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My rising 6th grader wants to go to high school for sports. We have 2-3 yards to shore up any weaknesses and get her ready. I don't know if we will go public or private as yet. I am strongly considering sending her for 8th as a transition year.

 

Thoughts comments on starting at 8th vs jumping in for 9th?

 

 

Next thing is our plan for the next few years. If you see holes, please point me out and suggest things to fill that gap. I was out of commission for 2 months and nothing got done. I nearly died from post op complications and we are just now getting back. I have decided on new curriculum for LA and we are backing up to get a solid foundation.

 

Math:

She is in MM 4. We had the back track as she got really hung up on multiplication. We supplemented with some LOf and pulled out of 4 altogether to do mult, div, fractions, decimals and percentage in the blue series. We Use math year round so she will keep going until we get through Pre algebra by 7th. Planning for Algebra 1 in 8th.

 

Spelling: She is going to work through RS spelling 3-8. We are currently doing a lesson a day 3-5 days per week. We went back because all her spelling fell out of her brain.

 

Vocab: Nothing planned yet. I hear RS spelling 7&8 are like vocab. She did classical roots 4&5 this year but hated it.

 

Writing: currently using Wordsmith apprentice. I don't know what to use next year if anything at all as we will be using ELTL 4&5. She needs writing practice. We will probably take eltl all the way. Recommendations for additional writing instruction?

 

Grammar: it looks like eltl has enough grammar, but I have also considered having her go through analytical grammar.

 

Science: we do nasa club and she also gets science through Girl Scouts. Next year our theme is the prairie primer which has a broad range of topics. We will also do something with engineering, monarch butterflies and start following Ruth's suggestions for science. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/512190-science-posts-organized-by-topic/. I want her to have some more content knowledge and scientific method/experimental design experience. We did life science, no physics or bio yet. I want to use this subject to get her familiar with reading textbooks. Recommendations?

 

History: she does history club which is focusing on ancient civilizations right now. I want to get in American history and government as well as a good but broad world history. We have not really done history at all ever. No flames please! Recommendations?

 

Geography: we did galloping the globe for two years and some Evan Moore geography. This summer we are doing geography through art.

 

Computer: I want something for typing and Microsoft office. Recommendations?

 

Time management. Breaking down long term projects. Testing with a time limit. Any other skills to shore up?

Edited by mysticmomma
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Science: look at Holt Science & Technology. If she has done plenty of life science, you could just do earth & physical. I doubt she has done life science to the depth in the textbook though, so you might want to schedule that in as well. Generally the sequence is earth in 6th, life in 7th, and physical in 8th.

 

Writing: Essentials in Writing DVD/workbook course. It includes grammar up to 6th grade, I believe. If she has had plenty of grammar, you could just use 7th. Each year is builds on the next but there wouldn't be an issue with you using 7th (or even 8th) for all 3 years of middle school.

 

Rather than worrying about separate writing, vocab, grammar, and literature, I would get a literature program that incorporates all. Are you planning on using ELTL for your literature? I'm not familiar with the upper levels, but if it's comprehensive then I would not double up with other programs. We use Moving Beyond the Page lit guides, and those cover grammar, vocab, writing, and literary elements.

 

Math: So you are having your daughter finish up MM4, and then 5 & 6 all in sixth grade? Or are you planning on jumping from MM 5 to pre-algebra? I would look at which textbook series the public school uses and work towards using their pre-algebra textbook. If your dd is not mathy (and given what you described, I would assume she isn't), I would not rush through math. There is no shame in doing algebra in 9th despite the warnings from some on the board. Algebra in 8th is fine if your child is ready and can really learn it. If she is shaky, then it does her no favors to have her jump and skip things. I would plan on doing 5th/6th grade math in 6th, and then decide if she needs a two-year (7th & 8th grade) pre-algebra set (Prentice Hall, Holt, something like that) or was ready for a straight pre-algebra text.

 

 

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Science: look at Holt Science & Technology. If she has done plenty of life science, you could just do earth & physical. I doubt she has done life science to the depth in the textbook though, so you might want to schedule that in as well. Generally the sequence is earth in 6th, life in 7th, and physical in 8th.

 

Writing: Essentials in Writing DVD/workbook course. It includes grammar up to 6th grade, I believe. If she has had plenty of grammar, you could just use 7th. Each year is builds on the next but there wouldn't be an issue with you using 7th (or even 8th) for all 3 years of middle school.

 

Rather than worrying about separate writing, vocab, grammar, and literature, I would get a literature program that incorporates all. Are you planning on using ELTL for your literature? I'm not familiar with the upper levels, but if it's comprehensive then I would not double up with other programs. We use Moving Beyond the Page lit guides, and those cover grammar, vocab, writing, and literary elements.

 

Math: So you are having your daughter finish up MM4, and then 5 & 6 all in sixth grade? Or are you planning on jumping from MM 5 to pre-algebra? I would look at which textbook series the public school uses and work towards using their pre-algebra textbook. If your dd is not mathy (and given what you described, I would assume she isn't), I would not rush through math. There is no shame in doing algebra in 9th despite the warnings from some on the board. Algebra in 8th is fine if your child is ready and can really learn it. If she is shaky, then it does her no favors to have her jump and skip things. I would plan on doing 5th/6th grade math in 6th, and then decide if she needs a two-year (7th & 8th grade) pre-algebra set (Prentice Hall, Holt, something like that) or was ready for a straight pre-algebra text.

Thanks! We did eiw last year but she was bored. Maybe a higher level? She is flying through math now. It finally clicked. No my plan is to get her through 5&6 this year and next and do pre algebra in 7th. Eltl is grammar and writing and literature. Maybe we will be ok without any additional grammar.

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It looks like my ds is on a similar trajectory, though you have more warning and planning time. Mine is about to start in 8th, which I think will be helpful to have a year before grades and all start to count seriously for college transcripts--presuming the child to be college-bound potentially. The decision really was only just made in last few days, so we have now and the summer to "prepare."  And we have some extra issues due to things like dyslexia.  But the main thing I am going to have him do over the summer is some work on writing, study skills, and keeping up on his math. He may also do some Duolingo.  And he needs to learn to do things like write his name on papers, which he has never had to do before.

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Tests.  Tests were the biggest adjustment for my dd in 8th grade.  Practice studying for and taking tests.  

 

And homework was a huge adjustment, but no need to put your kid through that.  Free time went bye-bye for months.

 

Ha ha.  But we did one year of private school for 8th grade and went back to homeschool.  So be flexible in your plans, and know that your kid will probably be fine as she has been essentially privately tutored for years.

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My kid jumped in for 9th grade, not 8th. There are pros and cons to starting in 8th grade vs 9th. I went back and forth, but, in the end, I don't think there is a huge difference. I am going to be doing this again with ds2, and I don't feel the need to send him in 8th grade this time around.

 

Aside from homework and never having any free time b/c it is all taken up by academics, I would say the biggest adjustment for my son was having to wake up on time every single day. I remember about halfway through the second week he was just totally overwhelmed. It. didn't. stop. He knew he was going to have to adjust to a new schedule, but he didn't have a grasp of what that meant. It meant getting up every single day, on time, and being gone for 7 hours.  So, I would say that spending time during that last August getting used to waking up with an alarm clock every single day.  But, if you don't...none of the other kids or their teachers did. They are all adjusting those first few days, lol.

 

If you aren't used to the academic calendar, that is an adjustment for the family. It is really, really hard to get homeschooling kids to do school when their public school attending sibling has the week off for spring break, lol. And I had to learn to pay attention to things like random Fridays off. We had at least one occasion where ds1 got ready for school only to find out that there was no school that day. When a kid is in high school, the school doesn't do things like contact the parents. They figure you know that sort of thing by now.

 

The good news is that academically it has been a fine transition. It was everything else that was a challenge, and not just for DS1. It has been a learning experience for the whole family

 

 

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My son is taking one high school level class (foreign language) at the local middle school in 7th grade as a part-time student. In 8th he will take two high school classes (Algebra 1 and foreign language 2).

 

It has been a great opportunity for him to transition back into school. He had to get used to writing his name in all his papers. There were a couple of assignments that got downgraded because of lack of name, but now he has become accustomed to what he is required to do. Also it took is a while to figure out where online the teacher was posting the homework and quiz assignments. My son has learned how to manage his homework and study for tests. So having only one class this year has been a great opportunity to make adjustments before he gets a heavier load in 8th and then full time in 9th.

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