8th grade---what are you using?

[Robin in DFW]

Just wanting to see if I'm on track for my ds13! :tongue_smilie:

[mom31257]

Our curriculum for this year (currently 8th grade for dd) is in a link in my signature.

[homeschoolmommaof4]

I JUST wrote a post on our final choices. i think it's important to share that my 8th grader has been ps'ed up to this point and so while I want to give her a rigorous classical style education, I am trying to ease into things this year before its time for high school

 

Heres my post: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201659

[Bookworm Mom]

:bigear:

 

I have a 13 year old here too. I have not figured it all out yet but here is what we have so far:

 

Math: Saxon Algebra I and Life of Fred Beginning Algebra

 

Language: MCT I, Lightning Lit. 8 and either Early American or British Lit., a bit of Writer's Jungle

 

Spanish: continue with Rosetta Stone

 

Philosophy: Sophie's World with guide and whatever else I can find that interests her.

 

 

Undecided:

Logic

Latin

History/Geography

Art

 

Can't wait to hear what other great stuff we need :tongue_smilie:

[StephanieZ]

dd13 8th grade will be using:

 

LoF Geometry

SWO H

Elegant Essay (IEW)

MCT Voyage (Caesar's English 2, Essay Voyage, Grammar Voyage, Poetry)

William & Mary's Utopia Literature (with the writing assignments)

SL Core 7 (with selected LA/writing)

Galore Park SYRWTL Spanish 2

Galore Park SYRWTL Science 2

Laboratory Science -- eclectic (TOPS, Kosmos Chem 3000, etc.)

Story of Science Newton

harp

violin

 

As you can see, I am focusing on writing this year. :) I realize it's more than most would want to do, but it's the focus of the year. All told, I expect her to be writing an average of two essays a week, which is not really that much for a 13 yo. . . We are just pulling things from multiple sources. Likewise, although I have several sources for science, it won't add up to an unreasonable amount of time (maybe 3 hours/wk).

 

I know we have dropped formal logic & latin. Gasp. We do spanish instead, and we focus on writing and music and have let those other things go. Gasp.

 

HTH

[coffeegal]

Ds's line-up for 8th grade. :001_smile:

 

Saxon Algebra 1/2 (I'm taking an extra year before Algebra since math is an area of tolerance rather than passion. Slow and steady wins the race. ;) )

 

Oxford Latin Book 1 (second half)

Hey Andrew Teach Me Some Greek Level 4

+ Slowly working through Athenaze Book 1

 

Rod & Staff English 6

Pentime Penmanship 8

Vocabulary for Life Cd-rom

Introduction to Logic

 

History Odyssey Modern level 2 (Includes history, geography, literature, and writing)

Apologia Physical Science

 

+ Extras ~ Karate, piano, art

[dragons in the flower bed]

Rod & Staff English

a long list of essay prompts, writing timed every three days

Classical Composition

 

Reading Detective

Daybook of Critical Reading & Writing and whole books from that worktext

 

Kinetic Books Pre-Algebra

ALEKS

Life of Fred Beginning Algebra

 

Science Matters

two gigantic science fair type projects

 

SOTW 3 & 4

Trail Guide to World Geography

 

Discovery of Deduction

 

Latin Prep

[3byzaz]

I'm pretty eclectic, but here it is:

 

Was doing Videotext, switched to Lial's Intro. Alg with DVT's and doing much better

CLE LA & Reading 800

Meaningful Composition

MOH 2 and extra lit.

BJU Physical Science

Thinking Toolbox

English from the Roots Up & Getting Started with Latin

 

Co-op classes - once a week - Lemonade to Leadership, Destination Imagination and a Science Fair class

[mom31257]

 

Co-op classes - once a week - Lemonade to Leadership, Destination Imagination

 

I'd love to read a more detailed description of these classes. I'm director of a co-op in my area, and I'm always looking for ideas.

[3byzaz]

I don't know too much, but Lemonade to Leadership is from IEW and is an entrepreneurial class that looks great. The other one - DI - I really don't totally get, but the lady who does a lot of awesome science stuff for our hs group is doing it. It's challenges that they have to use following certain parameters - engineering type stuff. Then, they can actually present them at tournaments - it's a national thing, I guess...

[kailuamom]

After a couple of years using Calvert, I am creating my own plan this year. As of today, the schedule for my 8th grader looks like this:

 

Math - Saxon 8/7 (to cement the basics) with LOF Algebra Beginning Algebra (or maybe something else -- she already completed a pre-algebra class last year with a homeschool group...)

 

Vocabulary - Vocab from the Classical Roots & English From the Roots Up

 

Grammar - Magic Lens, followed by the last section of AG

 

Writing - The Elegant Essay

 

Poetry - various poems on her own, World of Poetry as a family

 

Logic - The Art of Argument, Perplexors

 

History - The History of US (Hakim) with brother & sister

 

Geography - Trail Guide to US Geography

 

Science - The Story of Science (Hakim) with brother & sister, Science Explorer Astronomy on her own (followed by Chemical Interactions, Chemical Building Blocks, and maybe Cells & Heredity later in the year)

 

Latin - Latin Prep

 

French - possibly Rosetta Stone (she used it last year through co-op), Schaum's Outlines, French Grammar

 

Literature - she loves to read, and has already read a lot of books recommended for 8th grade, but here is the beginning of our list

- A Single Shard, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Pearl, Benjamin Franklin bio, Jane Eyre, A Christmas Carol, A Separate Peace, Romeo & Juliet

* Some with lit guides, some just with discussion

 

I think that's it! She will also play soccer and take an acting class for fun. We hope to find a piano teacher, too.

 

Good luck!

[gingersmom]

Oak Meadow Science

Oak Meadow History

Write Shop

Saxon Algebra 1

A huge stack of novels to read/report on

Prentice Hall Literature

Easy Grammar

Vocabu-Lit

Spanish

[Wendy in ME]

Discovering Mathematics 2

Second Form Latin

Traditional Logic I

Oak Meadow Civics and English 8

Public School Science and Electives

Runkle's Geography

 

Extras: football, track, chess club, mechanical advantage club

[HerdingCats]

Windows to the World/Grammar/IEW combo class

Apologia Physical Science class

Latin Alive class

Kinetic Pre-Algebra

MCT variety

Elements and Carbon Chemistry

TOG yr 2 co-op

Megawords

WWE

Art of Argument

Remedia outlining

Logic workbook

German? Mango?

This seems like a lot in writing/grammar and science, but it is spread over the whole year and every subject every week. We are doing the filing

system this year and it really helps to be able to tuck thing in the folder and know that we will eventually get to them.

[mereminerals]

Here is what wehave planned thus far for my 8th grade ds.:

 

History: MOH III and All American History Volume 1

Language: English from the Roots Up; Easy Grammar Plus

Math: Doing a basic review using TT7 and TT Algebra 1. He did an algebra program last year and we want to make sure he has everything down pat.

Science: AIG; Apologia General Science with co-op

Latin: Latin for Children with co-op

Literature: Progeny Press Study Guides for The Hobbit and LOTR Trilogy; Blood on the River Study; possibly Lord of the Flies and various other titles as we go along.

Spelling and Vocabulary: Will be taken from Literature

 

I think that's it. I've been writing my plans out all afternoon so my mind is very hazy at the moment.

[AngieW in Texas]

what my oldest did for 8th grade:

Jacobs Algebra

Sonlight Core 7 - history and literature

Student Writing Intensive level C from Institute for Excellence in Writing

Saxon Grammar (was called Hake Grammar back then)

Prentice Hall Science Explorer

 

what my middle dd used for 8th grade:

Kinetic Books Algebra I

SL Core 100 - history and literature

Fix-it Grammar from IEW

writing using IEW methodology

Prentice Hall Science Explorer

[Ruth in NC]

8th grade plan for the last one, sniff, sniff

 

Oak Meadow English 8

Oak Meadow Civics w/ extras to complete 3 Boy Scout Merit Badges

Megawords

CPO Life Science, jazzed up with extra reading and labs

Modern Hebrew w/ Rosetta Stone and Hebrew Online

Dolciani PreAlgebra to review then Algebra, probably Jacobs

 

Ruth in NC

[AmeliaBinMO]

My 8th DD is really looking forward to this year! Here is our line up:

 

Math - CD Algebra 1

 

English - R&S English 8

 

Vocabulary - Vocabulary from the Classical Roots

 

Spelling - We have Abeka's 8th grade Spelling & Vocab, but I now realize that spelling as a subject may no longer be necessary for dd -- I just need to be brave enough to drop it! So hopefully, no spelling this year.

 

Creative Writing - OYAN

 

History and Literature - SL Core 100 using Hewitt's syllabus for writing assignments; we have The Teaching Co. videos, "The History of the United States" (Guelzo, Gallagher, and Allitt) to supplement as time permits

 

Science - PH Earth Science w/ lab (Tarbuck and Lutgens); we have The Teaching Co. videos, "The Nature of Earth" to supplement

 

Spanish - primarily SOS

 

Logic - Perplexors and Mind Benders

 

Bible - This is my undecided subject still to purchase! I've got to hurry up and decide! We could follow Sonlight's suggestions. :confused:

 

Then there are her extras: Piano, Band, Dance, Swimming (part of year), Sewing (part of year)

 

We made the brave decision to drop Latin this year. Horrifying, I know.

[Kfamily]

Here's what we're doing:

 

Math: R&S 8

 

Latin: First Form and then into Second +Cambridge as supplement

 

Logic: Critical Thinking I

 

French: L'Art de Lire

 

English: Harvey's Elem. Grammar, dictation, literary journal, narrations and writing lessons CM style and from the Homer core book (Maxim in Jan.)

 

Geography: finish Book of Marvels

 

Literary terms and genres: Figuratively Speaking & Poetry and Prose

 

Arts: History of Art Sculpture, Watercolors, piano, drama classes, Artist study= Velaquez and reading I, Juan de Pareja +picture study album

 

Science: Physical Science+ reading The Mystery of the Periodic Table and biography on Albert Einstein

 

Nature Study: Botany

 

History: Finishing Story of England, Story of France (she will take these over independently) with DM's Renaissance and Reformation Times and The Renaissance Reader

Biographies on Francis Bacon: The Temper of a Man and Galileo

 

Literature:

Term 1: Everyman, Utopia and Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves+English Literature for Boys and Girls, Henry 5th

 

Term 2: Shakespeare's sonnets, poetry from Raleigh and Donne, Bacon's Essays+English Literature for Boys and Girls, Romeo and Juliet

 

Term 3: poetry from Milton, Simonds American Literature (some selections), Plutarch selections (Brutus and Ceasar), English Literature for Boys and Girls and The Hobbit

 

We will have a shorter term 4 which runs into the summer but it will be light.

Dd will have more swimming lessons too.

She will also have some books for independent reading.

Edited August 7, 2010 by Kfamily

[Mom22ns]

I just did a new sig with all our curriculum for the year in it. I hope I got it all. We may add some electives once we see how much time this takes. Last year he did typing and computer programming (Alice) as electives. This year we've talked about a cooking class and another programming class, but I don't know what language dh will have him do next.

[Jen+4dc]

Dd13 will be doing:

 

Math: finish up CLE 700 and work through our new LOF: Pre-Algebra & Biology then move on to Jacob's Algebra (she tolerates math, but really doesn't like it. The LOF is 1/week to keep it fun!)

 

Literature: Lightning Lit with the Unit Studies from LLfLOTR thrown in (little bro is doing LLfLOTR). Lots of reading tied to history just for fun discussion.

 

Writing: trying to follow SWB lecture plan on middle grades, write across curriculum. Occasional IEW Medieval theme-based thrown in to review what she learned last year with SWI-B.

 

Grammar: IEW's Fix-It and Painless Grammar

 

History: Medieval-Early Renaissance a la WTM (Wish me luck on this, it's our first year without a "curriculum" but I listened to SWB's lecture on lit as history and was so inspired!!:))

 

Science: Rainbow Science (secularly, I hope;)).

 

Vocabulary: Word Roots and then ???

 

Art/Geography: Trail Guide to World Geo/Geo through Art

 

Music: ps band - flute

 

French: Tell Me More by Auralog (I just bought this through HSBC, hope it's as good as it sounds! I have a B.A. in French so I'm pretty picky).

 

Logic: still TBD did Mindbenders and Prufrock Press last year

 

As I list this all out I'm remembering my focus with her this year is supposed to be social/emotional skills, not academics.:lol: We'll probably revise, again. Sigh.

[at the beach]

These threads are always fun to read. Here's what we've lined up for dd 13:

 

RCA Humanities I (Church History, World Literature & Composition)

 

RCA Latin 2 (Henle)

 

OSU German 1 (we are just now starting this and it seems really good)

 

Biology (can't decide, learning toward Apologia but have some reservations and I know that I need to get this figured out quickly)

 

Math (finishing AoPS online Algebra 1 class, which goes through mid-September, last challenge set is due at the end of September I think, and then we'll decide what to do from there.)

 

Grammar/Spelling--not sure what to get yet. I want an independent workbook format. Maybe Seton for spelling and CHC for grammar review.

 

SAT Question of the Day--we'll try to add this in. We enjoyed it last year.

 

Outside activities: dance & piano

 

Religion, Fine Arts, Vocabulary--not going to add formal study time for these areas until we see how things go with the above.

[Jen in DE]

Math: Life of Fred Algebra

Dolciani Algebra - (we may take 1 1/2 years to do combination)

Science: Prentice Hall Science Explorer - 4 or 5 books

Digital Frog (This may get scrapped to do Bio at the local co-op)

English

Writing

Creative – One year Adventure Novel (maybe)

Lessons That Change Writers – Nancy Atwell

Vocabulary - English from the Roots Up Book 2

SAT Vocabulary Deck

Grammar - Easy Grammar Plus

 

Literature - Combined with history

History - Really stuck on this one - I think Sonlight 6/History Odyssey mix. Still working on that one!

 

Logic Perplexors, Thinking Toolbox

Art my own artist study with projects

Music my own composer study

Foreign Language Rosetta Stone Spanish

Physical Education Swimming

 

[NancyNellen]

Math: NEM I/AoPS Algebra I

History/Literature/Church History: TOG Year 4

Writing: Classical Writing Chreia & occasional TOG writing assignments

Grammar: Harvey's

Science: Apologia General Science

Latin: Latin for the New Millennium (continuing from last year)

Greek: Mounce's Intro. to Biblical Greek

Logic: Art of Argument

P.E.: Fencing

Music: Piano

Art: undecided

[Beth in SW WA]

Dd 13/8th....

 

Bible, The Case For Faith, The Case For Christ (student editions)

 

CD Alg 1 w/ LOF Beg Alg thrown in for fun now & again

 

Spanish 2 w/ local class & tutor

 

English 2 via TPS

 

MCT WWtW

 

LL American selections (no writing, discuss only)

 

US History via TPS

 

World Geography via TPS

 

BJU Physical Science

 

Intro To Logic (if time allows)

 

Annotated Mona Lisa, Art Authority on iPad

 

Choir class

 

Christian Youth Theater

 

Piano for youth & children's church worship teams

 

Wii Fit

Edited August 8, 2010 by Beth in SW WA
more info

[Jeanine in TX]

Please see my signature for 8th grade classes.

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

I have a 7th grader this year but I also planned our 8th grade year at the same time so she will be ready for high school. This is our plans

 

Bible-- Answers Academy (I think)

Math--Chalkdust Algebra 1 and LoF Algebra

English--Applications of Grammer book 2 and finishing Jump In. Something for editing practice

Science-- Apologia Physical Science (with living books to supplement)

Government/Economics- I am still deciding on this--I think I know what we are doing though just have to be sure!

Reading-- Lightning Lit 8 along with the 2nd half of figuratively speaking and something for poetry yet to be determined

Geography--Trail Guide to World geography

Logic-- Thinking Toolbox

Latin-- Latin for Children B

We will be starting Greek this year I just dont know what curriculum

Vocabulary-- Vocabulary Cartoons

P.E.-- Volleyball, dance and possibly karate

 

 

It seems like I am forgetting something!

Edited August 8, 2010 by wy_kid_wrangler04

[Guest mgalvin5]

Do you use the Latin American or the Spain Rosetta Stone?