It’s already February and that means it’s time to give you an update on how our homeschool is going this year. This is going to kind of be a winners and losers post. Thankfully, mosy of our sixth and eighth grade homeschool curriculum choices were winners, but there was one really big loser in the mix. In fact, it is probably one of the worst curriculum choices I’ve ever seen. Before we get into it, you may want to look at what we began the year with.
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Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum
I am happy to say that we have not changed any curriculum for my sixth grader! The choices we made are working well for the most part. There are some minor things that we are doing differently which I will talk a little bit about. I will also tell you how each subject is going and give you a little mini curriculum review.
Math U See
I am so happy we switched to Math U See. This is going really well and my only regret is that we didn’t use this from the very beginning.
Since Math U See is mastery based we had to start him below “grade” level. Math U See generally doesn’t have grade levels, but the level we are using is below where most sixth graders would be if they started from the beginning. This doesn’t bother me as I care about whether or not he is learning math and mastering it, and he definitely is. He is thriving with Math U See and hopefully we can keep up a good pace and get caught up at some point.
Math U See: Winner
Language Lessons for a Living Education
I mentioned at the beginning of the year that he is kind of losing interest in this one, and I can now say with confidence that all interest is gone. One of the things he liked about this before were the short lessons, and I think the main issue for him now is that the lessons are longer. He learns better with shorter amounts of information that can stick in his brain without getting bogged in busy work. We’re trying really hard to get through this one, but it really is just getting through. There’s not much joy left for this one.
Language Lessons for a Living Education: Loser
Spelling You See
Spelling You See is still going very, very well. When I asked Peyton if he wants to keep doing this next year he said yes. I like the small little pieces of history he learns from the passages in the book. This is kid that has not shown a whole lot of interest in history curriculum, so I love that he is learning and retaining the history he learns in his spelling book.
Spelling You See: Winner
Master Books Geography and Cultures
This is one that I knew he would like. Last year he did the U.S. Geography and cultures from Master Books and it was his favorite subject. I don’t know if it’s his favorite this year, just because that place of honor is taken by science.
Master Books Zoology
This is hands down the favorite for the year. Peyton is the animal whisperer anyway, so an entire year focused on animals is the funnest school ever. We like the variety of books involved, and the God’s Big Book of Animals is absolutely beautiful.
We used our My Tech High funds to add a zoo membership to complete our study of zoology for the year.
Master Books Zoology: Winner
Living Art Lessons
This is something that we ended up changing. We decided to join a small, Charlotte Mason co-op in our area and art is one of the classes offered. I found out years ago that if we participate in a co-op, we need to use it to replace our at home studies, not add to them. Since the boys can take art at the co-op, this is one that I have decided not to do at home. We will revisit this course in the future if we decide not to do the co-op after this year.
Sixth Grade Homeschool Curriculum Electives through My Tech High
As I’ve mentioned before, we are part of a public options program called My Tech High. The kids can participate in classes through My Tech, and we also get funds for curriculum and supplies through the program. Peyton is doing an exploring technology class that includes a KiwiCo subscription. We don’t like the My Tech curriculum much, but he enjoys getting the crates. We’ve had a lot of issues with the crate subscription this year, which seems to be a KiwiCo issue and not a My Tech High issue. Last year we didn’t have a single issue with the subscription.
Get Ready for Seventh Grade Homeschool Curriculum
I am preparing and planning for next year and there are some changes coming. Change is the only thing that is predictable in my homeschool, but next year some of the changes are necessary as he is finishing up the last level in his language arts series, his social studies series, and Master Books doesn’t have another science similar to his current one. I am currently looking at The Good and the Beautiful and Simply Charlotte Mason for a few subjects.
I would love to hear from anyone using The Good and the Beautiful or Simply Charlotte Mason. Tell me all the things you love, or don’t love about them.