I can hardly believe we start school back up in just a couple of weeks! It feels like the school year just ended- where did summer go?? I have been meaning to share our curriculum picks for 8th grade homeschooling for awhile now. But I have been too busy enjoying a Montana summer.
All of 7th grade, I was getting nervous as we inched towards 8th grade. I think it’s because that means one more year and then high school! And through all these years of homeschooling, high school seemed daunting. I was intimidated by the entire thing and was doubting we could make it through. Now, I have no idea what will happen a year from now, but I am going into this 8th grade year with full confidence and no longer dread the approaching high school years. Part of this is that I was able to talk to some friends who have graduated their children homeschooling, and picking their brains was invaluable information! I also sat in on a small workshop at our local Homeschool Kick-off event, and that gave me a little confidence boost as well.
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I will be honest, last year was a struggle with homeschooling. We could not get a good flow with all the big changes- we lived in 3 houses in one school year and moved across the country (again). The transitions were rocky and stressful, and both my son and I struggled with trying to balance it all and find our rhythm again with homeschooling. My two youngest were acting out because of the moves, we added a puppy and several other animals to the mix, and were spending a lot of time working on the house and cleaning up the property. We had issues with my son completing his work in a timely manner, really struggled with focusing, and we were all just a bit stressed out from a crazy year. We were on the fence about public school for 8th grade for a few different reasons, but after lots of prayer and talking to some mentors, we decided to continue homeschooling for 8th grade. The last couple of months of homeschool were much more enjoyable as we figured out how to balance everything and we outsourced math (literally life changing for us).
This school year is going to be another very busy year, but we are prepared and know what to expect. We aren’t moving from this house, and I know that even if there are any big unexpected changes, we can handle it and adapt and grow together as a family. Each trying season only makes us closer to each other and to God. It shapes us and our family culture!
I am really happy that we are still homeschooling. It is not easy and there are really really hard days. But there are so many good beautiful days that I would be missing if we didn’t homeschool. I have found a really amazing and supportive community here locally, so that helps a lot. This will be year 7 of homeschooling for us!
Here are our plans for 8th grade homeschooling- curriculum picks and weekly rhythm….
Narration notebook
This year’s narration journal is different than past years, and I think this will be perfect. Last year we had a half page of lines for writing, and the other half a space to draw. It really was not enough space for writing or drawing, so I found this narration notebook that has one full page each for drawing and writing.
History
This will be the first year that I am not crazy excited for history. I don’t doubt we will learn a lot this year, and my son is really looking forward to it. I, however, am a little less enthusiastic. As history is usually my absolute favorite to teach, this may surprise some of you. But this specific topic has always been dull to me… I hope that I am wrong and I love it just as much as past years! 8th grade will be dedicated to learning the U.S. Constitution and government. We will be using the Good and the Beautiful as our main curriculum. I also acquired several books from our local homeschool book sale over the summer and I know we will be reaching for those. I remember learning about the constitution and our government in school… and my eyes would glaze over. I am hoping for the best!
I know how incredibly important these lessons are, I just hope we get to do as many fun hands-on projects and activities as we have in years past.
Book list:
The Congress of the United States (A True Book: American History)
The Constitution of the United States (A True Book: American History)
The Supreme Court: Why it Matters to You (A True Book: Why It Matters)
The Bill of Rights (A True Book: American History)
Elections: Why They Matter to You (A True Book: Why It Matters)
My son’s independant read for the first month of school- Mystery on Constitution Island (TGAB)
Language Arts
We are going to finish level 7 from last year, then move onto level 8 with The Good and the Beautiful.
He will continue working his way through his Handwriting book.
He is taking a grammar class once a week at our local enrichment classes collective.
Geography
This is the first year we are using a geography curriculum. It’s usually woven into our language arts and history lessons, but I wanted to spend a little more time on this subject for 8th grade. We picked this up at the homeschool book sale and it came with the quiz/test workbook, the answer book, and the teacher key for map studies. I doubt we will get through this whole book, but my goal is to do one lesson a week.
World Geography in Christian Perspective – Abeka Highschool Geography and Culture Studies
Science
My son picked out the Weather and Water science unit study from The Good and the Beautiful. We have done several science unit studies from TGAB in past years, and we have always enjoyed them. There are 14 lessons, so we should get this done first semester. I am unsure about what we are doing for 2nd semester! I am hoping a science class becomes available at our local enrichment classes.
Bible
I had a whole list of different bible studies I wanted to research for my teenager, but I ended up grabbing a book from that book sale, and I think this is exactly what he needs! Foundations in Faith (Master Books) is a full year curriculum designed to do 20-minute lessons 5 days a week. It’s for ages 12-18 and flipping through it, I am very excited to get back to our focus and heart of our homeschool. And this is something he can do independently while I am doing our bible studies with my 3 and 5 year old. This past school year, family style bible study was not really working out. My son needed to go deeper, while my littles needed very basic and short lessons.
Nature Study
We will be using the Slow Down collection from A Year of Learning again this year for nature study. There are activities for a wide range of ages, which is nice because I can do this with all 3 of my boys. We usually like to take the lesson and then dive a little deeper with some youtube videos, flipping though our resource books, and doing a narration page.
Art
My teenager likes to take different online art classes through Wonderwell Learning and Outschool.com. We found a class once a week that fits our schedule that we will be signing him up for.
PE
In addition to my son’s weekly jiu jitsu practices, he will be working through a Health & Physical Education curriculum from Not Consumed. This earns him a high-school P.E. & health credit once completed. This is designed to have 3 lessons a week for an entire school year.
In addition to my son’s weekly jiu jitsu practices, he will be working through a Health & Physical Education curriculum from Not Consumed. This earns him a high-school P.E. & health credit once completed. This is designed to have 3 lessons a week for an entire school year.
Enrichment Classes
My 8th grader will be taking a full day of classes again once a week at our local homeschool enrichment classes collective. He will be helping me with my preschool art class his first hour, and then these are the clases he is taking for first semester:
My 8th grader will be taking a full day of classes again once a week at our local homeschool co-op. He will be a teacher’s assistant for me in my preschool art class, and then these are the classes he is taking for first semester:
Wilderness Survival ( he took the 2nd semester of this class for 7th grade, so he is excited to see what he missed that 1st semester)
Entrepreneurship & Business Stewardship
Gameschooling: Strategy, Leadership & Teamwork
High School Grammar and Composition
Intro to photography
There were many classes he wanted to take but they all seemed to be the same time- he’s hoping to take Cooking Around the World and metal working for 2nd semester if there is availability. He had registered for a science class and was very excited, but the class got canceled, so we had to fill that space with something, and the only option was gameschooling. I am hoping he enjoys it!
Here is our weekly rhythm/schedule for 1st semester:
Monday- bible, math, language arts, book club, PE, jiu jitsu
Tuesday- at co-op classes all day… assist with pre-k art class, wilderness survival, Entrepreneurship & Business Stewardship, gameschooling, grammar, photography, Boy Scouts
Wednesday-bible, math, language arts, science, history, PE, jiu jitsu
Thursday- bible, math tutor, language arts, art class, geography, PE
Friday- bible, wild+free meetings every other week. Days that we don’t have meetings: nature study and then chores, catch up on homework from the week
This is the book stack I have planned for 8th grade so far. We definitely will be reading more than this, but it’s a good start!
This is definitely the most we have ever done, and on top of all this, I am teaching 3 classes at the co-op and I am starting kindergarten with my 5 year old! But I am excited and I know it’s going to be a good year.
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