Seventh Grade Curriculum Plans

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Next year my children will be in 7th and 5th grades.  I can't believe that my oldest will be entering into the second half of his schooling years! Over the years we have done a variety of schooling options.  We began homeschooling at the beginning.  We did one year of Classical Conversations.  One year I led a Scholé group (I would love to do that again! Any local friends interested?) My kids attended a local classical, Christian school for two years, and the past two years we have been back home just doing our own thing.

I have learned something each year from all of these different options, which I am thankful for! My hope though, as we approach the high school years, is to settle on a path that we can be consistent with.  Right now we are really happy to be homeschooling, and I do think that it is best for our family, but some things I still think are beneficial to do in a group.  I would love to find some like-minded people to so some of these subjects with.  That will take some time to figure out, but at least I've got the basic curriculum planned out.

So far this is what I have planned for my child that will be in 7th grade next year:

Logic

I believe that each of these books covers a semester.  This will be our first year of formal logic study.  We have been preparing this year by reading the Fallacy Detective and the Thinking Toolbox. This seems like a subject that would be more fun more fun together.  If you are a local friend and have a middle school aged child, let me know if you'd like to do this as a group!

Art of the Argument by Classical Academic Press

From the publisher:

"Students who complete The Art of Argument will know how to reason with clarity, relevance, and purpose . . . and have fun along the way! They will study and master 28 logical fallacies, which will provide an essential lifetime framework for filtering good and bad reasoning as well as writing and speaking effectively."

Discovery of Deduction by Classical Academic Press

From the publisher:

"The book emphasizes the practical and real-world application of soundly structured deductive logic. Using methods such as Socratic dialogue, ample discussion, and integration of other subjects, the book teaches formal logic in the best way for dialectic students."

Science

For a few years we have casually made our way through a number of Apologia's elementary science courses. My children loved reading those books, so I figure that we might as well stick with Apologia.  If any local friends want to get together to do the experiments, let me know!

Exploring Creation with General Science by Apologia

From the publisher:

"Specifically designed to be the first course taken during junior high, it was created to give middle school students an understanding of the basic world that surrounds them each day of their lives so that they can appreciate the real-world relevance of scientific inquiry and the beauty of creation."

History, Literature, & Theology

I have had my eye on this curriculum since my kids were little.  I love the idea of intertwining these three subjects.  In the elementary years we mostly used Veritas Press history and I picked literature to go complement those studies. This curriculum progresses chronologically and is based on reading and discussion.  I think we can accomplish this discussion as a family, but I think it would be awesome to have a group of kids contemplating these ideas together.  If you are local to me, have a middle school aged child, and this curriculum looks interesting to you, let me know!

Omnibus I by Veritas Press

From the publisher:

"Designed to help enlighten, train, and develop young minds through the study of everything important, long-lasting, and true: the ideas, arguments, and expression of the Western Canon as expressed in the Great Books. Each chapter covers a Great Book, examining the author, context, significance, main characters, summary and setting, worldview, and providing an in-depth essay analyzing and teaching the important points of the work. Chapters conclude with five sessions that provide questions to consider, optional activities, reading assignments, cultural analysis, biblical analysis, application, summa questions, recitation comprehension questions, lateral thinking, review questions, and evaluation questions."

Books covered:

The Chronicles of Narnia, The Holiness of God, Selected books of the Bible, Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, Oresteia, Plutarch's Lives, Last Days of Socrates, The Early History of Rome, The Aeneid. Julius Caesar, The Eagle of the Ninth, The Screwtape Letters, Holiness of God

Math

My son loves math, but hates to have to practice concepts that he understands over and over.  Last year we started using this (new to me) program and are loving it!  It is really challenging, and is mostly for the child who really wants to know the why of math. We are finishing the Pre-Algebra book this year and will move on to Algebra by next year,

Introduction to Algebra by Art of Problem Solving

From the publisher:

"The text is structured to inspire the reader to explore and develop new ideas. Each section starts with problems, giving the student a chance to solve them without help before proceeding. The text then includes solutions to these problems, through which algebraic techniques are taught. Important facts and powerful problem solving approaches are highlighted throughout the text."

Latin

I have thoroughly enjoyed studying Latin with my children.  We started with Song School Latin and then moved on to Latin for Children.  I have not used any curriculum other than what Classical Academic Press publishes, so I do not have anything to compare it to, but we have been happy so far, so unless I am convinced otherwise, I plan to continue.

Latin Alive by Classical Academic Press

From the publisher:

"Students will be delighted by what they learn in each new chapter of Latin Alive and they will learn to see that Latin is everywhere around them. It is a rigorous and thorough introduction to this great language."

Writing/Grammar

This subject has always been a mix of things for me.  Spelling, Grammar, Writing, Poetry, Readers. Each day we would do one or two of those things.  I think next year we will drop spelling and the McGuffey Readers that I have always loved.  We will focus on writing skills and still do some grammar.  We have typically done poetry memorization and studying as a part of our morning time, so I think we will continue doing that.

Writing & Rhetoric by Classical Academic Press

These books are intended to take less than a year.  I think we will be in book 5 at the beginning of next year, but I'm not sure yet.

From the publisher:

"In this book, students will learn to identify and refute, or criticize, parts of a narrative that are unbelievable, improbable, unclear, or improper. A confirmation is a short essay that defends certain parts of a narrative. When students see parts of a narrative that are believable, probable, clear, or proper, they will confirm them. After learning to identify the parts of a story that can be attacked or defended, students will practice writing refutations or confirmations using sound arguments to explain their opinions."

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Planning is my favorite part of homeschooling =) So, it feels nice to have worked on this and have it mapped out.  Things may change, and I'm sure that I've missed some things (like things we don't do every day...music, art, map drawing, skillwork, etc.), but this is at least the general idea.

I would love to hear what is working for you, what things you are thinking of changing, and if you made any major changes as your children entered the second half of their schooling years!

5 Resources to Add Beauty to your Homeschool Curriculum this Year

This post is sponsored by Homeschool Buyers Co-Op.  I have been compensated for my time and have not been required to write a positive review.


You've researched your options, written your lesson plans, and your books are lined up neatly on the shelves.  You've got it, mama!  You are ready to start this new school year!

Can I ask you a quick question before you begin?

Have you included any resources in your homeschool curriculum this year that will nourish your child's soul?  Are you purposely choosing books, pictures, and other materials that will help guide your child into appreciating beauty?

If you think you may have neglected this aspect of your curriculum, or if you just want to add more beauty to your day, never fear because I have some great options to share with you!

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Music for your Homeschool

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HomeSchoolPiano

Let's start with a FREEBIE!  You can try out HomeSchoolPiano for free until the end of the month (August 31, 2017).  Developing the skills of listening to, mimicking, and creating music are essential to guiding your child toward the appreciation of beauty.  If your child is not already taking piano lessons, definitely check HomeSchoolPiano out while it's free!

A FREE Membership to HomeSchoolPiano includes:

Access to ALL lessons, unlimited viewing of the lessons on any device, up to 5 students per household can use the site, sheet music, mp3s and other lesson files, jam tracks to play along with, and bonus material

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Maestro Classics

Maestro Classics...This is one I've had my eye on for a long time.  A mix of story, beautiful music, and learning.  Sounds perfect to me!

"Stories in Music™  is a classical music series for children & families written for narrator and orchestra. Filled with fun stories and musical explanations, they are designed to help your  family cultivate a love of music through education and  joyful performances, expand and develop  listening skills, and encourage families to listen together."

Each CD Set Includes

• An enchanting story set to great music
• Superb recordings by the London Philharmonic Orchestra
• Educational tracks describing the creation of the music, composers' lives, musical composition, and more
• A 24 page activity booklet

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Art for your Homeschool

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Mark Kistler's Online Art Lessons

I am always amazed at what my children can draw when they are following step by step instructions.  These lessons are just that, and will help your child think critically and view the world through a different perspective.

300+ Drawing Lessons: Video drawing lessons, Step by Step animated lessons, games and more. Plus, Mark's team is adding new courses and content all the time.

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Home Art Studio

Home Art Studio is great because it goes beyond just drawing skills to teach many different types of art techniques.  You child will be able to add beauty to your home with their creations!

Watch this great little video that shows lots of examples of what your children will learn.

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Art Appreciation for Middle and High Schoolers

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Circle of Scholars by Professor Carol

I heard Professor Carol once at a homeschool conference, and her love for the arts was infectious!

Current curriculum focuses so much on math, science, language arts, etc., but we are missing out nourishing an entire portion of our being when we neglect to appreciate and engage in the arts.

Professor Carol argues that we also miss out on understanding much of the other subjects when we neglect the arts.  That is why she made this course.

• Discovering Music: 300 Years of Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture. Our flagship course covering the history of music from approximately 1600 to 1914.
• Early Sacred Music: History from the Jerusalem Temple to 1400 featuring performances of ancient music, Gregorian chant, and Medieval polyphony.
• America's Artistic Legacy: American History finds expression in the incredible richness of America’s music, art, drama, and literature.
• Imperial Russia: From ancient bells and chant to the Romanticism of Tchaikovsky, a course on Russia’s distinctive history and culture.

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If you are still looking for even more curriculum ideas for your homeschool, I encourage you to browse the rest of the Homeschool Buyers Co-Op site!

The Homeschool Buyers Co-op has an award-winning selection of electives, including typing programs, health curriculum, driver’s education, foreign language learning, arts and music programs, critical thinking programs, and more.

Electives (Electives, Art & Music, Foreign Languages, Thinking & Other Skills, etc.) – Savings up to 89%

Summer Scholé - Taking Learning Outside

I'm a big believer in learning in year round learning.  Of course the type of learning and even the setting can look different, but we shouldn't just turn our brains off during the summer!

In the spring and summer months, I love to take learning outside as much as possible.  If you are looking for ideas for how to have a restful, soul enriching time of learning as the weather warms up,  read on!

Gather Your Group and Find Your Setting

We had a great group last year that was comprised of 4 families.  There were 8 actively participating children, ranging in ages 8 down to 3.

I made a flyer to share with others what our group was about.  I printed these out (1 sheet, front and back) and handed them out to a few families that I thought might be interested in joining us.  In case it might be helpful for you, here is what I came up with:

We picked a very large park to meet at.  It was a place where we could always find a place that wasn't being occupied by others so they wouldn't distract us and we wouldn't bother them =)

The year before, I had families over to my backyard for our summer learning, so don't feel limited by your choices of local parks, just be creative and pick any outside setting that will work for you!

Choose Your Subjects

We settled on covering three subjects each week.  You can choose anything that would be conducive to learning in a group and being outside.  We did poetry, nature study (birds), and art.

Poetry

I led the poetry portion, which I absolutely loved!  Each week I planned a new poem to memorize, a fun way to learn about poetry, and made copywork to send the kids home with so they could practice during the week.  

For instance, the first week, I read a poem called Alphabet Stew.  As I was reading it, I had the children reach into a bag of alphabet tiles and 'mix' them (like a pot of stew) while I read the poem.  Then I read a poem called The Ant and pulled letters out of our alphabet stew to make the rhyming words at the end of each line.  

Another week, we read a poem called Talents Differ.  It is a story about a little girl looking out her window and seeing a bird making a nest and getting ready to lay her eggs.  The poem is a conversation going back and forth between the girl and the bird, so I had the children pair up, one being the bird and one being the girl.  They got to act the poem out while saying their lines.

If you are interested, I could write a separate post outlining exactly what I taught each week.  If you want to read more about general ideas for teaching young children poetry, I wrote a post on the iHomeschool Network blog about that, so check it out!

Art

Another one of the moms led the art section.  She picked out a different artist for each week and brought examples of their work for the children to look at.  She would read a picture book about the artist or share information about their life and style.  Then she had an art project that corresponded to the artist for the week.  The project would mimic the artist's style in some way.  

The children used swirls to make a starry night like Van Gogh, they used wild flowers to create blurry nature paintings like Rembrandt, they used chalk on the ground to make BIG, up close flower paintings like O'Keefe, dipped their hands in paint to mimic Worhol's style, and more!

Nature Study

For the last subject of the day, we got to move around and really observe nature.  Another one of the moms led us in our study of birds.  Each week she would come with information to share about a different type of bird.  She would read the children a story about birds, have the children color a picture of the bird of the week, show them what the bird sounds like, etc.

The first week, she had the children make pretend binoculars using two toilet paper tubes and set them each up with a little notebook, pencil, and a simple one page bird guide.  Then each week after she shared about the particular bird of the week, she would send them to different spots to watch for birds and draw what they saw in their notebooks.  The children loved it and it was such a nice way to encourage a love of nature.

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So what are your plans for this summer?  Do you take a full summer break or do you find ways to keep the learning alive?  I would love to hear what you have in mind!  We are getting ready to have another Summer Scholé time like we did last year and I can't wait!

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This week only, you can find amazing resources at a deep discount to help you with your Charlotte Mason plans for this summer and next year!

Classical Education Round-Up December 2016

This post contains affiliate links.

Hello friends! Welcome to another month of  Trivium Tuesdays, a Classical Education Roundup.

My goal here is to share a collection of great resources from the internet (blog posts, videos, podcasts, articles, etc.) that pertain to classical education.  I will aim to post a new roundup on the first Tuesday of each month and then you can add to the list as the month goes on.

Feel free to link up posts that you have written as well as any other helpful resources you find!

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Classical Academic Press - Digital Screen Technology and the Challenge of Contemplative Silence

This is something that I am keenly aware of in my own live.  It bothers me that I desire more "noise" (whether auditory or visual) during my day-to-day activities.  Do you think about this with yourself and your children?   This post, over at Classical Academic Press, remind you to make time for thinking...praying...being still.

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Simply Convivial - The Best Character Building Program

Character building is something that I am always interested in, but I'm not always good at doing it well. =)  This article from Simply Convivial is really encouraging, reminding us that character building is done in the mundane of life.

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5 Elements of Classical Homeschooling 

Did you know that you can get the 5 Elements of Classical Homeschooling in bite sized pieces now?  In stead of signing up for the whole course, you can take one module at a time.  Good deal!

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CiRCE Institute - Who Makes the Better Student?

And for my podcast recommendation of the month...Who Makes the Better Student?  from the Commons by CiRCE.  The podcast starts out with the simple question: Who makes the better student: the nerd or the jock?  Seems like a simple answer, but of course they make my head hurt by the end!  The is an episode that I want to listen to again and pull apart, hopefully in a blog post so I can make all of your heads hurt too =)

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This is what I've found this month.  Now it's your turn!  

Link up any great articles, podcasts, videos, blog posts etc. that you come across this month, as well as any classical education related posts you have written on your own blog!

Classical Education Round-Up November 2016

Hello friends! Welcome to another month of  Trivium Tuesdays, a Classical Education Roundup.

My goal here is to share a collection of great resources from the internet (blog posts, videos, podcasts, articles, etc.) that pertain to classical education.  I will aim to post a new roundup on the first Tuesday of each month and then you can add to the list as the month goes on.

Feel free to link up posts that you have written as well as any other helpful resources you find!

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CiRCE Institute - Principles of Classical Education

Last week I had to write up answers to some questions, one of which was: Express your philosophy of education.  I am not used to answering that kind of question in a clear, succinct manner, so I wrote down my thoughts and then searched the internet to make sure that I was in the ballpark of the type of answer.  Thankfully I was.  In my looking around, I ran across this article from the CiRCE Institute and thought it was a wonderful expression of the Principles of Classical Education.  

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Classical Copywork - New Site!

Classical Copywork has a brand new, completely redesigned website!  Head on over to take a look.  I'm sure you will find something that will enhance your curriculum!

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Classical Academic Press - Education and Feeding the Soul

This is a great reminder that the goal of a classical education is not to get good test scores, but to feed children's souls with truth, goodness, and beauty.  Education and Feeding the Soul by Andrew Kern

"A bigger soul makes one a better friend."

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Read Aloud Revival - Reading Aloud with Boys

I am a podcast junkie these days, so I would be remiss to not recommend a podcast episode that I loved listening to this month!  This episode of the Read Aloud Revival featured Cindy Rollens and was on the topic of  reading with boys.  I loved that they talked about reading books that build character, especially honor and virtue.

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How is that to get you going this month?  Now it's your turn!  

Link up any great articles, podcasts, videos, blog posts etc. that you come across this month, as well as any classical education related posts you have written on your own blog!