While I have lots of “littles,” I only have one middle. She’s 10 and in some circles she would be called a “tween.” However, being a person who really doesn’t like overused labels that tend to take on negative connotations, I will stick to the “middle” tag and leave it a that. 
Here’s a list of what my rather unique “middler” will be doing this coming year:
Bible Study: After Breakfast & Bible time, my two older children split off for their own study time. Megan is currently working through Victor Journey Through the Bible.
This is a fabulous book that really opens up the Scripture to the time and the place each book and chapter were written in. Powerful learning and understanding!
After she finishes Victor, she will move to Rick Boyer’s Proverbs People
Math: She is her mother’s child and math is an absolute conundrum to her. So, rather than move her to Saxon, as we did with her older brother at a certain point, she is sticking with Horizons where the pictures are colorful and she has room to doodle (yes, I do let her doodle in her book.)
Science: This was a no brainer…Apologia all the way! She loves these books. {click here to read more about how we homeschool science.}
Foreign Language: You might remember how Megan just decided to teach herself Spanish one day. Well, we decided to go ahead and give her a formal curriculum and yes, Rosetta Stone is THE premier foreign language program and yes, Megan is doing fabulously with it.
History: We are currently working our way through my homemade Creation – Flood Unit {you know, the one I keep promising all my subscribers will get for free…not too much longer!} So far, her favorite book has been A Child’s Geography: Explore the Holy Land.
Writing: This is something new this year. We ditched a formal grammar program in favor of a more natural approach. I’ve had a love/hate relationship with grammar for years (I have a degree in English, you would think I would LOVE grammar, but instead I find most grammar books to be tedious and overdone.) So, this year we decided to go with Institute for Excellence in Writing. I hope to have a more formal review for you as we continue to use the program, but so far, I am impressed with how engaging and practical it is without being monotonous and obnoxious. We are using the Teaching Writing: Structure & Style and Student Writing Intensive Level B. {I am using this for both my 10 year old and my 13 year old}
Extras: Megan continues to be very interested in photography and has started a blog: The Godly Photographer, to hone both her writing and her photography skills. She takes horseback riding lessons through our local parks and recreation department and piano from a homeschool graduate in a neighboring town.
That rounds out the middle homeschooling years here at…
Amy,
Very inspiring! Just wondering HOW you go about deciding what is challenging enough, yet not too much for your daughter. My oldest is 8 1/2 (3rd grade) and balks at ANY work, especially reading. Any tips on how to decide what she should/is capable of working on?
She may be like my middler and isn’t actually balking at work as much as she is avoiding frustration. My daughter does not like to be wrong or do anything that comes hard to her. It’s not a school issue as much as it is a character issue. We had to work through this today. She hates math. Math is a struggle. However, every single day of our lives we are asked to do things we don’t want to do or things that frustrate us. Work is work and more often than not, it is hard work. Slow your pace, but don’t quit. Drill concepts and drill character. Make sure she doesn’t need glasses or a better understanding of blends or a set of books that really ignite the fire for learning. However, even these “causes” shouldn’t change her reaction to work. Help her to learn to verbalize what she is feeling without disrespect and anger toward the work. And I am going to say this more for my benefit than anything else…model a good attitude toward work…I have to work on this every. single. day.
I love your choices! My son is just 5, so we are still new to homeschooling, but I am hoping that in the years to come we will be able to “wean” off of a packaged curriculum and go on to something like you have put together. I would have chosen a lot of what you chose!
) Great work!
Thanks!
We’re using the same program for geography.
love your blog.
Thank you so much, Dusti! Have you started into the book yet?
Amy, what a cute little blog she has going. I think it’s wonderful! would “The Camping Guy” happen to be your oldest??? ; )
Blessings,
Jill
Thanks for sharing what you are using, Amy. I love getting ideas and discovering books and resources I am not familiar with by reading your homeschooling articles.
I am planning to share what we are using in the next couple of weeks. Mine are a bit younger though…
Love your blog, friend!!
You might want to put up a curriculum post this coming Monday (or sooner if you can manage) as that is The Heart of the Matter blog hop for curriculum…going to be TONS of ideas there!
Wow! Thanks for the tip. I have it scheduled for Tuesday morning as we are doing the launch for our new site on Monday. Do you think that it will still be open to join in on Tuesday morning?
I will have to check that blog hop out. I am always looking for more great ideas!
Thanks!!
Yes, I think it will be up all week.
Thanks!
Thanks, Amy!!! Just found it and wrote all four into my blog planner for August. Can’t wait to see everyone’s posts!
I love it,we are using almost the same stuff,for History we are using “The mystery of History” and we are using the same bible study of Proverbs.
Thank you for your English suggestions. We currently do Bob Jones, but the grammar!! UGH!!!! Sometimes I just have to skip a chapter or 2…
I am looking for something that doesn’t beat the dead grammar horse, LOL
LOL–”dead grammar horse”…my sentiments exactly!
We use Rod N Staff for english and so far it has worked well
Looks like a well rounded school year. We have used many of the same items from time to time. And I totally agree with your comment above about children that have issues with certain subjects.
I have found this out with our oldest son and once we found a better learning system for that subject he has not had a problem since. In fact he enjoys the subject now. Sometimes it is a heart issue, sometimes it is a learning style system. Just because it works in one subject does not mean it will work the best in another for the same child. I guess after 10 years I am starting to understand they just don’t all learn the same.
That’s one reason homeschooling is so wonderful…there’s no way I’m going to let someone slip through the cracks!
Thanks for sharing! I also have a 10 year old daughter, same name different spelling.
For grammar we went with Cozy Grammar this year and we’re (suprisingly) really enjoying it.
Hey Amy, I was just checking out your curriculum choices for some ideas on science and came across your mention of your homemade Creation/Flood unit study that you already offer for free but I don’t think you have that link in this post. You should put it there now that you have it ready!
I figure either I missed it in the post or you just forgot to insert it here, maybe.
Send me an email and I’ll explain
I am just curious how long the Rosetta stone lessons take to complete and if foreign language is a daily activity? I am also interested in knowing how independent your 10 y/o is with the programand if you think it would be appropriate for an 8 y/o?
Thanks!
Amanda
Amanda,
Hello! My daughter likes to do her Spanish every day, but realistically, I would only require it 2-3x a week otherwise. She does fine with it as the computer completely guides her steps, so depending on your 8 year old’s ability to use a computer and stick with a task, it could very well be appropriate at that age.
Amy