I didn't realize until yesterday that I haven't posted anything for almost two months. As a lot has changed in regards to school, I'd better quit slacking on the blogging.
I'll start with E first, as her work hasn't changed much. Her school year begins later in the year than C's, so all I will mention about E is that she is still excelling with all her 2nd grade work. She is on lesson 104 (out of 160) in Horizons Math, lesson 18 in R&S spelling, and doing A work daily. She has a new reading comprehension book, which she enjoys. All her other subjects remain the same, and she is still doing Anatomy and Physiology with C until we finish the book.
C, however began doing 7th grade work just this week. Her most major change is that we entirely switched curriculum for math. She has done Saxon for 3 years, and was doing fine with it, but I felt the incremental approach was just not cementing some important concepts in her mind. I felt a more mastery style might help cement these concepts, and also give her an "extra" year of "review" before beginning Pre-Algebra. She tested well into Saxon's Pre-Algebra, but I am not concerned making her wait until 8th grade for that. C and I spent weeks researching different curriculum, and both of us chose BJU "Fundamentals of Math" as our favorite. A bit pricey, but after only 4 lessons this week I am more than happy with it. In just the first chapter it is showing where Saxon left "gaps" in her learning, and it is proving quite a challenge for C, although not a huge one. Just what I wanted, and SHE is simply relieved not to have a year of more tedious, repetitious Saxon.
We also opted to use BJU for her 7th grade social studies. She is doing "World Studies", which I was able to buy used at a MUCH discounted price. I didn't think she would like it, as this is the first year she will be doing any sort of social studies almost entirely independently. Much to my surprise she LOVES it, and is doing very well. This is the first time I have ever offered "extra credit" in any subject for her, but she now has the option of each day doing a bonus question. After I explained WHAT "extra credit" meant, she has so far decided to answer our bonus question each day. Best yet, she really IS doing this virtually on her own. I give a short lesson, she reads the material herself, and finds the answers to the text questions and worksheets by herself. I have heard many say that this course is too difficult for 7th grade, but neither she nor I think so.
C still has 3 1/2 chapters left of her 6th grade English, and then I intend to order her new books. So far I have chosen Hewitt's "Lightning Literature", which focuses more on literature (obviously)and writing, with only a little grammar review. As I haven't ordered this program yet, this choice is subject to change based on my mood, finances, and further research. : )
C will also be doing a NEW subject this year...."Introduction to Logic." This will NOT be independent, as I intend to do the lessons and study right along with her. This book is TOUGH for a just-turned-twelve-year-old. Well, actually so far it's tough for ME. This will be a 2 or 3 day a week only subject, as time allows, and I intend to spread the book over a 2 year schedule.
And lastly....science. We are not quite finished with Anatomy and Physiology, and as this is ALL of our favorite subject, we intend to do every last page. Science was also the subject I had the most trouble deciding which program to use for 7th grade, but after over a month of research and dithering back and forth in my mind, I finally opted to do Apologia's General Science. I thought this book might be too difficult for C's reading comprehension, but once again I underestimated her. She had NO trouble doing the online sample module, and actually LIKED it. I KNEW I'd made the right decision when I went to e-mail my friend that we'd finally made up our minds, and there was an e-mail from that friend already waiting in my inbox, offering HER copy of the textbook to us for FREE. THANK YOU AGAIN D! : )
So....there's the line-up for C's 7th grade school year, and she has already begun 3 of the 5 subjects. We've pretty much changed EVERYTHING for this school year, so God willing, we made the right decisions, and it will be a good year.
