First year jitters... Is this too much?

[momof4inco]

Okay, I think I'm done done. I'm ready to put my plans out there and get some feedback. We did virtual school last year, so we have experience being home but not picking our own curriculum. Please be brutally honest, let me know if I'm setting my kids up for a crazy (or not crazy enough) year. More than half of this hasn't been bought and can be changed (items in red have been bought already, might be able to adjust if necessary).

 

 

7th grade (quick to learn, was in TAG in ps but we slowed him down last year, gets things done)

 

MM7 - he did MIF Course 2 last year, didn't like it, hoping this clicks because he's great at math

WWS 1

Easy Grammar 6 - he struggles with grammar terms, even though he writes well

Word Roots 1

RS4K MS Biology & Geology - already wondering if this was the right choice, may switch next year

MP Geography I & II - I want to get as far as possible through the 2nd one, finish next year

Coding.org

 

 

6th grade (average student with awesome work ethic, can get frustrated)

 

MM5 - we will move through this as quickly as possible, start on MM6 later this year

Writing Strands 3

Easy Grammar 6

Homemade spelling/vocabulary

Cursive - public school didn't really teach him cursive :(

RS4K MS Biology & Geology - with his brother

World History Detective by CTC

 

 

3rd grade (very smart, quick to learn, fiercely independent)

 

MM3

Just Write 2

Easy Grammar 3

Homemade spelling/vocabulary

Cursive

Mystery Science

EM Daily Geography w/ Maps Charts & Graphs

Art - she desperately wants art. I like Home Art Studio, but the price of the supplies makes me think twice. She has decided to try Draw Write Now until we can figure something else out (or afford the supplies, they aren't a priority right now).

 

 

For reading, I have book lists planned for each of them. We are trying to just read this year, maybe I can convince them to like reading again (ps killed their love of reading with uninteresting books and too many assignments/tests). I had grand plans for foreign language and typing for all of them, but I decided to leave them out this year. I just want a successful first year of homeschool :) If you have suggestions, especially for things I haven't bought yet, please give them to me.

 

ETA our reading plan.

Edited June 11, 2016 by momof4inco

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Did you want to skip history for your third grader and seventh grader?

[EKS]

Did you want to skip history for your third grader and seventh grader?

 

This was my first thought as well.  

 

Also, what are you planning to do for literature/reading?

[momof4inco]

Sorry, I forgot to mention literature. Lots of good reading, I have some good book lists for each of them. I need them to not hate reading anymore!

 

For 7th grade, I want to concentrate on world geography instead of history this year. He did ancient history last year and hated it.

 

For 3rd grade, I couldn't find history for her that I liked. I would be happy with replacing EM with something else, if anyone has any suggestions. I looked at Adventures in America, but it was for younger kids. We need something secular.

[wendyroo]

Art - she desperately wants art. I like Home Art Studio, but the price of the supplies makes me think twice. She has decided to try Draw Write Now until we can figure something else out (or afford the supplies, they aren't a priority right now).

 

We use Home Art Studio and I buy a fraction of the recommended supplies.  I really like the blog Deep Space Sparkle; the author is an elementary art teacher and she gives very pragmatic tips about art supplies and projects.  Here is one of her guides to art supplies.

 

Art for Kids Hub is also a really nice (free) art resource.

And Art Tango and HodgePodge.

 

Wendy

[Momto6inIN]

I would put the 6th grader with the 7th grader for geography, which for my kids would make it much more interesting for them. My high schooler did CTC World History Detective as a supplement, and while it wasn't necessarily difficult, it did involve some long answer/essay writing skills that he would not have been ready for in 6th grade. And it was kind of boring.

[PeterPan]

For the 7th grader, to the WWS and the other LA (grammar, roots) on alternating weeks.  That way he doesn't burn out on WWS.  It will also give you flex if he gets into a task and gets bogged down.  That way it can overflow to the next week but he's still on track to finish.

 

For the 6th grader, that's a lot of LA stuff.  I'd tidy that.  Why should he do WS3 if he's going to do WWS1 the following year in 7th?  I wouldn't bother.  Have him do something written in his history/science and call it good.  See if you can combine his spelling and typing.  There is *kinesthetic* memory for spelling, so typing spelling can be a good thing!  Also, why isn't he doing geography along with the 7th grader??

 

The 3rd grader looks good.  Now all three kids are doing geography (if you change the 6th grader), so then you get this synergy or some family projects or monthly restaurant days when everyone gets their stuff done...  For art for her, have you tried looking for lesson plans online?  Simple can be good.  I found this and thought I'd try it with my ds.  http://www.mrsbrownart.com/2nd.htm  It says 2nd grade, but they might be cool for 3rd.  School teachers tend to use simple materials because they pay for stuff themselves.  Oh, wow, look!  That same site has 3rd grade plans.  Very simple materials, score.  http://www.mrsbrownart.com/3rd.htm

 

 

 

 

Edited June 11, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[momof4inco]

I would put the 6th grader with the 7th grader for geography, which for my kids would make it much more interesting for them. My high schooler did CTC World History Detective as a supplement, and while it wasn't necessarily difficult, it did involve some long answer/essay writing skills that he would not have been ready for in 6th grade. And it was kind of boring.

 

Thanks for the info on World History Detective. I saw grades 6-12, didn't think that it might be above his reading level. Combining the two on geography is a good plan.

 

For the 7th grader, to the WWS and the other LA (grammar, roots) on alternating weeks.  That way he doesn't burn out on WWS.  It will also give you flex if he gets into a task and gets bogged down.  That way it can overflow to the next week but he's still on track to finish.

 

For the 6th grader, that's a lot of LA stuff.  I'd tidy that.  Why should he do WS3 if he's going to do WWS1 the following year in 7th?  I wouldn't bother.  Have him do something written in his history/science and call it good.  See if you can combine his spelling and typing.  There is *kinesthetic* memory for spelling, so typing spelling can be a good thing!  Also, why isn't he doing geography along with the 7th grader??

 

The 3rd grader looks good.  Now all three kids are doing geography (if you change the 6th grader), so then you get this synergy or some family projects or monthly restaurant days when everyone gets their stuff done...  For art for her, have you tried looking for lesson plans online?  Simple can be good.  I found this and thought I'd try it with my ds.  http://www.mrsbrownart.com/2nd.htm  It says 2nd grade, but they might be cool for 3rd.  School teachers tend to use simple materials because they pay for stuff themselves.  Oh, wow, look!  That same site has 3rd grade plans.  Very simple materials, score.  http://www.mrsbrownart.com/3rd.htm

 

Good suggestions :) I could have 3rd grade do MP States & Capitals this year (I was going to do it next year) and really have them all doing geography. 

 

For 7th grade - Do you mean do twice the work in one week on WWS/grammar & vocab, or do the books over two years? Like block scheduling where he spends more time on it? Sorry, just trying to wrap my head around the idea :)

 

I love that art website! I have looked for hours trying to find something. 

 

We use Home Art Studio and I buy a fraction of the recommended supplies.  I really like the blog Deep Space Sparkle; the author is an elementary art teacher and she gives very pragmatic tips about art supplies and projects.  Here is one of her guides to art supplies.

 

Art for Kids Hub is also a really nice (free) art resource.

And Art Tango and HodgePodge.

 

Wendy

 

I found Art for Kid Hub once, then I couldn't remember the name to find it again. Thank you! Between that, and the site that OhElizabeth mentioned, I can drop Draw Write Now. I'll have to take some time to look at those links for art supplies, the list for Home Art Studio was overwhelming. That could be an option for 4th grade.

 

I'm loving the suggestions!

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

I thought the same on history. Geography is good though. Maybe include some literature that is historical fiction or ties in with the area you are studying with geography. You could easily combine the two for geography.

 

I understand wanting a streamlined year, and you still have coding and art that plays to their interests. You can add more art, music, etc. next year. I think your science, language arts and math all looks great.

 

For art, I'd look at Artistic Pursuits or Hodge Podge. www.hodgepodge.me would be great to start because you'd just need paper and chalk pastels, which are a great medium for this age. Draw Write Now is fun for some drawing techniques, but you'd eventually need something meatier that teaches more of the elements of art.

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

One more thought: would your sixth grader be able to start WWS 1 with your 7th grader? That would streamline things a bit for you. But I completely understand if they each need something different.

[EKS]

Sorry, I forgot to mention literature. Lots of good reading, I have some good book lists for each of them. I need them to not hate reading anymore!

 

For 7th grade, I want to concentrate on world geography instead of history this year. He did ancient history last year and hated it.

 

For 3rd grade, I couldn't find history for her that I liked. I would be happy with replacing EM with something else, if anyone has any suggestions. I looked at Adventures in America, but it was for younger kids. We need something secular.

 

What did you use for ancient history that he hated?  

 

For 3rd grade, I'd either go with SOTW 1-2 or K12's History 1-2.  Then in 4th I'd do 3-4.  I would read the spine and add in lots of supplemental reading.  No memorization, no workbook pages, just enjoy the story.

[PeterPan]

When we did WWS, I went through with a highlighter and trimmed out things she didn't need.  I think also SWB suggests alternating WWS and Creative Writer so they don't get bored.  So I was saying to alternate with your other components instead of CW.  

 

There are different schools of thought on WWS.  Some people really HATE it honestly.  I thought it was valuable but kind of dry.  I trimmed out what she didn't need and when we were on and when we were off we were off.  It's sort of tedious.  

 

Also, the last few weeks of the book were for a larger project.  Count up your weeks and see.  We combined those skills into a real life project.  Not like that's the only way to do it.  So when you think of it that way, it's possible to alternate and make things work.  But yes, we were defacto working at an accelerated pace during on weeks.

Edited June 11, 2016 by OhElizabeth

[momof4inco]

What did you use for ancient history that he hated?  

 

For 3rd grade, I'd either go with SOTW 1-2 or K12's History 1-2.  Then in 4th I'd do 3-4.  I would read the spine and add in lots of supplemental reading.  No memorization, no workbook pages, just enjoy the story.

 

It was a textbook through Calvert, very dry and not interesting at all. It's the only time in 7 years of public school that he ever did ancient history.

 

If I'm looking at the right K12 History, it looks very interesting but very pricey (especially to do two courses in a year). K12 as in the virtual school - independent study course?

[momof4inco]

When we did WWS, I went through with a highlighter and trimmed out things she didn't need.  I think also SWB suggests alternating WWS and Creative Writer so they don't get bored.  So I was saying to alternate with your other components instead of CW.  

 

There are different schools of thought on WWS.  Some people really HATE it honestly.  I thought it was valuable but kind of dry.  I trimmed out what she didn't need and when we were on and when we were off we were off.  It's sort of tedious.  

 

Also, the last few weeks of the book were for a larger project.  Count up your weeks and see.  We combined those skills into a real life project.  Not like that's the only way to do it.  So when you think of it that way, it's possible to alternate and make things work.  But yes, we were defacto working at an accelerated pace during on weeks.

 

I can tell it's very wordy. I was surprised at how big the book was when we got it. I'll look through the book to see what he needs out of it. I know the first couple of lessons (summarizing and outlining) will be something he needs to go over. That's as far as I've gotten looking through the book.

 

Someone above suggested not doing Writing Strands with my 6th grader this year, either waiting for WWS in 7th or doing it this year with his brother. I would love to consolidate them for writing, but I don't think my 6th grader has enough of the writing basics yet. 7th grade can do 5+ paragraph composition, mostly laid out correctly with an intro and conclusion. 6th grade just isn't there yet, he struggles with intros and conclusions and even the basic layout of a 3 paragraph comp. He can write a lot while saying very little :) I would help him edit before turning things in last year... It was painful.

[EKS]

It was a textbook through Calvert, very dry and not interesting at all. It's the only time in 7 years of public school that he ever did ancient history.

 

If I'm looking at the right K12 History, it looks very interesting but very pricey (especially to do two courses in a year). K12 as in the virtual school - independent study course?

 

It is awesome--but yes, it is also pricey.