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Seventh Grade Curriculum Catalog
Dear Trivium Families,
Join us in 2015-2016 as we travel back in time to explore Egyptian Pyramids, follow the rise and fall of the
Roman Empire and investigate living organisms and their habitats, as we begin our 4 year cycle with biology
(science) and ancient times (history). As such, you'll find titles in our current catalog such as, Biology: Life as
We Know it, The Story of the World: Ancient Times and World History Detective to name a few.
This year we are also excited to introduce “Storia”. Imagine having unlimited access to 2,000 titles
throughout the year for your children—access to your very own library from the comfort of your home and NO
FINES :)! Storia is Scholastic's digital library (ebooks) for schools and contains 2,000 leveled fiction and
nonfiction titles—stories and characters you know and love such as Frog and Toad, Biscuit, Ms. Frizzle, Fly Guy
and Inkheart to name a few. There are numerous life science titles (e.g. Discovering My World and National
Geographic books) as well as ancient times titles (e.g. Ms. Frizzle's Adventures in Ancient Egypt). If you'd like
to see other offerings go here: http://www.scholastic.com/storia-school/pdf/storia-schooledition-digitallibrary.pdf . In addition to Storia you will also be able to select from several literary works and literature
guides that tie-in to our ancient history and life science focus. These novels can be used for family read-aloud
time or independent student reading. These choices are described in our language arts section under “Trivium
Literature Packages”.
Stanford's gifted and talented online independent Math course has undergone a tremendous revision, if you
are interested you can preview the materials at: https://www.giftedandtalented.com/web/guest/coursedetail/-/course/redbird-mathematics-advanced-edition-144
Additionally, within this catalog you'll find Trivium parent feedback on some of our curriculum choices.
Families were asked to rate for a given curriculum how much preparation was needed to deliver the lesson, how
useful were the teacher's guides, did a given curriculum require more or less parent involvement, etc. Thank you
to all the families that took the time to give us your feedback! Your effort is appreciated! This information,
when available, is listed near the links to additional reviews for each curriculum. Second, when available, I have
provided links to various vendor resources that you may find helpful as your educational adventure unfolds.
If you'd just like to read about our new additions search “(NEW)” below in this document.
Finally, on the last page of this document I have reproduced the Curriculum Builder Template if you would like
to use it to organize your curriculum choices for your students.
The beauty of homeschooling, as you know, is that we can design programs that best fit our children.
We hope these materials provide you with the tools to do so.
Happy Exploring,
Teresa (tpantzer@triviumcharter.org)
p.s If you are new to Trivium and have not used our curriculum shop you may want to watch our Introduction to
the Curriculum Shop at www.triviumcharter.org/cart (click on “Introduction to Curriculum Shop” just under the
books, excuse the elephant typing :) The one thing the video does not mention is to click on “use points” when
you are finalizing your order—this will help to keep your point information up to date.).
p.p.s. I would also encourage you to browse our curriculum FAQ (at www.triviumcharter.org/cart) as it
addresses issues that may arise as you peruse this catalogue (i.e. “How many points do I have to “spend”? (400
points per child) “Where do I start?” “Do I have to use all of my points at once?” (no, you may place orders until
March 15th), “What am I supposed to purchase?”, etc.)
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Language Arts
The goal of a great language arts program is to produce strong writers, readers and communicators.
Just how to achieve this goal can be as varied as ice cream flavors in your grocer's freezer section. And
everyone can have a strong preference about which flavor is the best! Our recommendation is to
browse through our choices and consider their features with respect to both what works best for your
child (i.e. Is your child a visual learner? Does he/she enjoy more or less independence?) and what
works best for you. You do not have to order any of these choices through us. If you have a
curriculum you prefer to purchase privately you are free to do so.
A complete language arts program will deal in various degrees, depending on the age of your child,
with writing and writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, vocabulary, handwriting) as well as the literary
(phonics, reading comprehension/literary analysis, composition) and oral elements of language
(speech, debate, oral presentations). You may want to put together a complete language arts
curriculum using pieces of several different programs (e.g. Growing with Grammar + Soaring with
Spelling and Vocabulary + Winning with Writing + Reading Comprehension 2) or you may want to
purchase one program that contains most everything your child will need for the year (For example,
Time4Learning, provides both math and language arts curriculum in one program).
The following Language Arts choices are arranged by topic (Grammar, Spelling, Vocabulary, Writing,
and Additional Resources such as Reading Comprehension). Included, where possible, are general
descriptions of the program (as well as publisher's recommended grade level), links to samples pages,
and reviews. If you are not sure which level is an appropriate one for your child, browse samples for
several grades. In addition, many programs provide scope and sequence information for each grade
level which can also be helpful when choosing materials. Keep in mind you can combine components
from different grades. For example, if you have a 10 year old (5th grader) that excels in spelling but
struggles with writing you might choose Spelling Workout F (6th grade) to use with Writing with Ease
Level 4 (4th grade)).
Grammar (6 programs)
As you will see below several programs touch on grammar within the context of multi-skill language
arts programs, such as Lightning Literature. In this case grammar is touched on within the context of
reading, vocabulary and composition (however you could supplement additional grammar and
vocabulary study depending on your student's needs; spelling as an area of study is not touched on, so
again, depending on your student's needs you may want to purchase an additional spelling/word study
program). Growing with Grammar focuses mainly on grammar and can be mixed and matched with
other curriculum choices for a complete language arts program for your child. Shurley English focuses
on Grammar, Writing and Vocabulary while Voyages in English and Saxon Grammar and Writing
focus on grammar and writing. Time4Learning incorporates phonics, reading, vocabulary and some
writing, however we would encourage you to purchase a spelling program as well as a supplemental
writing program as well.
1. Growing with Grammar
From the publisher:
Each level contains approximately 108 lessons and assumes the grammar course is being taught three
times per week during a 36-week school year.
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! One lesson is taught per workday, which includes a learning portion and an exercise
portion, which reinforces the concepts taught in the learning portion of the lesson.
! During each teaching session of the grammar course, the student first completes the
learning portion before completing the exercise portion.
There is plenty of review placed throughout both the learning and exercise portions of
the grammar course.
! After every Section (see the Table of Contents for more details), there is a separate
review lesson which acts as a review for the concepts taught in the previous section.
! Each level in the series teaches the basics of grammar in a way that is age-appropriate
for the level.
! Each level also teaches advanced grammar concepts that are age-appropriate for the
level.
! Each level briefly reviews the advanced concepts taught in prior levels.
! Sentence diagramming is taught beginning with Level 3. We believe sentence
diagramming is a great tool, which assists the student in actually understanding the
parts of speech and how they relate to each other.
! The answer keys for all levels are separate from the Student Workbook. This makes
the program ideal for any setting where the teacher is promoting independent study. As
a matter of fact, one of the best compliments we have received from the users of
Growing With Grammar is that this program is so easy to understand that many students
routinely complete their assignments with little intervention from their teacher.
Complete Set: Student Manual + Student Workbook + Answer Key + Student tests
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sample and table of contents:
http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1gwg_Level_7.html
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/growing-with-grammar.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (20 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.1
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.3
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.4
Comments:
“Kids and I both like.”
“It does the job and allows child to be more self-directed and independent”
Points:
4
2. Voyages in English
From publisher:
The new 2011 edition of Voyages in English: Grammar and Writing for Grades 3-8 is the result of
decades of research and practice by experts in the field of grammar and writing. Responding to the
needs of teachers and students, this new edition provides ample opportunities for practice and review to
ensure mastery and improved performance on standardized tests.
Voyages in English 2011 - About the Program
More Practice, More Rigor, and More Application!
! Enables children to master grammar
! Provides master and novice teachers with support and straightforward, practical lesson plans
! Guides children to experience, explore, and improve their writing
! Provides children and teachers with opportunities to use technology
! Gives children the speaking and writing practice and tools they need to communicate
New 2011 Features
We’ve taken the best of the past and incorporated
new learning tools for today’s students and the
world they live in.
! More exercises in all the components
! Daily Maintenance offers quick, daily practice opportunities on grammar concepts
! Improved assessments include a more thorough testing of topics taught
! Exam View® Pro Test Generator CD-Rom allows for more flexibility in creating
individualized tests
! Integration opportunities are included in the lessons
! Tech tips and technology opportunities allow teachers to incorporate technology
! Online resources for students and teachers
To view a program overview video and see samples go here:
http://www.loyolapress.com/voyages-in-english-writing-and-grammar-program.htm
Voyages in English 2011 Grade 7 Student Edition
Voyages in English 2011 Grade 7 Teacher's Edition
Voyages in English 2011 Grade 7 Practice Book
Voyages in English 2011 Grade 7 Ans. Key for Practice/Assessment Books
Resources:
http://www.loyolapress.com/voyages-in-english-2011-student-games.htm
http://www.loyolapress.com/voyages-in-english-2011-writing-prompts.htm
http://www.loyolapress.com/voyages-in-english-2011-homework-tools.htm
http://www.loyolapress.com/teachers-page-title.htm
http://www.loyolapress.com/voyages-in-english-admininstrator-skill-extenders.htm
Points: 55
Points: 84
Points: 13
Points: 19
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Still not many reviews available about this curriculum. However, it was awarded a 2011 Distinguished
Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers for Curriculum-Reading and
Language Arts-Grade 6-8. To see more about this award go to:
http://newsroom.loyolapress.com/2011/06/voyages-in-english-wins/
Trivium Parent Ratings (3 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.7
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3.6
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 2
Comments:
“I recommend for those coming from a more traditional school”
3. Saxon Grammar and Writing
From the publisher:
Our focus is student success. We have designed Grammar and Writing to help your
students learn and remember the skills and concepts that will enable them to be
successful communicators.
Grammar and Writing is a comprehensive English language arts curriculum that
emphasizes writing, vocabulary development, spelling, and grammar. The content
meets the Common Core State Standards for writing and language. Grade
appropriate core knowledge content is embedded in examples and exercises to reinforce
learning of other subject areas.
Complete Homeschooling Kit
(Contains Student text, workbook and Teacher Pack)
If you want to purchase components of the homeschooling kit individually:
Student Textbook
http://www.christianbook.com/hakes-grammar-writing-grade-7-student/stephenhake/9781419098543/pd/998543?event=CPOF
Student Workbook
http://www.christianbook.com/grammar-writing-grade-7-student-workbook/stephenhake/9781419098550/pd/998550?event=CF
Teacher Pack
http://www.christianbook.com/grammar-writing-grade-7-teacher-packet/stephenhake/9781419098567/pd/909856?event=CPOF
Additional Samples:
http://www.hakepublishing.com/sample-lessons.html
evel4Code=M000002
Resources:
http://www.hakepublishing.com/how-to-use-grammar.html
http://www.hakepublishing.com/pedagogy.html
Points: 81
Points: 43
Points: 16
Points: 30
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Review
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/saxon-grammar-writing.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (1 family responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 4
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 3
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4
4. Shurley English
From the publisher:
Shurley English Homeschooling is our award-winning grammar and writing program. Based on the
tried and true methods developed in our flagship Shurley English curriculum, it is considered by many
to be the most effective English curriculum available to homeschoolers. Parents everywhere trust
Shurley English Homeschooling to help their children grow into confident and competent
communicators.
The Shurley English Homeschool curriculum was specifically written for the Homeschool parent.
Materials for each grade level are sold in a kit package. A kit contains everything needed to teach one
child for an entire school year. Each kit contains the following three items:
Teacher's Manual: The teacher's manual is the heart of the program at every grade level.
There are five lessons per chapter. Each lesson opens with a planning box, which contains objectives.
The scripted lessons provide you with the exact words for the Question & Answer Flows, questioning
strategies, and the teaching techniques that make this program consistent for all grade levels. The script
is especially helpful for parents who are new to homeschooling or to Shurley English.
Each chapter can be finished in one week. A lesson takes approximately 20-45 minutes to complete.
Grammar, language skills, and writing are taught in each chapter.
Student Workbook:Each workbook contains a Jingle Section, a Reference Section, a Practice Section,
and a Test Section. The Jingle Section contains all the jingles.
The Reference Section includes vocabulary words, guided practices, samples, guidelines, and charts.
The Practice Section provides extra practice on the various skills taught before the skills are tested.
The Test Section contains the tests for each chapter. Each test is divided into 4 basic areas: grammar,
vocabulary, language skills, and a summary of things learned for the week.
Introductory CD (Audio): The introductory CD provides the jingles and the Question & Answer
Flows for the Introductory Sentences found in the Teacher's Manual. The audio CD may be used
to demonstrate jingles and Question & Answer Flows to children or as a resource for the parents.
Getting Started info:
https://www.shurley.com/?3f9b06c8f52a14bd1250c9a862d8f
Answers to questions such as: “What level is appropriate for my child?” and “How do I prepare for
each lesson?” can be found here:
https://www.shurley.com/hs/?583c10bfdbd326ba145bc15183861
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Shurley English Homeschool Kit Level 7
Points: 70
Samples:
http://www.christianbook.com/shurley-english-level-7-kit/9781881940180/pd/940180?
item_code=WW&netp_id=488020&event=ESRCG&view=details
Reviews:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/shurley-method.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (3 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 4.3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 2
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.3
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4.8
5. Time4Learning
From the publisher:
Seventh grade language arts is organized into two large sections: Language Arts
and Language Arts Extensions.
The language arts section contains 127 learning activities that are primarily based on
reading comprehension, writing skills and vocabulary. Independent learning activities
(ILA) think alouds, interactive guided instruction and read & respond lessons will build
and develop working knowledge of language arts skills and give them plenty of practice.
This series constitutes a solid seventh grade language arts program, correlated to state
standards.
One hundred and twenty-seven lessons are organized into eight chapters that
introduce and cover:
Vocabulary Skills – Students will be able to identify and select the appropriate
synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, idioms, and Latin and Greek roots. Students
build a working understanding of suffixes, prefixes, and reading skills through
interactive guided instruction. Students are asked to identify, interpret and
analyze literary passages.
Process Skills: Think Alouds - Teaches the reading comprehension processes of
summarizing, predicting, visualizing, questioning, and clarifying through think
aloud prompts. Students are encouraged to independently read and critically
analyze texts with minimal support.
Comprehension – Students gain comprehension skill through identifying the
characters, setting, plot, main idea and supporting details of a story. They learn
about sequential order, fact and opinion, cause and effect, author’s purpose,
inferences, and comparing and contrasting story elements to make inferences
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about varied types of literature.
State Simulation Assessments - Mock assessment simulating high stakes testing.
Students are asked to display working knowledge of comprehension skills based
on appropriate reading material.
The Scarlet Pimpernel (ILA) - Independent Learning Activity (ILA) that builds
vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, prewriting, literary response and analysis,
and writing skills. Students learn how to identify story elements, make
inferences, and draw conclusions to extend comprehension skills. An end of
chapter writing assignment using a movie review allows students to apply their
skills.
Hush (ILA) – An activity that develops reading, writing, and thinking skills. Students
proceed through an integrated thematic chapter to build comprehension by
reading literature with an emphasis on vocabulary. Writing skills are applied
through an end of chapter memoir writing assignment.
The Wreckers (ILA) – An ILA that uses pre reading, during reading and post reading
activities to develop comprehension skills. Uses an integrated thematic chapter
to build comprehension by reading literature with an emphasis on vocabulary.
Students write a suspense story as an end of chapter writing application.
Wright Brothers (ILA) - Uses the story of the Wright Brothers to teach vocabulary,
comprehension, and writing skills. Activities combine direct instruction with
read and responds to develop vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing, and
thinking skills. Students are asked to identify cause & effect and write a
newspaper entry to practice their language arts skills.
Seventh Grade Reading List
Many parents have expressed interest in purchasing the full versions of the
authentic literature excerpted in the seventh grade language arts section. They can
be purchased at the links below but they DO NOT need to be purchased in order to use
Time4Learning.
The Scarlet Pimpernel by: Baroness Orczy
Hush by: Jacqueline Woodson
The Wreckers (High Seas Adventure): by Iain Lawrence
The Wright Brothers: Powered Flight (the Scientists who Have Changed the World) by:
Anna Sproule
Language arts extensions contain 9 chapters made up of 74 activities.
Language arts extensions is a complete alternative language arts curriculum. Many
parents have their child complete both the language arts and language arts extensions.
Others use language arts extensions for review, additional practice or reinforcement.
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Members have access to both, so they can use the exercises in the way that best fits their
needs.
Seventy-four lessons are organized into nine chapters that introduce and cover:
Determining Word Meaning - Teaches different strategies to build reading
comprehension skills. Students incorporate the use of context clues, compare and
contrast, multiple meaning words, vocabulary strategies, and figurative language
to understand the text. Students will compare and contrast vivid writing with
plain text.
Summarize Written Text – Students will summarize written text through the use of
main ideas, recall of details, and analyzing paragraphs. Students will complete
two summary assignments designed to teach them how to analyze a passage.
Support Main Idea – Students identify important details that enable them to answer the
5 W questions. Lessons also teach how to determine the setting and mood of a
story, and whether details are specific or general.
Recognizing Relationships - Teaches students how to recognize the cause and effect
relationships inherent in each passage. Students learn the skills of analysis
through use of cause and effect and organizational patterns enabling them to
complete an assignment on following directions.
Analyze Text – Teaches skills of analyzing literary texts. Students learn how to use
inferences, draw conclusions, find the author’s purpose, understand themes, and
discover the development of the plot in order to facilitate complex
comprehension skills.
Evaluate Point of View - Teaches students how to evaluate the point of view in a story
through the discrimination of fact and opinion, comparing and contrasting
character changes, determining the author’s point of view and by recognizing the
author’s bias. Students identify how testimonials, bandwagon techniques, and
loaded words promote bias in a text.
Parts of Speech - Students will apply various spelling conventions while learning the
plural noun endings, possessive nouns with apostrophes, the “perfect” verb
tense, subject and verb agreement, pronoun and antecedent agreement, the
comparison of adjectives and adverbs, the use of double negatives, the placement
and use of prepositional phrases, and the correct use of conjunctions to connect
ideas.
Capitalization – Lessons encourage students to identify specific words that should be
capitalized such as: proper nouns, proper adjectives, titles, first words, and direct
quotes.
Punctuation – Students will use the rules of punctuation to place commas in a series, in
quotations, in a formal letter, in compound sentences, with appositives, with
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introductory words and phrases, with end marks, with colons and semicolons,
with apostrophes, and with quotation marks.
Seventh Grade Vocabulary
Seventh graders using Time4Learning expand and apply their knowledge of Latin
and Greek roots, idioms, prefixes, suffixes, synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms
through interaction with animated vocabulary lessons. Four literature based units utilize
authentic literature and an online vocabulary graphic organizer to build vocabulary.
A glossary is provided for each of the literature selections to assist in completing the
accompanying vocabulary exercises. Each unit includes a related vocabulary list and
printable vocabulary worksheets. An extensive “Word Meanings” chapter includes
vocabulary activities designed to guide students in using context clues in order to
understand text.
Time4Learning per month subscription
Points: 25/month
see curriculum overview for 7th grade:
http://www.time4learning.com/education/seventh_grade.shtml
Resources:
http://www.time4learning.com/hints/help_getting_started.htm
Download a Welcome to Homeschooling Guide here:
http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/welcome.htm
http://www.time4learning.com/printable-worksheets.shtml
http://www.time4learning.com/siteMap.htm
Additional Reviews:
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=1183
http://www.thehomeschoollibrary.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12757
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=467
(In this review you will find people discussing whether time4learning is a complete curriculum):
http://www.homeschool.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7905&PN=1
Trivium Parent Ratings (1 family responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 1
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): N/A
6. Lightning Literature and Composition (Hewitt Homeschooling)
From the Publisher: Hewitt's Lightning Lit guides use full-length novels, autobiographies, plays,
essays, short stories, and poems to teach deep reading and composition skills. Unlike some literature
programs that take a scatter-shot approach (where none of the literature seems connected) or that try to
include too much into one book, Lightning Literature guides focus on a few classics in depth, in a
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systematic manner.
The grade 7 and 8 guides are year-long courses consisting of a student guide, a student workbook, and
a teacher guide. The Student Guide includes biographies of the authors, vocabulary, comprehension
questions, lessons on the readings, additional lessons on composition, and writing exercises. The
Student Workbook is consumable. The Teacher Guide includes a teaching schedule, answers to
comprehension questions, answers to the workbook pages, extra teaching help for the lessons, help in
choosing appropriate writing exercises, and discussion questions.
Lightning Literature Grade 7 Pack
Points: 93
This set contains the 2nd Edition of Student's Guide, Workbook, Teacher's Guide, and the five books
the student will need for the Grade-7 Lightning Literature and Composition program: The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, All Creatures Great and Small, The Story of My
Life (Helen Keller), and Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children.
https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Junior/jLightning.aspx
7. See Mosdos Press' Literature Series Under Literature below (NEW)
Spelling (4 programs)
Several programs incorporate spelling (to a greater or lesser extent) within grammar and writing such
as Time4learning so you might not want to purchase an additional spelling program, unless you
wanted to supplement those programs. The programs listed below focus either mainly on spelling.
1. Spelling Workout (Pearson)
From the publisher:
Spelling Workout has all the components you need to lead students from simple sound-letter
relationships to more complex spelling patterns.
Students learn spelling skills based on phonics through unique, cross-curricular reading passages,
practice, and high-interest writing activities. Packed with flexible lessons, motivating activities,
including fun riddles and puzzles, this dynamic program leads students to spelling success!
Level G Student Edition (7th grade)
Points: 13
sample (click on additional views):
http://www.christianbook.com/spelling-workout-level-g-student-book/9780813628219/pd/628210?
event=CF
Level G Teacher's Edition (7th grade)
Points: 13
sample (click on additional views):
http://www.christianbook.com/spelling-workout-level-g-teachers-edition/9780813628462/pd/628466
Resource: (useful for any spelling program):
www.spellingcity.com
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/spelling-workout.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (12 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.1
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.2
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Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.1
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 1.9
Comments: “Good program, appropriate level”
2. Soaring with Spelling and Vocabulary
From the publisher:
! Each level is based on a 36-week school year.
! Each lesson has space provided within the workbook for the student to take a Pretest on
Day 1 and a Final Test on Day 5.
! Each lesson is clearly divided into five separate days. Each day has specifically
assigned duties as follows:
Day 1, the student takes a pretest to gauge his level of proficiency with the list words.
Days 2-4, the student completes the exercises in the workbook for each day.
Day 5, the student takes the final test.
! For each lesson, the answer key has space for the teacher to record list words (carryover words) that were misspelled during previous lessons. Each carry-over word is
brought forward to the next lesson until the student spells it correctly.
! Each lesson within the Level 7 spelling and vocabulary program contains 18 list words.
! List words are progressively more difficult than those used in prior levels. Multi-syllable words and more complex words are predominant in this level.
! Lessons contain games such as pronunciation of words, proof reading, deciphering puzzles, word jumbles, crossword puzzles, word search, definition matching, unscrambling words, identifying misspelled list words in a paragraph or sentence, alphabetizing word groups, and complete the sentences. These exercises are more difficult than
those in previous levels.
! Typical blank lines are provided since students at this level should have enough experience and control in writing.
Level 7 of the spelling and vocabulary program contains 215 pages.
Workbook and Answer key
sample:
http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1sws_Level_7.html
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/soaring-with-spelling.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (13 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.6
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.2
Points: 16
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Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.3
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 2.7
Comments; “Very simple to use”; “Mostly book work, not very interactive but very easy to follow”
3. All About Spelling
From the Publisher:
A Complete, Comprehensive Spelling Program
Seven levels
No gaps
Multisensory lessons using sight, sound, and touch
Continual review
Teaches one concept at a time
Mastery-based
Orton-Gillingham methods combined with the latest research
This program teaches your child everything he or she needs to know about spelling. As the author of
All About Spelling, I am passionate about teaching spelling thoroughly. Why? Because my own child
struggled to learn to spell, and I don't want anyone to go through what we did. Our lessons are
multisensory, created to teach children the way they learn naturally, with sight, sound, and touch.
Your child will use letter tiles on a white board, flashcards, word banks, customized spelling lists,
dictation, writing exercises, and 100% decodable readers throughout the program. The Teacher's
Manual is extremely easy to use and lightly scripted. You'll know exactly what to do each day.
Teaching tips just where you need them. No previous teaching experience necessary. Lessons take
15-20 minutes per day. To learn more see: Is All About Spelling Right for you? Click here:
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/is-all-about-spelling-right-for-your-child
What Level should your student start with? Go here:
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/which-spelling-level-should-we-start-with
Spelling Interactive Kit
(needed for each level)
All About Spelling Level 1 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 2 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 3 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 4 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 5 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 6 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
All About Spelling Level 7 (Teacher's Manual + Student's Packet)
Samples:
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-spelling
Points: 30
Points: 30
Points: 40
Points: 40
Points: 40
Points: 40
Points: 40
Points: 40
Resources:
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/spelling-resource-center
http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/free-spelling-downloads
Reviews:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/all-about-spelling.htm
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=489
Trivium Parent Ratings (5 families responded)
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Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 5
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 3.5
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3.6 (although rated with 3 5's a 1 and 2
so families either really liked it or really didn't)
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.8
Comments: “parental involvement very high”
4. Spelling City ONLINE
From Publisher: Word study doesn't have to be boring. Transform any word list into a fun activity.
Choose from over 30 learning games. The kids can play in a game show hosted by a penguin while
studying their vocabulary. They can help a mouse sneak a piece of cheese while learning to spell!
They'll have so much fun, they won't even realize they're learning!
Activities available when and where you need them. VocabularySpellingCity can be used at your
child's pace, for extra practice mastering the words assigned by his teacher each week. Want to study
vocabulary in the waiting room at the doctor's office? Or practice spelling words in the car? Want to
brush up on writing skills afterschool at grandma's house?
No problem! With VocabularySpellingCity, you can access student activities on the web or on the go
using our app!
Save time with helpful resources! Spending endless hours every week practicing spelling and
vocabulary words? With VocabularySpellingCity, your child can direct his own learning! Your child
can input any word list for use in any activity. Practice tests help quickly identify words that need more
study time. After taking a test, your child gets immediate feedback on results.
You'll be pleased to observe your child's improvement and progress...while your child does the
studying.
Spelling City Account (12 mos.)
Points: 29
www.spellingcity.com
(You could use spelling lists from various programs and easily create engaging activities for your
student on spelling city. Sample six grade spelling words can be found here:)
https://www.time4learning.com/spellingwords/spelling-words.shtml
To see videos, faqs:
http://www.spellingcity.com/faqs.html
Teaching Resources:
http://www.spellingcity.com/teacher-resources.html
Vocabulary (4 programs)
Again several programs include vocabulary in their scope and sequence, such as Time4Learning, and
Hewitt Lightning Literature and Composition. The programs listed below address mainly the
vocabulary piece of a language arts curriculum.
1. Wordly Wise 3000
From the Publisher:
The words chosen for Wordly Wise 3000® were selected to expand critical grade level vocabulary and
improve reading comprehension.
15
Words from each lesson are commonly encountered in:
grade-level literature
! content-area reading
! textbooks
! high-stakes tests – including the PSAT, SAT, and ACT
Wordly Wise 3000 Grade 7, 2nd edition (student book)
Points: 13
sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/wordlywise-3000-gr7-2nd-ed/9780838828250/pd/242825?event=CF
Wordly Wise 3000 Teacher's Resource Book 7, 2nd edition
teacher resource gr 7 Sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/wordlywise-3000-teacher-resource-book7-2nded/9780838828380/pd/8828380?
product_redirect=1&Ntt=8828380&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
Points: 50
Resources (click on students for games and educators for free graphic organizers):
http://www.wordlywise3000.com/
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/Wordly-Wise.htm
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/3482.php
Trivium Parent Ratings (19 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3.6 (higher for younger grades, lower for olders)
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 2 (again higher for K/1, low for 2nd and above)
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3.7
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 2.8
Comments:
“My student worked best with 1 level lower than their actual grade.”
2. Vocabulary from Classical Roots
From the Publisher:
Over 60% of the English language contains words derived from Greek and Latin roots.
Ideal for students mastering a growing content-area vocabulary in social studies, science, and
mathematics—predominantly multisyllabic Greek and Latin-based words—Vocabulary from Classical
Roots helps students unlock the meanings of literally thousands of words, and gives them the skills to
do so throughout their lives.
Vocabulary from Classical Roots can be easily incorporated into any curriculum. Use the Student
Books to teach word strategies as well as word etymologies. Assign exercises as independent or small
group work, or incorporate them into whole class instruction.
Organized thematically
2 roots and 8–15 words in each lesson
Dictionary-style definitions
“Challenge Words” enhance vocabulary development
16
Expository and creative writing prompts in all review lessons
Vocabulary from Classical Roots A (7th Gr.)
sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/vocabulary-from-classical-roots-book-a/normafifer/9780838822524/pd/22523?event=CF
Points: 14
Vocabulary from Classical Roots Teacher's Guide A
sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/vocabulary-classical-roots-teachers-guideanswer/9780838808603/pd/808603?event=CPOF
Points: 23
Reviews:
http://books.google.com/books?id=2i92xjiN20C&pg=PA314&lpg=PA314&dq=Cathy+Duffy's+Review+of+Vocabulary+from+Classical+
Roots&source=bl&ots=ZRSPG6qfru&sig=f2Tn5MZaK3KmvR3fo7IKRN6CJ8&hl=en&ei=CjQZTovyCLDWiALzv6DTBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result
&resnum=5&ved=0CDQQ6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/Vocabulary+From+Classical+Roots+4/014229/13102751782057850
Trivium Parent Ratings (5 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.8
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.6
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.6
3. Vocabu-Lit
Combine vocabulary building with exposure to quality literature and what do you get? Vocabu-Lit! In
each of the 36 lessons, a short (half-page) segment of literature is provided. The 10 master words to be
studied in the lesson are shown in bold print in the reading selection.
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Ten targeted words are introduced in the context of an excerpt from a fiction or nonfiction
book, short story, essay, or poem. Students practice using prior knowledge determining meaning from
context
Step 2: Students complete several exercises that teach strategies and reinforce word meanings.
Activities include
finding correct dictionary definitions
inferring meaning
recognizing word associations and relationships
using targeted words in new contexts
word play
Step 3: Chapter tests and unit reviews monitor student progress. Literature-based vocabulary program
Teacher Editions:
reproduction of Student Edition with answers
17
reproducible glossary
lesson and unit review tests and answer keys (grades 2, 3, and 4)
Vocabu-Lit Student Book G
Vocabu-Lit Teacher Guide G
Sample and literary excerpts by grade:
http://www.perfectionlearning.com/vocabu-lit-grades6-12
Points: 12
Points: 16
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/Vocabu-Lit-series.htm
4. Word Roots (UPDATED)
From publisher: Word Roots teaches students the meanings of Latin and Greek prefixes, roots, and
suffixes commonly used in English. Learning word elements dramatically improves spelling and the
ability to decode unfamiliar words. Word Roots will add hundreds of words to your students’
vocabulary and greater depth to their thinking and writing.
For each lesson students first learn the meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Then they:
- divide known and unknown words into their elements or assemble elements to form whole words.
- match word parts or whole words to their definitions by analyzing their meanings.
- apply their new vocabulary in sentences.
New Version!
How did we improve our award-winning series? We created more effective activities to help students learn the meaning and
spelling of roots, prefixes, and suffixes commonly used in English. Learning these word elements dramatically improves
spelling and the ability to decode unfamiliar words. Next we added more than 100 new vocabulary words along with activities
that focus on using these words in context to help students incorporate each word into their vocabulary and retain the
correct spelling. Finally, we added lesson reviews to make sure students retain what is taught in the lessons. Our new and
improved Word Roots books will add hundreds of words to your students' vocabulary and greater depth to their thinking and
writing.
Each lesson has the meanings of prefixes, roots, and suffixes used to form the vocabulary words. The activities following the
lessons include:
A. Spelling and Defining Words
Match each given word to its correct definition.
B. Completing the Sentence
Complete the sentence by choosing the correct word.
C. Defining the Word Parts
Define the word parts.
D. Writing Sentences
Write sentences using the words in the lesson.
E. (optional) Creative Writing
Teaching Support
The books include a pretest/posttest, lesson reviews, answers, and a dictionary of the prefixes, roots, suffixes, and
vocabulary words derived from Latin and/or Greek word elements.
Word Roots Level 1 (5-12) (New Version)
http://www.criticalthinking.com/word-roots-level-1.html
Word Roots Level 2 (5-12) (New Version)
http://www.criticalthinking.com/word-roots-level-2.html
Reviews:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/spelling-vocabulary/Word-Roots.htm
Points: 25
Points: 25
18
Writing (7 programs)
Again several programs include writing in their scope and sequence, such as Voyages in English,
Lightning Literature and Composition, Time4Learning, Saxon Grammar and Writing, and Shurley
English. The programs listed below focus singularly on the writing piece of a language arts
curriculum.
1. The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 1 (Gr. 5-8)
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 2 (Gr. 6-8)
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 3 (Gr. 7-8)
This is the newly published extension of Susan Wise Bauer's Writing with Ease series (see Grade 1-4
curriculum catalogs “language arts”).
From the publisher:
This book gives every student the necessary tools to write with clarity and confidence. For students in
the middle grades and above, Writing With Skill provides essential training in organization,
composition structure, and research methods.
• Written directly to the student, this series encourages the student to take the initiative in developing
basic writing skills
• Gives straightforward, detailed explanations of how to construct and organize compositions
• Provides careful, clear analysis of models from great writers
• Teaches how to write about topics in history, science, literature and poetry
• All source material for assignments is provided--no other books are needed
Skills Taught in vol. 1:
~ One- and two-level outlining.
~ Writing chronological narratives, biographical sketches, descriptions, and sequences across the
curriculum
~ Constructing basic literary essays on fiction and poetry
~ Researching and documenting source material
Skills Taught in vol. 2:
~ One-, two-, and three-level outlining.
~ Writing chronological narratives, biographical sketches, descriptions, and sequences across the
curriculum
~ Critical literary essays on fiction and poetry
~ Researching and documenting source material
Features of the Program:
~ Writing assignments are modeled on examples from great literature and classic nonfiction
~ Student workbook encourages independence by directing all assignments to the student
Skills Taught in vol 3:
* Straightforward, detailed instructions in how to brainstorm, organize, and construct original
compositions
19
* Careful, clear analysis of models from great writers
* Step-by-step instruction in how to write narratives, sequences, definitions, explanations, comparisons
and contrasts, biographical sketches, and much more
* Exercises in style and sound
* Extensive practice in planning and carrying out independent projects
* Direction in note-taking, documentation, and avoiding plagiarism
Features of the Program:
~ Writing assignments are modeled on examples from great literature and classic nonfiction
~ Student workbook encourages independence by directing all assignments to the student
~ Instructor Text (sold separately) provides scripted dialogue to use when the student has difficulty,
plus detailed guidance on how to evaluate the student's work
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 1 Student Workbook
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 2 Student Workbook
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 3 Student Workbook
To view a sample and see the table of contents, click on “sample” here:
http://peacehillpress.com/samples.html
Points: 29
Points: 31
Points: 31
Suggested Sequence Writing with Ease and Writing with Skill::
http://downloads.peacehillpress.com/samples/pdf/WWEandWWSexplanation.pdf
To see a review :
http://www.amazon.com/CompleteWriterWritingStudentWorkbook/dp/1933339535/ref=sr_1_4ie=UTF8
&qid=1327643125&sr=8-4
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 1 Instructor Text
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 2 Instructor Text
The Complete Writer: Writing with Skill Level 3 Instructor Text
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
Points: 33
Points: 35
Points: 35
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.5
2. The Creative Writer Level One
Points: 17
From publisher:
In this new middle-grades creative-writing curriculum, young writers of fiction and poetry learn vital
skills such as point of view, characterization, plotting, dialogue, and description. Simple but innovative
exercises encourage young writers to strengthen their vocabulary and become aware of the patterns of
sentences.
20
Unlike most "how to write" books, The Creative Writer is designed to be used in a mentor/student
relationship, with teaching, guidance, and evaluation tips provided for the mentor or teacher.
The Creative Writer, Level One can be used as a complement to our non-fiction writing book, Writing
With Skill, or it can be used on its own.
About the Author
BORIS FISHMAN (MFA, New York University) is a writer, editor, and translator. He is the author of
Wild East: Stories from the Last Frontier and has written for The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal,
The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, Harper's, and many other publications.
A gentle, imaginative introduction to the skills all creative writers need. Gives guidance for both
teacher and student, building skills in writing poetry and fiction.
To view a sample:
http://peacehillpress.com/samples.html
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 2
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4
3. The Creative Writer Level Two
Points: 17
From publisher:
The Creative Writer, Level Two guides you through an innovative, compelling series of exercises, each
one designed to build your skill in the essential ingredients of fiction and poetry. Then, author Boris
Fishman sets you free to create your own recipe for gripping fiction and spellbinding poetry.
Use as a follow-up to The Creative Writer, Level One: Five Finger Exercises. Or begin with the second
volume as a more advanced introduction to imaginative writing. Each volume contains directions and
instructions for the developing writer, as well as detailed guidance for the mentor or teacher.
To view a sample:
http://peacehillpress.com/samples.html
4. Hewitt's Lightning Literature and Composition Grade 7
Hewitt's Lightning Lit guides use full-length novels, autobiographies, plays, essays, short stories, and
poems to teach deep reading and composition skills. Unlike some literature programs that take a
scatter-shot approach (where none of the literature seems connected) or that try to include too much
into one book, Lightning Literature guides focus on a few classics in depth, in a systematic manner.
The grade 7 and 8 guides are year-long courses consisting of a student guide, a student workbook, and
a teacher guide. The Student Guide includes biographies of the authors, vocabulary, comprehension
questions, lessons on the readings, additional lessons on composition, and writing exercises. The
Student Workbook is consumable. The Teacher Guide includes a teaching schedule, answers to
comprehension questions, answers to the workbook pages, extra teaching help for the lessons, help in
21
choosing appropriate writing exercises, and discussion questions.
This set contains the 2nd Edition of Student's Guide, Workbook, Teacher's Guide. The five books the
student will need for the Grade-7 Lightning Literature and Composition program: The Adventures of
Tom Sawyer, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, All Creatures Great and Small, The Story of My Life
(Helen Keller), and Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children.
Hewitt's Lightning Literature and Composition Grade 7
Points: 60
Includes Teacher's Guide, Student's Guide and Workbook. Books to be purchased separately.
Hewitt's Lightning Literature and Composition Grade 7 Complete Set
Points: 93
Includes Teacher's Guide, Student's Guide and Workbook and the 5 additional books the student will
need for the course.
Review of Program in General:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/phonics_reading/lightning-lit.htm
Sample:
https://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/Materials/mItem.aspx?id=3432
Trivium Parent Ratings (3 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 4
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.7
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 2-Highly): 3.3 (another program families seemed to
either really like or really dislike....there was one 1 and a 4 and a 5).
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4.7
5. Winning with Writing
This program, introduced by the Growing with Grammar/Soaring with Spelling folks, is new this year.
As such, there are no reviews yet. If you decide to use this program please let us know what you think!
From the publisher:
1. Each writing book teaches the basics of writing in a way that is age-appropriate for the level.
2. This program covers numerous types of writings, such as essays and research papers.
3. This program teaches a student how to organize and outline his thoughts for a writing project.
4. Enough space is provided within each book for the student to complete the writing assignments.
5. The answer keys for all levels are separate from the workbook. This makes our program ideal for
any setting where the teacher is promoting independent study.
6. All books in this writing course are spiral bound, which enables them to lie completely flat while
opened.
By the time the student has completed level 8 of the series, he has had comprehensive exposure to
many different types of writing and should be a well-organized writer with the confidence to tackle any
writing project.
This writing program assumes a 36-week school year with one lesson being completed each week.
22
! Within each lesson there are five defined days with tasks to be performed each day.
! This level covers direct, indirect quotations, divided quotations, dialogue, the writing process, thesis statements, transitional sentences, documenting sources, bibliography, creative writing, personal narrative, descriptive writing, persuasive writing,
explanatory writing, informational essay, autobiographical essay, cause and effect essay, compare and contrast essay, and research report, among other things.
!
This contains two books, one for each semester.
!
No dotted guidelines in blanks. Typical blank lines are provided since students at this level should have enough experience and control in writing.
!
Level 7 requires students to write six paragraphs for each writing assignment.
The first semester book contains 217 pages. The second semester book contains 163 pages.
Complete Set (1st smst. workbooks + ans. key and 2nd smst. workbooks + ans. key)
sample lessons and table of contents:
http://www.growingwithgrammar.com/1gwg_Level_7.html
Points: 27
Reviews:
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=862
Trivium Parent Ratings (13 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.2
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3.7
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 2.9
Comments: “I would say all writing programs require high parent involvement since the parent
gives feedback on the student's writing”
6. Write with the Best: Modeling Writing After Great Authors of World Literature vols. 1 & 2
Volume 1 publisher description:
... by Jill J. Dixon, B.S.Ed., M.Ed. This is her best selling 3rd through 12th grade program that
effectively teaches descriptive writing through modeling techniques of great works of world literature.
Nine different genres are covered:
* Describing an Object from Jules Verne - a Place from Charles Dickens - a Character from
Daniel Defoe
* Dialogue from Kenneth Grahame
* The Short Story from O. Henry
* Fables from Aesop
* Friendly Letters from Robert Louis Stevenson
23
* Poetry - Rhyming Verse from William Wordsworth
* The Ballad or Narrative Poem from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This curriculum was created as the result of teaching writing to public, private, and homeschooled
students for eighteen years. It is based on the successful techniques employed by Mrs. Dixon,
implementing effective methods used in classical literature. Proficiency in literary analysis, grammar,
proofreading, and listening comprehension is also taught in the program. Each daily lesson takes only
15-45 minutes, is addressed to the student and can be used with all children in a family at the same
time. The program includes all needed excerpts from all of the literature that it models so that teachers
are not required to purchase additional material. It comes complete with a helpful answer key, grading
criteria, and an invaluable “How To Write Guide” to assist in teaching each genre. The "How To Write
Guide" possesses very powerful features. It is a very advantageous, quick and reliable proofing tool
that can be kept handy as an explanatory checklist for all of the characteristics that are found in
effective writing in each writing genre. It also functions as a constant litmus throughout the student’s
writing career for verification of accomplished writing. A lot of people really like this particular feature
of our writing curriculum. Volume 1 also contains references to additional literary passages so that the
program can be continually used if desired.
This program accommodates all learning styles and provides guidance for the learning disabled and
non-interested or reluctant writer. It is inexpensive and will not weary your students. This curriculum is
a genuine, incremental (step-by-step) program which requires minimal teacher involvement towards the
goal of mastery of creative writing.
Volume 2 Description from publisher:
... is the second volume of Jill Dixon's best selling and inexpensive homeschool writing curriculum. It
covers 6th through 12th grade and effectively teaches expository writing and informative writing.
Students learn these skills by modeling great authors of world literature.
Eight distinct genres are covered:
* Poetry - Free Verse from Emily Dickinson
* Business Letters from Helen Keller
* Persuasive Essays from Thomas Paine
* Expository Essays from Francis Bacon
* Literary Critiques from Edgar Allan Poe (That's right! Poe was a superb literary critic at
one point.)
* Newspaper Articles from Ernest Hemingway (Yes, indeed! In his early career,
Hemingway was a newspaper article writer.)
* Speeches from Marcus Tullius Cicero
* Dramatic Monologues from William Shakespeare.
The program also teaches the subjects of proper note taking, writing outlines, and writing summaries –
disciplines that are highly beneficial for successful writing. This curriculum was created as the result of
teaching writing to public, private, and homeschooled students for twenty years. Each daily lesson
takes only 15-45 minutes, is addressed to the student and can be used with all children in a family at the
same time. Volume 2 also includes all needed excerpts from all of the literature that it models so that
teachers are not required to purchase additional material. It comes complete with a helpful answer key,
24
grading criteria, grading checklists, and a "How To Write Guide" to assist parents in teaching. The
"How To Write Guide" possesses the same powerful features as it does in Volume One, although it is
specific to Volume Two. It is a very advantageous, quick and reliable proofing tool that can be kept
handy as an explanatory checklist for all of the characteristics that are found in effective writing in each
writing genre. It also functions as a constant litmus throughout the student’s writing career for
verification of accomplished writing. A lot of people really like this particular feature of our writing
curriculum.
This program accommodates all learning styles and provides guidance for the learning disabled and
non-interested writer. As noted above, the essay units prepare students thoroughly for the new SAT
Writing Section. While other more expensive and more teacher-student intensive programs exist, this
curriculum is a genuine, incremental (step-by-step) program which requires minimal teacher
involvement and successfully helps stop academic burnout.
Write with the Best vol 1
Write with the Best vol 2
samples (scroll down page):
http://www.edudps.com/wwtb.html
Reviews:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/write-with-the-best.htm
Points: 25
Points: 30
7. Daily Six Trait Writing Grade 7
Points: 29
Daily 6-Trait Writing gives your seventh graders scaffolded, focused writing practice. Each of the 25
weekly units provides trait-based writing activities that cover the essential traits of strong writing:
ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventions. The weekly units present a
writing skill on Day 1, and writing activities progress in difficulty until students apply what they’ve
learned to a writing prompt on Day 5.
Daily 6-Trait Writing is easy to use and offers you the flexibility to teach weekly units in consecutive
order or to pick and choose lessons to meet student needs.
25 weeks of instruction cover the following trait-based writing skills:
Unit 1: Ideas
Week 1: Focusing Your Topic
Week 2: Supporting the Main Idea
Week 3: Developing Story Elements
Week 4: Maintaining Your Focus
Week 5: Writing from Experience
Unit 2: Organization
Week 1: Organizing Information Logically
Week 2: Connecting Details
Week 3: Deciding on the Organization
Week 4: Writing an Effective Lead
Week 5: Writing an Effective Conclusion
Unit 3: Word Choice
25
Week 1: Communicating Clearly
Week 2: Writing About Action
Week 3: Using Figurative Language
Week 4: Choosing the Right Words
Week 5: Writing for the Topic and the Audience
Unit 4: Sentence Fluency
Week 1: Making Your Writing Flow
Week 2: Varying Sentence Structure and Length
Week 3: Writing Dialogue
Week 4: Working Quotations into the Text
Week 5: Writing a Smooth Paragraph
Unit 5: Voice
Week 1: Identifying the Writing Voice
Week 2: Writing from Different Points of View
Week 3: Using Your Own Voice
Week 4: Using the Right Voice for the Purpose
Week 5: Connecting with Your Readers
Daily Six Traits of Writing Teacher Guide Plus Workbook Masters Grade 7
Points: 30
http://www.christianbook.com/daily-6-trait-writing-grade-7/9781609638795/pd/638797?
event=GRADE
Daily Six Traits of Writing Student Workbook Grade 7 (NEW)
Points: 8
Sample:
http://www.evan-moor.com/p/19127/daily-6-trait-writing-grade-7-teachers-edition
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/Daily-6-Trait-Writing.htm
8. Essentials in Writing (this program will continued to be offered to families that used it last year)
Literature
1. Trivium Literature Packages (NEW)
Learn how the Greeks tried to make sense of their world through their myths; travel to far away lands
and meet magical creatures. Explore Egypt through the eyes of a young orphan or jdiscover how a
fascination with Egypt can bring friends together.
The Golden Goblet Bundle
Book Only
http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Goblet-Newbery-Library-Puffin/dp/0140303359/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432358350&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Golden+Goblet
Literature Guide Only (Teacher Created Resource)
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Golden-Goblet-Classroom-Literature/dp/1557344426/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432358590&sr=1-1&keywords=The+Golden+Goblet+Literature+Guide
Points: 17
Points: 7
Points: 10
26
The Egypt Game Bundle
The Egypt Game Book Only
http://www.amazon.com/Egypt-Game-Zilpha-Keatley-Snyder/dp/1416990518/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1432492810&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Egypt+Game
The Egypt Game Literature Guide Only
Points: 18
Points: 8
Points: 10
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Using-Egypt-Classroom-Literature/dp/0743930061/ref=sr_1_3?
ie=UTF8&qid=1432492658&sr=8-3&keywords=The+Egypt+Game
Greek Myths Bundle
Points: 73
(Includes Guide, D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, Icarus At the Edge of Time and the card game More Roots)
Guide Only
Points: 17
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=156
The Odyssey Bundle
(Includes R. Fagles The Odyssey, Literature Guide and Rosemary Sutcliff's retelling)
Literature Guide Only (Teacher Created Resources)
Fagles The Odyssey
Points: 35
Points: 10
Points: 18
http://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/0140268863/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432497003&sr=1-1&keywords=fagles+odyssey
Sutcliff's retelling
Points: 7
http://www.amazon.com/Wanderings-Odysseus-StoryOdyssey/dp/0553494821/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1432496315
2. Storia
(NEW)
Storia is Scholastic's digital library (ebooks) for schools and contains 2000 leveled fiction and
nonfiction titles—stories and characters you know and love such as Frog and Toad, Biscuit, Ms.
Frizzle, Fly Guy and Inkheart to name a few. There are numerous life science titles (e.g. Discovering
My World and National Geographic books) as well as ancient times titles (e.g. Ms. Frizzle's
Adventures in Ancient Egypt). Additional series include the “I Can Read” leveled readers, Math=Fun
series, Sir Cumference and the Round Table series, the National Geographic Kids series, and the Myths
from Many Lands series (this is not an exhaustive list).
If you'd like to see other offerings go here:
http://www.scholastic.com/storia-school/pdf/storia-schooledition-digital-library.pdf
The reading levels are listed as preK - 6th grade, however here are some of the titles (unabridged) at the
upper end of the reading range: Call of the Wild, Pride and Prejudice, HG Well's The Time Machine,
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
and White Fang to name a few (there are numerous abridged classics as well). Additional Middle
School titles include The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Name of this Book is Secret and Chasing
Vermeer.
A few of the books have videos linked to them or word play games. An age-appropriate dictionary
provides students with definitions of texts, images and optional narration at the tap of a finger (for
selected titles). There are also reading challenge quizes at the end of every ebook.
Storia Subscription (access through July 2016)
Points: 35
(If you order for 1 student, we can give you complementary accounts for your other children if you request it. You would
need to add it to the “notes” section of your curriculum order.)
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3. Mosdos Press Literature Pearl Series (NEW)
Student Edition:
Points: 55
Jade: Book One is a wonderful book that has captivated seventh-graders across the nation. Originally
printed in 1999, Jade has gone through six printings and we are now proud to present Jade in a
completely revised, full-color second edition. Unusual for the seventh-grade level, Jade is replete
with literature that spans several centuries and that is drawn from regions across the globe. The second
edition has a revised curriculum, new original art, graphics, and design, and the same excellent
literature that has made Jade our most popular anthology. See sample selections below.
• 4 Short Stories • 39 Poetry Selections • 9 Nonfiction Essays
• 2 Drama Selections • A complete Novel • Index of Authors & Titles
• Vocabulary Glossary • Brief Author Biographies
• 656 pages. • Published 1999 • Second full-color edition 2007.
Teacher Edition:
Points: 80
Jade Teacher’s Edition guides both the new and the experienced teacher. The annotations provide the
necessary information (and more!) to develop comprehensive, interesting lessons. The Teacher’s
Edition includes additional multi-level Guiding the Reading questions. Summing Up the Plot and
underlined literary components follow the textbook selection, page for page. Look for additional precurriculum annotations in the second edition of this excellent teacher resource.
• Scope and Sequence
• Workbook Answer Guide
• 656+ pages. Published 1999. Spiral bound in two parts. Second edition 2007
Student Companion Workbook
Points: 18
This workbook includes challenging puzzles, interesting stories, nonsense rhymes, funny characters,
and a host of other inventive and innovative teaching techniques. Vocabulary exercises teach
definitions, proper usage, and some etymology. Graphic organizers help students chart each story’s plot
or theme. The writing activity gives students the opportunity to respond creatively to one aspect of each
story.
• 251 pages. Published 2004 • Second edition 2007.
http://www.mosdospress.com/7th_grade_jade.php
Additional Language Arts Resources
(includes additional writing, reading comprehension and IEW resources)
1. Teaching the Essay and Research Paper (renamed and expanded as Beyond the Book Report Season
3)
From the publisher:
Teaching the Essay is a step-by-step “how to” guide for teaching the homeschooled secondary student
to write the classic 5-paragraph literary essay, the foundation for all expository (non-creative) writing.
This is invaluable for preparing for the SAT essay exam.
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Teaching the Research Paper takes the home teacher systematically through the entire process from
choosing the topic to writing the final draft. Each step is thoroughly explained, even how to evaluate
it!
Teaching the Essay and Teaching the Research Paper are foolproof. The teacher does not have to have
any prior knowledge of expository writing. Simply follow the audio and written instructions and both
student and teacher will become experts!
There are three sections. The essay and research paper sections will take our existing Teaching the
Essay and Teaching the Research Paper units (see below), expand them, and add a video lecture
component.
The Essay
- Concepts introduced:
Personal, literary, and SAT essays (link to student planning worksheets)
- Activity:
Expanded version of our “Teaching the Essay” unit including new video lectures
Three literary essays on short stories
A personal (college entrance) essay (link to example essay from teacher packet)
An SAT essay
- Final Product (100 pt total):
Essay on your book
The Oral Book Report
- Concepts introduced:
The DOs and DON’Ts of giving an oral presentation with slides
- Activity:
Watch video lecture on PowerPoint presentations
Find the errors in Mrs. Karl’s presentation!(link to slides; kids watch a video)
- Final Product (100 pt total):
PowerPoint presentation of book
The Research Paper
- Concepts introduced:
How to write a research paper
Each step is broken down (link to mixed-up formal outline activity)
- Activity:
Expanded version of our “Teaching the Research Paper” unit including video lectures
Students write an informative research paper on a famous author
- Final Product (100 pt total):
An argumentative research paper on the book, defending a thesis
http://www.analyticalgrammar.com/beyond-the-book-report-essay-research
Beyond the Book Report (Season 3 Teaching Research Paper/Essay)
Points; 25
2. Teacher Created Materials: Write from the Start! Writing Lessons Grade 6-8
Points: 13
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Teach students different types of writing, including narratives, poems, reports, explanations, and more.
Sample texts and a variety of activities help guide students and give them practice in writing similar
types of text. Additional activities for grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and spelling are also
included. 96Pp
sample:
http://www.teachercreated.com/products/write-from-the-start-writing-lessons-grade-6-8-8074?
lt=search.1.4.1.20
Reading Comprehension
3. Reading Detective
Reading Detective B1 (Gr. 7 & 8)
(NEW)
Points: 25
The standards-based critical thinking activities of Reading Detective® develop the
analysis, synthesis, and vocabulary skills students need for exceptional reading
comprehension. The activities are especially effective at helping students understand
more challenging reading concepts such as drawing inferences, making conclusions,
determining cause-and-effect, and using context clues to define vocabulary.
Students read and analyze short literature passages and stories that include fiction and
nonfiction genres. Then they answer multiple-choice and short-response questions,
citing sentence evidence to support their answers.
The Grades 7–8 (B1) level includes mixed-skills throughout and provides an
introductory lesson for each skill.
Teaching Support
Includes pretests, post-tests, lesson guidelines, and answers with detailed evidence.
Reading and literary analysis skills are based on grade-level standards.
Sample:
http://www.criticalthinking.com/reading-detective-b1.html
Reading Detective Rx (Gr. 6 – 12)
Points: 25
The Grades 6–12+ remedial (Rx) level is organized into single-skill units with a
concluding mixed-skills unit and provides an introductory lesson for each skill.
(Rx activities are "prescriptive" to help underperforming students in Grades 6–12+
improve their comprehension skills. Reading level is Grades 4–6; story content is
Grades 6+.)
Teaching Support
Includes pretests, post-tests, lesson guidelines, and answers with detailed evidence.
Reading and literary analysis skills are based on grade-level standards.
http://www.criticalthinking.com/reading-detective-rx.html
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4. EPS Reading Comprehension in Varied Subject Matter
This series offers nonfiction reading passages with comprehension questions on a variety of subjects.
Each workbook has 31 selections in these subject areas: social studies; science; literature; mathematics;
philosophy, logic, and language; the arts; and combined subjects. Each book in this series is arranged
thematically. The themes relate the selections to one another, show different aspects of a topic, and
give students a broader knowledge of a subject.
Each selection follows a consistent format 7-step format in presenting the passage, and includes
exercises on vocabulary and writing.
! Story recall
! Sequencing
! Drawing conclusions
! Vocabulary development
! Main idea
! Extending thoughts in writing
! Inference
(Grade levels are suggested by publisher)
Reading Comprehension Book 3 includes 31 selections in the following 7 subject areas. A sample
passage title is given for each subject area:
Social Studies—First Ladies
Science—Eclipses
Philosophy, Logic, and Language—The Giving Trees
Combined Subjects—Amelia Earhart
Math—Tree Rings Tell a Story
Literature—A House Made From Trees
The Arts—A Great Musician
In each lesson, the presentation of the passage consistently follows the same 7-step format:
• About the Passage—introduces the selection to the reader and activates prior knowledge
• Reason for Reading—explains the reading skill emphasized
• The Selection—thematically organized selections across subject matter.
• Thinking it Over—lists two to three broad questions to be answered in writing
• Studying the Passage—asks questions about the main idea, facts, and sequence, and asks students to
draw conclusions, make assumptions, and interpret.
• Using the Words—encourages students to use new vocabulary words in a paragraph
• Writing about It—has students answer questions about the contents of the selection and offer their
interpretation or opinion
Reading Comprehension 4 (Gr. 6-7)
Reading Comprehension Book 4 includes 31 selections in the following 7 subject areas. A sample
passage title is given for each subject area:
Social Studies—Harriet Tubman
Science—The Water Cycle
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Philosophy, Logic, and Language—Writing on Stone
Combined Subjects—Breaking the Sound Barrier
Math—Why We Have a Seven-Day Week
Literature—The Palm Tree of the Iroquois
The Arts—Michelangelo
In each lesson, the presentation of the passage consistently follows the same 7-step format:
• About the Passage—introduces the selection to the reader and activates prior knowledge
• Reason for Reading—explains the reading skill emphasized
• The Selection—thematically organized selections across subject matter.
• Thinking it Over—lists two to three broad questions to be answered in writing
• Studying the Passage—asks questions about the main idea, facts, and sequence, and asks students to
draw conclusions, make assumptions, and interpret.
• Using the Words—encourages students to use new vocabulary words in a paragraph
• Writing about It—has students answer questions about the contents of the selection and offer their
interpretation or opinion
Reading Comprehension 4 (Gr. 6-7)
Points: 13
sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/reading-comprehension-subject-matter-grade-6/janeervin/9780838806036/pd/6033X?event=CF#curr
Reading Comprehension 4 Answer Key
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
Points: 4
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.5
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3.5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4
Teacher Created Materials
(Grade levels are suggested by publisher)
5. How to Manage an Independent Reading Program (4-8)
Points: 11
sample:
http://www.teachercreated.com/products/how-to-manage-an-independent-reading-program-3125?
lt=search.1.1.1.20
Allow each student to select individual reading activities from monthly calendars filled with specific
activity for each day of the school year. By self-selecting their reading materials from the class library,
students maintain a comfort level that allows them to be both connected and challenged.
6. Literature Selections: The Shurley Method Level 7
Points: 10
From the Publisher:
These selections give students unique exposure to contemporary and classic literature. A set of
discussion questions follows each selected story or poem for a better understanding of the different
works. Literature vocabulary is also introduced. This is a great source to encourage creative writing.
Sample:
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http://www.christianbook.com/shurley-english-level-7-literatureselections/9781881940364/pd/940364?
product_redirect=1&Ntt=940364&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP
Reviews/Overview:
http://www.finders-keepers.net/index.php?id=shurley&sub=ov
6. Independent Study 7th-8th (Moving Beyond the Page Guide) (NEW)
Points: 17
In this unit, you will explore a controversial topic of your choice and learn about multiple perspectives
on the issue. You will write an argumentative essay and give a presentation to your audience at the
conclusion of the unit (3-6 weeks depending on pace)
•Analyze the purpose of the author or creator by examining any bias, apparent or hidden
messages, emotional factors, and/or propaganda techniques and exploring and evaluating the
underlying assumptions of the author/creator. (Language Arts)
•Ask open-ended research questions and develop a plan for answering them by generating a
research plan to gather relevant information about the major research question. (Language Arts)
•Brainstorm, consult with others, decide upon a topic, and formulate open-ended questions to
address the major research topic. (Language Arts)
•Clarify research questions and evaluate and synthesize collected information. (Language Arts)
•Explore and analyze argumentative works that are read, heard and/or viewed by summarizing
the author's purpose and stance, examining the importance and impact of establishing a position
or point-of-view, and drawing inferences. (Language Arts)
•Explore and analyze argumentative works that are read, heard, and/or viewed by recognizing
bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting, as well as examining the effectiveness of
style, tone, and use of language. (Language Arts)
•Generate a research plan for gathering relevant information about the major research question.
(Language Arts)
•Include evidence compiled through the formal research process (e.g., use of a card catalog,
<i>Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature</i>, a computer catalog, magazines, newspapers,
and dictionaries). (Language Arts)
•Organize and present ideas and information according to the purpose of the research and their
audience. (Language Arts)
•Pose relevant and tightly drawn questions about the topic. (Language Arts)
•Pose relevant questions with a scope narrow enough to be thoroughly covered. (Language
Arts)
•Refine the major research question, if necessary, guided by the answers to a secondary set of
questions. (Language Arts)
•Support the main idea or ideas of a paper with facts, details, examples, and explanations from
multiple authoritative sources (e.g., speakers, periodicals, online information searches).
(Language Arts)
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•Synthesize research into a written or an oral presentation that compiles important information
from multiple sources, develops a topic sentence, summarizes findings, and uses evidence to
support conclusions, presents the findings in a consistent format, and uses quotations to support
ideas and an appropriate form of documentation to acknowledge sources (e.g., bibliography,
works cited). (Language Arts)
•Write expository compositions (e.g., description, explanation, comparison and contrast,
problem and solution) that state the thesis or purpose, explain the situation, follow an
organizational pattern appropriate to the type of composition, and offer persuasive evidence to
validate arguments and conclusions as needed. (Language Arts)
•Write persuasive compositions that state a clear position or perspective in support of a
proposition or proposal, describe the points in support of the proposition, employing wellarticulated evidence, and anticipate/address reader's concerns and counterarguments. (Language
Arts)
•Write research reports that pose relevant questions with a scope narrow enough to be
thoroughly covered and support the main idea (or ideas) with facts, details, examples, and
explanations from multiple authoritative sources (e.g., speakers, periodicals, online information
searches). (Language Arts)
•Make informed judgments about bias, propaganda, and media techniques. (Social Studies)
8. Figuratively Speaking
Points: 18
This resource book draws on classic literature to illustrate the use of 40 literary terms. Divided into
sections on figurative language, poetic language, and literacy techniques, the book covers hyperbole,
metaphor, irony, imagery, dialect, plot, alliteration, onomatopoeia, allusion, conflict, and lots more!
The first page of each lesson includes a definition of the term and one or more samples from gradeappropriate classic literature. The next two pages challenge students to identify and understand the term
and to use it on their own.
http://www.amazon.com/Figuratively-Speaking-Gr-Learning-Works/dp/0881603171/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1339874909&sr=1-1&keywords=Figuratively+Speaking
9. Teaching the Classics DVD Seminar and Workbook
Points: 89
From the publisher:
Our premier literature product for teachers, Teaching the Classics will revolutionize the way you and
your students view literature.
By using short stories as models, Adam systematically prepares you to study character, plot, theme and
other literary tools used by authors to communicate their message. You can quickly equip your children
with literary study tools that can then be used easily on longer works. Skills gained through this
program will allow you to study any piece of literature.
Includes a video seminar on 4 DVDs and spiral bound syllabus. Suitable for teaching all levels.
Although this is meant to be teacher training, students will enjoy viewing it too.
For samples and lesson plans go to:
http://www.christianbook.com/teaching-the-classics-adam-andrews/pd/123615
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
34
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 4.5
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 3.5
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 4.5
10. Reading Roadmaps
Points: 39
Reading Roadmaps is a comprehensive Scope & Sequence manual containing annotated reading lists
for grades K-12. Designed as a supplement to the Teaching the Classics basic seminar, it brings
together more than 200 classic titles specially chosen by Adam and Missy Andrews. Each entry
summarizes the story’s plot, conflicts, themes and literary devices, along with links to teacher resources
and suggestions for alternate titles.
For more information click here:
http://iew.com/shop/products/reading-roadmaps
IEW Supplemental Materials
11. Portable Walls
Points: 7
Not enough available wall space for posters? No problem! Your student can have a writing station at
his or her own desk. Our new “Portable Walls” is a single-pocket folder with an extra page, creating a
tri-fold wall packed with all the [IEW] Unit Models, several word lists including prepositions,
substitutes for "said," and more.
To find out more about portable walls click here:
http://iew.com/shop/products/portable-walls
12.Writing Source Packet
Points: 29
From publisher: If you’re looking for the perfect source texts for supplemental IEW assignments or
new lessons, this resource is for you! Includes reproducible texts for Units 1–6.
Includes:
! Articles and Stories for Units 1 & 2 (see below)
A User Guide, friendly Teacher Pages, and Dress-Ups poster pages have been added to this
collection of 39 easy paragraphs by Andrew Pudewa. Helping you introduce the concept of keyword outlines and summarizing (Units 1/2), they are ideal for younger children gr. 1–3+ or
students who have difficulty with reading and writing. Content spans general knowledge,
animals, and Aesop’s fables.
! Story Sequence Sources for Unit 3
! Mini-Book Set for Units 4 & 6
! Pictures for Unit 5
To find out more click here:
http://iew.com/shop/products/writing-source-packet
13. Fix-it! Grammar and Editing Made Easy with Classics
Ingenious! Students hunt for and correct errors in Fix-It! sentences that cumulatively tell a story. FixIt! reinforces what you teach your students—while they’re writing, not in a separate grammar class.
From the stories, students rewrite 1–2 sentences a day, editing as many of the embedded errors as they
can find. Fix-It! provides up to five years of grammar instruction for grades 3–12.
35
Sample:
http://iew.com/fix
Fix-It Grammar: The Nose Tree Teacher's Manual
(Includes link to free downloadable student manual)
Fix-It Grammar: Robin Hood Teacher's Manual
(Includes link to free downloadable student manual)
Fix-It Grammar: Frog Price or Just Desserts Teacher's Manual
(Includes link to free downloadable student manual)
Fix-It Grammar: Little Mermaid Teacher's Manual
(Includes link to free downloadable student manual)
Points: 19
Points: 19
Points: 19
Points: 19
14. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Points: 17
Ideal for teachers, parents, and secondary students whose active knowledge of grammar and
punctuation may be a bit rusty, this simple, straightforward book organizes concepts in an easy-to-find
layout. Covering hundreds of grammar, punctuation & capitalization rules, commonly confused words,
and guidelines for writing numbers, this resource is indispensable!
Includes free quizzes in interactive format with answers. Tenth Edition, Paperbound, 180 pages.
Sample:
http://iew.com/shop/products/blue-book-grammar-and-punctuation
Review and sample:
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Book-Grammar-Punctuation-Easy/dp/0470222689
Review:
http://www.writeshop.com/bluebookreviews.htm
14. Editor-in-Chief Level 2 (6-8)
Points: 20
From Publisher: Editor in Chief® improves your student's grammar, punctuation, spelling,
capitalization, and attention to detail using a standards-based thinking approach rather than drill and
practice. This effective method teaches students to carefully analyze and edit stories that contain errors
in writing mechanics and story details.
Our new Editor in Chief® Level 2 book includes 12 easy-to-understand lessons in grammar and mechanics and 69 activity
pages. The lessons include the following: content, capitalization, punctuation, spelling, adjectives, adverbs, articles,
conjunctions, prepositions, interjections, pronouns, verbs, clauses, phases, agreement, confused word pairs, negative words,
run-on sentences, and sentence fragments. After learning a lesson, students apply the rules by correcting the errors, and
reviews provide more challenging practice of the multiple skills already taught. Detailed answers are also included. This is the
industry's most highly-effective grammar and mechanical curriculum solution!
Sample:
http://www.criticalthinking.com/editor-in-chief-level-2.html
Review:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/grammar-composition/editor-in-chief.htm
19. Sentence Composing for Middle School
Points: 28
From Publisher:
With the first edition of his book, Don Killgallon changed the way thousands of high school English
teachers and their students look at language, literature, and writing by focusing on the sentence. In this
36
revised edition, Killgallon presents the same proven methodology but offers all-new writing exercises
designed specifically for the middle school student.
Unlike traditional grammar books that emphasize the parsing of sentences, this worktext asks students
to imitate the sentence styles of professional writers, making the sentence composition process an
enjoyable and challenging one. Killgallon teaches subliminally, nontechnically--the ways real writers
compose their sentences, the ways students subsequently intuit within their own writing.
Designed to produce sentence maturity and variety, the worktext offers extensive practice in four
sentence-manipulating techniques: sentence unscrambling, sentence imitating, sentence combining, and
sentence expanding. All of the activities are based on model sentences written by widely respected
authors. They are designed to teach students structures they should but seldom use. The rationale is that
imitation and practice are as valuable in gaining competence and confidence in written language
production as they are in oral language production.
Since the practices have proven successful for the great majority of students who have used them in all
kinds of schools, it's demonstrably true that Sentence Composing can work anywhere--in any school,
with any student.
Sample:
http://www.amazon.com/Sentence-Composing-Middle-School-Worktext/dp/0867094192/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1403414944&sr=8-1&keywords=Sentence+Composing+for+Middle+School
20. The Paragraph Book
This highly specialized writing intervention series targets middle school students with learning
differences who have not been successful in conventional language arts programs. The series’ step-bystep approach builds writing competency from the ground up—students learn to edit, format, and build
paragraphs while mastering 4 basic writing strands required in regular English and content area classes
and standards-based state tests. By the end of the book, students are writing complete essays. Lively
writing, illustrations, and a systematic approach make this series easy to teach and to use.
The Paragraph Book series is especially useful for students with weak writing/motor skills who have
trouble with handwriting. Through ample practice with editing marks, students learn the material
without becoming worn out or frustrated with the process of writing and rewriting. This method has
been tested and shown to work with LD students of varying levels, with ELL students, as well as other
students. This series is also beneficial for students with organizational problems; the structured format
gives them a framework on which to build. Students who have difficulty spotting errors will also find
this program helpful. Special attention is given to looking for missing capitals, dropped endings,
missing and double words, etc.
The Paragraph Book 1
Points: 21
The Paragraph Book 1 Teacher's Guide
Points: 18
The Paragraph Book 2
Points: 21
The Paragraph Book 2 Teacher's Guide
Points: 18
The Paragraph Book 3
Points: 21
The Paragraph Book 3 Teacher's Guide
Points: 18
The Paragraph Book 4
Points: 21
The Paragraph Book 4 Teacher's Guide
Points: 18
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Samples:
http://eps.schoolspecialty.com/products/details.cfm?series=2671M
Math (7 Choices)
We all want to use the best math curriculum. And if you ask ten different homeschool parents which
math program is best you may get ten different answers! Such is the beauty and sometimes the
frustration of homeschooling! So, how do you choose? What do we mean by “best”? Again, our
recommendation is to browse through our choices and consider their features with respect to two
perspectives:
First, what works best for your child. Is your child a visual learner or kinesthetic learner? If the latter
than a more manipulative based program may be helpful. If colorful visual information will hold your
child's attention better consider whether the texts are black and white or colorful. Does he/she enjoy
more or less independence? Perhaps an online or less parent intensive program would be best. Does
your child master math concepts quickly and get bored with too many practice problems or build
confidence with and would prefer additional practice problems? If the former than a mastery-based
program might work best in which chapters introduce a few topics and all of the lessons within that
chapter contain practice problems for just those topics, then review problems (which combine
topics/lessons) are done separately. If the latter than a program that takes a spiraling approach in which
each new lesson includes a few review problems from previous lessons plus a few problems that focus
on the new concept may work best).
Second, and by no means less important, is what works best for you. How teacher intensive is a
particular curriculum and what sort of teacher preparation is required. How confident do you feel
about the subject being taught? If you are less confident than you may want a more scripted program
to make sure you are covering all the bases. If a schedule makes you want to tear your hair out you
may want to choose a curriculum that has a less scripted, looser structure.
Again, you do not have to order any of these choices through us. If you have a curriculum you prefer
to purchase privately you are free to do so.
The following Math choices are not arranged in any particular order. Included, where possible, are
general descriptions of each program (as well as publisher's recommended grade level), links to
samples pages, as well as reviews. If you are not sure which level is appropriate for your child many
of the sites include placement tests. We encourage you to take advantage of these materials to best
match the curriculum level to your child's abilities.
Seventh Grade Math (8 choices)
1. Aleks Math
From the Publisher: ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) is a Research-Based
Online Math Program:
! Artificial Intelligence Targets Gaps in Individual Student Knowledge
! Assessment and Learning with Standards-Based Content for Grades 3-12
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! Comprehensive and Customizable Curriculum That Aligns with Course Syllabi or Textbooks
! Monitor Student, Class, School, and District Progress Toward State Standards
! Fully Bilingual - English and Spanish
! Unlimited Online Access - PC and Mac Compatible
ALEKS QuickTables is a research-based math fact mastery program for multiplication, division,
addition, and subtraction for grades 3 and up.
ALEKS Can Help You Homeschool Your Child By:
Delivering individualized instruction in a supportive learning environment.
Assessing your child to determine exactly what she knows, doesn't know, and is ready to
learn next.
Continually developing a custom learning path by gradually introducing new material
when your child is ready for it. Offering complete explanations for every practice problem, including alternative
explanations when appropriate. Providing immediate feedback on every problem that your child attempts. Regularly reassessing your child and assisting your child in reviewing topics to
encourage knowledge retention. Presenting the ALEKS Pie Chart so your child can always access a graphic
representation of her progress towards completing a course.
For an overview see:
http://www.aleks.com/k12/tour
If you've not tried Aleks before and want to give it a test drive:
http://www.aleks.com/free_trial/instructor
What course/level should I put my child in?
http://www.aleks.com/homeschool/course_products/recommendations
and
http://www.aleks.com/faqs/independent#course
or
http://www.aleks.com/homeschool/getting_started
Middle School Math 2 or 3 or PreAlgebra
Middle School Math 2 or 3 or PreAlgebra
(12 months)
(40 weeks)
Reviews:
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/1577.php
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17006
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 1
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): N/A
Points: 43
Points: 35
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2. Saxon Math
From the Publisher: The Saxon Math middle grades textbooks move students from primary grades to
algebra. Each course contains a series of daily lessons covering all areas of general math. Each lesson
presents a small portion of math content (called an increment) that builds on prior knowledge and
understanding. Students are not required or expected to grasp a concept fully the first time it is
presented. After an increment is introduced, it becomes a part of the student’s daily work for the rest of
the year. Students will have many opportunities to gain understanding and to achieve mastery. This
cumulative, continual practice ensures that students will retain what they have learned.
The homeschool kits for Math 5/4, Math 6/5, Math 7/6, and Math 8/7 consist of a student textbook with
120 lessons and 12 investigations, a Tests and Worksheets Booklet, which includes tests and fact
practice worksheets, and a Solutions Manual, which offers step-by-step solutions to all lessons,
investigations, and test questions. Algebra ½ includes a textbook and Homeschool Packet (31 test
forms in addition to answers for all textbook problems and test questions), and a Solutions Manual is
also available.
Saxon Teacher, a CD-ROM supplement that offers lesson instruction videos and video problem
solutions in a convenient player, is also available for all middle grades math books.
Math 8/7 is the culmination of Saxon Homeschool Math for Middle Grades, reviewing arithmetic
calculation, measurements, basic geometry, and other foundational concepts and skills. At the same
time, Math 8/7 includes extensive pre-algebra exercises, preparing the student for upper-level
mathematics.
Which level is appropriate for my child?
The saxon primary grade placement is for grades 1-3; the saxon homeschool middle grades placement
test is for grades 4-8. See this page for placement tests and samples.
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?
Ntt=Saxon+Math+3&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&c
ms=1
Complete Homeschool Kit 8/7 (student text, tests/wksheets, solns.manual)
Points: 108
For Saxon pre-algebra (Algebra ½) see our curriculum catalog for 8th grade.
If you want to purchase individual components from the homeschool kit:
Student Text
Tests and Worksheet Booklets
Solutions Manual
Points: 51
Points: 31
Points: 37
Supplemental Materials (not required):
Saxon 8/7 Teacher (video supplement, provides comprehensive lesson instruction as well as solutions
to every practice problem, problem set and test question. The user-friendly CDs are compatible with
Windows and Mac formats)
Points: 99
Resources
APPS:
http://www.hmhco.com/at-home/family-learning-center/digital-mobile-learning
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http://saxonhomeschool.hmhco.com/en/resources/result.htm?title=Placement
Saxon Placement Tests:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?
Ntt=Saxon+Math+2&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&c
ms=1title=Placement
Reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Math-5-4-Homeschool-Set/dp/1591413311/ref=sr_1_3?
ie=UTF8&qid=1371192702&sr=8-3&keywords=Saxon+5%2F4+Kit
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/saxon-math-k3.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (4 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 4.5
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 3
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.3
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.5
Comments:
“Really Loved Saxon Combined with Aleks” (Levels for 6th and 7th grade)
3. Math U See
From publisher:
Math·U·See: Suggested 4-Step Approach
In order to train students to be confident problem solvers, here are the four steps that I suggest you use
to get the most from the Math·U·See curriculum:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Prepare for the Lesson
Present the New Topic to the Student
Practice for the Student to Acquire Mastery
Proceed after the Student Demonstrates Mastery
Step 1. Prepare for the Lesson
As the teacher, watch the DVD/video to learn the concept yourself, and see how to demonstrate this
concept with the blocks or fraction overlays. Also, read and study the examples in the Teacher Manual,
along with the written explanations. The video and the Teacher Manual are designed to easily
familiarize you with the new material. They are your multi-sensory educational tools. The older and
more mature the student, the more useful the video and Teacher Manual will be for them as well.
Step 2. Present the New Topic to the Student
Present the new concept to your students. Have the students watch the video with you, if you think it
would be helpful. Older students will benefit from watching the video.
a. Build: Demonstrate how to use the blocks (or fraction overlays) to solve the problem.
b. Write: Show the problems on paper as you build them, step-by-step.
c. Say: Explain the “why” and “what” of the math you are doing.
By using Build, Write and Say (also explained on the video), you are helping the students to use their
eyes, ears and hands to learn. Do as many problems as necessary until the students understand. One of
the joys of teaching is hearing a student say “Now I get it!” or “Now I see it!”
41
Step 3. Practice for the Student to Acquire Mastery
Using the examples and the Lesson Practice problems from the Student Text, have the students practice
the new concept. Coach them through the building, writing and saying process. It is one thing for
students to watch someone else do a problem, it is quite another to do the same themselves. Do enough
examples together until they can do them without assistance.
Note: Do as many of the Lesson Practice pages as necessary (not all pages may be needed) until the
students remember the new material and gain understanding. Utilize the word problems, which are
designed to apply the concept being taught in the lesson.
Step 4. Proceed after the Student Demonstrates Mastery
Once mastery of the new concept is demonstrated, proceed into the Systematic Review pages for that
lesson. Mastery can be demonstrated by having each student teach the new material back to you. Let
him build the problem with the blocks (or fraction overlays), write it as he progresses through the
problem, and say what he is doing as he works the problem. The goal is not to fill in worksheets, but to
be able to teach back what has been learned.
Note: The Systematic Review worksheets review the new material as well as provide practice of the
math concepts previously studied. The word problems are taken from material the student has mastered
in previous lessons as well as the new material. Remediate missed problems as they arise to ensure
continued mastery.
Proceed to the lesson tests. These can be used as an assessment tool or as an extra worksheet. Limiting
the time on a test is your decision, but be aware that it is often an unnecessary source of stress,
especially for younger children.
Your students will be ready for the next lesson only after demonstrating mastery of the new concept
and continued mastery of concepts found in the Systematic Review worksheets.
Confucius was reputed to have said, “Tell me, I forget; Show me, I understand; Let me do it, I will
remember.” To which we add, “Let me teach it and I will have achieved mastery!”
Length of a Lesson
So how long should a lesson take? This will vary from student to student and from topic to topic. You
may spend a day on a new topic before you reach the lesson sheets, or you may spend several days.
There are so many factors that influence this process that it is impossible to predict the length of time.
By following the four steps outlined above, you, the teacher, will know when to proceed to the next
topic. Math must be taught sequentially, as it builds lesson by lesson on previously learned material. If
you move from lesson to lesson without mastery in each lesson, the student will become discouraged.
But by adhering to the suggested approach and moving at the student’s pace you will be helping to
create a confident problem solver who enjoys the study of math.
If this is your first time using Math U See you may want to start with the placement test to get an idea
of which level would be best for your child's abilities:
http://www.mathusee.com/about-us/placement/
See other catalogues to view other levels:
Epsilon(5th); Zeta(6th); prealgebra (7th); Algebra 1 (8th)
PreAlgebra (7th)
42
samples and scope and sequence:
http://store.mathusee.com/catalog/secondary-math/prealgebra/
PreAlgebra Instruction Pack
Points: 57
The Pre-Algebra Instruction Pack contains the instruction manual with lesson-by-lesson instructions
and detailed solutions, and the DVD with lesson-by-lesson video instruction.
PreAlgebra student Kit
Points: 32
The Pre-Algebra Student Kit contains the student text with lesson-by-lesson worksheets, review pages,
and honors pages. It also includes the Pre-Algebra Test Booklet.
Algebra/Decimal Inserts
Points: 22
The algebra inserts are smooth pieces which snap into the backs of the ten and hundred pieces to
illustrate X, -X, and X squared. The decimal parts represent units, 1/10s and 1/100s. There are 50
pieces in all.
Manipulative Block Set
Points: 38
The manipulative blocks are used in all of the Math·U·See levels from Primer to Algebra 1. There are
88 pieces in this colorful, base-10 set of stacking blocks used to teach all aspects of arithmetic. The
same blocks are used in conjunction with the Inserts to illustrate key algebra and decimal concepts. The
set consists of five each of the 2s, 3s, 4s, 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, and 100s; seven 5s, twenty units and twenty-one
10s.
Resources (worksheet generator and online drill page):
http://mathusee.com/e-learning/resources-by-level/
http://mathusee.com/e-learning/
For reviews:
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/1610.php
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/math-u-see.htm
Trivium Parent Ratings (9 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3.2
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.7
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 3.8
Comments:
“Excellent, engaging instruction”; “Love the DVDs!”
4. Teaching Textbooks
From the publisher:
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The Math 7 Teaching Textbook™ is the most technologically-advanced (and popular) Teaching
Textbook™ ever created. It features automated grading, step-by-step audiovisual solutions, and
lectures that contain lively animation and sound effects. Math 7 covers all of basic arithmetic, including
fractions, decimals, and percents. The program also teaches a fair amount of geometry (e.g. how to find
the area of a circle). Other topics include statistics and probability, simple graphing concepts,
equations, and inequalities. There are even several chapters dedicated to math in the real world.
Math 7 Complete Set (consumable workbook, non consumable answer booklet, 4 CD-ROMs;
works on PC and Mac)
Points: 150
What level is right for you? Try the Placement Test:
http://www.teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Placement.htm
Table of Contents and Sample Lessons for Math 7:
http://teachingtextbooks.com/v/vspfiles/tt/Math7.htm
From the publisher:
How do I know if my child is ready for Pre-Algebra?
The best way to tell is to take our Pre-Algebra placement test. If your child is unable to
take the placement test at this time, then you should know that if a student has had
some exposure to basic math and can handle the concept of using a letter (usually an x)
to represent a missing number in an equation, then he or she is probably ready for PreAlgebra.
The TT Pre-Algebra program includes a complete review of basic math (whole
numbers, fractions, decimals, percents, units of measurement, etc.), but it explains
things more conceptually than books for younger students. This approach teaches
students why the techniques they've been using for years really work. Knowing the
whys is necessary prep-aration for Algebra 1 and other higher math courses.
PreAlgebra Complete Set (consumable workbook, non consumable answer booklet, CD-ROMs;
works on PC and Mac)
Points: 185
(PreAlgebra Course is new and improved July 2011)
Reviews:
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/teaching-textbooks.htm
(Although the header says “Teaching Textbooks Gr. 5-12” )
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/curriculum_reviews/teaching_textbooks.php
Trivium Parent Ratings (7 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 1.1
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.7
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 2.8
Comments:
“Easy to use”
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5. Time4Learning
Primary Seventh Grade Math
From the Publisher:
The seventh grade math curriculum contains 15 chapters, 58 printable worksheets,
and 49 quizzes. It constitutes a solid seventh grade math program correlated to state
standards.
Exciting animation presents seventh grade math lessons in bite sized pieces, at the
student's pace. Each chapter builds on the last. Seventh graders are guided through
number theory, basic algebra, systems of measurement, data interpretation, geometry,
graphing and probability using interactive prompts and storylines that bring the lessons
to life.
Seventh grade lessons are organized into fifteen chapters that introduce and cover:
Number Systems – This lesson teaches number theory in relation to using exponents
and scientific notation. Students will learn how to express numbers using
exponents and numbers greater than one using scientific notation in order to
represent numbers in a variety of formats.
Rational Operations - Teaches the order of operations applied to decimals, fractions,
percents, and estimation. Students will apply the order of operations to simplify
expressions, use estimation to solve problems, convert between fractions and
decimals, and to convert percent to decimal.
Number Theory - Teaches the meanings of prime and composite as well as prime
factorization, greatest common factor and least common multiple. Students are
given guided instruction and will apply these concepts to problem solving
situations.
Ratio, Proportion, and Percent – Students are taught how to identify and use ratios
and rates, recognize relationships between ratios/proportions and percents, use
tables to solve proportional problems, use ratios to solve problems, use percents
to solve discount and mark up problems, use simple interest formulas to solve
real world situations, and identify proportional relationships in scale drawings.
Rational Numbers - Students are taught various rational number concepts. Lessons
teach students how to identify pairs of additive and multiplicative inverses, add
and subtract with positive and negative numbers, multiply and divide with
positive and negative numbers, solve real world problems with different types of
numbers, use the number line to explore addition and subtraction of integers, and
use the number line to investigate additive inverses as well as the commutative
and associative properties of addition.
Expressions and Equations - Teaches the student about simplification of expressions,
45
properties, and translations of algebraic expressions into word expressions.
Students apply skills to use algebraic expressions to generalize a pattern,
simplify algebraic expressions by combining like terms, substitution of values
for variables in equations, and to solve one and two step linear equations.
Triangles - Teaches students the classification of angles and triangles. Students will use
interior and exterior angle measurement, the Pythagorean relationship, and the
Pythagorean Theorem to find unknown angle and side measurements.
Plane Geometry - Students determine the characteristics and properties of lines and
angles and apply these skills to concept of perimeter, circumference, area, and
symmetry/reflection. Lessons will teach how to use the protractor and the
various attributes of regular and nonregular convex polygons. Students will use
angle measurement skills applied to measuring polygons to determine
congruency and similarity.
Three-Dimensional Geometry – Teaches the attributes of three dimensional figures,
the volume of prisms and cylinders and how to calculate the surface area of
prisms and cylinders. Students will be able to apply these properties to real world
problems in the activity “Let me Practice.”
Measurement – Students learn how to apply the formulas for calculating rate, distance,
time, mass, and capacity to estimation and conversion. Guided instruction and
practice activities reinforce skills through the chapter.
Graphing – Teaches identifying ordered pairs and how to plot them, the 4 quadrants of
the coordinate plane, recognizing the relationship between a set of points in a
table and those points on a graph, recognizing if a set of points represents a
function, and exploring inequalities with two variables.
Linear Relationships - Teaches students how to interpret various types of linear graphs.
Students apply graphing skills while graphing linear equations and answering
questions about graphs that represent real world situations.
Probability – Students learn how to interpret experimental results, independent and
dependent events, and explore number cubes and spinners. Lessons encourage
students to apply probability through various events and computing the odds of
these events.
Data and Statistics – Teaches the representations of data such as the circle, line, bar,
histogram, stem-and-leaf, and box and whisker graphs. Students are introduced
to statistical terms such as mean, median, and mode and will learn how to apply
the measures of central tendency to data and various types of graphs.
Practice – This lesson will conduct a cumulative review of the material covered
throughout the course. Students have many worksheets that are available to print
along with answer keys. Quizzes will be given throughout this chapter.
46
Additional information:
Students enrolled in seventh grade math will have access to both sixth and eighth grade math
lessons as part of their membership, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace.
sign-up for a free trial/demo:
http://www.time4learning.com/curriculum/demos.html
Lessons Plans/Scope and Sequence:
http://www.time4learning.com/scope-sequence/7th-math.shtml
Seventh Grade Curriculum Overview:
http://www.time4learning.com/education/seventh_grade.shtml
Time4Learning per month subscription
Points: 25/mo.
Resources:
http://www.time4learning.com/hints/help_getting_started.htm
Download a Welcome to Homeschooling Guide here:
http://www.time4learning.com/homeschool/welcome.htm
http://www.time4learning.com/printable-worksheets.shtml
http://www.time4learning.com/siteMap.htm
Additional Reviews:
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=1183
http://www.thehomeschoollibrary.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12757
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=467
(In this review you will find people discussing whether time4learning is a complete curriculum):
http://www.homeschool.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7905&PN=1
Trivium Parent Ratings (1 family responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 5
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): N/A
6. Thinkwell Math
From the Publisher:
Seventh Grade Math Details:
Thinkwell's 7th Grade Math course includes thousands of automatically graded 7th Grade Math
problems, printable worksheets for each topic and subchapter, and lots of animated interactivities, and
at the core of this complete homeschool course are fun and effective video lessons that students love to
use.
47
Thinkwell's homeschool video lessons feature Edward Burger, an award-winning teacher with a special
talent for making math simple for any student. Your homeschool student will enjoy his sense of humor
and his obvious passion for teaching math. Created to work with any learning style, his homeschool
video lessons will keep your students engaged and entertained so they'll learn the fundamentals of math
easily.
Thinkwell's 7th Grade Math has all the features your home school needs:
Aligned to Grade 7 National Math Standards
More than 100 topics with 250+ video lessons
34-week lesson plan with daily assignments (see lesson plan)
140 available contact hours (What is this?)
1000+ interactive exercises with immediate feedback allow you to track your progress
(See sample)
More than 50 interactivities with audio.
Printable 7th grade math worksheets and answer keys for each subchapter and topic
(See sample worksheet - See sample answer key)
Automatically graded 7th grade math tests, including 12 chapter tests, as well as practice tests, a
midterm, and a final exam
Real-world application examples in both lectures and exercises
Glossary of more than 200 mathematical terms
Closed captioning for all video lessons (most are also available in Spanish)
Brand-new content to help students advance their mathematical knowledge:
operations with rational numbers (fractions and decimals)
operations with integers
solving equations and inequalities
rates, ratios, percent, and proportions
square roots
Pythagorean theorem
bar graphs, histograms, box-and-whisker plots, and line graphs
scatter plots
lines, angles, and polygons
transformations, dilations, and symmetry
perimeter and area of polygons
circumference and area of circles
48
volume and surface area of prisms, cylinders, pyramids, and cones
experimental and theoretical probability
probability of independent and dependent events
permutations and combinations
Seventh Grade Math Online Course (12 month access)
for more information go to:
http://www.thinkwellhomeschool.com/products/grade-7-math
Points: 125
Reviews:
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/curriculum_reviews/thinkwell.php
http://thehomeschoolmom.com/reviews/thinkwell-math
7. Math Mammoth Grade 7 (NEW)
A complete pre-algebra program for 7th grade. It consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a
separate answer key for each, tests, and cumulative reviews.
Worktext A and B cover:
-introduction to basic algebra concepts
•integers and their operations
•solving one-step equations, including with negative numbers
•operations with negative rational numbers
•solving linear equations and writing equations for word problems
•graphing linear equations and an introduction to the concept of slope
•ratios, proportions, and percent
•geometry: angle relationships, compass & ruler constructions, Pi, and the area and
circumference of a circle
•the Pythagorean theorem
•probability
•statistics
Some main features of Math Mammoth complete curriculum (Light Blue series) are:
focuses on understanding of mathematical concepts
uses clear explanations, lots of visual exercises and pattern exercises
mastery oriented: concentrates fairly long on a topic, with fairly few topics per grade
emphasizes mental math and developing number sense
very little teacher preparation needed
Samples:
http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/grade_7.php
Math Mammoth Grade 7 Set (NEW)
Set includes Grade 7A and 7B Worktexts at this point.
49
Math Mammoth Grade 7-A Worktext ONLY
Math Mammoth Grade 7-B Worktext ONLY
Points: 18
available soon
Resources:
Placement tests:
http://www.mathmammoth.com/complete/placement_tests.php
Newsletter:
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/newsletter/
http://www.mathmammoth.com/worksheets/free.php
Reviews:
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=561
http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/Math-Mammoth.htm
8. Khan Academy (NEW)
From Khan Academy:
Students can view the lessons in tutorial form or they can be guided by Khan Academy's personalized
learning software which serves up the most appropriate content based on a student's previous
experience on the site (or Missions”).
Upon logging onto Khan Academy, students are given a pre-test to find their level before they are
directed to a page of “math missions.” The missions, which cover Kindergarten math through calculus,
take students through a series exercises tailored to them (based on the pre-test) to build what Khan calls
"skills." Elizabeth Slavitt, Khan Academy’s math content lead, reports that “every student receives… a
queue that recommends exercises for them based on their level.”
With each skill, students must answer three to five exercises in a row to gain “energy points” and move
closer to finishing all skills in a given mission. Successful completion of missions gets charted on a
progress report on the student’s dashboard while “coaches”--whether teachers, tutors, or parents--can
see a student’s progress when he or she gains access with a class code or coach ID.
If you haven't heard or read about Khan Academy's beginnings you can read a bit here (it's pretty
interesting!) “It all started with a 12 year old cousin”http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/28/science/salman-khan-turned-family-tutoring-into-khanacademy.html?_r=0
or read here:https://khanacademy.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202260104-How-did-Khan-Academyget-startedSal Khan has been called the “world's teacher”. He's been hailed as “revolutionary” and also criticized
as just an “old-school lecturer” and “boring”. What isn't debated is the fact that Khan Academy has
had an impact on student learning.
As a homeschooler it can be a particularly useful tool. Here's how one homeschooler view's it:
The thing about Khan that works for our family happens to be something that many
criticize Khan for. The videos are very basic. Black background, no music, no cartoons,
and Khan doesn’t appear on screen. While many deem this basic platform as boring, it
also leaves little room for distraction. Our son went from fidgeting, flipping pages, and
being over stimulated by a busy text, to sitting absolutely still while watching Khan’s
videos.
50
Khan’s voice is soothing and his simple drawings are great visuals for mathematical
processes. He draws as he talks and everything that is written is explained in a clear and
concise manner. Many parents that I talk to tell me that their child is drawn into the
videos and absorb the information quickly since they are so zeroed in. Let’s face it, kids
are easily distracted in the classroom and at home. There is something about these videos
that draws some kids in and really helps them to focus.
The videos always explain why things are done the way the are done. Obviously, this isn’t
completely ground breaking. Plenty of teachers and parents explain mathematical processes quite
well. What is ground breaking about Khan Academy is that since these videos can be
watched on the students’ own time, they can listen to the explanation as many times as they
want and need to.….
The “math is math” approach doesn’t have to mean boring. Each video lecture series is
followed by practice sets, and Master Challenges, that kids seem to love. I can hand my kid
a worksheet and he’ll do it, eventually. However, he is motivated by the practice sets,
challenges, and badges. Of course the “points” tallied for completing these tasks don’t
amount to a “prize” but it is somehow motivating and fun. Our son, and many others I
know, ask for Master Challenges. He asks for more problems, almost as a game.
The problems come in sets of five and if the student gets five in a row, that challenge is
complete. The problems start out basic, but really enforce what topic the proceeding video
introduced. There are an almost infinite amount of problem sets for any given topic. If the
student gets stuck she can ask for a hint, and she will be helped step by step with effective
prompts.
A student can work through a particular grade level that is laid out by topic, or a student
can choose any topic that they need help with. If you go the latter route, the software will
suggest new topics, and areas where the student needs to work more before moving on.
This path also allows students to choose whatever topic interests them, regardless if it is
considered “grade level” or not.
--to read more go to: http://geekmom.com/2014/02/khan-academy/
You can set-up your own student account for free or let us help you set one up for your student by
ordering it through our curriculum shop.
Unlimited Khan Academy Subscription
Points: 0
Homeschooling with Khan Academy:
https://www.khanacademy.org/coach-res/parents-and-tutors/home-case-studies/a/start-
51
homeschooling-with-khan-academy
http://blog.mrmeyer.com/2014/what-students-do-and-dont-do-in-khan-academy/
Math Supplemental Materials
1. On Core Mathematics Bundle Grade 7
Points: 32
Includes Student Book and Teacher Guide
From the Publisher: Common Core Standards are the newest in measuring student success with core
subjects. These are standards that are being adopted by the states and address standards for both content
and practice. This math series is written to supplement your math curriculum to ensure that your
student meets the standards for math.
Each level contains lessons with content for all Common Core Standards. The Common Core
Standards for practice cover 8 different areas: “ make sense of problems and persevere in solving
them, reason abstractly and quantitatively, construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others, model with mathematics, use appropriate tools strategically, attend to precision, look for and
make use of structure, and look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning. The content standards
for K-6 are counting & cardinality, operations & algebraic thinking, number & operations in base 10,
measurement & data, geometry, number & operations in fractions, ratios & proportional relationships,
number systems, expressions & equations, and statistics & probability. You'll notice that these skills
are foundational to the application and mastery of higher levels of math.
The Teacher Edition contains lesson background for all Common Core topics, and offer teacher support
for all lessons. Common Core Standards for each lesson are noted, small format student pages are
included with answers along with objectives, essential questions, vocabulary, materials list, and
prerequisites to that particular lesson or topic. These lessons offer flexibility for incorporation into your
weekly curriculum, and the number of lessons varies from level to level. The Student Workbook is
black and white and each lesson is two pages in length. Each lesson begins with an explanation and
model of the concept and is followed by practice for the concept.
Be sure you don't miss anything and there are no gaps in your math education. Cover the Common
Core Standards, no matter what math curriculum you might be using.
Samples and Review:
http://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=050945
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=872391
2. Math Minutes Grade 7
Points: 17
From Publisher:
Each book in this series features 100 Minutes to help students build basic skills, increase speed in math
operations, and strengthen problem-solving skills. Each Minute consists of 10 problems of varying
degrees of difficulty that incorporate a variety of skills. Each ten-problem reproducible can be used as a
learning or testing tool.
Sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/math-minutes-grade-7/9781591984313/pd/882635?
item_code=WW&netp_id=1049426&event=ESRCG&view=details
Reviews:
http://www.amazon.com/Seventh-Grade-Math-Minutes-Stoffel/dp/1591984319/ref=sr_1_1?
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ie=UTF8&qid=1403478785&sr=8-1&keywords=Math+Minutes+7th
3. Math Detective B1
Points: 20
From Publisher: Math Detective® uses topics and skills drawn from national math standards to prepare
your students for advanced math courses and assessments that measure reasoning, reading
comprehension, and writing in math.
Students read a short story that includes a chart, table, or graph. Next they answer critical thinking
questions to improve their understanding of the math concept and develop their critical thinking
(comprehension) skills. Students can’t just scan the story for answers—they must carefully analyze and
synthesize the information from the text and the chart, table, or graph to explain and support their
answers.
Stories are age-relevant, high-interest, and show students that math is integral to everyday activities.
Teaching Support
Includes general and student introductions, a lesson that explains the concept of evidence, a chart of
topics and key ideas to help select activities, and detailed answers.
http://www.criticalthinking.com/math-detective-b1.html
Supplemental Materials
(includes critical thinking, science and history resources; descriptions are from publishers)
1. Geography: Maps Charts and Graphs
From publisher:
Explore neighborhoods, communities, the United States, the world, and more with this engaging
program that serves as a stand-alone curriculum or as a supplement to your existing lessons.
Maps, Charts and Graphs: Level G: The World
Points: 11
sample:
http://www.christianbook.com/maps-charts-graphs-g-the-world/9780813621388/pd/621380?event=CF
Trivium Parent Ratings (5 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 2
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4.8
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): N/A
Critical Thinking
2. Building Thinking Skills Level 3: Figural (Gr. 7-12)
Points: 30
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=05243
3. Building Thinking Skills Level 3: Verbal (Gr. 7-12)
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=05244
Points: 30
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From the publisher:
Building Thinking Skills® provides highly effective verbal and nonverbal reasoning activities to
improve your children's vocabulary, reading, writing, math, logic, and figural-spatial skills, as well as
their visual and auditory processing. This exceptional series provides a solid foundation for academic
excellence and success in any assessment.
The activities are developmentally sequenced. Each skill (for example, classifying) is presented first in
the semi-concrete figural-spatial form and then in the abstract verbal form. Children learn to analyze
relationships between objects, between words, and between objects and words as they:
Observe, recognize, and describe characteristics.
Distinguish similarities and differences.
Identify and complete sequences, classifications, and analogies.
These processes help children develop superior thinking and communication skills that lead to deeper
content learning in all subjects
Teaching Support
Activities are modeled to reinforce skills and concepts. An answer guide is now included.
Trivium Parent Ratings (2 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.5
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.5
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 3
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): 1
4. Mind Benders Book 5:Deductive Thinking Skills (Gr. 7-12)
Points: 11
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=01335
5. Mind Benders Book 6: Deductive Thinking Skills (Gr. 7-12)
Points: 13
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=01336
6. Mind Benders Book 7: Deductive Thinking Skills (Gr. 7-12)
Points: 13
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=01337
7. Mind Benders Book 8: Deductive Thinking Skills (Gr. 7-12)
Points: 13
http://www.criticalthinking.com/getProductDetails.do?code=p&id=01338
Mind Benders®, our best-selling deductive thinking puzzles, develop logic, reading comprehension,
and mental organizational skills that are vital to achieving high grades and top test scores in all
s u b j e c t s . T h e y ' r e a l s o g r e a t f o r d e v e l o p i n g r e a l - l i f e , p r o b l e m - s o l v i n g s k i l l s .
Methods
Your students will learn to carefully analyze each Mind Benders® puzzle and its clues,
identifying logical associations between people, places, and things. The key is to start with the most
obvious associations, then deduce less obvious associations until everything finally fits together.
Teaching Support
Includes step-by-step instructions and detailed answers. Book levels spiral in
difficulty within grade range.
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Trivium Parent Ratings (3 families responded)
Parent/Teacher Involvement (1-Low, 5-High): 2.3
Lesson Prep Time (1-Minimal, 5-Extensive): 1.3
Recommend to other families (1-Not at all, 5-Highly): 4
Helpfulness of Teacher Guides/Materials (1-Not at all, 5-Must have): N/A
Science
Biology: Life as We Know it (NEW)
Points: 9
Nature's building blocks have never been more sociable than in this newest offering from the creators
of The Periodic Table and Physics. From cells to DNA, from viruses to mammals, from chlorophyll to
flowers and fruit, and including the human body's parts and systems, Biology is a single volume
BIO101 course. Distinctive characters, a creative pallette, and straight- forward text make it all clear-and fun!
Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth (NEW)
Points: 13
If every known species on Earth were a leaf on a tree, that tree would have 1 750 000 leaves. Since
humans count for just one leaf on the tree, we have a lot to learn about the millions of other forms of
life with which we share the world. A dazzlingly illustrated and child-friendly introduction to
biodiversity, Tree of Life shows how living things are classified into five kingdoms -- and how each
has much to tell us about all aspects of life on our planet. Tree of Life is part of CitizenKid: A
collection of books that inform children about the world and inspire them to be better global citizens.
Janice VanCleave's Biology for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments that Really Work (NEW) Points: 16
What's the effect of osmosis on a raisin? How is water transported through plant stems?
What's the best way to grow penicillin? How are butterflies different from moths?
Now you can discover answers to these and other fascinating questions about biologythe study of living
organisms. In Biology for Every Kid, you'll learn how to talk with fireflies, watch bacteria wage war in
a glass of milk, discover how to tell the temperature by counting cricket chirps, and find out how an
apple and an onion can taste the same.
Each of the 101 experiments is broken down into its purpose, a list of materials, step-by-step
instructions, expected results, and an easy to understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested
and can be performed safely and inexpensively in the classroom or at home.
http://www.amazon.com/Janice-VanCleaves-Biology-Every-Kid/dp/0471503819/ref=sr_1_1?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432355746&sr=1-1&keywords=101+Biology+experiments+for+kids
Biomes Unit from Moving Beyond the Page (NEW)
Points: 32
Travel the globe in search of geographic and biological diversity. Recognize the difference between
biomes and ecosystems. Appreciate the role that each organism plays within its niche. Research the
biomes and ecosystems that can be found within your state. Create your own book to present biomes
around the globe. Includes Guide and book Biomes and Ecosystems
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http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=84
Cells Unit from Moving Beyond the Page (NEW)
Points: 49
Learn how to use a microscope and how to classify life on Earth using some of the characteristics of
organisms and the cells that make up different organisms. Find out how plants and animals are
different, even at the cellular level! (Includes Guide and Book, Cells as well as the Cells science kit)
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=118
Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library Book) (NEW)
Points: 15
Jeanne Bendick, through text and pictures, admirably succeeds in bringing to life the ancient Greek
mathematician who enriched mathematics and all branches of science. Against the backdrop of
Archimedes' life and culture, the author discusses the man's work, his discoveries and the knowledge
later based upon it. The simple, often humorous, illustrations and diagrams greatly enhance the text.
Illustrated by the author.
http://www.amazon.com/Archimedes-Science-Living-HistoryLibrary/dp/1883937124/ref=pd_bxgy_14_text_y
Galen and the Gateway to Medicine (Living History Library Book) (NEW)
Points: 15
We know about Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine. But we owe nearly as much to Galen, a physician
born in 129 A.D. at the height of the Roman Empire. Galen's acute diagnoses of patients, botanical
wisdom, and studies of physiology were recorded in numerous books, handed down through the Middle
Ages and Renaissance. Not least, Galen passed on the medical tradition of respect for life. In this
fascinating biography for young people, Jeanne Bendick brings Galen's Roman world to life with the
clarity, humor, and outstanding content we enjoyed in Archimedes and the Door to Science. An
excellent addition to the home, school and to libraries.
CK12 Flex-Life Science e-Textbook
Points: Free
Build your own e-textbook for free! The CK12 foundation was founded with the mission to enable
everyone to learn in his or her own way. You can scroll through the life science topics and pick and
choose which topics you'd like to cover with your child. Then check out BRAINGENIE for some
additional conceptual practice.
http://www.ck12.org/life-science/
https://ck12support.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/202937190-CK-12-FlexBook-as-TextbookSupplement-or-Replacement
http://braingenie.ck12.org/
E.O. Wilson's Life on Earth
Points: Free
th
Designed for 9th-12 grade students, middle schoolers can still enjoy some of the rich presentations of
this interactive digital textbook.
Life on Earth is an iBooks Textbook consisting of 41 chapters in 7 separate units and can be
downloaded for free from the iBooks Store. The text provides a complete, original, standards-based,
media-rich curriculum to give high school students a deep understanding of all of the central topics of
introductory biology.
To create Life on Earth, the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation brought together a team consisting of
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educators, writers, multimedia artists, 3D animators trained in science and cinema, and textbook
professionals, led by naturalist Edward O. Wilson. The editorial team, headed by Morgan Ryan,
worked in full partnership with the Boston-based scientific graphics company Digizyme, Inc, headed
by Gaël McGill, PhD, with the goal of creating a cultural landmark—a portal that will introduce
students to the grandest story there is, the story of life on Earth, from molecules to ecosystems, from
the origin of life to the modern awareness that we control the environment we live in.
History
1. Mysteries in History: Ancient History (NEW)
Points: 19
Who invented the alphabet?
•Is the lost city of Atlantis a legend?
•Was there really a Trojan horse?
Challenge students to explore several important unexplained events that helped shape history. Students
use primary source materials, posters, and simulations to find clues and to make informed decisions
about these events. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. These real-life mysteries encourage
students to research, think, debate, and form conclusions.
http://www.teachercreated.com/products/mysteries-in-history-ancient-history-3049
2. Augustus Ceasar's World (NEW)
Points: 20
Considered the innovator of "horizontal history," Genevieve Foster became frustrated when her two
school-aged children complained about the boring presentation of history in their school texts. This
frustration led to Foster's first book, George Washington's World (1941). In her unique approach,
Foster weaves a story of the world around her central character; rather than focusing exclusively on
geo-political events, as most textbooks do; she includes stories of scientific discovery and invention,
music, literature, art, and religion. She has a keen intuition for stories that will especially delight and
amuse her youthful audience. In Augustus Caesar's World, Foster traces the seven major civilizations
Rome, Greece, Israel, Egypt, China, India, and Persia from 4500 B.C. to the time of Augustus Caesar
in 44 B.C. and culminating in 14 A.D. Within this timeframe readers will learn not only the stories of
Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Marc Antony, but also the historian Livy and how Virgil came to write
the Aeneid. Foster will then take her readers all over the world to learn what was happening at this
same time in China, Persia, India and so on. Foster's detailed pen and ink drawings are fresh and
appealing, and her illustrated timelines give a clear sense of chronology, enriching the engaging text.
An all-time customer favorite!
http://www.amazon.com/Augustus-Caesars-World-Genevieve-Foster/dp/0964380323/ref=pd_sim_14_4?
ie=UTF8&refRID=04B8N9NBPPMMCXWZ3X93
3. Incas, Aztecs and Mayas Unit from Moving Beyond the Page Bundle (NEW)
Points: 43
Guide Only
Points: 17
In this unit, you'll explore the Mayan and Aztec civilizations of Mesoamerica and the Incan civilization
of the Andes, learning about each society's political, economic, and social systems; culture, religious
beliefs, and history.
You will create your own codex, learn to do math the Mayan way, make an Incan quipu, and learn
57
about jaguar and eagle knights as you explore life in these three fascinating civilizations. For your final
project, you'll travel back in time in an imaginary time machine on a journey to visit the Maya, Aztecs,
and Incas and then report back on what you discovered!
Includes daily lesson guide (10 Lessons + Final Project; 4 – 6 week unit), DK's Aztec, Inca, and Maya
as well as some Terra Cotta clay.
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=170
4. Egypt and Mesopatamia Bundle (NEW)
Points: 37
Guide alone
Points: 17
Twelve thousand years ago, people first settled in agricultural communities around the Tigris and
Euphrates Rivers in the area of modern-day Iraq. Later, people also settled around the Nile River in
northern Africa. The civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt that grew out of those early settlements
created powerful empires and rich cultures that still influence our lives today.
In this unit, you'll travel back to ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and learn about the cultures,
governments, and economies of these fascinating civilizations. In your final project, you'll create a
web-based tour of these two civilizations or present the findings of an imagined archaeological
expedition to ancient sites.
Includes daily lesson guide (7 Multi-day Lessons + Final Project; 4 – 6 week unit) and USBorne's
Internet linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=137
5. Ancient Asia Bundle
(NEW)
Points: 64
Guide alone
Points: 17
In this unit on ancient Asia, you'll learn about the rise of major world religions, the exchange of trade
goods and cultural traditions throughout ancient Asia, and the different social systems in place in
ancient India, China, and Japan. You'll explore a broad range of ancient Asian history from the caste
system of India to the terra-cotta warriors of emperor Qin Shi Huangdi to the development of
traditional Japanese art forms.
You'll share what you've learned with your family in a final project: either a multimedia slide
presentation or a puppet show about these three ancient cultures.
Includes daily lesson guide (6 Multi-day Lessons + Final Project; 4 – 6 week unit) and the following
books: DK's Geography of the World: The Essential Family Guide to Geography and Culture, Life in
Ancient China, Life in Ancient Japan and Life in the Ancient Indus River Valley.
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=175
6. Greece and Rome Moving Beyond the Page Bundle
(NEW)
Points: 37
Many of the cultural traditions that began thousands of years ago in ancient Greece and Rome are still
influential today. In this unit, you'll explore the history of these two civilizations, learn about their
governments and cultures, and make connections between these ancient European civilizations and
your own life today.
In your final project, you'll explore government, daily life, and culture through creative visual,
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performance-based, and written projects.
Includes daily lesson guide (10 Lessons (some multi-day) + Final Project; 4 – 6 week unit) and
USBorne's Internet linked Encyclopedia of the Ancient World
http://www.movingbeyondthepage.com/purchase/unitdetail.aspx?unitID=155
7. World History Detective Book One
(NEW)
Points: 35
World History Detective® can be used as a standards-based, stand-alone textbook, a resource of
supplemental activities to enrich another textbook, or as a review course for older students. Students
begin by analyzing a lesson. Next, they apply critical thinking skills to answer multiple choice and
short essay questions. Finally, students support their answers by identifying evidence learned from the
lesson. World History Detective® includes geographical maps, timelines, and concept maps, and
develops critical thinking skills in lessons that teach the roles that technology, power, institutions,
ideas, and trade play in shaping history.
To view table of contents go here:
http://www.criticalthinking.com/world-history-detective-book-1.html
Typing
1. Edutyping
From the publisher:
Two editions:
EduTyping Standard edition follows a traditional keyboarding curriclum that is designed for
middle school and high school students. The curriculum content is curent and updated regularly and is
customized to meet the interests of today's teens, making the typing experience fun and engaging for
students. Instructors can customize how many lessons students are required to complete.
EduTyping, Jr. is appropriate for elementary school students. The curriculum introduces new keys
by rows where students first learn the middle row, then the top row, and the bottom row of the
keyboard. The content is designed with a strong focus on sight and high frequency words. Instructors
can customize how many lessons students are required to complete.
EduTyping is a revolutionary new web-based keyboarding software designed exclusively for the
educational market. EduTyping allows teachers to deliver an entire keyboarding course to students via
Internet technology. The software requires no textbooks or paper and allows educators to teach a full
keyboarding course or unit using 100% online technology.
To view specific aspects of the curriculum go to:
http://www.edutyping.com/curriculum/
FAQs:
http://www.edutyping.com/faqs/
For a review see:
http://typing-tutor-review.toptenreviews.com/edutyping-review.html
Edutyping Standard Edition
Edutyping Jr. Edition
(1 yr.)
(1 yr.)
Points: 15
Points: 15
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Student Planner
Student Planner 2015-2106
Points: 4
From Publisher: This colorful planner is character-focused, covering a different theme each month, to
keep students thinking positively about themselves and others. Each day has four Subjects: Language
Arts, Mathematics, Science, & Social Studies. Key Features: Character-Themed Monthly Spreads;
Literacy Link Section; Weekly Character Reflection Area; Character Theme with Words and
Definitions; Daily Reading Minutes Log; Area for Parent/Teacher Communication; Area for 25
Spelling Words; & Study Skills Pages Each month focuses on a different Caring and Sharing theme.
August/September Respect; October Independence; November - Acceptance and Tolerance; December
Confidence; January Commitment; February - Empathy March - Cooperation; April Integrity;
May/June - Creativity and Curiosity. Planner Basics: Dated 7/21/14 - 12/19/14 & 1/5/15 - 6/19/15;
Full-color Format; Plastic Coil Binding; Rounded Corners; 15-Point Laminated Front Cover; 20-Point
Rigid Poly Back
Sample:
http://www.successbydesign.com/planners/elementary-school-planners/1090d-elementary-characterplanner.html
Foreign Language (19 different languages)
https://www.duolingo.com/
Review:
Points:
FREE
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/mar/08/learning-the-duolingo-how-one-app-speaksvolumes-for-language-learning
A few final thoughts
Congratulations! You've set up some goals for your homeschooling year, you've thoroughly researched
your curriculum choices (of course, having deeply thought about what will work both for you and your
children) and you've settled on the perfect curriculum. It is clearly the best! When it arrives everyone
dives right in; the anticipation is so great! This is going to be the best year ever! I will be teacher
extraordinaire (if I can spell extraordinary)!
Two weeks into the school year and your children are already whining, “Do we have to use that book?
I hate [fill-in the particular curriculum you so lovingly and thoughtfully chose]!”
Three weeks into the school year and you discover that book hidden between the cushions of your
couch. Clearly it was just misplaced.
One month into the school year, you catch your children trying to feed that book to your dog.
Perhaps it is time to rethink that book.
So, what happens if a particular curriculum is not working for your family? And why am I bringing
this up in a curriculum choice catalogue?
I want to take a bit of pressure off of you. I recognize that through the curriculum choices you make
you are shaping your child's next school year. Of course you want it to be a fantastic one! We all do.
And we've tried to provide you with useful tools to inform your choices. I've used such tools
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successfully over the last nine years to homeschool my own children. And we've discovered some
wonderful curriculum that suit us very well. However, I know from having been that family I
described above (although I must confess we don't have a dog, but I'm sure my boys would have tried
to feed several of our materials to a dog if we had one!) that even with the best research you may not
always land the best curriculum to match your current needs. Sometimes we think we know what will
work best for our child, and they surprise us! This is is not the end of the world. Most curriculum
have some useful components, you may just have to pick and choose the parts that you like and
supplement with other materials. You can also learn a great deal from curriculum mis-steps; learning
what works and does not work for your family is an invaluable guide for future choice. And please, do
not be afraid to ask for help. We have so many resources available to us. As home-school curriculum
coordinator I'd love to help match some of those resources to you and your family (you can always
write me at tpantzer@triviumcharter.org). In addition our CCCA director, teachers, coordinators and
families are also incredible resources. We can all learn so many things from each other!
With that in mind, I found the following discussion with respect to math curriculum and I thought I
would reprint it for you below. Of course the ideas do not just apply to math. They apply to any of our
choices.
The following is an excerpt from the following website:
http://www.homeschoolmath.net/curriculum_reviews/which_math_curriculum.php
What if the math book doesn't suit the student?
If you have been using any particular math curriculum and then find it does not quite work well,
remember that it doesn't have to be your final choice. If you can afford it, simply buy a new program
and try to sell the previous one.
But there are many things you can do even without investing into a new program. If you and your child
are not happy with your current math book but can't or don't want to buy a new one, try these tips:
! Too repetitious? Skip some exercises. Only assign odd ones or 1/4th of them. Or, jump around
in the book back and forth to vary the topics more.
! Not enough repetition? Check our free worksheets section. With little money you could get one
of the Math Mammoth books for extra work. Or, find one of those places where they discard
used school books, and use one of those books to have more problems to do.
! A boring book? For younger children, try stickers, or let them color something in the book, such
as color over completed math problems or draw boxes around the problems. Find fun
supplements, such as games. I have collected an extensive list of interactive online games
organized by math topic.
! Try an online curriculum where the lessons are usually animated and interactive.
! Let the child start his/her own math notebook where he writes each day some math problems of
his own, using colors, pictures, and math problems. She could copy pictures and illustrations
from a math book or you can make up some extra picture exercises for her in it. This could also
be designed for a younger sibling to use.
! Take a break from math for 1 month.
! Incorporate some "living math" ideas into the teaching.
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Remember: do NOT become a slave to the curriculum. The book is just a TOOL for teaching. Filling
the book is not the purpose or goal of mathematics education. There are many other tools and ways to
teach, too, such as games, explorations, projects - living math.
As mentioned above, this is so true of all curriculum, not just math!
Enjoy!
Teresa
p.s. Is this everything Trivium will offer this year?
If there was a program we previously offered but no longer list here and you are interested in it please
email me to discuss: tpantzer@triviumcharter.org
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Name of Student:
___________
__________
Language Arts: Writing and Writing Mechanics
Handwriting (typically
K-4 depending on need)
Spelling (1st - 8th)
Grammar (1st - 8th)
Composition /Writing
Language Arts: Reading & Literature
Phonics (typically K-3
depending on need)
Vocabulary
Comprehension
Literary Analysis
Math
Math
Supplemental
Critical Thinking
Geography/Typing
Science Supplement
History Supplement
__________