Rough outline for 5th grade - needs tweaking & suggestions

[blessed2fosteradopt]

Hi all:

Below is a very rough draft of some of my thoughts for next year with my son (he will be 10 in April). I am particularly struggling in the grammar/writing area. Please help me tweak this. I am open to all suggestions and corrective criticism. :)



Bible: Explorer’s Discovery ???
Math: Saxon 7/6 (He is doing 6/5 in school now)
Spelling: Simply Spelling or Rod & Staff 5
Writing: Writing Tales 2, CW Aesop B (would I need an additional grammar curriculum if I use either of these?)
Reading: Literature selections & narration/dictation/copywork/Harp & Laurel Wreath ?
Grammar/LA: Rod & Staff 5, ILL
History: SOTW 1/Kingfisher History/Biblioplan
Science: Apologia Botany/Astronomy or BJU
Art: ?
Music: Themes to Remember
Latin: Latina Christiana 1 - would this be overwheming?



Thank you for all your help thus far. I am looking forward to your input.



Blessings!

[Wendy in ME]

Some of this is very similar to what we are doing this year. We started the year with R&S grammar then dropped it for a more LCC type schedule. We did do it with LCI and it wasn't too much. My 5th grader loves Latin and is doing very well with it. As for science, I would go with what he is interested in. We are doing WT2 for writing and, as I said, we are not adding in grammar. A lot of the grammar in it is review for him because grammar was also one of his strong subjects before we dropped it but it is working really well as reinforcement and for him to see the grammar concepts in context rather than simply drill. He is really likes his writing program this year. I don't know anything about Simply Spelling but I can definitely give a thumbs up to R&S spelling. It is very systematic in its approach and is rule based. We have since dropped spelling because he is such a natural speller but if I were going to do spelling it would be R&S. This is just my 2 cents. I hope it helps.

[OhElizabeth]

Just wanted to chime in on the WT2 vs. CW Aesop B thing and say I really like WT2! It's a lot of fun and the kids in my co-op class have really enjoyed it this year (3rd-6th). For the rest of your writing, have you looked through WTM? I had mine open yesterday and was trying to make notes of the writing assignments stuck here and there (in the science, in the history, in the LA section). I don't think you have to do it in those subjects, but I figure if I tally up all those, then at least my TOTAL writing for the day will be enough!

Are you planning any co-op classes or things in the community? Given that he was used to that level of interaction in school, and that kids that age just enjoy socializing, you might want to see what you can find. It might be a way to cover something you don't have a plan for, say the music.

[Hoggirl]

I have not used the Apologia Elementary science, but I have heard good things about this series. However, we have been very happy with BJU for science this year. Personally, we have found that covering a variety of topics has been a nice change of pace for us.
Also, for music, you might look at Classical Magic. Themes to Remember. This was suggested by Jessica of Trivium Adademy and has been a huge hit for us. It could be a great springboard for listening to other things.

[Beth in Central TX]

Your schedule looks very similiar to my 5th grader's schedule this year. We use Rod & Staff for both art and music. For science we are using the Elementary Apologia series. My 5th grader is doing Astronomy and Botany in one year. I think this is very doable since each book is only about 14 lessons long. We do the Astronomy book first in the fall and then move to the Botany book in the spring. My 6th grader is doing Zoology I and II this year. For younger students, you probably wouldn't want to work at such a fast pace through the books, but for older, independent students, it has worked quite well.

HTH!

[HollyDay]

Some of your questions will depend on the personality of your dc. My dds are responding better than I could have dreamed to CW. We are amazed at how they have improved their writing. But, it is not an easy thing to learn to teach. It is not hard (well, not that hard) now that we have done it a few months. But, it was very demanding early on as "I" learned the program. I would also think you need another grammar with Aesop B. I am using Aesop B next year and will use GWG with it. We used A along with GWG 3 this year.

Science..... Apologia is a good program if you like to study one subject all year. We enjoyed their Astronomy quit a bit. I think this is because dh is an astronomy buff and has a telescope. But, the Flying Creatures fell flat. Everyone was sick of bird feet! Plants was not much better. We seem to enjoy variety more. BJU has been wonderful. My dc enjoy science when we use BJU.

I am not familiar with the reading program you mentioned. We used and enjoyed DITHOR for 5th grade.

Best wishes!!

[blessed2fosteradopt]

Thank you all so much!

I guess I am pretty much set except I am still confused about writing/grammar so here are a few more questions.

Do I need to pursue copywork/narration/dictation with him at this age? He is a reluctant writer although he can do it but not proficiently. Elizabeth, I am thinking that your suggestions about going through the WTM and looking at other writing (is notebooking considered writing?) will fulfill his needs but I want to make sure he is learning the basic writing concepts properly. Beth, I see you use R&S Grammar....do you use a writing program in addition to it?

I am going to go with Themes to Remember....thanks for reminding me of this program, Hoggirl :). I remember stumbling upon it while reading Jessica's blog which I love. Wendy, did you have any experience with Latin before presenting it to your son? I do not. I guess I am having a hard time dropping a structured grammar program although my son does pretty well. I will have to look deeper at WT2. I want things to be fun for him. He is not at all enthusiastic about being HS but I feel it is the best thing.

For socialization, we are going to do a PE group every Friday and I will also look for something for Art. The family that is adopting my foster son has two boys his age and they are homeschooled so hopefully we will get to do some outings with them.

I cannot thank all of you enough for your input. This board is fantastic!

Blessings!

[blessed2fosteradopt]

That is one of my fears with CW Aesop.....my ability to teach it. It looks like WT2 would be easier but I seem to be drawn to CW :confused:

[Beth in Central TX]

Yes, I do supplement R&S grammar with the Classical Writing series. It's not necessary since R&S grammar does have an integrated writing program already, but I like the classical method of writing presented in the CW series better. Taken from the introduction in the Homer core book: "The classical Greek progymnasmata (preliminary rhetorical exercises) provide the central core around which Classical Writing is organized."

Here is a website with more information on the progymnasmata: http://humanities.byu.edu/rhetoric/silva.htm

[HollyDay]

You can teach CW. It is not "plug and play". Unfortunately, the way the authors have written it, you cannot just pick up the TM and teach the program. But, with some effort, you can do it. The best advise I was ever given (and to the dear lady who suggested, I greatly thank her!!), is to outline.

Take each day, each step and outline what you are supposed to do. That way, you break down the program into bite sized pieces. IT really comes together doing the outlining. The light bulb went on for me and I could teach it. You also have to make the program work for you. So, by outlining, you can see the what and how in a daily practical way.