Is the Good and the Beautiful 7 really enough for an 8th grader?

[...................]

My dd wants something:

predictable

pre-printed

all in one place

easy to move through the lessons to understand what is coming next, what needs to be done

on paper

not lots of different textbooks to manage

 

She chose Lifepacs and we ordered them and I am happy with that.  The junior high and high school Lifepacs are really great, and with her firm foundation and me checking over and assigning the projects and essays I feel very confident she could and would move forward with complete success and be ready for community college at 16.

 

However, The Good and the Beautiful also fits all of our criteria.  Assuming we started with LEvel 7 in 8th grade, and Jenny Phillips releases one high school course per year, my dd could use this for the next 3 years.  I love every single thing about it....

 

But I want to make sure it's really enough for an 8th grader before I even show it to my dd for her consideration.

 

Also: Has anyone emailed the author to find out if she is pretty sure she will release one high school course per year?

 

I am so sad that I couldn't use this all along.  It's exactly what I needed !  But I am super happy I am able to tell my friends with little ones about it.:)

Edited May 26, 2017 by Calming Tea

[Zoo Keeper]

Do you mean just the LA part or the whole program?

 

ETA:  never mind, I see that 7th grade only has the LA part....

Edited May 26, 2017 by Zoo Keeper

[Insertcreativenamehere]

I am wondering the same thing. I really want to focus on writing next year with my 7th grader but I love the look of the Good and the Beautiful. I'm definitely using it for my rising 2nd grader, and maybe the 5th grader. Perhaps I'll wait until 8th grade to use it with my eldest. 

[abacus2]

Yes. 7th and 8th grade are not enough different for language arts for one to be inappropriate for the other. I would feel totally comfortable using any 7th or 8th grade program for 7th or eighth grade as long as it wasn't the same one twice.

[Mona]

Yes, it's enough. Especially if you do the extra reading for the reading challenge. I didn't add many extra books to read because dd already reads a many books for history and other books in her free time. We started level 7 halfway through with grade, so she will pick up the other half the beginning of 9th grade and then hopefully, high school English will be ready for purchase at that point.

 

As for writing, dd is around lesson 55 and she's completed several writing projects including essays and is currently working on a fictional biography of Abraham Lincoln. I like how the writing assignments are broken down over several lessons in small increments as not to overwhelm your child. Dd enjoys doing her English lessons and that is a compliment itself. 

[...................]

This sounds wonderful.

 

Has anyone asked about the timeline of the other high school levels.

[...................]

How about the science? Could that stretch to 8th grade?

[mytwomonkeys]

My son is 13 & going into the eighth grade. I definitely think this curriculum is enough. She said it's for an advanced 8th grader or average 9th grader. She says after Level 7 they will be ready for Honors High School 1, which comes out next summer. If they don't complete Level 7 then in 9th grade they'd take High School Level 1 (not Honors), as that is equivalent to Level 7. It says Level 6 is for 7th/8th grade. And my understanding is there is not going to be a Level 8.

Edited May 27, 2017 by mytwomonkeys

[Susie in MS]

How about the science? Could that stretch to 8th grade?

 If you hurry the Arthropods unit is free for the rest of today!

 

 http://www.jennyphillips.com/science/

 

I downloaded it and while it looks good, I think it is a stretch to make it work with olders even with the extension activities. But you decided.

 

Now the English and the history...those could be done with olders for sure. 

 

ETA: some of the other sciences would probably be plenty enough given the topics. And I'm not above having a unit of fun, light science now and then too. I may get the Arthropods unit just to have a light few weeks. 

Edited May 27, 2017 by Susie in MS

[Mommy to monkeys]

My son is 13 & going into the eighth grade. I definitely think this curriculum is enough. She said it's for an advanced 8th grader or average 9th grader. She says after Level 7 they will be ready for Honors High School 1, which comes out next summer. If they don't complete Level 7 then in 9th grade they'd take High School Level 1 (not Honors), as that is equivalent to Level 7. It says Level 6 is for 7th/8th grade. And my understanding is there is not going to be a Level 8.

Level 7 for an average 9th grader? Really? This intrigues me. In your opinion would it really be enough for (average not advanced) 9th grade? 

[...................]

My son is 13 & going into the eighth grade. I definitely think this curriculum is enough. She said it's for an advanced 8th grader or average 9th grader. She says after Level 7 they will be ready for Honors High School 1, which comes out next summer. If they don't complete Level 7 then in 9th grade they'd take High School Level 1 (not Honors), as that is equivalent to Level 7. It says Level 6 is for 7th/8th grade. And my understanding is there is not going to be a Level 8.

 

I do not think Level 7 is enough for an average 9th grader, looking at the scope and sequence and examples.

[mytwomonkeys]

Level 7 for an average 9th grader? Really? This intrigues me. In your opinion would it really be enough for (average not advanced) 9th grade?

Well I've never used this curriculum, so take my opinion with that in mind (reading something and then doing it are so different, ykwim?). I'd say the grammar is hands down more than sufficient. I'd say the writing also is totally appropriate for 9th grade, as it focuses on quality writing & lays a wonderful foundation. From what I can tell it really focuses on learning to write well over quantity. If you gave your child writing assignments across the curriculum, they will definitely have enough writing. Spelling & Reading are also appropriate for grade 9. It utilizes sentence dictation & the reading is not watered down. Also. the challenge readers are books you choose, so that is perfect. Geography may or may not be sufficient, really just depending on your goals. The way I look at it though, if they learn everything included over the years, my son is going to be ahead of the game. Poetry memorization is also totally age appropriate. And it would be easy to substitute a different poem. Also, for State ladders, you could substitute with Sheppherds software.

 

You could always email the author through the contact page. There is also a placement test you can give your child. What I posted earlier was really just verbatim from what their website says regarding their levels & suggested placement.😊

 

ETA Here's the assessment.

 

http://www.jennyphillips.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/G-B-Course-Level-Assessment.pdf

Edited May 27, 2017 by mytwomonkeys

[Guest]

I really hesitate to answer, so please take my opinion with the hunk of salt it deserves.

 

I doubt it.

 

BECAUSE I have levels 2 and 4 in hand and my kids-- different kinds of kids, different kinds of learners-- both love them. For the regular/slower (processing issues) kid, it's spot-on: grade corresponds perfectly to level; for the more advanced child, it is easy but pleasant...the art involved is a stretch for him, so it'd be worth it for us just for that.

 

But the thing is, I keep seeing other adherents of the curriculum saying that it is perfectly fine to use level 2 for a fourth grader or level 4 for a 6th grader.

 

And it's just NOT. If  a child is behind or struggling, obviously you do whatever you need to do and I have no doubt that SOME 6th graders will be appropriately placed in level 4. But I consistently keep seeing people say that it's in a normal range for NT kids, ykwim? And it just isn't.

 

I said in another thread that it's easy of you have a Classical paradigm and it's totally enough if you are coming form an unschooling paradigm. It can BE ENOUGH, for sure, depending on what your needs are.... but it's not advanced to the point that it's going to progress in such a way that level 7 is a "normal" level for a high school freshman. 8th grade, maybe. I tend to go by age more than grade...so note that my expectations are colored by this: I expect a freshman to be, or be turning, 15 years old.

 

I need to write a longer post about this because I keep seeing this and it bothers me every time!

 

When everything goes on sale next month I plan to pick up all the available levels of the LA and see about it more throughly. I have the free PDFs but they're hellacious to wade through and, in any case, they're all being or have been revised.

[Guest]

As for the release schedule, it seems like Ms. Phillips runs a tight ship over there and so far, when she says something will be released at a certain date (and she gives exact dates as it gets closer; none of this "by Autumn 2017 nonsense), boom! it's out on that date. So if she says one high school level per year, I'd probably have a backup just in case, but I'd believe it.

[...................]

As for the release schedule, it seems like Ms. Phillips runs a tight ship over there and so far, when she says something will be released at a certain date (and she gives exact dates as it gets closer; none of this "by Autumn 2017 nonsense), boom! it's out on that date. So if she says one high school level per year, I'd probably have a backup just in case, but I'd believe it.

 

I resonate with all of your thoughts.  THANK you for sharing.

 

She didn't say "one high school level per year," did she?  I'm off to check on that.

[...................]

Ok I went and double checked.  Nowhere (That I can find) does she say that she plans one High School Level per year. 

[Susie in MS]

Thanks for this. I hadn't been considering this at all, but with several posts on it recently, and then this one, I went back and looked at it again, and I think level 2 would be really nice for my rising 2nd grader next year. What is this sale you speak of? :) I would just be using the language arts and literature, and I think I might use the handwriting as well. What else are you using with your 2nd grader to round it out? Obviously we have separate math, but I'm thinking that might be the only separate thing we need.

 

 

http://www.jennyphillips.com/sales-promotions/

 

The Early Bird Sale at the end of June will be all the sales you will see due to prices already being rock bottom.  If I understand it correctly it is for 10% off all subjects, and includes free shipping for orders over $200.

 

My dilemma will be that Level 6 of the LA program isn't due out till Aug, so after the EBS.  

[Mona]

In light of the last post #17, I'll mention that my freshman will be 14 if that makes any difference. Also, there isn't going to be a level 8.

DD will get through lesson 62-64ish before we stop this year and then finish the rest the first semester of high school. Sadly, it looks like High School English 1 will not be complete until June 2018. :(

DD may use Illuminating Literature for second semester.

[Guest]

 What else are you using with your 2nd grader to round it out?

 

My second grader does math, history, reading, and science in addition to G&B. To help him, we do extra grammar and spelling, using what is in G&B. So I turn all the phonics and spelling in his GB book into more exercises with those words. And we drill the grammar he comes across in GB every day too. Come to think of it, we drill the geography too. IOW, for that kid we do it as written, but do more. I have done that with all the other programs that child has used, too.

Edited May 29, 2017 by OKBud

[Mommy to monkeys]

All y'all who said it's not enough for 9th grade pretty much confirmed what my instincts were telling me. I wish that the high school levels were ready.

[abacus2]

I really hesitate to answer, so please take my opinion with the hunk of salt it deserves.

 

I doubt it.

 

BECAUSE I have levels 2 and 4 in hand and my kids-- different kinds of kids, different kinds of learners-- both love them. For the regular/slower (processing issues) kid, it's spot-on: grade corresponds perfectly to level; for the more advanced child, it is easy but pleasant...the art involved is a stretch for him, so it'd be worth it for us just for that.

 

But the thing is, I keep seeing other adherents of the curriculum saying that it is perfectly fine to use level 2 for a fourth grader or level 4 for a 6th grader.

 

And it's just NOT. If  a child is behind or struggling, obviously you do whatever you need to do and I have no doubt that SOME 6th graders will be appropriately placed in level 4. But I consistently keep seeing people say that it's in a normal range for NT kids, ykwim? And it just isn't.

 

I said in another thread that it's easy of you have a Classical paradigm and it's totally enough if you are coming form an unschooling paradigm. It can BE ENOUGH, for sure, depending on what your needs are.... but it's not advanced to the point that it's going to progress in such a way that level 7 is a "normal" level for a high school freshman. 8th grade, maybe. I tend to go by age more than grade...so note that my expectations are colored by this: I expect a freshman to be, or be turning, 15 years old.

 

I need to write a longer post about this because I keep seeing this and it bothers me every time!

 

When everything goes on sale next month I plan to pick up all the available levels of the LA and see about it more throughly. I have the free PDFs but they're hellacious to wade through and, in any case, they're all being or have been revised.

 

I think level 4 is the best level currently available for a 6th grader. The two choices are level 4 or level 7 and level 4 is definitely a better fit for my upcoming 6th grader.

 

ETA: She says that level 7 is equivalent to her standard 9th grade plan.

Edited May 30, 2017 by abacus2

[Guest]

Yes an incomplete curricula means not everyone will get to use it. 5 is due out in June, though.

 

As I said, I've no doubt some 6th graders are appropriately placed in four.

[Susie in MS]

I think level 4 is the best level currently available for a 6th grader. The two choices are level 4 or level 7 and level 4 is definitely a better fit for my upcoming 6th grader.

 

ETA: She says that level 7 is equivalent to her standard 9th grade plan.

 

Level 5 is due in June and Level 6 in August. Maybe wait a bit longer? I'm chomping at the bit, myself! 

[abacus2]

Level 5 is due in June and Level 6 in August. Maybe wait a bit longer? I'm chomping at the bit, myself! 

 

This will certainly work for people who need a level in between, at least for level 5. Level 6's planned release is after my planned school year beginning.

Personally, I think level 4 is a good spot for my 6th grader to start. We haven't focused on grammar before and this is her first year with this program and first exposure to diagramming. Also, the Creative Companion is so beautiful, I would hate for her to miss it. We'll probably do 5 or 6 next year and then 7 in 8th, assuming we continue liking the program.

[Guest]

This will certainly work for people who need a level in between, at least for level 5. Level 6's planned release is after my planned school year beginning.

Personally, I think level 4 is a good spot for my 6th grader to start. We haven't focused on grammar before and this is her first year with this program and first exposure to diagramming. Also, the Creative Companion is so beautiful, I would hate for her to miss it. We'll probably do 5 or 6 next year and then 7 in 8th, assuming we continue liking the program.

The 4 creative companion is TREMENDOUS and my 2nd grader does the art with us, too.