Insertcreativenamehere Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 If you were to outsource one 7th grade class, which one would it be and to where would you outsource? I am feeling the pinch of trying to meet all of my kids' needs and want to outsource at least one subject next year for my middle schooler. I'm looking for ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 My current 7th grader has a few outsourced classes. Which subject would you get the most resistance from if you are the teacher would be the one I would prioritize for outsourcing. He did Romeo and Juliet and enjoyed it. He won't want my husband or me to teach him literature so that was our outsource priority. http://hscollegebound.com/Romeo-and-Juliet.htm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Foreign language if I am not fluent in the language myself. I have found this the hardest subject to homeschool and see no substitute for interaction with a fluent teacher, if I want my student ever to achieve proficiency. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heatherwith4 Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 For me it would be math. :) I'm not sure how we would outsource it. We were using Landry Academy before they closed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 (edited) Foreign language. We used a tutor. Edited February 24, 2017 by EKS 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 (edited) What is your least favorite subject to teach or what is the subject your 7th grader is the most resistant to learning from you? I would outsource that. Or, if you really want it to be something that they are excited about and willing to put some extra effort into, I would sit with them and let them look through some options you have found for topics that they have a strong interest in already. Getting them fired up about on-line lessons might help in the long run if you then later have to put your child in lessons in a subject they don't like. They already are o.k. with the format and may find they like it even with subjects they aren't fond of. There are a zillion providers that offer tons of different classes. (See the link below for many options - still a work in progress so not many reviews yet by the way.) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/638806-master-list-of-on-line-classes/ I do feel I need to put a caveat here. I'm not sure how much experience your family has with on-line classes but if your student really hasn't done any before please be aware that this is not necessarily taking a ton off of your plate. On-line classes frequently only meet once a week or maybe twice a week. There is usually quite a bit of material that has to be covered by the student outside of class time. This means they need to be good at note taking, need to stay very organized, stay on top of assignments, if they have questions they need to be proactive about contacting the teacher, they need to be conversant with the way assignments are turned in and stay on top of getting them in by the deadline, etc. If your child has never taken an on-line class they will probably need help getting used to that format. It can be a great learning experience but it can also end up being incredibly time consuming for the student AND the parent, depending on the demands of the class and how independent the student is. I felt I had to mention this since I know when I first signed up my eldest for an on-line class I was picturing not having to do more than minor checking in and facilitating. I was dead wrong. DD was not used to having to plan out how much work to get done each day, she was terrible at note taking from an on-line class, she struggled with remember dates for turning in her work, she got confused on the format for receiving and turning in assignments, etc. I had to be very involved and it was not on my schedule but on the on-line schedule. I couldn't say "Well, we need to take some time off while we deal with that death in the family..." (or whatever). Now? She does well. It just took time to develop those skills. Edited February 24, 2017 by OneStepAtATime 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaluv+2more Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 What is your least favorite subject to teach or what is the subject your 7th grader is the most resistant to learning from you? I would outsource that. Or, if you really want it to be something that they are excited about and willing to put some extra effort into, I would sit with them and let them look through some options you have found for topics that they have a strong interest in already. Getting them fired up about on-line lessons might help in the long run if you then later have to put your child in lessons in a subject they don't like. They already are o.k. with the format and may find they like it even with subjects they aren't fond of. There are a zillion providers that offer tons of different classes. (See the link below for many options - still a work in progress so not many reviews yet by the way.) http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/638806-master-list-of-on-line-classes/ I do feel I need to put a caveat here. I'm not sure how much experience your family has with on-line classes but if your student really hasn't done any before please be aware that this is not necessarily taking a ton off of your plate. On-line classes frequently only meet once a week or maybe twice a week. There is usually quite a bit of material that has to be covered by the student outside of class time. This means they need to be good at note taking, need to stay very organized, stay on top of assignments, if they have questions they need to be proactive about contacting the teacher, they need to be conversant with the way assignments are turned in and stay on top of getting them in by the deadline, etc. If your child has never taken an on-line class they will probably need help getting used to that format. It can be a great learning experience but it can also end up being incredibly time consuming for the student AND the parent, depending on the demands of the class and how independent the student is. I felt I had to mention this since I know when I first signed up my eldest for an on-line class I was picturing not having to do more than minor checking in and facilitating. I was dead wrong. DD was not used to having to plan out how much work to get done each day, she was terrible at note taking from an on-line class, she struggled with remember dates for turning in her work, she got confused on the format for receiving and turning in assignments, etc. I had to be very involved and it was not on my schedule but on the on-line schedule. I couldn't say "Well, we need to take some time off while we deal with that death in the family..." (or whatever). Now? She does well. It just took time to develop those skills. This is exactly why I chose to put my daughter in a couple of online classes next year. I need her to learn accountability, organization, etc. I totally expect to hold her hand for a bit and then let her fall a bit, if necessary, so that she can learn these important lessons/skills. She really struggles with this and I have tried everything I can think of, short of putting her in public school. I have enrolled her in WTMA history (because it is her favorite subject so she is motivated and more likely to succeed) and writing (because I am failing her miserably in this subject :crying: ). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 My first reaction: writing. Writing for others was important here, but ITA w/ those who said whatever subject you get the most resistance from your kids to get done. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinivanMom Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Either foreign language or whichever subject is causing you the most stress and difficulty. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I have been outsourcing science since before 7th. My dds take science in a co-op class. They do most labs there. They get their assignments there. They do their bookwork and lab sheets at home and sometimes additional labs, whatever is on the schedule. They didn't start actually testing there until 9th grade biology. I kind of miss some of the fun of being on our own for science and doing science fairs occasionally. We can't really take months off of her science assignments to do a big presentation and experiment like we did when we did the science fairs. They have to keep up with their class. But it took a load off of me for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 In 6th (this year) it was math, English, and Latin. English and Latin went great; math not so much. Next year, math will be back with me but English and Latin are staying with Lukeion. He is adding in their history too. I think it is rather hit and miss with providers. Ds did not like his math provider. I do not think it was the idea of math with someone else. He liked the Latin, kinda liked the English, so he wants more from them. With my extroverted kid, I knew if he liked any then he was soon going to want much more. Be prepared to add if they get excited about it. ETA: We started piano and music theory when Ds was in 5th grade. I do not know if that counts. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Math. My 7th grader is doing pre-algebra at a live co-op with Mr. D. Math. She loves it, and it helps tremendously to have a teacher other than Mom. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KrissiK Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 (edited) Writing. Though I don't know how I would do it. We started out the year with a great, easy, simple writing curriculum and I still can't make it work. It's the feed-back part I just can't manage. Edited February 25, 2017 by KrissiK 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I think I could still manage pretty much all the core academic subjects with a good curriculum and preparation. Instrumental music and theory, at the level that my daughter is at, not so. I could also do a general health and fitness class but not a specific sport or dance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 We always out source music, as in piano lessons. The only reason I don't outsource French, is because I haven't found a sense able way to do so. But I will next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 It would be writing/Language Arts... however, math is easier to outsource where I live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Latin (or grammar -barbarian digrammarian, if not ready for or interested in latin) through lukeion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 That said, I am competent to teach writing and math at this level so the next skill subject (foreign language) gets outsourced. If I were weak in writing or math I'd outsource one of those instead, esp. writing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RootAnn Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Whatever it is tough for you to get done. Seventh is early, though. I held off on foreign language outsourcing until 8th. I might outsource writing by then with other children, though, because that's tough for me to consistently get done once they get to the writing-composition stage. Definitely either pick something that is tough for you or they have a real interest in that you can't support them adequately or both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitten18 Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Writing. I sooooo wish I had put her in an IEW class. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Music and history Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScoutTN Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Math, music and art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Foreign Language. I can teach math through pre-algebra without any additional work on my part. WWS is working great here for writing both for my students and me the teacher, history is a more laid-back content subject, science is under control for the next year, at least. We've got some little subjects like grammar, vocabulary, and spelling that are no big deal. In Spanish, though, they are close enough to my level of fluency that we were starting to spin our wheels. However, I put them into a high school level class, and I'm now thinking that decision. We don't need to rush through the high school levels early. So this year I may move to something a little more informal (and cheaper) and slow down the pace a bit. I LOVE having someone else in charge of assigning daily work and listening to all the repetition. Love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 I have chosen to outsource writing. My kid takes writing class through the WTMA. We started in 5th grade and it has been SUCH a relief. It's weird because knowing me it should be math that we outsource...and we might in the future. But, getting rid of the arguments over writing, having someone else set the deadlines etc...it's been wonderful. And WTMA uses WWS, which I would use anyway, so it's a win-win. I like the program but I don't have to teach it, lol. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 Writing -- although I agree with a pp about it may not take a lot off your plate depending on the student. My 2nd ds was great. He took charge and without much guidance was good to go. My 3rd ds - not so much. He needs help with everything! It's become more work for me. I'm thinking the class is a bit much for him so we will go with another writing provider next year. I'm determined to make it work because he needs to not depend upon me for his ability to learn. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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