MATH Saxon 6/5 LANGUAGE SKILLS Writing - Home2Teach, online Literature - I teach a co-op literature class to 5-7 graders Spelling - Spelling Workout Grammar - Growing with Grammar Vocabulary - Wordly Wise SCIENCE Co-op, Geology and Weather Home, Apologia Anatomy HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY American History study using Story of US, DVDs, and other resources I'll add Not sure what Geography program I'll use at this time FOREIGN LANGUAGE Spanish (continue with Rosetta Stone) ART Co-op Class MUSIC Weekly Piano lessons (once a week + a recital and a solo/ensemble) BF Composers Study Vocal Music Class (once a week + concerts) PHYSICAL & FUN Swimming Weblo 2 Cub Scout EXTRA Computer Science - co-op Keyboarding

Great, Lizzie, I'll make a note to mention this to my students, in case they want to read more from this author. I know my son, who is in the class, enjoys reading series. Thanks again!

Fantastic! Thank you to everyone who offered your opinions. Has anyone read these: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry Young-Fu of the Upper Yangtze by Elizabeth Foreman Lewis Again, thank you!

I'm not familiar with DE classes. Can someone explain what they are and how they differ, or are similar, to AP classes? Thanks! ETA: Oops, I just realized this means Duel Enrollment classes. duh... It's late...sorry.

Thanks so much, Kfamily. Some of these I'm familiar with but others I'm not, so I really appreciate it! Since I'm teaching a class, the kids all come with having read different books (of course), so I try to find good, quality stories that aren't as well-known, to have a better chance of most of the stories being new to most of the students. :unsure: Thanks again!

Great to read about The Shakespeare Stealer and The Wednesday Wars. I'm excited to read them!

That's great to read because I read one or two summaries and since it was listed as more of a humorous book, I didn't think it would have anything questionable in it. This is why I'm asking! Thanks so much for the information.

I'm putting a book list together for 5th - 7th graders, and came across some books I'm not familiar with. If you've read these books, can you give me your insight, please? I'm looking for quality stories, on a variety of topics. Alabama Moon, by Watt Key Becoming Naomi Leon, by Pam Munoz Ryan The Wednesday Wars, by Gary Schmidt The Winter Room, by Gary Paulsen Bread and Roses, too, by Katherine Paterson The Mystery of Rascal Pratt, by Robbie Scott Kit's Wilderness, by David Almond The Shakespeare Stealer, by Gary Blackwood The Canning Season, by Polly Horvath Thanks for any help you can give! :001_smile:

Bump.

I don't need a lengthy list from anyone (unless you want to...wink), just a favorite book or two that you read with your kids, or read yourself when you were that age. I'm trying to put together a balanced list of perhaps a couple Newberry books and a few books that are awesome but that have flown under the radar for some reason. Whatever you can suggest, I'd be grateful! Thanks again.

I taught a literature co-op class this past year and it was a huge success! We all loved it. Here are the books we read: The Phantom Tollbooth Number the Stars The View From Saturday A Wrinkle in Time Island of the Blue Dolphins Tuck Everlasting Bridge to Terabithia The Incredible Journey I'm teaching the class again and need to come up with a new list of books. Here are some books I'm considering: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry Where the Red Fern Grows My Side of the Mountain Julie of the Wolves Old Yeller Abel's Island (?) Carry On, Mr. Bowditch The Golden Goblet I received some great ideas from this forum last summer, and I'm hoping to glean a few more from you all again! My students will be in grades 5th - 7th, so books somewhere within those grades would be ideal. Thank you for any favorites you'd like to share!! :001_smile:

We've always used Spelling Workout, and it's worked great for us. We've also always used Wordly Wise and my boys have strong vocabularies. Both materials are independent-learner friendly. In my opinion, you should do both spelling and vocabulary, and these are terrific choices. HTH.

We like Growing with Grammar. http://growingwithgrammar.com/1gwgProduct_Page.html It's black and white and spiral bound, works well for independent learners, and has a small portion of each lesson that's review. We've used it for both our boys and it's worked very well. It's also very affordable. HTH.

This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, "The purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship." This means that whatever you're doing and with whom ever you're doing it, it's not just about completing the task, it's about strengthening the relationship. Whether you're washing dishes with your husband, or reading out loud with your child, or teaching a child to do a chore...it's all about building and strengthening the relationship, the task will get done. Thanks for the reminder. Pam

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:iagree: I couldn't agree more.

I wrote and teach a study skills program and the planner I purchase for my students is here: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=504983&item_code=WW&netp_id=1108675&event=ESRCQ&view=details I like the size (approx. 9 x 6 inches) and the fact that it contains both monthly pages (to see a month at a glance, convenient for keeping track of tests, family commitments, birthdays, project due dates, etc.) and daily pages (used to plan out daily assignments, projects, daily to-do lists, etc...more detailed information). I provide a binder clip for each student so they can flip right to the current monthly and daily pages quickly. You certainly can purchase similar planners at Target, Staples, etc., but I would suggest a planner that is this size (so there's enough room to write and that it doesn't get misplaced easily) and that it contains, minimally, monthly pages as well as daily spaces/pages. My ds 15 has been using one for a few years now and we are having our youngest ds 10 use one from URtheMom (as mentioned above). The URtheMom planner isn't dated so our ds writes in the week's dates and subjects, and then fills in the assignments for the week. They both fill their planners out on Saturday or Sunday so they're ready for the week. I do not want our sons to get to college and not know how to plan out their class work. Anyway, these have worked for us. Good luck!

Thank you!

Just found this and am wondering if anyone has ever used this curriculum, either in part or in whole? Any thoughts, successes, failures? Thanks.

Hello Everyone, I'm working on informal but thorough report cards to facilitate discussion between my husband and me about how our two sons are doing academically (getting the whole picture). I'm including all subjects, of course, but I'm wondering if anyone includes any other topics...? Thank you, Pam

I've never heard of these books, for some reason. I'm glad for the suggestion; thank you!

Hi everyone, My ds is 15 and he really hasn't gotten into a good book lately. My dh and I would like to get him a couple books for Christmas. What are some books your teens are enjoying? Thanks so much!

Thanks to everyone who responded. My oldest son is on the swim team and I understand completely why the coaches aren't in the water; I've never questioned this. However, for my 9 year old, the two coaches he's had have never been in the water with the 5-6 kids they have. The female does at least wear a swim suit but the young male coach wears regular clothes and shoes, and moves away in case his tennis shoes get wet. This I don't care for. Neither wear goggles and our swim club doesn't use underwater cameras. I understand not being in the water all the time but honestly, these lessons are in the evenings so the coaches wouldn't be in the water for 8 hours anyway. I like the combination, some time out of the water to watch strokes and some time in the water to correct and to watch under water. This has been enlightening. Thanks again.

For those of you with kids who take swim lessons, is it unusual for the coach to not be in the water? All of a sudden, my youngest (age 9) has coaches who stand on the sidelines telling the kids how to do something rather than being in the water. Today's coach has on jeans and sneakers and steps back so as not to get wet. I'm going to ask about this in the office but thought while I'm sitting here that I would ask those of you with experience. Now with my 15 yo, the coaches do stand on the side and this I understand, so I just thought I'd ask. Thanks!

My almost 15-yo ds is in the bathroom several times a day, and not just for a quick <ahem> #1, either. I'm sure he's in there to catch a break from school and I'd like to do something about it. So... Does anyone use "bathroom passes" or something along those lines? For example, he is given, let's say, four passes a day and once those are gone he can no longer use the bathroom until his school work is complete. My younger son uses the bathroom, too, of course, but it's only "an extended stay" once a day or so, the other times are quick and to-the-point. Does using passes sound harsh or do other families have this issue? If not passes, then what? Thanks for your input!