songsparrow Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 Language Arts is the subject area that I struggle with the most when it comes to choosing and planning curriculum. I am looking for ideas and inspiration. So, what does your middle schooler's LA curriculum look like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAM Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 We're trying something new this year- we're going to use MCT (Town level) with ideas from The Writer's Jungle. I have TWJ but haven't actually read it yet so I am no expert on how to do this-but right now that's my plan. I also got Unjournaling to use once a week for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffybunny Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 WWS MCT (just received Voyage level) Grammar Diagramming Then I'm looking for a spelling program, which is probably going to be Phonetics Zoo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted June 19, 2012 Share Posted June 19, 2012 7th grade this fall: Lingua Mater 7 (Hillside Education) SYR English 3 (Galore Park) The Creative Writer (Peace Hill Press) Creative Writing II / Creative Writing III (Connect the Thoughts) Poetry study (Perinne's Literature - Structure, Sound and Sense) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 5th grade (WTM logic stage, if not officially middle school yet ) Rod and Staff grade 5 english Rod and Staff grade 6 spelling First Form Latin Classical House of Learning Lit. Ancients (logic stage) WTM style history outlining Writing will come from R&S english, outlining, and CHOLL If that becomes too much, the R&S spelling will be the first to go for us. Vocab will still be covered in Latin and science and history and CHOLL, and dd is a natural speller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSMom2One Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) Well, you may notice by my siggy what curricula we are planning to use next year, but basically for us a LA program always includes grammar, writing, vocabulary and literature. It could also include a spelling program if the student needs one. We really love WWS1 and will be beta testing level 2 when it is ready. Vocabulary from Classical Roots (VFCR) has been a favorite of ours for the past three years now. We have used a variety of grammar programs, but my favorite was R&S. This year we're going with Grammarlogues because it uses practical applications, pulling straight out of literature passages. I think my dd will also enjoy having a computer based program for grammar for a change. We will be reading a lot this year, mostly from TWTM list, and also some read alouds that I've pulled from the Notgrass ATB literature list. We'll also be doing 4-5 Progeny Press literature guides. For spelling, I test on vocabulary words and also words that dd misspells in her writing assignments. Previously I've used Spelling Workout and Spelling Power, both good programs. Hope this helps! Blessings, Lucinda Edited June 20, 2012 by HSMom2One Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5LittleMonkeys Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 7th grade Writing with Skill Institute for Excellence in Writing Analytical Grammar Vocabulary Workshop Figuratively Speaking Literature: I'm still working on compiling a list. I know she'll read several L'Engle books, several Jules Verne, and HG Wells. She'll only do 4 of these with study guides. She'll read a lot of mythology from different cultures as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyGrace Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 For 7th: R+S Spelling 7 (spelling/roots/vocab)-we also practice her misspells as they come up in her writing Finish R+S English (2 months left) and then into KISS Grammar (year 6) or AG Writing at co-op, fill in w/ WWS and Jump In at home Lit/poetry-co-op class plus she reads high level lit on her own (latest fave is Shakespeare) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom2011 Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 For 6th: WWS EG Spelling Workout Vocabulary Workshop Literature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 6th grade in the fall: MCT Voyage level, complete LL7, plus additional books Everyday Spelling 6 WWS, outsourced class 8th grade, just completed: MCT Magic Lens level 1, complete EIL Intro to Lit Everyday Spelling 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 My 5th grader WWE (home-planned, she's not quite ready for WWS) Paragraph Town Caesar's English AAS Lit TBD First Form Latin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Closeacademy Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 My dd struggles with reading comprehension, composition and is afraid to put herself out there and spell words. So this is what we are doing: Writing Strands 3/ Wordsmith Apprentice--to build her confidence in bits and pieces, there was little composition in her online school last year Spell to Write and Read--again build her confidence, there was no spelling in her online school last year McCall-Crabbs Test Lessons in Reading--for building reading comprehension skills Vocabulary from Classical Roots A--looking into this to build vocabulary skills Reading books--I have a small list for her to read but mostly, I just have her read daily books that she enjoys. If it is boring she doesn't retain anything. We are not doing grammar this year because she has a good understanding but I am looking at having her do Easy Grammar Plus in 8th grade. We may do Writing for 100 Days in 8th grade as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.... Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Each of my kids uses a different LA. Here's the 5th grader: Writing with Skill + The Creative Writer MCT's Caesar's English, Paragraph Town, Building Poems, etc. Sequential Spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) For 7th grade this past year looked like this: AG second season SWI-C finished SWR Editor in Chief Progeny Press Lit Guides 8th grade next year: AG third season Editor in Chief Word Roots Vocabulary AG Reinforcements Writing Edited June 20, 2012 by HollyDay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 Our LA program has consisted of the following compoents: Word study. This was spelling, but we are done with that. We are moving on to vocabulary in 7th grade. Grammar Composition Literature We have used a couple different resources for all of these things, but the components have stayed the same. Different aspects take more or less precedence as my child gets older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Wizards Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 This next year for 6th grade: WWS GWG 6 Vocabulary Workshop (trying this for first time) Read a bunch of books, do some kind of guide for a few of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 For 7th grade: outside class using Writeshop II Vocabulary from Classical Roots Easy Grammar Plus Daily Grams 7 not sure what we're doing for lit---I have LL8, so we may do that. This summer we have started the grammar and vocab above, plus "Igniting Your Writing" and Kilgallon's "Grammar for Middle School: a sentence composing approach." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 6th grade Bravewriter/The Writer's Jungle Writing Strands Getting Started with Latin Natural Speller (maybe) Alternating Grammar Land and The Sentence Family I may have monthly or bi-monthly focuses, like a month or so of poetry... we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillehei Posted June 20, 2012 Share Posted June 20, 2012 We are really struggling with LA, too. We've decided to use Learning Language Arts Through Literature. Both are all inclusive and don't require multiple programs and workbooks...ugh. My kids were in the public school until 4th and 2nd grade and they seemed to have no LA skills but since we started homeschooling 2 years ago things have just become worse. We have tried so many LA programs but looking through LLATL with the kids, they are actually looking forward to doing it. Some say it is weak but I am looking at it and I think it will be fine. I have kept our spelling in the wings, just in case they aren't getting enough in LLATL. This summer, they are also doing Grammaropolis from HSBC to get ready for LLATL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birchbark Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 For 6th grader: Understanding Writing Daily Grammar Practice Literature - via reading and discussion a la Teaching the Classics Caesar's English - root word/vocab program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 My 8th grader: WWS Analytical Grammar Phonetic Zoo Spelling The Hobbit Progeny Press then Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicmommy Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 7th Grade in the fall: AG session1 Vocabulary Workshop Spelling Lists from his own work Writing from TOG Journaling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 5th Grader: MCT - finish Town level, begin Voyage WWS 4x per week; Creative Writer 1x per week Homegrown literature, which includes IR assigned from historical fiction of the period (1650-1850) and RA/discussion of good children's literature and/or "classics" I think she is ready for We'll finish Town about halfway through the year, and also finish WWS before the year is out. We may throw in some Kilgallon Sentence Composing for middle school, or we may just move on to the next level in both programs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amsunshine Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 For my 5th grader: WWS1 Hake 6 Spelling Workout G + Valerie's Supplement for spelling bee prep Memoria Press Lit Guides for Treasure Island, Anne of Green Gables and The Hobbit Rummy Roots and More Roots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in PA Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 7th grade: WWS1/WWS2 Beta Lightning Lit 8/WTM lists AAS7 GWG7 VfCR A & B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommyto4 Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 For fifth grade: R&S English 5 R&S Spelling 6 Lit. picked from Early Modern Time period Novel studies from Co-op Perhaps WWE4 or IEW???? We are trying to keep our studies simple for the upcoming year, so I am not sure if we will just use R&S for writing too. I hope to use WWS for Grade 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arcara Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 7th grader AG, Season 3 AAS 7 (if it actually comes out) Vocabulary Workshop WWE Killgallon Literature - I haven't finalized her list yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joani Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 This year, for 8th, my son used: WWS Analytical Grammar (all in one year) Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop C & D Barron's Painless Spelling Barron's Painless Poetry (he loves these) Lightning Literature 8 4 Ancient Great Books In the fall, my 7th and 8th grade girls will use: WWS The Creative Writer Analytical Grammar (over two years) Sadlier Oxford Vocabulary Workshop C Lightning Literature 8 Medieval Literature & Shakespeare study Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narrow Gate Academy Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Our language arts consists of: Grammar: R&S English Writing: Classical Writing Spelling/Vocabulary: finishing SWO, then MCT vocabulary Literature: lots of library books with narration or discussion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Gregg Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Grade 5: Evan-Moor: Building Spelling Skills Evan-Moor: Daily Reading Grade 5 (only doing 2 a week) Excellence In Writing Intensive Level A Easy Grammar 4/5 Harcourt Family Learing: Reading Skills, Spelling Skills, Language Arts and Writing Skills. Real Science 4 kids: Chemistry Kogs: Language. Also doing Greek and Latin from the root up and a latin program, just not sure which one and does that fall under L.A.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs.Gregg Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Grade 5:Evan-Moor: Building Spelling Skills Evan-Moor: Daily Reading Grade 5 (only doing 2 a week) Excellence In Writing Intensive Level A Easy Grammar 4/5 Harcourt Family Learing: Reading Skills, Spelling Skills, Language Arts and Writing Skills. Real Science 4 kids: Chemistry Kogs: Language. Also doing Greek and Latin from the root up and a latin program, just not sure which one and does that fall under L.A.? As I'm looking at this again, that is a lot of material. I'm still on the fence about Easy Grammar. We used it last year and Daily Grams. We might not use the Harcourt Spelling skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fourisenough Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 My 7th grader will be doing an online class that will cover grammar, writing, and a little literature (Potter's School English 1). I'll add Vocab. from Classical Roots level A and middle ages literature to compliment her history studies. She is a strong speller, so we don't do a separate spelling program. She'll also be doing Spencerian Penmanship just for fun, but I consider it more a handicraft/fine art than language arts at this age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NittanyJen Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 Always subject to tweaking: 2nd year logic stage LA: MCT magic Lens, Word Within the Word 1, Poetry and Humanity 1, ML practice book, IEW Ancients/Medieval, WWS, reading self and in group, speech (focus on poetry recitation and short presentation from keyword outlines with emphasis more on strong speaking voice, inflection, posture, verbal tic erasure than on developing rhetoric). If WWtW bombs out on us, I do have Vocabulary Workshop B waiting in the wings; he loved VW A! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I used So You Really Want to Learn English, from Galore Park. It covers most things. I then added in Lightning Literature in order to study complete texts. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiobrain Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I have a 7th & 8th grader. They will both do most of this, maybe in varying degrees depending on each component. Anything that is specific to each I will list separately... Online G3- MCT WWW2/ML2 Words and their Stories MCT Time Travelers Lit a few modules of Excellence in Lit: Intro to Lit some random things from teaching the classics/figuratively speaking my own writing assignments from various sources IEW writing class at a co-op (totally hating this, but at least I'm not involved, lol) typing spelling: 8th-logic of english (I did the beta test on this, still working through it) 7th-apples & pears I might sign up for another home2teach writing class, but not for a while Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnlvr Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 For 5th: Mosdos Coral 4 novels Grammar/practice Voyage Megawords Caesar's English II Classical Writing We did these last year and are IMMENSELY pleased with the results. I'm not messing with a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaNYC Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 I have lots of things on hand and there will be some tweaking if something isn't working, but here's what I'm thinking for my 6th grader: Spelling Skills 5 & 6 Simply Grammar Wordly Wise Gr. 6 Writing Strands Daily Spark Vocabulary & Grammar ...and all the LA that he gets from the copywork, oral & written narrations, dictation exercises, and classic literature in Ambleside Online. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ummto4 Posted June 24, 2012 Share Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) For both 4th and 5th grader: - Reading: Vintage Readers and Reading Comprehension book from Steck Vaughan to get them used to test format and questions. Other than these, they read freely. - Spelling: Apples and Pears - Vocab: Vocab. Vine (half speed) and discussing difficult words from the vintage readers. - General (usage, poetry, some prose, writing, outlining): Serl's ILL and Writing Strands 3 (half speed, to be finished mid 2013). - Grammar: Evan Moore Daily Paragraph Editing (2 paragr. per week) and KISS Grammar. OTher: - Once a week fairy/folk tales read aloud. - Lit. terms, vocab, etc : cross curricula (FIAR and Beyond FIAR) Edited June 24, 2012 by mom2moon2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNLisa Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 For my dd: WWS level 1 The Creative Writer Vocabulary from Classical Roots A and B Applications of Grammar reading list pulled from WTM and Honey for a Teen's Heart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deniseibase Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 WWS Hake/Saxon Grammar 7 a big list of books I picked out that she'll be reading & then we'll be covering as SWB instructs in her Literary Analysis lecture Spelling and vocabulary we just do as they come up - she's naturally a good speller, and I've always believed the best way to improve your vocabulary is to read, read, and read some more. (We'll probably do a Greek & Latin roots program for one year in high school, though.) After that, we'll hopefully have WWS2 ready so we can rinse-repeat the same basic LA program with Hake 8 in 8th grade. In high school, we'll drop the grammar and focus on heavier literature and composition. I HOPE the WWS schedule will stay ahead of us!! :) Not entirely sure what we will do, but she's not a big 'word person' so I don't think it will be the focus. Good old fashioned competence will suit me fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiegirl Posted July 2, 2012 Share Posted July 2, 2012 For my 8th grader: WWS/CW Diogenes Chreia Mother Tongue Bk II (a vintage grammar book) Henle latin literature: making my own list from AO and TOG and using Teaching the Classics for discussion For my 6th grader: Logic of English CW Homer Mother Tongue BkI Latin (doing our own thing) literature--same as 8th grader copywork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntPol Posted July 4, 2012 Share Posted July 4, 2012 7/8th graders Pass English I MCT Voyage Level (yes, it's below their grade level but I own it already, we never got to it, and I still think it's good review)- Practice Voyage book only 2 writtten narrations and 1 dictation a week Spelling City -most misspelled words and individual trouble words Vocabulary Cartoons SAT question of the day Poetry Journal-one entry a week -note meter, etc. Copywork journal-one entry a week Writing assignments across curriculum The Hobbit -Discovery Guide LLFLOTR -only through end of Fellowship of the Ring Book Club Various assigned books to go with history 3 Shakespeare Plays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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