And... many of the core knowledge modules are available as a free download!!! I used a lot of the reading ones for one of my DD (Language Arts Skills). We also use several of the topical history ones. https://www.coreknowledge.org/curriculum/download-curriculum/?subject_filter[]=31#filter-wrapper

In my original post (wayyyyy back in August) I think I forgot to add these (my daughter has loved them): All of a Kind Family (series) The Great Brain (series) The Westing Game

My oldest DD is rising 5th but is a strong reader. Recently she has gotten into mysteries. Here are a few she is reading and loving right now: The Case of the Missing Moonstone: The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency (four books so far in the series but this is book 1) Encyclopedia Brown (SO many in the series) Nancy Drew!!!!!

My 8th grade DS, 14, has made strides this year in writing (mostly online IEW) and is far more at grade level than last year—win! We will continue to strengthen his writing skills but I am now confident he is on grade level and ready for 9th. Part of the problems we have had in middle school is that DS was in mostly public schools from grades 4-6 and did not, imho, receive quality instruction especially in writing and reading, so it's been catch up these last two years (7th and 8th). DS took high school history at co-op this year (9th grade World History) so he's ahead there which is good because science (also at co-op) was such. a. slog. that I have decided no science next year which is kind of freaking me out! ( = : O) It was the reading that did him in and I realized that he doesn't have strong enough (for high school) reading comprehension skills in general. In subjects he loves, like history, he copes and overcomes, in subjects he doesn't like (science) he frets and gets lost in the weeds. Soooo, next year we will concentrate on reading/literature and not get bogged down in science. He will take a semester of health, however. Then, he probably will double up science at some point or take a course in the summer or make do with three years of high school lab science.....not sure yet. With math, he is doing Algebra I slowly this year and if we don't finish in the summer we will still be doing that in 9th. DS took 2 years of pre-algebra (6th and 7th) so he may need 2 years of Algebra I. In other words, he may repeat Algebra I with another curriculum if I don't think his foundation is solid enough. He is not thrilled with this idea but I am not budging on him being solid in Algebra I as it is so foundational for higher math courses. And he will be taking foreign language for the first time—Latin—and he is excited about that!

Second the Beast Academy suggestion AND they just came out with BA 2B (YAY!) My 7 yo DD is exactly where yours is—finishing up Singapore Math in Focus 1 B so we have been doing Beast Academy 2A and will start 2B soon. We also are starting MIF 2A. She loves logic type of games such as Logic Street, Logic Land, and Circuit Maze, too, which are great for problem solving.

I totally agree with Farrar about using short stories—for middle school (and high school) short stories are a wonderful way to introduce and reinforce literature concepts, terms, etc.! This is one of my new favorite resources from teacherspayteachers. She has curriculum for 6th and 7th grade and is working on 8th grade. You can buy the whole year all together or just a story here and there: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Story-Units-for-Middle-School-Short-Story-of-the-Month-Club-Grade-6-3306471 https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Story-Units-for-Middle-School-Short-Story-of-the-Month-Club-Grade-7-3337982 I also second Farrar's mention of the resource Figuratively Speaking. It's a really easy to implement, excellent way to discuss literary terms, etc. There is a really stellar curriculum plan on this website (maybe from Lori D.?) that has topics from that book directly matched with short stories and other activities. Try a Google search for it. For specific books, I recently found this resource which looks promising. Many units are free or at least there are generous samples: http://www.bookunitsteacher.com/bookunits.htm

I use Megawords as a spelling program for one of my children who definitely is not dyslexic. Syllieann may be thinking of Apples and Pears (?) Megawords is just a very thorough spelling program : ) Anyway, if your child is a strong reader already, when she finishes AAR 4 I would call it "good" for reading instruction (decoding) and move onto literature analysis. By this I mean her reading books on her own, of course, but also you selecting a few books to read together and discuss over the course of the year. There are many literature guides to help with this. Teacherspayteachers is a great website to find novel study units and the homeschoolshare website has many free novel study guides. You could also have your child do a lapbook type of study guide to go along with a novel if you are crafty : ).

Oh and another general thing... in regard to whether you should switch mathematics programs or not. As Dudley said, if it is working for your son (as in, he is learning and enjoying it) you may not want to change unless you find Singapore simply unbearable or too confusing to teach well. Singapore is just such a powerful program—it has given my children the tools to really understand math and the confidence to solve a variety of problems. They don't rely on memorizing because math makes sense to them and the memorizing (aside from things like facts) comes naturally. Even with facts they know how to break them apart and apply strategies if a fact is temporarily "forgotten" such as 8 x 7, etc. This gives even my littlest a feeling of control over her math knowledge. She knows she can "work it out" even if she doesn't get something right away. My oldest DS went to school for 3 years and the math he was taught was so inferior to Singapore methodology. I was so happy to have him back home two years ago and back to the Singapore "way." Even though he is taking Algebra 1 now and not using Singapore as a textbook, he still uses many of their methodologies.

What Dudley said : ). Anyway, it's true, I LOVE Singapore math but you don't *need* the extra books. I do have many of them for whatever level I am teaching but I tend to pick them up at curriculum or library book sales for around $1.00-$3.00 so if they only get used partially it's no big deal. I have books like Intensive Practice, Topical Problem Solving, and Extra Practice. As far as HIG's go, they can be helpful with Singapore Primary for the reasons Dudley mentioned. I have the Standards HIG for every level I have used so far that has a HIG (1st-4th) but I don't use them a lot. But, then again, I'm strong in math and love the subject, so that helps, lol. Earlybird K does not have a HIG. I have used Math in Focus 1st, 2nd and 5th so far and the only TG I have is for the 2nd grade. It's a big TG like a school teacher would use; I don't know if they make a Math in Focus HOME study guide. It has been helpful but it also is geared toward a school setting so lots of adjusting is necessary. There really isn't a script to follow in the MIF TM like you might find in Rightstart Math and the teacher guidance is buried under all the "schooly" things you would need to do in a school setting. I only used it the first time through of teaching MIF 2nd grade. Definitely you will need manipulatives to teach 2nd grade math and the Standards HIG's do discuss what you would need and show a bit about how to use them. You also might want to search on teacherpayteachers and pinterest for additional help in teaching specific primary grades math topics with manipulatives. The difference between MIF and Standards primary seems to be in color, brightness and bling. One of my kiddos found the MIF textbook distracting due to the "busy" pages and preferred the more cartoony but seemingly simpler Standards textbooks. The workbooks are similar (b & w) but there are "thinking cap" type of puzzler questions every chapter in the MIF workbooks that Standards doesn't have. These are application, analysis, synthesis type of questions/problems. My 1st grader loves the MIF workbook but my now 4th grader didn't really enjoy it. There are a lot of problems per page/lesson in the MIF workbook so sometimes I would break the work in pieces and do it over days. What I have found to be the most fun and helpful as a supplement to Singapore Math is Beast Academy https://beastacademy.com/. They just added 2A and 2B and I have used 3A-3D and am now using the 2nd grade books and the 4th grade books with two of my kiddos.I love these books for challenging problems, different ways to approach what is being learned from Singapore, and for reinforcement of skills. Some people use the books a grade behind but I find that if I pick and choose carefully I can still use a book at the same grade level as my child. That doesn't mean I don't revisit some topics I may have skipped, because I do that too. Another series I find particularly useful is Fan Math because it breaks down the Singapore way of problem solving (bar models, part to part, etc.) and provides lots of extra practice solving problems this way https://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/003959. If I had to choose between using the Singapore "extra books" and using Beast Academy and Fan Math as "extras" I would choose Beast and Fan Math.

I have been using both Singapore Math Primary Standards Edition and Math in Focus along with other things for many years now. My question for you what are the "other books" you "feel you need to try next year?" And why do you feel you need to do this? Your reply to these questions will help me focus my response better : ).

My now 14 yo DS loved There Will be Bears when he was 13. He just finished Project 1065 by Alan Gratz and loved that. He loved the Sisters Grimm series and the Land of Stories, too.Al Capone Does my Shirts and the other books in the series are some I plan on having my DS read. Margaret Haddix writes interesting sci-fi novels for middle grades/teens (I read them, too!). I second Lori's advice to try books that are exciting but easier for your DS to read than the "classics" in order to build a love for reading without it seeming too onerous.

Awesome, thanks!!!!

Roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, roasted green beans & carrots, and fresh blueberries/blackberries mixed.

Thank you for your thoughtful analysis, MerryatHope! The more I think about it the more I think I will keep Physical Science in junior high and off my DS's high school transcript unless we end up in a bind somewhere (unlikely to happen if we plan well). He still may take a break from lab science next year and only do health. He will be doing a foreign language for the first time (Latin) and his second year of high school World History as well as Geometry. I am planning a rigorous literature class (his first) and he is taking Open Tent essay writing so really two full classes for the one english credit. I think he can take a breather from a class he is not looking forward to taking (Lab Biology) and we'll double up later on when he has room from taking advanced history and math courses earlier in high school.

I don't think I have to decide now for sure, I was just thinking about my DS's transcript for next year. This year he is taking Algebra I so that will go on his HS transcript. He also is taking high school World History at the co-op (he was allowed a grade exception to take the class) and I was planning on putting that on his HS transcript as well. I have not done grades or transcripts for middle school so this is new for me. I am not aware of there being a restriction regarding classes other than math that may be put on a high school transcript in my state. I know if public school kids want to take a language class at a local high school, and they are in 8th grade, the students travel to the high school for the class and the credit goes on the HS transcript and toward graduation.

Would it be a good idea in your opinion to count Physical Science w/Lab as a high school credit course? Other HS'ing parents in my real life are giving me conflicting advice. My DS is taking Physical Science w/lab now in his 8th grade year at a homeschool co-op. It's quite rigorous with experiments almost every week and written lab reports required for all experiments. Mathematics equations have been a part of many units. There are also required tests for every unit and chapter review questions too. My DS is not really a STEM kid so a career in STEM is probably not in his future. He's somewhat dreading taking Biology with lab next year so I was thinking maybe this year's science could count as a year of 9th grade HS science w/lab and he could take a year off from lab science next year (probably do health though) or do something he actually likes such as Conceptual Physics or History of Science. If we had to double up science in the last year or so of HS I suppose we could do that. Fwiw, our local public high schools offer a choice of Earth Science w/lab or Biology w/lab for 9th graders and neither of the courses look more rigorous than what my son has been doing this year which has required math, experiments, and written lab reports. Thanks!

Thanks so much for the suggestions! I will check out Holt and the supplementary materials.

I posted this on the high school board but have had no replies so far. Thought I would try here..... My rising 9th grade DS is a competent math student but math anxiety often derails his efforts. Spiral curriculum has been great for him the last two years—Saxon Pre-Algebra in 7th and CLE Algebra 1 in 8th grade this year. A tight spiral has kept him on track and reduced his fears of forgetting "what to do". Alas, there is no CLE Geometry that fits the bill and I've heard the Saxon Geometry textbook is not like other Saxon programs (weaker and disorganized). He does not want an online class (Pre-Algebra was online with Veritas) so I will be teaching him. I 've read some older threads on the Hive and have seen some names (Jacobs, Jurgensen's, Holt, Geometry a Guided Inquiry etc.) but just do not know enough about any of them to know if they have enough of a spiral or if they would be good for a kid who can do math but does not like math and who is prone to undermining his own progress with anxiety. Thanks so much for any assistance!

The topic pretty much says it all.... My rising 9th grade DS is a competent math student but math anxiety often derails his efforts. Spiral curriculum has been great for him the last two years—Saxon Pre-Algebra in 7th and CLE Algebra 1 this year. A tight spiral has kept him on track and reduced his fears of forgetting "what to do". Alas, there is no CLE Geometry that fits the bill and I've heard the Saxon Geometry textbook is not like other Saxon programs (weaker and disorganized). He does not want an online class (Pre-Algebra was online with Veritas) so I will be teaching him. I 've read some older threads here and seen some names (Jacobs, Jurgensen's, Holt, Geometry a Guided Inquiry etc.) but just do not know enough about any of them to know if they are spiral or would be good for a kid who can do math but does not like math and who is prone to undermining his own progress with anxiety. Thanks!

That's pretty much what my day with my 1st grader looks like and her skill level with reading/language is about 3rd grade and math is 2nd-3rd grade. Recently she asked to start IEW (like her bigger siblings are doing) so I have added some lessons mostly from IEW's All Things Fun and Fascinating. When she writes a composition she does not work in her handwriting book that day. My 1st grader also spends time on her own writing stories and entries in her journal and reading chapter books—all self directed. She dances, participates in a local audition choir, and attends a co-op once weekly for art and drama classes. She spends lots of time going to the library, playing with her siblings, the dog and various friends. I read aloud to her (and her siblings) daily and there is no screen time until evenings with the family (and it's time limited). It's enough : ).

Blackbird and Company http://blackbirdandcompany.com/ Novel Units Novel Ties Teacherspayteachers.com (LOTS of teacher made units for reasonable prices)

Back in the day (HA) in CA I took Algebra in the 8th grade as a "pilot" program for gifted kids. My parents were thrilled that I had been "selected" and ignored the fact that I was not truly ready for the class. I had skipped 2nd grade earlier and had a late spring birthday so I was already young for the grade. I also was woefully unprepared as I had had very poor math instruction up until that point. I struggled through Algebra I earning low B's and high C's and left the course believing I was terrible in math. Now, years later, when I was a graduate student, I spent a lot of time researching how best to teach math, Asian math programs, etc. I taught myself Algebra as an adult and am still amazed at the math malpractice perpetrated on me and others (probably still being perpetrated.....) Fast forward to today and my 8th grade DS is doing Algebra I with me and actually is ready for the class. He has had two years of pre-Algebra and his last year of Pre-Algebra he earned a final grade of 96% so I judged him ready to move on. He does still struggle with some of the more abstract concepts in Algebra I but I figure we can take our time and work through the summer if need be (or even into next year—9th grade—as I have the time to do that). DS is a capable math student but dislikes math and has math anxiety so I slow down where I need to, reinforce where and when I need to, etc., to build his confidence and skills. I don't stress him or me about having to finish the entire Algebra I curriculum by the end of 8th grade. There are no "labels" in my homeschool and hopefully my DS won't ever believe he is "bad" at math because he may not understand something at a certain point in time or may not be developmentally ready for something yet. I have seen the pressure in schools to put students in Algebra I at earlier and earlier ages and think it's another symptom of the education system pushing and pushing without yielding any better results than previous generations have achieved (maybe partly because the motivations are skewed and not really about education ??? idk). But then, again, given the early grade age cut off dates in many states and the "red shirting" school parents do for many reasons, the actual age of a 7th grader often is the age of a typical 8th grader about twenty years ago, so maybe the "early" algebra just looks that way and is a reflection of kids being old for their grades and needing extra challenge. Again, idk. Developmentally, probably the majority of kids are still ready for algebra in the 9th grade and probably some smaller number are ready to try in 8th grade (if the foundation has been laid down). A pretty small number may be ready in 6th-7th grade and a similarly small number not until 10th grade or beyond. From my experiences I think it depends on the student's comfort level with the subject, prior math preparation, and ability to handle ambiguity and abstractness (mental maturity). You as the homeschooling parent are the best judge of this for your own child. It also depends on the teacher's ability to teach kids the subject and not just teach the content. I never forgot being that kid who didn't understand and felt "at sea." Consequently, I work at understanding everything I am supposed to teach my DS in Algebra I and come "armed" with many strategies to teach him because sometimes the first approach hits a wall. Many math teachers know math but are DISMAL math teachers (I could get into this more but I won't : ) ). Algebra I is the foundational gateway course for higher level math—our kids deserve a GREAT experience whenever they take the class. As many of my HS'ing friends remind me if (when) I start feeling anxious about something curriculum related, the beauty of homeschooling is you get to make the decisions, you know your child best, you can adjust where you need, start and stop anything as you need, etc. Do what your family thinks is best for your family and you will be fine : ).

Totally agree, OneStepAtATime and thanks for the advice. I envision doing all of that with DS I just want him to begin to feel more confident that he CAN do things independently. When his confidence increases he tends to actually do more on his own. MY DS is capable but lacks confidence. (He has come a long way, however.) I have taught writing and had some things published so luckily DS does understand (from being taught by me for awhile) that writing is a process. Now living and EMBRACING that concept is another thing entirely.... : P.

Thanks for the comments. I do have this question on the high school board and have received some great responses. I posted here too because I was hoping maybe someone had enrolled a student for an elementary or middle school class as I am also considering those for my younger kidlets. Fwiw, as far as high school classes go I am receiving thumbs up reviews! : )

Wow, nobody has tried Open Tent Academy's writing classes???