Oh, and we may use Debra Bell's Readers in Residence for some literature study as well (www.christianbook.com). I was given a free copy.

I also want to mention this provider since maybe something here will appeal to you: https://www.rootedinlanguage.com I have not used any of their materials yet, but they look interesting to me so possibly I will try something in the future.

I'm sorry but I have not read all the above posts (lack of time issue) but this is what I am doing next year for ELA with my rising 5th grader fwiw. I will add that ELA is a strong suit for my DD—she loves stories and writing and seeks a challenge: Literature: 1) Several beloved books for gentle discussion/analysis of literary terms and concepts such as Charlottes Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Cricket in Times Square, etc. I have some interactive notebook materials from LovinLit (found on Teacherspayteachers.com) that I plan to use alongside. DD is very crafty and loves to cut, paste, fold, draw, fill in, create, etc. I may also add in some guides from Moving Beyond the Page as well as selected exercises from Teaching Literary Elements ; 2) A Moving Beyond the Page unit on American Tall Tales & Legends; 3) Poetry study using a variety of resources including maybe LovinLit's poetry interactive materials. DD loves poetry especially humorous poetry like Prelutsky and Silverstein; and 4) continued recreational reading—for example, DD is on book 5 of the Harry Potter series and plans to finish these through book seven. Then she will start the new Morrigan Crow series (our read-aloud right now but she wants to reread herself), etc. Composition: My plan was to start IEW Level A with my DD this year (4th) but since DD is developing a love for creative writing I changed course and went with Classical Academic Press's Writing and Rhetoric Books 1 (Fable) and 2 (Narrative I) where the focus is more on narrative/story rather than expository forms of writing. She is also taking several Outschool creative writing classes this summer. SO, I am thinking it is now time to introduce some formal expository writing in 5th, alongside continuing with CAP W & R Book 3 (Narrative II). We will be using IEW's Level A (older version)and Continuation Level A (older version) before moving to the newer version for Level B in grade 6. I also have some resources for writing different types of expository paragraphs (chronological, spatial, descriptive, compare/contrast, etc.) which I may use. We also will be using Kilgallon sentence composing exercise books (EXCELLENT for improving sentence writing fluency and putting grammar into action). Grammar: DD is pretty strong in grammar conventions and usage since she writes so much (so far mostly stories, newsletters, and scripts) and I ask her to revise and proofread her work regularly. For more "formal" grammar (which I think is helpful for foreign language study later) we will use Easy Grammar 180 Daily Lessons, Beowulf's Grammar (Guesthollow), and sentence diagramming exercises. DD enjoys diagramming so we do it! Spelling: DD is a very strong speller. We have been successfully using Megawords (which she does mostly independently) so we'll stick with that for 5th grade. Vocabulary: This year we used Sadlier which I may stick with for 5th but I may change to Vocabulit because of DD's strong inclination toward (love of) fiction and narrative. Handwriting: DD will continue with Zaner Bloser cursive writing books in 5th. Hope that helps and have a great year!

Here ya' go! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rhetoric-Through-Cinema-Bundle-Engaging-SOAPSTone-Appeals-Devices-Analysis-4145045?st=6b107e0218a458dcc74745426e6fff77

Hits this year: Funda Funda Personal Finance (online). I can't say enough about how valuable and substantive this class was for my DS (11th grade). It's asynchronous which is not ideal for my son, but the quality and scope of content, and sheer variety of assignments, is amazing. The price is very reasonable, as well. I've been recommending this class/vendor to many people. The only nit-pick I would have is that the late policy grading is somewhat harsh (10% off per day) but probably necessary for upper high schoolers. The teacher/director(?) is on this forum, so if you are seeing this comment, here is a big "Thank You!!" for all your hard work. Also, 7Sisters High School Health is working out well as a spine so far (about 1/2 way through). It's pretty basic with readings, questions, and tests so I am supplementing it with Crash Course videos (Anatomy and Physiology) and some more in-depth readings/questions from Glencoe Heath (textbook). I will also have my DS complete a few reports/presentations on some topics (Powtoon, Prezi, Powerpoint, etc.) to round out the course. If my DS was more academically inclined (<cough, cough>) I would add in some Great Courses lectures on various topics, but what I am doing is enough for a semester high school health credit imo without being overwhelming. From TeacherspayTeachers 21st Century Lit— Rhetoric Through Cinema Bundle: Engaging SOAPSTone, Rhetorical Appeals & Rhetorical Devices Analysis. I purchased this at a reasonable price when TpT was having a sale. Highly engaging and surprisingly substantive PRACTICE for rhetorical analysis using speeches/excerpts from popular movies. I used these exercises after teaching about Appeals and Devices and interspersed with analyzing the"heavier classics" such as I Have a Dream and The Gettysburg Address. My non-academically inclined son was actually asking to do MORE rhetoric this year! Misses/Fails: Nothing immediately comes to mind which is great given we had a tough time of it last year in 10th!

I used CLE Algebra 1 for my DS because we had used Saxon Pre-Algebra and he needed the spiral approach. It was a very solid and easy to follow/teach curriculum for me. With one of my DDs (who is now taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade) we are using a variety of materials. I really like the Lial text Introductory Algebra. I have the student textbook which has answers in the back for 1/2 the problems and then I purchased a solutions text that has worked out solutions to problems. You could also purchase a TE for not that much money. I also use a basic HS type textbook Algebra Concepts and Skills (student and TE). Lastly, I have Algebra: A Fresh Approach which has an excellent section on a variety of word problems. All of these books I purchased used (for not that much money) on Ebay, Bookfinder and/or homeschool classifieds. Both of these kids used Singapore Primary Standards K through 3rd grade (DS) and K through 5th grade (DD ). DD also used Beast Academy as a supplement.

My daughters changed studios after seven years because their "old" studio was only doing the week on Zoom, week off in studio rotation type of classes. And they are requiring masks for all classes the entire time starting at age 3. To accommodate any trouble with dancing and wearing masks they are purposefully slowing down and reducing all dance movements as much as 75%. I had to read that twice in their policies to believe what I was seeing. There is no reduction in the price of classes, however. We switched studios because Zoom classes in spring were more than enough for both (they hated them). One daughter has migraines triggered by mask wearing and exercising and she is at a pretty high level in most areas of dance. Dance studios can choose to operate like a gym (10 feet distancing and no masks while exercising) so luckily we have found another studio that is doing that. My daughter is now actually able to dance "full out" and does not have to worry about migraines. It's been a great change, actually. We are in an area with about 400 "active" cases out of 160,000 people. About 50% of the cases are in nursing homes and incarceration centers. Hospitalizations are flat and there hasn't been a death in about two months. No children have been seriously ill or have died. Every death except one has been in the 70 + range age (the exception was an already very sick man in his 50's).

I don't have all my IEW materials in front of me, and I haven't taught with them for a few months because I am waiting for IEW Level C SSS to be available so I am not totally sure about this, but as I recall, the level B materials go more in depth with units merely introduced in Level A. For example, Level B students spend more time with Unit 6 then Level A students do. I also think they spend more time and effort with Units 7 and "super" or longer essays (I don't remember the unit # but probably 8??) In fact, I am not sure if Level A even gets into those areas all that much. By level B and even more in level C, Unit 9 is stressed (critiques, literary analysis). Also, the style expectations get more sophisticated as the levels increase. Adverbial teeter-totters are not found in Level A, for example. What I read somewhere (don't remember where) is that a student does not need to repeat year one of a subsequent level if he or she has been successful. Thus, a typical progression would be SSS Level A year one, SSS Level A Year two, SSS Level B year two, and SSS Level C year two. I also own almost all the theme books and they provide additional practice and techniques in ways that support and reinforce writing across the curriculum. That said, I also think it's quite important to vary writing instruction, so my 7th grader will be doing Writing with Style Year one along with SSS Level B year 2 (when it's released). Over this last summer, she took some online writing courses with www.home2teach.com in the areas of descriptive writing and literary analysis. She also enjoys creative writing, which is not a strong suit of IEW or WWS, so I envision an entirely different curriculum to scratch that itch. I also don't start formal writing instruction until grade 4.

Also Smells Like Dog by Suzanne Selfors. There are three books total.

My 12 yo loves The League of Unexceptional Children (series also the title of Book 1). Here's a synopsis of book 1: What is the League of Unexceptional Children? I'm glad you asked. You didn't ask? Well, you would have eventually and I hate to waste time. The League of Unexceptional Children is a covert network that uses the nation's most average, normal, and utterly unexceptional children as spies. Why the average kids? Why not the brainiacs? Or the beauty queens? Or the jocks? It's simple: People remember them. But not the unexceptionals. They are the forgotten ones. Until now!

The Sisters Grimm is a popular series around here. Has lots of literary allusions, adventure, mystery, action, and creative, funny characters.

Yes, please explain! How big is it?

For the fine arts/appreciation class you could look at Outschool or maybe Study.com (self-paced).

Lots of tears with DD age 12, too. Started at age 11 and still going strong off and on......

It's been later for my son....started at about age 14 and still going strong at age 16. I have a daughter age 12 and it hasn't hit yet but, then again, puberty has been slowly starting with her.

Our co-op decided to do mostly virtual until at least November. We rent a church and their requirements if we met in person were wayyyyyy too onerous for us to meet. Science classes will meet in person, outside and inside. So, only my oldest will attend this year for his high school science which is Forensics with lab.

We never really went to big parties anyway even before this all happened. I shop in the grocery store a few times a week and make sure to stay well away from people, give them space in aisles, etc.. With more people now wearing masks I find that they are encroaching as if the mask means they can now be one foot from me. Uhhhh, NO. My DS works in a grocery store part time and is required to mask. I have been to a restaurant to eat maybe three times since they all reopened two months ago. I've gone back to church twice since it reopened about three months ago. We went to distanced rows and limited seating inside (50 max usually only 25 show up). There is plenty of seating (distanced) outside but it's quite hot. Most of the kids' activities have been switched to Zoom since March and are staying on Zoom into the fall. Their dance studio is opening up but is requiring masks for all dancing. One of my DDs is a serious dancer and prone to migraines which can be tripped by overheating. Dancing in a mask for 90 minutes in an advanced class is a no go for her. We have had to switch to another school with huge studio space that is using the mask exemption that gyms use, small class sizes, 10 feet or more distancing and constant sanitizing, etc. The dancers are not supposed to talk much to each other in class if they want to continue maskless. Another DD is taking swim lessons at a local gym and no mask is required in the pool (it's really impossible to distance from her swim teacher or wear a mask in a pool). No swimmers wear masks in the pool but we do have to stay in our own lanes. I have neighbors who have had friends over swimming, smallish parties, etc., since about June. I've been keeping careful track of local numbers and we currently have about 360 "active" cases in a population of 160,000. Almost half of those cases are in nursing homes or assisted care facilities. We have had very few deaths and all but one was age 70 or older. About 2/3 of the local deaths were nursing home residents. My area accounts for less than 1% of all cases in the state. Our locality's PCR is around 6% and dropping.

Lost Cove, when I was writing my dissertation I seem to recall reading many solid PCK content-area, discipline specific articles. This was eleven-twelve years ago, however. I'm sure there must be something more recent by now (something of quality somewhere), lol.

For strengthening writing at that age (4th-5th) I have successfully used IEW SWI A, IEW SIIC A, and/or theme books. You can buy these used on www.homeschoolclassifieds.com, Ebay, etc. IEW is coming out with newer versions over the next few years called SSS A 1st year, 2nd year, etc. What I like the most about IEW for weaker or inexperienced writers is that the structure part assists them in beginning (helps writer's block and anxiety) and in gaining stamina to write longer pieces. .

Not to add another program to your "research," but one of mine is a somewhat weak speller (certainly not a natural speller who readily sees and retains patterns). We used All About Spelling and that was fine, but when she turned 10 I switched to Megawords based on some recommendations here . Two years later her own assessment and mine is that her spelling has improved tremendously. She will be doing Book 4 this year (the number of the books are not grade levels).

Yes, totally agree 8Fill, this is what sometimes happens between my rising 7th grader and my rising 4th grader. The 4th grader is a crack speller but my 7th grader struggles in this area. Thankfully, she doesn't allow this to impede her writing. Anyway, there will be glares for days if/when the younger "dares" to "butt in" to older's spelling lesson/book. Sometimes we play word games where they are given a series of letters and a time limit to make different words with them. At the end, they are challenged to use all the letters to make a "secret word." In another game, they will be given a word family like ight or ish and challenged to use blends and letters to make as many words as they can, within a time limit, that end with the focus word family. They are pretty well-matched skill-wise even with the difference in age, the older not being a "natural" speller and the younger being advanced in this skill. There definitely have been tears from the older when the younger appears to find the challenge easier than she does. Occasionally this can happen in math too because the younger "sees" patterns quickly and may blurt out an answer to a question in the rising 7th grader's problem set. My rising 7th grader is pretty confident in math and advanced in this area however (Algebra 1 this year), so, while it may irritate her, it does not matter to her as much and does not hurt her ego.

Just a note to say I haven't read that article about pedagogical content knowledge since I was doing my doctoral coursework for my Ph.D. a few years back. It made a great impression on me then and is still a valuable read now. On combining and the quality of discussions, sibling interactions, etc. I recently decided to combine my rising 7th grader (girl) and rising 11th grader (boy) for a literature study. She is a strong reader and advanced in literature studies while he generally dislikes reading and is a bit behind (less motivated and more literal than she is, mostly). They get along well in general, but at first he was offended because of their age difference. I told him I was not going to lower expectations for our discussions of the novel, that they would stay at the "high school level," and that his sister would get what she could out of the experience. Of course, I hoped that with her involved with asking questions and sharing insights, he would be encouraged to "raise his game" and engage at a deeper level with a novel than he typically does. This is exactly what has happened, and his experiences and maturity push her as well. Both have been pleased to learn from each other and are benefiting enormously from this combination strategy.