Shellydon Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Looking for ideas for a 7th/8th grade level class for co-op, non-academic, but still of value. I've thought of Note Taking 101, and Basics of Public Speaking, but would love other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 If you wanted something already set up to a great extent, most of those Ellen McHenry programs were originally made to run in a co-op setting and most of them are at an upper elementary or middle school level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 My twelve year old is taking the Study Skills for the Logic Stage class through WTM Academy. Maybe something like that? It includes not taking, scheduling, setting up a study space, setting and following through on goals, etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 If you wanted something already set up to a great extent, most of those Ellen McHenry programs were originally made to run in a co-op setting and most of them are at an upper elementary or middle school level. Thanks for this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 My twelve year old is taking the Study Skills for the Logic Stage class through WTM Academy. Maybe something like that? It includes not taking, scheduling, setting up a study space, setting and following through on goals, etc. Great idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 Thanks for this! After I posted it, I realized that science is sort of, um, academic. :tongue_smilie: So I'm not totally sure if it's what you want. I guess I was just thinking that her stuff is supplemental and fun, not trying to be "core" academic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynful Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 I was going to suggest the Great Courses How to be a SuperStar Student or something like that. I taught high schoolers last year and am teaching this year at our co-op and I really am seeing how we've missed the boat on preparing them for how to study or how to take a test, etc. Just a thought. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 I was going to suggest the Great Courses How to be a SuperStar Student or something like that. I taught high schoolers last year and am teaching this year at our co-op and I really am seeing how we've missed the boat on preparing them for how to study or how to take a test, etc. Just a thought. oooooh---- will definitely look into this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 10, 2015 Author Share Posted October 10, 2015 From a parents perspective at that age I would appreciate note taking. My dd has really enjoyed Fallacy Detective and learning basic logic - maybe a group class around this or possible even early debate skills? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted October 10, 2015 Share Posted October 10, 2015 I think skills classes are great! I did a public speaking/communication class for 8-10 year olds last year at co-op. Only they all thought it was Lego class. It was called Legos Class, and we build and shared Lego but MY focus, which I shared with them, was communication skills. I think it went really well. I think note taking, public speaking, and group project work are all awesome skills to build in middle school. I think you'll get the most engagement from students if skills-based classes are delivered via content they're already interested in. My son is taking one right now called Ninja Scholar Skills, and they have training missions (2-4 week units) on various topics like mythology, Latin & Greek, etc that overlay their skill building (typing, email and web ap use, personal goal setting/achieving strategies, etc). It's the class he's most motivated about. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonlight Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Is the Ninja Schoolar Skills an online class or just a co-op class in your area? It sounds really cool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Is the Ninja Schoolar Skills an online class or just a co-op class in your area? It sounds really cool...It's a course you can purchase.http://www.ninjascholarskills.com You can adjust the specifics to suit your needs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I'm teaching Rocketry to a group of middle schoolers at our co-op this semester. It's not academic in the sense of having homework, but we are learning principles of physics and motion. Next semester we will do mostly conceptual physics, and our first project will be paper roller coasters from paperrollercoasters.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Our co-op used this for a mock trial. The students loved it. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593631138?keywords=Case%20of%20big%20bad%20wolf&qid=1444918575&ref_=sr_1_3&s=books&sr=1-3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Our co-op combined Fallacy Detective with logic puzzles and games in the same hour. Another favorite was this forensics science kit. http://www.hometrainingtools.com/crime-scene-classroom-kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I think skills classes are great! I did a public speaking/communication class for 8-10 year olds last year at co-op. Only they all thought it was Lego class. It was called Legos Class, and we build and shared Lego but MY focus, which I shared with them, was communication skills. I think it went really well. I think note taking, public speaking, and group project work are all awesome skills to build in middle school. I think you'll get the most engagement from students if skills-based classes are delivered via content they're already interested in. My son is taking one right now called Ninja Scholar Skills, and they have training missions (2-4 week units) on various topics like mythology, Latin & Greek, etc that overlay their skill building (typing, email and web ap use, personal goal setting/achieving strategies, etc). It's the class he's most motivated about. We have a FLL team and ds has learned amazing note-taking and public speaking skills from it, it is just something that has to be learned with the work they do. I've been shocked really, not that it is practical for everyone to do FLL but I definitely agree with trying to find a way for them to have the focus not be on notes on speaking but on them wanting to remember facts and having info they want to present it goes much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted October 15, 2015 Author Share Posted October 15, 2015 We have a FLL team and ds has learned amazing note-taking and public speaking skills from it, it is just something that has to be learned with the work they do. I've been shocked really, not that it is practical for everyone to do FLL but I definitely agree with trying to find a way for them to have the focus not be on notes on speaking but on them wanting to remember facts and having info they want to present it goes much easier. What is a FLL team? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 First Lego League Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 My son is doing Mini Society. They basically set up their own government, create a currency, create businesses and all the kids have jobs and earn money (their currency). They learn about all sorts of things: types of government, how to interview for a job, running a business, etc. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Katharine Posted November 12, 2015 Share Posted November 12, 2015 Haven't read the whole thread but a possible skill to include--if it can be brought down to age level--is the Cornell note-taking system. It has you rule your page of notes in advance to allow space to the left and the bottom of the main notes to make a boiled-down version to study from. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivium Pursuit Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 My son is doing Mini Society. They basically set up their own government, create a currency, create businesses and all the kids have jobs and earn money (their currency). They learn about all sorts of things: types of government, how to interview for a job, running a business, etc. This sounds interesting. Do they use a particular set of materials? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWillSoar Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 ted.coe.wayne.edu/sse/wq/nick/mini_society.htm This link has the information, and even a schedule. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted November 14, 2015 Share Posted November 14, 2015 Middle school co op things I've run the last few years: Mock trial using the Fairy Tales on Trial book Forensic science labs & solve a mystery (ordered teacher books off amazon) put on a play book club (prep for a library run 6 book trivia competition) art classes (ok, not run by me, but a local art teacher homeschool mom) Harry Potter Dr. Who History (used a curriculum) creative writing workshop arts n crafts (cartooning, Sculpey Clay figures, book/movie characters out of perler beads, paper mâché, holiday wreaths) Shakespeare (modern adaptation play for a small group)- another mom is running this later in year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cintinative Posted November 18, 2015 Share Posted November 18, 2015 Middle school co op things I've run the last few years: Mock trial using the Fairy Tales on Trial book Forensic science labs & solve a mystery (ordered teacher books off amazon) put on a play book club (prep for a library run 6 book trivia competition) art classes (ok, not run by me, but a local art teacher homeschool mom) Harry Potter Dr. Who History (used a curriculum) creative writing workshop arts n crafts (cartooning, Sculpey Clay figures, book/movie characters out of perler beads, paper mâché, holiday wreaths) Shakespeare (modern adaptation play for a small group)- another mom is running this later in year Can you please share the name of the Dr. Who curriculum? Also the names of the forensic science labs and solve a mystery books? TYVM!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted November 18, 2015 Author Share Posted November 18, 2015 Haven't read the whole thread but a possible skill to include--if it can be brought down to age level--is the Cornell note-taking system. It has you rule your page of notes in advance to allow space to the left and the bottom of the main notes to make a boiled-down version to study from. I will be looking this up, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivium Pursuit Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 ted.coe.wayne.edu/sse/wq/nick/mini_society.htm This link has the information, and even a schedule. Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Can you please share the name of the Dr. Who curriculum? Also the names of the forensic science labs and solve a mystery books? TYVM!!!! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sample-Lesson-Traveling-Through-History-with-Doctor-Who-1394730 The forensic science books are on Amazon. Science Sleuths - Solving mysteries using Scientific Inquiry Forensic Science for Kids- CSI Expert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I would have gone for one on public speaking if I could have found one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) If you have access to computers: technology for learning. There is so much out there and it is so useful: sites for planning and scheduling an essay, tools for collaborative brainstorming, tools for referencing, cloud storage so they never again lose a paper because 'the computer ate it', presentation tools, how to critically access websites. Edited November 25, 2015 by nd293 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 If you have access to computers: technology for learning. There is so much out there and it is so useful: sites for planning and scheduling an essay, tools for collaborative brainstorming, tools for referencing, cloud storage so they never again lose a paper because 'the computer ate it', presentation tools, how to critically access websites. I feel like kids learn better and retain better when they do things hands on, paper and writing it out long hand. Once you have a idea of how you organize by hand, if you want to switch over to technology, then it is easy to do. I personally do not use technology for organization, so I would make a poor teacher! This might make a great idea for someone else though, as many of the ideas on this thread are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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