In addition to their co-op classes and writing tutor instruction, our middle schoolers used the following curricula. You can also read the complete overview of our homeschooling and roadschooling.
Apologia: Exploring Creation: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day
Using the Charlotte Mason approach, 14 lessons include notebook activities, special projects, and hands-on experiments to teach kids about birds, bugs, bees, beetles, butterflies, and more. Christianbook.com description
Apologia: Exploring Creation: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day
This detailed book contains chapters on aquatic animals, whales, seals, fish, sharks, reptiles, Cephalopods and many other creatures you didn’t even know existed! Christianbook.com description
Apologia Exploring Creation: Land Animals of the Sixth Day
Tour through your own backyards, go on a safari and check out the varied inhabitants of jungles, deserts, forests, farms and other ecosystems.
Life of Fred: Fractions
Miranda struggled with fractions, so I picked up this Life of Fred book for a story approach to the concept.
Life of Fred: Pre-Algebra with Biology
Harrison thought he’d like to try Life of Fred and take a break from Math-U-See. He whipped through the book. In the end, though, neither of us felt he had a complete grasp on the material.
For my kids, Life of Fred is a great supplement, but not a thorough curriculum.
Math-U-See: Pre-Algebra
I ordered the Math-U-See Pre-algebra materials for Harrison after his time with Life of Fred. Harrison agreed that the Math-U-See curriculum was a better fit for him.
YWP NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Miranda and Harrison, assisted by their writing tutor, began flushing out characters and determining plot lines during the month of October. On November 1, they both began writing their novels.
Storybird
Storybird is a great place for students to write and illustrate their stories.
Miranda has been a member of Storybird for years. She even adopted the name as her blog nom de plume during our first year of travel.
Teaching Textbooks: Math 7
Miranda needed more work on fractions after our time with Life of Fred. We decided to try Teaching Textbooks per a friend’s suggestion. Finally, we found a curriculum that clicked with Miranda.