Language Arts in Our Homeschool This Year

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January is here and with it the end of vacation time from work and school, much to the chagrin of my husband and the boys. I’m even going to miss being on a lighter schedule. Back to work it is for us all! And, that includes homeschooling.  Today, and other Mondays this month, Day by Day in Our World is joining with several other bloggers in the Virtual Curriculum Fair to share what we are doing. Today’s topic is language arts in our homeschool this year.

 

Language Arts in Our Homeschool This Year Virtual Curriculum Fair 2014 Day by Day in Our WorldWe have three basic areas of language arts we are focusing upon this year.  R (my 8th grader) has reading and writing as separate areas on his individual learning plan for our charter school (that’s how they want it.)  P does not have a separate reading subject as it is something woven into his other subjects as a high school student.  However, he does have the added course of a foreign language this year.

 

Language Arts ~ Reading

 

As much as we enjoyed the titles of the books for Sonlight last year, I was feeling too overwhelmed for the literature based approach this fall. Working part time out of the house for most of the fall semester had me scaling back expectations.

 

P had a literature selection to read for Academic Decathalon, The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway.  He was less than impressed.  For the spring semester, I’ll have him reading a few titles that fit with his history program.

 

And, R has literature books that fit with his social studies curriculum from Notgrass, Uncle Sam & You.  They have a reader with some first hand documents, plus an assortment of books to read as you make your way through the curriculum.

usy_literature_package

 

 

Otherwise, it is all about taking this skill and applying it in their other subjects.

 

Language Arts ~ Writing

 

For P this year, his ‘English’ course is titled Advanced Composition. He is working through the course on Write at Home again this year as having feedback outside the members of his own family and some outside accountability really appealed to me.  While I still think he needs to be digging deeper on his assignments, his assigned mentor seems pleased with his work.  I’m rounding it out with a few “prep for the SAT” writing assignments through his history program.

R continues to have a three pronged approach to what are considered writing skills: handwriting (which he still desperately needs to get a hold upon), spelling and writing.  I have to admit that most of this got shelved for a while this fall, so I am anticipating a lot of vocal ‘complaints’ with the start of the Spring semester.

Handwriting is a combination of practicing the individual letter formation along with copywork.  This December, R had a little taste of the copywork while using pages from  Celebrate Jesus: An Advent Resource for Families.  I plan to comb through my other digital resources for similar pages to have him do.

P1060715 (480x640)

 

Spelling continues to be a combination of All About Spelling and using VocabularySpellingCity.   (See our previous reviews on these 2 products : Computer Based Learning for Language Arts with VocabularySpellingCity, Spelling on Your Computer, TOS Crew Review ~ All About Spelling)

 

 

 

 

 

Writing for R is the Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Student Writing Intensive Continuation Course, Level B.  We began the fall doing this as part of a local co-op with me being the primary lead for the class.  However, the hosting family has a lot of furry creatures that put my allergies over the edge even with over the counter medications and essential oil usage to keep them in check. So, we are going to plod along on our own at home and hope to get part way through the course by May. (You can see my thoughts on this type of program in the review: High School Writing with Student Writing Intensive)

 

Language Arts ~ Foreign Languages

 

 

HSAlogoThis year is Spanish I for P.  He began the school year using Homeschool Spanish Academy, which we had as a review product for almost half a semester.  I then picked up Instant Immersion Spanish Levels 1, 2 and 3.  However, without the accountability of a LIVE tutoring session to keep him in check, the discs sat untouched for the past few months.  So, starting today he is back at it with the male instructors at HSA.

 

 

 

 

Curious about past years in our homeschool?

 

 

Visit Learning Language Arts ~ 2012-2013 School Year and Reading and Beyond: Language Arts in Our Homeschool which covered the 2011 – 2012 school year.

How do YOU approach learning the language arts in YOUR homeschool?

Any favorite products or curriculum that you absolutely loved?

 

 

 

1497621_10201927910576836_2145499350_nCheck out all of the other great ideas for how homeschoolers are Playing with Words.

3 Reasons to Read to Your Teens by Susan @ Homeschooling Hearts & Minds

Language Arts {Virtual Curriculum Fair} by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

A Classical Take on 6th Grade Language Arts by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

The Power in a Word by Michele@ Family, Faith and Fridays

The Latin Road to English Grammar Volume 1 by Kristi K. @ The Potter’s Hand Academy

Starting a Foreign Language in Elementary School by Amy @ Eclectic Homeschooling

These are the words we say by Christa @ Fairfield Corner Academy

A Peek into our Homeschool: Language Arts by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart

Our Curriculum Choices 2014 ~ English by Renata~Sunnyside Farm Fun

Virtual Curriculum Fair: A World of Words by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

It Starts with the Alphabet by Kristen @ Sunrise to Sunset

Playing w/ Words-Charlotte Mason Style by Lynn P @ Ladybug Chronicles

2014 Virtual Curriculum Fair ~ Playing with Words: the Language Arts by Jennifer @ a glimpse of our life

Our PreK-1st Grade Language Arts Mix by Tauna @ Proverbial Homemaker

Fun (or Not) With Spelling by Nicole @ Schooling in the Sun

Word Nerd Love by Lisa N@Golden Grasses

Our Favourite Resources For Teaching Elementary Language Arts by Kim @ Homestead Acres

Unconventional Reading Lessons While Homeschooling by Lori@My Journeys Through Life

My Favorite Writing Curriculum for our Boys by Monique @Living Life and Learning

Virtual Curriculum Fair: Playing With Words – Language Arts  by Stacie @Super Mommy To The Rescue

Fun With the Language Arts by Mary @ Winecup Christian Homeschool

Our Grammar Path by Laura @ Four Little Penguins

Virtual Curriculum Fair !!! by Jessica @ Modest Mama

Creating a High School English Course (or two) by Debra @Footprints in the Butter

Not a part of the participating homeschoolers, but want to share a post written THIS week about teaching language arts in your homeschool? Add your post to this linky!

6 Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing what you’re doing in language arts! I agree that it can sometimes be very helpful for teens to have to answer to an authority outside of the family. It can also be helpful to get a fresh perspective on their strengths and abilities that way.

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