Homeschool Update - Two Months into 8th Grade

Wow, it's been awhile since we've updated the blog! We've been busy this school year and I have to say, we are in absolute LOVE with our choice of using Oak Meadow's 8th grade curriculum! I dare say, it's the perfect fit for us. We are using Oak Meadow for everything except math this year, (we are using, and still are enjoying Math-U-See for math). As a parent, I appreciate that all of the lessons are laid out clearly and directed to the student. Each Monday, Zoey and I will sit down and go through what the weekly lessons are to be in each subject and talk about the expectations, discuss any problem areas or questions, etc. Doing it this way, we both are able to foresee what subject may need more time or we are able to plan ahead for special activities or projects that require supplies, etc. She then gets started in on one main subject, (Civics/Social Studies, English/Literature, Physical Science or Health) along with her math. She does math every day and is able to work on her other, chosen, subject in great length the rest of the day until she feels satisfied that it's complete. If she needs more time or is getting burnt out on something, she can allow for more time on that subject at a different time or day. This schedule is working out amazingly well for both of us. She is able to really dig into one subject and get the most from it using this block style schedule. 

Her days generally look like this:

Monday: Math, English, Literature, Reading, Grammar, Dance/Pointe, practice guitar

Tuesday: Math, Civics, Vocab (from English the day prior), Guitar Lessons

Wednesday: Math, Physical Science, Physical Science labs/experiments, Health, practice guitar, Youth Group

Thursday: Math, Vocab (from English), any Reading or Writing assignments that she may need to finish up from English or Science, Ballet/Pointe, practice guitar

Friday: Math, anything left over that needs completing, Spanish (Duolingo), practice guitar

Here are some snapshots of what Science looked like today. She is currently learning about Newton's Laws of Motion and these were some hands on activities suggested by Oak Meadow. I love that OM offers different ways to reach different kind of learners in every single lesson. It means that things are really sticking with Zoey this year well after a particular lesson is through. 

I love what we are doing so much, so very thankful we came across Oak Meadow in our search last year. We hope to share updates more frequently from here on out!

First Day of 8th Grade!

While yesterday we did ease back into math, today marked our first official full day of 8th grade! We spent most of the morning familiarizing ourselves with our new planners and books for all of Zoey's subjects for the year, as well as going over her syllabuses. We are mostly using Oak Meadow this year, with the exception of Math-U-See for math and First Form Latin for her latin studies.

This year I want her to get into the habit of writing out her assignments in her own planner and to be able to juggle when to work on things on her own, to meet deadlines and due dates, etc. This will be an important skill to master for high school. We did a run-through of this today for this first shorter week.

 (Listening to music with Leo for a bit before getting down to work.)

After talking about this week's expectations, she busily got into her first writing assignment with Oak Meadow's English course, which was to free write for a set time on the subject of writing, as well as creating an outline for her writing. She was very happy with this assignment and had fun with it! It's not even noon and she's finished up with her math for the day as well. The sun is shining now (after having a few days of rain) so we're hoping to get outside for a walk yet this afternoon.

Happy homeschooling!

On the Eve Before Our First Day

Our original plan was to start up school today, to kind of ease into things...but things didn't work out as we had planned. I know, go figure! Zoey was invited over to a friend's house Saturday, which then turned into an overnight and I felt inclined to let her stay since it's kind of the last hurrah before school starts up. This is all good and well, but it also means that our real first day, tomorrow...won't be ideal either. I have a dr.'s appt. and work tomorrow evening...so, I guess we truly will have a soft start to our schooling, which is just fine with it being just our first week.

Zoey is still plugging away with learning her chords on the guitar. Right now she has a fingernail that is super sore but she refuses to use a guitar pick because, "it doesn't sound as good". Gotta love her determination!

For all those that may be starting up their schooling tomorrow...we wish you a wonderful year ahead!

A Fun Fungi Adventure Hike!

We are so lucky to have so many resources available to us here where we live when it comes to life-learning environments. Today there was a foraging fungi hike hosted at Kemp Natural Resources Station with Cora Mollen and Anne Small of Northstate Mycological Club. It was free for anyone interested and you were to bring your own basket and a knife if interested in bringing home any specimens found. I knew we had to go!

We were tickled to discover that some friends were planning on going as well and it worked out perfectly to go together since Zoey had just spent the night at this friend's house the night before (for a back to school party...so, if they look tired, it's because they are!). 

It was a bit of a rainy, soggy and damp day which is actually pretty perfect weather for mushroom hunting!

I really wish that I had thought to bring something to record with, we saw so many specimens and I couldn't recall everything once I was back at the car after hiking and chatting for over two hours. 

It was so neat to have such a range in ages all partaking in this activity. This was our small group...there were two groups of about - 10-12 people and we split up in the woods to see what we could find and then we all met back at the pavilion and shared our finds and talked about what things were, characteristics of different specimens, etc.

I was excited to find the one pictured below which is called, Hygrocybe Conica or the Witch's Hat mushroom! Very fun!

And someone else found what they call Witch's Butter...

These are our finds that we ended up bringing back home.

I honestly cannot think of a better way to spend some free time! Out in the woods, learning, having fun with friends! Life doesn't get much better! 

Our Curriculum Picks for 8th Grade

With the start of our homeschool year quickly approaching, I thought I'd write up a post sharing what it is that we've decided on for our final choice for coursework for Zoey. We're changing things up a bit from last year...pretty much everything actually, except for our math curriculum which we loved.

Zoey shared her input on what it is that she liked and what she didn't care for regarding last year and this is what we came up with...

Here are our picks for 8th grade.

English/Literature/Writing/Grammar

Oak Meadow's 8th grade English curriculum

• The Giver
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
• A Wrinkle in Time (we will be skipping this one since we read it last year!)
• The Hobbit
• Lord of the Flies
• The Call of the Wild
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
• The Elements of Style
• 100 Days of Writing

In English, students read seven classic novels while studying vocabulary drawn from the reading and concentrating on grammar and composition skills. Weekly assignments in writing, grammar, and usage provide ample practice for the student preparing to enter high school.

Social Studies

Oak Meadow's 8th grade Civics curriculum

Oak Meadow’s Eighth Grade curriculum introduces students to the concepts of civics through a study of the champions of freedom, federal, state, and local governments, and the economic system. Students witness their local government in action, explore issues affecting their state, and also become aware of national issues. Our experiential approach to understanding social issues includes practical activities such as community service projects and interviewing local community leaders. Students are encouraged to learn how to make a difference on a local level by learning more about the people and businesses in their area.

(Depending on how this goes, we do have the Medieval Times books from Beautiful Feet to add in if she wants more to take on.)

Science

Oak Meadow's Physical Science for 8th grade

The Science curriculum focuses on the principles of physical science, including mass and matter, force, energy, sound, light, color, electricity, magnetism, and mechanics. Emphasis is placed on preparing the student for more advanced science by including assignments that require the student to conduct experiments, perform mathematical calculations, and report on their findings.

(Depending on how this goes, we may or may bot be supplementing using the book list for Guest Hollow's Chemistry older course.) 

Math

Math-U-See

We aren't going to be changing things up here as what we used last year was working! 

Health

Lifetime Health Textbook from Holt Publishing

Foreign Language

First Form Latin from Memoria Press 

Zoey has been asking about and expressing an interest in Latin for quite some time and after looking this over, I feel like it will be a good fit for her being a beginner and will also reinforce her use of grammar as well. 

Extra-Curricular Activities

Ballet/Pointe and Modern Contemporary dance classes twice a week. 

Drama second semester through local homeschool co-op

Guitar lessons (possibility)

Yoga (at home)

Life Skills (various activities and projects done at home and/or in our community

Community Outreach (to be decided by Zoey for her Civics course)

Art

Crash Courses - Philosophy

So, this is the plan thus far! Some (hopefully!) minor tweaking will take place I am sure once we get things rolling. Our official "soft" start date for school is Friday, September 1st which mirrors our public school calendar locally.

I'd love to see what it is that you are using this year in your homeschooling! Feel free to drop me a link in the comments below!

2017 Total Solar Eclipse

Zoey had dance class right up to the moment of totality here in our area in Wisconsin so we were incredibly thankful that Zoey's friend that we were dropping off afterwards let us stay at her house for a bit so we got to see what we could using the pinhole technique and by taking a peek through a welders mask. Very cool!

And here are some eclipses found in shadows!