My state does not have any requirements. I looked at the local high school website. It gives a list of minimum requirements for admissions into state colleges and universities. For English, there is a requirement of 8 credits. I’m assuming they are using two semester credits per year?I’ve never heard of this before. I assumed 1 credit per year. I know it is my decision in the end, but I was curious if others would do the traditional 1 credit per year, or two semester credits like the public schools?

I’m planning out how I will do grades in high school. I realize there are several ways I can do grades, but I’m not sure if one way is any better or preferred more on a transcript. Should I give a grade per subject twice a year (two semester grades), or just one final grade at the end of the year for each subject? Also, should I grade tests and quizzes only, or add in daily assignments to the grade as well?

My boys finish their school work before lunch and spend the rest of the day playing video games. I would like them to spend more time in the afternoon on some projects, but my ideas are limited. I would like both one day and several day projects. The only ideas I have are homemade bottle rockets, a Rube Goldberg project, a science fair experiment, or build a giant catapult (we have ten acres of trees to roam about). They are 12 and 14 years old. Any other ideas to fill the time?

Thank you. He is pretty strong in writing and literature, so I think we’ll do at least 4 novels in the second semester with a literature guide and apply skills from WttW. He’ll definitely want to continue reading high interest novels without assignments. As for grammar, I think his skills are ok. He mostly needs review with capitalization and punctuation, but that can easily be done while editing his writing. He flies through his work each day, so I want to make sure next year is a little “meatier”, but without unnecessary busy work.

I’m trying to select my oldest son’s English curriculum for next year. He will be a 9th grader. I was thinking Easy Grammar, Power in Your Hands, and Windows to the World and adding in 2-4 novels. Would this be too much or just right for one English credit?

Thank you so much! You both have given me many things to think about. I am going to make some changes to our writing and use these ideas!

Both of my boys, 6th and 8th grade, resist revising their essays (mostly my 8th grader who has a natural talent at writing). They seem to have the attitude that it’s perfect just the way it is after the first draft. This has always been an argument between us. I don’t think they are being lazy and trying to get out of work. They truly believe it their first draft is perfect and any revising will make their writing worse. I want them to revise for word choice and sentence structure. Any ideas how I can work with them on changing this negative attitude?

I am looking for several chapter books for my boys to read next year. They will be doing BJU reading, and I wanted to add in a few novels. I will have an 8th grade boy that is very picky. Basically, he dislikes most books I choose for him. The rare ones he really enjoyed were The City of Ember and Criminal Masterminds. He is an advanced reader and has great comprehension. I was considering The Hobbit, A Christmas Carol, and To Kill a Mockingbird. I would like to have several more for him to read. My 6th grade son is an average reader. He just finished Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh and did well with that. Are there any other books you could recommend for 6th and 8th grade boys?

My son is going to do BJU life science with just the textbook and lab manual (no videos). I am going through the labs and deciding which ones we want to do or leave out. We are also adding in extra activities of our own. Is a microscope a necessary part to this curriculum? He is not particularly interested in science, just wants to get it done and move on (he's like that in all subjects). However, he did enjoy the BJU 6 hands-on activities. I'm just trying to decide whether it would be worth it or just wait until biology to purchase one?

I did not get the teacher manual so that makes a lot of sense now. Thanks!

I just received the bju life science textbook and tests (we are doing textbook only). There are 24 chapter tests, yet only 23 chapters in the textbook. I double checked and both textbook and tests are for the 4th edition. I'm curious why there is a test for a chapter not included in the book? Has anyone else noticed this? I'm sure my 12 year old son would be happy to skip this topic altogether...It's on human reproduction! 😉

Blood on the River: Jamestown 1607 by Elisa Carbone

Thank you. Do you think it is necessary to buy the teacher manual?

I am looking for a new writing curriculum for next year. A little background: My oldest will be in 7th grade. He is a natural creative writer with fantastic ideas and uses a variety of simple, compound, and complex sentences. He is okay with writing essays and reports, but the quality is not as high as his creative writing. My youngest will be in 5th. He struggles with writing a decent paragraph with a topic sentence, details, and a closing sentence. His sentences are very simple and he thinks "My dog is amazing" is a great topic sentence. He needs specific instruction. In the past we have used IEW. Although they did well with it, they both hated it and felt forced with their writing. We have also used BJU, but wasn't a good fit either. I just saw Writing and Rhetoric and am intrigued. Does this program seem like a good fit for my boys who enjoy writing their own way, yet need specific instruction? My thoughts were to start my 5th grader on book 1 to build a good foundation. As for my 7th grader, I have no idea where to start him. Book 4: Chreia and Proverb? Any thoughts with the curriculum itself? Where should I begin a 7th grader? About how many books to do in a year? 2 or possibly 3 with my 7th grader?

I'm looking for a writing curriculum for next year. My son will be in 5th grade. He struggles a little in writing, so possibly 4th grade level? He is currently using BJU English/Grammar and does well with the grammar part. I think we may continue with it just for the grammar. The writing part has turned into a daily argument. He does ok with the writing process in general, it's the revision step that is a struggle (he's very stubborn and doesn't want to change anything). He needs something that takes him step by step, specifically focusing on topic sentences, paragraph structure, introductions and conclusions. Also, specific instruction on word choice, sentence variety, etc. We have used IEW in the past and he really disliked it. Any suggestions on a curriculum that would meet these needs?