Am I doing enough with my 7th grader?

[Mom2A]

Hi, I’m new to the board. I homeschool my 12 year old daughter and this is my third year – I actually can’t believe it’s been that long! We started in 5th grade for what we thought would be just for a year. Then she started 6th grade at PS, but I pulled her out after a month of being miserable. Now it's a year later and she is in 7th grade.

 

I am wondering if I am doing enough with her. I thought I was but my sister who recently came to visit really made me question myself. This is the curriculum we are using:

 

Khan Academy – working on algebra 1 topics.

2^nd half of Build Your Library Grade 8 continued from last year which includes language arts, literature, history of science, art, and living math

A little more than half of Bookshark Science Level 7 which is also continued from last year that we started in January, topics aligned with PS STEAM elective.

Critical thinking with Art of Argument, and Philosophy book

She also does different puzzle kits like 4D cityscape, and various workbooks like extreme dot to dots and logic/mind puzzles because she loves them. She also follows rabbit trails related to history, especially biographies.

 

She attends public school for elective and they have a block schedule – she goes 2 days a week and every other Friday for the afternoon only. These are the classes.

STEAM Advanced - focused of civil engineering and tech topics

Introductory Spanish B

3D Art this semester and Computer Art next semester

 

The Build Your Library curriculum has a 5 day schedule. Last year she would do the work for 1 day over 1.5 days by starting one day and finishing it over the half day before PS.  This year she has become a lot faster at her work and able to do the program in the scheduled day. So that means she is only doing that work 2-3 days a week. She does math every day, and on the days she has PS electives in the afternoon she does science or logic and the fun extras, as well as any homework from the PS classes. 

 

It feels like she is pretty occupied with work. She spends about 5 hours on PS days including going to the classes, and 6-7 hours on non PS days. But is it okay that we are only working through half a years curriculum and going at a slow pace? Especially because she is not doing history/english work every day? My family is already pretty unsupportive with homeschooling and I am sure they will question me even more now. I want to be confident with my response. Last year I felt fine since she was working 2 years ahead of grade level and was working on subjects every day. I am questioning it now. 

 

Any thoughts?

[Sandwalker]

I think you are doing a great job. Your daughter is getting a far better education than she would be at ps. Family members who have kids in school often try to find things wrong with a homeschooler. Grilling you about what you are doing with your daughter is a bit rude and intrusive, imo. If she were in school, you wouldn't be giving every detail of her work to your sister.

[Lori D.]

I see by your post count that you are new. Welcome!

 

Below, I organized your subjects and materials more along the lines of how you will eventually be thinking about them in high school for fulfilling credits. Sounds like a great variety, and that she is working at and above grade level, plus enjoys learning on her own time with additional activities. :) The only thing I may be missing is seeing Writing and Grammar. Is that covered adequately by the BYL Language Arts?

 

Good job in homeschooling, and so glad your student is blossoming in learning at home! Don't let the naysayers dissuade you. Gently but firmly tell them, "Thanks for your concern, but we've made our decision and it's working great, and our decision is not up for discussion, so let's discuss something else. :)"

 

And in your own mind, stay focused on the great results and the great attitude of your DD that are a direct result of you meeting your DD's educational needs in the way that is best for HER at this season in your lives! :)

 

Warmest regards, Lori D.

_____________________

 

English/Language Arts:

  * Literature -- BYL

  * Writing

  * Grammar

  * (Spelling? -- many students don't need this by 7th grade)

  * (Vocabulary? -- optional)

Math: Algebra 1-- Khan, BYL

Science -- Build Your Library, Bookshark 7, PS STEAM

Social Studies: History of Science -- BYL

Foreign Language: Spanish B -- STEAM class

Logic/Critical Thinking -- AofA, Philosophy book

Fine Arts: Art -- BYL; STEAM class

Electives: Civil Engineering/Tech Topics -- STEAM class

 

free time hands-on and solo learning:

- puzzle kits

- workbooks like extreme dot to dots and logic/mind puzzles

- rabbit trails related to history, especially biographies

Edited October 14, 2017 by Lori D.

[8filltheheart]

I am completely unfamiliar with BYL, so I have no idea its depth or level. I personally would want an actual math textbook and would use Khan as a supplement vs core, but I admit to being a math snob and am very selective about what I am willing to use for math.

 

As Lori pointed out, as long as writing is being covered somewhere, what Lori has posted looks adequate.

 

Fwiw, if a ps teacher or a parent only familiar with ps asked me what I used for school, they would probably stick their nose on the air and smirk and be 100% convinced that my kids were not being well-educated bc my approach to education is not easily quantified by a list of resources. For example, my 2nd grader's primary educational instruction comes from me just sitting with her and directly teaching her without a guide. I have taught 2nd grade so many times by now and this particular child is quite gifted that I just teach. So, no textbooks other than math. That would be my "list." But, she knows subjects, verbs, nouns, adjs, and advs from playing games and interacting with words and sentences. Her spelling for a 2nd grader is excellent. She loves to read, etc. From an outsider's brick and mortar school perspective via a list, they would think she must not be learning anything. My insider's knowledge of what is actually happening knows that she is functioning significantly beyond a 2nd grade level.

 

All that to say, I never compare what we are doing to a ps. We take an approach to education that doesn't resemble what they are doing in a classroom. What may appear as inadequate to an outsider bc it isn't quantified by textbooks and worksheets, I know is actually learning at a much higher cognitive level. If you are confident that your Dd is learning and mastering appropriate material, then I wouldn't worry about. The important issues are mastering content and learning how to think. There are innumerable ways to achieve those goals.

 

Fwiw, my family originally disagreed deeply with my decision to homeschool. That insisted at was destroying their futures, etc. I have adult children now who have graduated from college or are in college. They all entered college more than prepared aand all of them have been top students with very high GPAs. My different approach obviously did not hurt their educations.

 

Evaluate what you are doing compared to what you want her to accomplish. Keep your goals clearly in mind. Make sure she is progressing toward your end goals.

[fourisenough]

I agree with 8: the only potential 'gap' I see is lack of a full math curriculum. I like and use Kahn, but only as a supplement.

 

I would also want to ensure she is getting adequate writing instruction and practice via BYL (she may be, but I'm not familiar with it enough to know).

 

Otherwise, her line up sounds balanced and engaging.

[SilverMoon]

BYL's writing only has basic summaries and narrations (CM flavor). There is no writing instruction.

 

When my DS used BYL 8 we counted it as his lit and history. The science could be enough for some kids. It wasn't for him so he did more on the side. He did full math and writing courses alongside it.

[Pistachio mom]

You daughter sounds very intelligent! And it is obvious that you are doing your best to be thorough.  At 7th grade, I would recommend that you make a high school plan, so you know where you are going to put the required subjects. If you daughter is doing Kahn as a pre-algebra, you might plan to do an Alg 1 program next year -  which would be an early highschool credit. Having a general plan for now until graduation will help you be confident that you are preparing her for the next level, and it will help you answer inquisitive family members. Even if she goes back to school in the future, your plan will help you know what course she is prepared to take.  Also, some of her courses might be appropriate to put on her high school transcript (the foreign language?). Checking state requirements for graduation will help you put this together. It is not too soon to begin forming general plans for high school.

 

7th and 8th grades are a great time to make sure your girl has solid academic foundational skills. This is a great time to hone in on writing.

 

This forum is a really great place to learn and gather ideas. It has been a tremendous help to me since many of the homeschoolers in my local area are much more relaxed about having a serious attitude about school. Here, on the forum, are many moms who are careful about quality education.