 

Science: he picked his subject. I am thinking it was physical science and maybe some lego stuff?