4Real Forums: Language Arts for a 7th grader

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Topic: Language Arts for a 7th grader

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time4tea
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Posted: June 17 2005 at 8:11am \| IP Logged

Hello Everyone!

I am a new face here

and just getting my feet wet with CM's teaching philosophy. There is so much for me to learn! At the moment, I am in need for suggestions/tips on what would constitute a reasonable language arts program for a 7th grade boy. My son is a bit of a reluctant writer (often has difficulty getting started), but is reasonably good at grammar (we used Winston Grammar for 6th, and he enjoyed it and did very well with it). He enjoys diagramming sentences, so I thought I would have him continue to do that on occasion. I know that copywork, dictation and narration is the best approach to really learning language, but what amount of work in each of these areas would be recommended for a 7th grader? Should all of his narrations be independent, or is it still okay for him to dictate (at least to get him started?). I would love to know what each of you has found has worked well for your dc. Thanks so much in advance for all you help and God bless!

Jenny

momwise
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Posted: June 17 2005 at 3:43pm \| IP Logged

Hi Jenny!

My ds was in 7th this past year. He does o.k with expression but hates the writing mechanics. We used the Brave Writer Lifestyle and the Arrow.

The Brave Writer Lifestyle includes "Friday Freewrite" prompts which is plenty of writing practice (if you are already using once a week dication, copywork and frequent narration in history, science, etc.) IMO. The Arrow is the dication program and is $6 per month. Each month's passages also include a literary element to study.

Here's our favorite activity from last year's Brave Writer Lifestyle:
Word Sculptures
Scrounged Poetry

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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII

time4tea
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Posted: June 19 2005 at 8:49am \| IP Logged

Gwen,

Wow! Thanks so much for the info and the link! There is so much at the website to read! One quick question for you: I was readin at the the Bravewriter website about including Shakespeare's plays in the language arts instruction. Do you also include Shakespeare in your Language Arts program? I know that CM highly recommended this, and I would like to begin including some works of Shakespeare. Honestly though, I have been intimidated, primarily becuase many of his plays contain scenes that are "adult" in nature, and I'm not sure if they could be edited without losing the meaning of the play, in some instances.

Thanks again so much for your help!

Jenny

momwise
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Posted: June 20 2005 at 8:42am \| IP Logged

Jennie66 wrote:

Do you also include Shakespeare in your Language Arts program? I know that CM highly recommended this, and I would like to begin including some works of Shakespeare. Honestly though, I have been intimidated, primarily becuase many of his plays contain scenes that are "adult" in nature,

We have read Shakespeare together in high school. I havn't run into any problems with Julius Ceasar or Henry V, regarding things too adult in nature. One thing that makes all the difference for us is to use a copy that has note or translations along the margins.

This year there may be a mother near us who is going to host a group of teens to read the plays together.

Elementary and middle school students can listen to Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. These are re-told for younger readers with a few illustrations. There are some plays done as picture books, but I don't know about the quality.

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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII

Leonie
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Posted: June 20 2005 at 7:30pm \| IP Logged

I don't know if I am much help here, but I *do have a 7th grader.

The reason I think I am not much help

is that we tend to integrate language arts into everything else we do. So, we don't do language arts as a subject, iykwim?

Thomas is writing ( reports, narrations, etc) or doing copywork every day - but some of this may be related to our theme or, as is the case today, our religion reading. Not in a specific language arts slot.

Once per week, we *do specifically write and do copywork in our journals and use this for looking at spelling, grammar, mechanics, vocabulary. Often we copy poetry or a piece from a novel or some Shakespeare or a re-telling of Shakespeare, in this once a week focus time.

Thomas also has a handwriting book for off and on practice as co-ordination and legible writing are difficult for him.

We read books, aloud or together or silently and discuss as part of our themes and interest. This covers reading comprehension and literary analysis! There are several good literature units available online.

Leonie in Sydney

Natalia
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Posted: June 20 2005 at 8:05pm \| IP Logged

Leonie wrote:

There are several good literature units available online.

Can you post a link?

Thanks,

Natalia

Leonie
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Posted: June 20 2005 at 10:56pm \| IP Logged

Here are a few -

Homeschool literature units

Easy Fun School literature units

Random House for teachers

Bookrags study guides

And the Little House guides

Little House

Leonie in Sydney

Leonie
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Posted: June 21 2005 at 2:17am \| IP Logged

Oh, and a friend just sent me this link for a Shakespeare Unit Study.

Leonie in Sydney

Natalia
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Posted: June 21 2005 at 10:00am \| IP Logged

Thanks Leonie!

These look great.

Natalia

time4tea
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Posted: June 21 2005 at 12:16pm \| IP Logged

Thanks so much, Leonie and Gwen, for the great ideas! I'll be giving some of them a try in the coming school year (which for us is not far away....), and will let you know how it goes!

Blessings,

Jenny

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~Tea

time4tea
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Posted: June 21 2005 at 2:32pm \| IP Logged

(Now that I am in the correct thread

!!!!!)

Thanks, Leonie and Gwen, for the suggestions! I will be looking forward to giving them a try with my ds, and will let you know how it goes!

God bless,

Jenny

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Blessings to you!

~Tea

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