Junior High - 7th & 8th grades - HELP!!!! « SCM Discussion Forum: Charlotte Mason Method Homeschooling

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Junior High - 7th & 8th grades - HELP!!!!

(19 posts) (8 voices)

Started 1 year ago by crazy4boys
Latest reply from my3boys

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crazy4boys
Member

Well, friends....time is not slowing down and my 'big' boys are heading into junior high next year, even though I'm not ready. It will take me a while to research and plan and shop so I'd like to get started now. I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to share your favorite resources for the junior high years. Core subjects and electives. Whatever.

We'll keep doing the SCM history guides (I think - do I need to add more?). We'll most likely do Apologia science (unless we find something better). They are college-bound and are very interested in science. They'll have finished RightStart math so we'll need to find a new program.

I appreciate any help/direction/advice/suggestions you can give.

Heather

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
Misty
Member

Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. My one son hit 7th this year and next I will also have a 7th & 8th grader! I will just let you know what I am doing: (between the 2) Math - MUS, Grammar - Grammar Key, OMT, and trying for the 1st time TLP& Jump In, Shakespeare, copywork (character quotes/bible verses/written narration, Spelling -All about Spelling. I will not mention history or science as you already have that down. I also use Apologia and have liked it. They will also have religion based on our faith, personal development books, classical literature books and handicrafts (which for my boys is a no brainer as they like to work with their hands). Hope this helps a bit. Though it will work for us it might not work for you. Good luck. It's scary as they get older :0) Misty

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4myboys
Member

lamasahm, we use so many abbreviations, and I know most of them now, but what is TLP?

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
sbkrjulie
Member

My son will be starting 7th grade as well. I am so not ready for this!!! God will give us guidance and good friends to lean upon though during this time.

I still feel like I am failing him as he cannot really write a good paper, but we have not really mastered narration yet. I am just starting the CM style of learning too. I so wish I would stop worrying about where he would be if in public school as my husband and I decided neither of our children will ever go back to public school. Sigh....yes, I have some struggles to work on...pray for me....

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
my3boys
Member

Our list of subjects (even some of the curriculum) are the same as Misty's. This has been a good year. My ds has become more and more independent (he's pretty much completely ind.), is enjoying his subjects and has continued to increase his love for reading. HIs narrations are pretty solid and he is getting quite a bit on paper, but I know the format could use some help (we'll work on that this coming year).

If you haven't already, expect him/her to need a little more sleep and food....that's been the biggest difference this year, LOL.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
crazy4boys
Member

I didn't think it was possible for them to eat more food! Please tell me it isn't true......

I think TLP is Total Language Plus. But what is OMT?

Thanks ladies. Maybe we should have a support group for mom's freaking out about junior high! And a budget group for feeding them without breaking the bank.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
my3boys
Member

OMT = Our Mother Tongue (correct me if I'm wrong, ladies), I've no experience with it, btw.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
Bookworm
Member

It's REALLY not so awfully different. You all will be fine. My baby will be in 7th this coming year. Yes, they will need more food. LOL Just wait til the Great Teen Growth Spurt and hormone surges hit! You don't even want to know my grocery bill or how many gallons of milk I need to buy for only 5 people. One of my kids grew 7 inches in one year. LOL

With my little one, we're circling back around for ancients. I just use the books I like, lol, so I don't use any particular program. He'll be in pre-algebra (MUS) and doing Jump In and Our Mother Tongue, Latin II, God's Design for the Physical World, several collected literature books he hasn't read yet, he'll begin the first two or so books in the Uncle Eric series, do the Basics of Critical Thinking, a beginning computer programming course, and some religious study.

Junior high's not so bad. Just wait until high school, transcripts, credits, college application essays, SAT's, and girls. You've got NOTHING to panic about yet Seriously---it'll be OK. It's really no bigger a step than third to fourth or fifth to sixth--your children are just getting smarter and more capable year after year.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
Misty
Member

the abbreviations are all correct! Sorry, just typing and not thinking.. :0(

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
crazy4boys
Member

I think I'm freaking out because if they are old enough for junior high it must mean I am OLD. And it makes me realize I don't have much time left with them. I have so much to teach them, so much I want them to learn.

Please, stop with the grocery bill talk. They already eat SO much food.....can it possibly get worse? Wait, don't answer that. I really need to get that garden planted...and a mini-orchard. Can I raise a beef cow in my garage?

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
Rachel
Member

If you have an extra acre, you can raise a Dexter cow! They're a small, heritage breed from Ireland; multi-purpose, too.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
sheraz
Member

When I was younger, we lived on farm and had a cow named Alice. When we had to move into town, Mom and Dad took us to the property we were buying. My little 3yo brother wanted to know where Alice was going to stay. Mom and Dad said there wasn't room. My brother replied "We can build her a tree house!" LOL

So far, I think that I will use Our Mother Tongue, Apologia Science, SCM Modules with some addtitional readings, and whatever math I decide will be a good fit. We will continue with picture, music, nature, and hymn studies, read alouds, poetry, art, handicrafts, foreign language, and Shakespeare. Plus anything needed for individual interests and abilities. I have another year or so before I have to be serious about this, so I appreciate this thread - I will be reading and studying up on our needs as well.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
crazy4boys
Member

I've been able to find everything you've all talked about except for the Basics of Critical Thinking that Bookworm mentioned. Where might that be?

And Rachel, no extra acre of land. We're on .40 acres and in the city....we can't even have chickens. Someday......

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
Bookworm
Member

Basics of Critical Thinking--at Critical Thinking Press. It's a new product, won't be officially released until June, but they have samples up now and I've seen pieces of it. He's not quite ready yet for my favorite Classical Academic Press logic series. OH--and I have another new resource for logic--probably for high school. My 16yo wil be watching it--new Teaching Company course called Your Deceptive Mind--catchy. LOL It's on its way here so I haven't watched it yet.

I seriously considered tucking a cow into the garage once . . . LOL. Except then a friend of mine told me about all the maintenance, feed, supplements, medications and vet bills and I decided maybe it wouldn't be worth it after all. That and the city zoning laws. LOL We regularly do 12 gallons a week and there are only three of them. But they are piranha. Really. Dh came back from a campout in Feb. with my two youngest and a few of their friends, and that was his comment--they were piranha. As soon as food was produced it was eaten. LOL Then they wanted more. Someone ate dh's dinner!!! Just in the few minutes it took him to get something for someone else. (Hopefully it wasn't one of mine--I hope they are at least more polite than that!) Casseroles and soups that USED to feed all of us--I now have to double the recipes. And that's even taking into account I don't often eat the casseroles because I don't eat much meat.

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
crazy4boys
Member

Is there anything I (we) should be doing now, in junior high, to prepare for the record/transcript keeping in high school? Sort of how we have a gentle approach for grammar before formal lessons, are there some habits to be cultivating now so that it's not such a shock or learning curve once we hit "go time"?

Because I love making more work for myself.....

Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

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