Is anyone willing to share their 8th grade schedules - past or present?

[hmsch4me]

Is there anything you wouldn't do again or something you would do again?

[Linda in NM]

Ha ha ha. Our "official" schedule, or what really happens when life intrudes? Officially, we start with a read aloud, followed by literature (his current reading selection from Trisms HistoryMakers), history (research or map work or vocab), health or geography (2/week), and composition (IEW). Sometimes, we get stuck in reading...That's the morning. In the afternoons, we start with algebra (except Mondays, which is music--he studies classical viola), followed by science or logic or German or Latin or keyboarding...we try to do Latin & logic on T/Th and German & keyboarding on M/W/F...we try to do art on Fridays and PE on Wednesday afternoons...he works with a trainer on M/W; he has hockey on T/Th in the off season; and he has baseball practice on Th/F. He has more baseball and hockey on Sat...and so it goes.

I would not have him take Lego/LOGO programming from Potters School again--just not a good fit for us (he was bored by the "dumb questions..." and we found it difficult to be home at the class time. He enjoyed the activities (earned 100%) and the teacher...

[Suzybearybake]

Saxon Algebra II
Abeka Grammar and Composition II
IEW SWI C
Abeka Let's Be Healthy
Abeka Matter in Motion
Omnibus I
Piano
Baseball
Material Logic
Henle II ( considered Latin III)
First half of Rosetta Stone Level 2/ Breaking the Spanish Barrier 3 (Spanish 3)

[Lori D.]

I listed my current 8th grader's schedule under your post on the K-8 Board. So here is what the older son did for 8th grade last year:

BIBLE went through several books of the Bible together
MATH = Jacobs Algebra
SCIENCE = Reader's Digest How Science Works; matching TOPS units
LOGIC = Fallacy Detective
CRIT. THINK. = various materials, including Orbiting with Logic and Plexers
PE = swim laps
SOC. STUDIES = Geog./World Culture & Hist./Comparative World Religions
- some SL5 books
- library books and movies
- made our own atlas
- online geography games
- Milliken series "World's Great Religions" series of "Inside..." (Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity)

ENGLISH:
- Literature = Lightning Lit. 8
- Solo Reading = 8-10 books
- Writing = skimming review of 4 books from Scholastic
- Grammar = Winston Advanced
- Spelling = individualized spelling
- Vocab. = English from the Roots Up


He also was on Student Council, and also did 20 hours of community service. (For details, see post on K-8 Board.)


I'd do everything again; the only things I wish we could have done differently:

1. That we had figured out out to adapt Put That in Writing that year -- we tried it and dropped it, and while we still did some writing that year, it wasn't very organized.

2. I wish we'd discovered Lightning Literature the year before, so that this older son could have done LL7 in 7th grade, just because it covers some great lit. : ) Best of luck in your 8th grade year! Warmly, Lori D.

[Anne/Ankara]

Our eighth grade schedule (we're now finishing the year):

Math: Saxon Algebra II, Mathcounts, Math Olympiad, AMC 18/10, Number Theory online course, Kumon Math J, Academic League Math competitions

Science: Conceptual Physics, Environmental Science, Academic League science, many workshops, summer camps, monthly science columnist

English: Lightning Lit 8, Vocab from Classical Roots, Analytical Grammar, Kumon Reading level K (finished program), Shakespeare Monologue, Scholastic Art & Writing, Letters About Literature, writing for publication

History: 1850-Present, Spielvogel, Teaching Company videos, National History Day paper, Academic League Social Studies

Latin: Oxford Latin II, Cambridge Latin II, wrote article in Calliope World History Magazine on Ancient Rome

Music: Suzuki Violin 7, Ensemble concerts, piano, summer Institute

Art: twice weekly lessons, various media, art contests, illustrations, magazine cover art

Turkish: Reading, conversation, immersion during summer vacation

French: Apex Learning French Essentials, semester one

Health & Physical Ed: Health I Life Management, community soccer, skiing, running, horseback riding

Chess: rated games, tournament, chess lessons

Community Service: teen docent at science center

[amber in GA]

My 13yodd is my most difficult student out of my 4 children....she has dyslexia and so reading is a little slower and she tends to be one of those that "hates" all school related things. SO as she rises to her 8th grade year I have decided that we are going to focus heavily on the basics to make sure that she has a solid foundation in all areas before entering high school. So this is what that looks like right now:

Math-Continuing Videotext Algebra

Science- Apologia Physical Science

Latin-Ecce Romani (We decided to use this as a "filler" so that we do not forget all of the Latin we've already learned, but not wanting to dive into the heavier texts since she isn't going to continue Latin through high school)

Literature-Lightning Literature 8 OR we might use the Omnibus 1 and just do the secondary books this year.

Grammar/Writing- I think that this is her weakest area and I have decided to use the Home to Teach online classes through the year to see if this helps advance her to where she needs to be. I'm not going to do a separate grammar course because she has used R&S English the whole way through and I feel that it will not set her back to take this year "off" from formal grammar, though she will get a review through the online class.

Music-Violin Lessons

History will be covered with her brothers and sisters using history encyclopedia and SOTW IV and outlining the info.





amber

[Mad Jenny Flint]

Not sure if you want schedule, like time frames, or materials used, so I'll post both: Also, keep in mind that most subjects are done together with my 4th grader, she just works on a less advanced level:

6:00 wake up, start day with free/required reading (WTM Lit. list 12 books),
7:00 chores
8:00 breakfast, dress, hygiene, mandolin practice
9:00 character education (philosophy question and read-aloud)
9:30 Language Arts (Analytical Grammar, Vocabulary from Classical Roots)
10:30 Math Lial Introductory Algebra
11:30 Henle Latin lesson and vocabulary study (using Laura Berquist's Latin II syllabus, one lesson over two weeks- we'll finish in 9th and then he'll get a Latin II credit).
12:30 Lunch, read-aloud
1:30 Mon/Wed: History/Geography using WTM SOTW and History of Us (Hakim) plus geography resources.
Tue/Thu: Science reading and experiments, writeups assigned for homework
3:00 walk around the neighborhood, tea time
4:00 writing lesson from IEW and lit discussion
5:00 homework in all subjects that carried over from school time
7:00 dinner and free time
9:00 bedtime

Tuesdays (2 hrs. in the evening) and Saturdays (3 hrs. in the afternoon)- community theatre rehearsals.

[danielle]

Here's what dd did this year:
Math--Life of Fred Beginning Algebra; some tutoring on Statistics with a friend who offered
Latin--Oxford Latin II
French--French in Action; daily Euronews
Social studies--AP Human Geography + watched Biography of America and wrote summaries of all programs
Literature--so far 6 Shakespeare plays (2 more to go) and sonnets. Read, discussed and short stories written using a character from each play (3), one comparative essay and one movie review
Grammar/writing--Write Better Essays, then Stewart English Principles Plus
Science--read Conceptual Physics (about 2/3 done; still working on it). Did not do labs because APHUG and music were so demanding of time.
Art--two quarters of jewelry metalsmithing at local art center

Endless harp practice (2-3 hours per day).
Dd is okay but I'm exhausted!
Danielle

[Tammyla]

Our not official schedule is to transition into the A Beka DVD Academy. (We used their (Books only) LA program, & Health this year with ease & good results.) I'm hesitant to give up Apologia science and Saxon math, they are my back up. She takes piano, will participate in weekly local art, gym/swim, and Spanish classes.

[Michelle in AL]

Here's what we did:

Math Chalkdust Geometry: It was OK. Dana Mosley was very good, but I did not like the book. The book did not give thorough explanations throughout.

Science: Physical Science Oak Meadow. Real Science for Kids Chemistry Level II- LOVED this!

History: 20th Century: Oak Meadow World History as a spine, added in lots of movies & books. Used Teacher Created materials guides for WWI, the depression & WWII.

Government: Painless American Government: Loved this!

English: Lightning Literature 8, Romeo & Juliet 6 week class using Set Shakespeare Free: Loved this! Grammar: Warriner's English 3rd course, Natural Speller, Wordly Wise.

Bible: Done through Sunday & Wednesday night classes at church.

Art: Outside classes in acrylics. Art Through Faith 8

PE: Ballet

Logic: Thinking Toolbox liked this a lot

[tmkclscroggins]

Here's what we are planning for 8th grade this coming fall:

Jacob's Geometry
LIghtning Literature 8
Sequential Spelling
Vocabulary - Science Roots & Vocabulary Vine
We are going to go back to R&S Grammar - possibly 6 or 7
Writing - we are trying the progymnasmata class from Regin Coeli for the first time ( this is his weakest area)
Biology - Apologia
Henle Latin - online
History - Sonlight 7 - we may cut some of the book because we need to do a "literature" study as well
PE - he plays soccer all year and golf occasionally
Art - from Harmony Arts - probably 1-2 times per week

I think that's it!

Melissa

[Nissi]

Our plan for the fall (still working out the details):
English: World Literature, Shurley Grammar 7, Writing Class
Math: Geometry by Jurgenson & Brown, Math Counts, AMC 8, Counting and Probability
Logic : Traditional Logic 2
Science: Apologia Chemistry, Science Olympiad, World of Chemistry, Teaching Company Highschool Chemistry
Geography: BJU Geography
History & Theology: Omnibus II
Greek II with SO
Latin I - Class using Wheelock 1- 20 starting in the summer
Spanish I using SOS I in the summer
Music - Piano Lessons, Recitals, etc.
Art - Looking to outsource this.
P.E - Martial Arts, Tennis, Swimming
Health - Total Health

[Jean in Wisc]

English Literature: Omnibus I (selections)

Composition:
Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar
Sentence Composing for the Middle School Student
Put That In Writing I
Editor in Chief
Word Roots

Physical Education: Running/Physical Therapy

World History—Spielvogel/ Ancients

General Science—Apologia

Basic College Mathematics

Henle Latin Book 1

Thinking Toolbox

Artistic Pursuits Junior High Book 2

Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing

[SwimmerMom]

Here's our plan for the fall:

Math: Chalkdust's Pre-Algebra (ch 6-10) and Algebra (if she finishes Pre- early)
History/Bible: Sonlight Alt 7
Literature: Lightning Lit 8 and LLoLOTR (via co-op)
Grammar: either ABeka or Analytical Grammar
Foreign Language: *was* going to be Educacion Espanol Dos, but Uno didn't work too well, so now I have *no* idea - possibly BJUP Spanish 1
Science: Apologia Physical Science
Writing: will be tied into SL Alt 7 and LL with some extra writing thrown in *at her request* (mom faints on the floor at this point)
Logic: Fallacy Detective (Hubby was supposed to do that with her this year, but AF took him away :( )
PE: Swim Team
Health: ABeka's 8th grade Health
Art: ??
Music: ??

[Beth in SW WA]

Ds 13's schedule for 8th in the Fall....

Bible
CD Alg 1
Lingua Latina
Omnibus 1 (history/lit/theology)
Intro to Logic
Sentence Composing For Middle School
Biology: Exploring Life (read only, no labs)
Guitar

[amary]

This is approximate of course, sometimes it's longer or shorter and he is free to juggle things around

8am-Religion (Bible and Catechism)
8:30-Teaching Textbook
9:30-US history with an oop textbook and primary source documents
10:30-snack and chores
11-Grammar, Lightning Lit
1-lunch
1:30-Fallacy Toolbox/Thinking Toolbox
1:45-Latina Christiana II
2-silent reading related to LL or history
3-composition
4ish-whatever
dinner
Sports of some sort (church basketball team, town baseball, etc.)
other studies scattered here and there

[Jackie in AR]

Here's our current plan for next year's 8th grade:

Math - Chalkdust Algebra I; continue some of NEM

Language Arts - TOG; Classical Writing - Diogenes (including some R & S grammar)

Latin - Lingua Latina (online); not sure if they'll continue on in Henle or not

History - TOG

Science - Interactive Science 2; Lego League

Logic - Traditional Logic I

Also will add in some Music Appreciation and Art.

And they may begin doing some Greek 15 or 20 minutes per day.

[Laurel-in-CA]

D'you mean what gets done what time of the day, which day? I have yet to manage standardization on that, and it's the last week of the year. But what coursework....here it is.
DS-13
Cambridge Latin - 2nd half of book 1 and all of book 2
Lightning Literature 8, plus Abeka 8th gr. grammar (none of which appears to have stuck; going back to R&S next year)
Lial's Introductory Algebra after finishing Lial's BCM - he's about 2/3 of the way through algebra & will finish over the summer
World History: A Human Odyssey by Spielvogel with weekly current events notebook
Science - Readings in Life Science (we picked a variety of "real books" - listed below - because ds told me he already knew all the outcomes in Apologia General Science and we'd done Prentice-Hall Physical Science the year before...I figured it was his last year of freedom so we made the most of it and he keeps asking for more.
Art - Ceramics class once/week with occasional readings and museum visits
PE - occasionally and wishing we could find SOMETHING we could afford to use up all his extra energy

And - 4-H projects in computers and (starting soon) swimming; Community Bible Study class weekly w/homework

[gardenschooler]

dd#2, 8th grade this year, has done:

Lial's Introductory Algebra

U.S. History - homegrown w/old textbook for a spine

Literature - homegrown, some American, some British, plus BJU 8, Walch's Prose & Poetry, Harp & Laurel Wreath. I'll list all the books later (don't want to resurrect my headache), I think we read about 8-10, did homemade study guides, etc.

Apologia Biology

Henle Latin I & Cambridge Unit I (switched off - will finish Henle next year, then move on to Henle II)

BJU Writing & Grammar 8, Writing Strands, plus various other writing - did a good bit of writing this year

WW3000, grade 8

*dropped Science Roots early on - felt it was a little redundant w/everything else

Various co-op classes in math, art, science, public speaking, writing

Various groups/activities