The Eighth Grade Basket

make homeschooling work for your family . Let's begin . Is your eighth grader ready for adventure ? Or perhaps not ? This final step of leaving childhood behind may be taken with varying degrees of enthusiasm by your child , but that's where we're in an ideal position to look at each of our children individually and bring them what they need .

So what does a Waldorf-inspired homeschool year look like with an eighth grader ? That's what we're talking about today on the podcast in this episode the eighth grade basket . Now , before we get into specifics of this last of the elementary years , I want to remind you that this episode is part of a series featuring the ages and stages of homeschooling .

So if you have a younger child and would like to visit any of our past episodes for kindergarten grades one , two , three , four , five , six or seven , be sure to hop on over to the show notes for this episode , where you'll find the links to all those previous podcast episodes in this series . Just go to artofhomeschoolingcom slash episode 210 .

And if you haven't already grabbed it , you can find a free printable

guide called Ages and Stages with an overview of the Waldorf-inspired homeschool curriculum , including kindergarten and grades one through eight , on my website as well . Here we go , let's dive into all things . Homeschooling , grade eight , now eighth grade , offers so much rich material . Here are just a few highlights Modern world history , roughly 1700 to the present .

Physics and chemistry , human physiology , short stories , poetry and prose , world geography , both cultural and economic . Algebra , ratio and proportions , the square root algorithm , area , volume . And an exploration of geometric solids or platonic solids . Now , when you listen to that , you might think whoa , that's a lot .

So just keep in mind that the eighth grade year is so rich and so full of learning that it might seem a little overwhelming . So please remember to focus on one thing at a time and remember that no teacher in any setting is ever going to cover it all . Quote , unquote , whatever that means , and I'll share a little bit more about that in a bit .

Whatever that means , and I'll share a little bit more about that in a bit . There is a strong focus on the sciences this year to counterbalance those big emotions that eighth graders are experiencing . These subjects are more structured and concrete this year and require logical , critical thinking .

Cultural geography also brings concrete facts to life through stories of individuals who made a difference in history and settling different parts of the world , which stimulates discussion of ethical issues of people's natural resources and economics across the globe .

When it comes to history , you'll want to pick up where you left off at the end of last year and continue on into modern times . So of course , that's going to vary from family to family . As I've said in previous episodes , there's a lot more variation in topics of study generally in grades five and up than there is in the earlier grades .

So don't stress about what you have or have not covered yet . Start where you are and seek out engaging resources for your child's studies . Above all , your goal as the home educator during the eighth grade year is to bring that promise and potential of the world to the hearts of your children .

You want to show your student that their dreams and hopes are within reach and also that they have the potential to do good in the world , to contribute to the world and help make it a better place .

This can feel like a monumental task , I know , as parents , but your own curiosity and willingness to learn can carry you through , so be sure to engage in some learning that you're interested in as well . Here is a great quote from Carolyn von Heidebrand . This is one of my favorite resources the Curriculum of the First Waldorf School .

It's a little book that is thankfully back in print now and it describes the curriculum that was followed in that first Waldorf school in the early years . Von Heidebrand says and this is a quote it is the task of the eighth grade curriculum to place the child absolutely in the present world .

Now one little caveat here Von Heidebrand describes eighth grade as a year when some children might be completing their education because of the need for them to enter the workforce . That's right , eighth grade . So keep in mind that this observation was made over 100 years ago and was the case at times . Since most of our children will be continuing

their education into high school and even beyond , we can rest assured that we can let go of some of the pressure to cover it all . What we do want to begin thinking about is what comes next for our children and what interests are emerging for them , whatever that might look like , I want to encourage you to think about eighth grade as a bridge year .

It's not only the conclusion of the elementary years , but it's also a transition to whatever may come next , whether that be a brick and mortar school or high school at home .

This is the year to expand your Waldorf-y approach and resources , if you haven't already , and it's a time to craft the curriculum based on what your child might choose to do for high school and beyond .

Now , of course , you and your child might not know what that is , what the future years might look like yet , but think about whether attending school is on the near horizon or not . This will influence the choices that you make .

Just as , an example , choices in a math curriculum and level of math vary a lot at this age and can affect the options that your child might have in the future . Here's a note about math options from my assistant , sarah , who has homeschooled her four kiddos . This is a quote from Sarah . Eighth grade can be decision time regarding math .

The choices you make can be crucial to your child's success in the next phase of their education . With one of my children , I chose an eighth grade curriculum that I thought was engaging , deep , creative and meaningful . However , it did not prepare them with the skills they needed for attending classes at our local public high school .

This child had the capacity to figure things out , but it was a bumpy journey for a while . So I think eighth grade is the year to really get clear about what the next step is , to find ways to make that next step successful and to get your child on board with preparing for that next step .

Sometimes it seems as if the eighth grader is resisting or has checked out during homeschool lessons , though Finding balance between flexibility and persistent is hard , end quote .

So I just want to acknowledge that in our family it was a little bit different , because my children only one of my three children chose to go to a public school at that age and he was very advanced in math . So for sticking with the math example , it was not a struggle for him at all .

My other two children , who homeschooled all the way through high school , their math was able to follow along with where they were and then , when they decided that they wanted to do higher level math , they took classes at the local community college for those courses . So it varies a lot eighth grade depending on what's going to come next .

And I also want to reassure you that even if a child might be struggling with a subject . When they do choose to go to school a public school

, or enter community college classes , they might struggle a little bit and they can catch up . So those are just all some thoughts for you to think about as you are planning your own eighth grade year .

Just don't fall into the trap of it's time to get serious now , because when we do , we often put unnecessary pressure on our children , and we all know that no one learns well under pressure . Instead , we want to encourage and invite our children along .

We want to engage with them in rich learning experiences , well-written biographies and autobiographies and interesting conversations . Don't forget to bring your child in on the decision-making about their studies . Having conversations about options and what that might lead to down the road can really help . It's a partnership at this stage between

you and your child Because , remember , it is their educational journey and your job is to turn over more and more of that responsibility to them All .

Right now for some ideas , some great resource ideas for your eighth grade basket , and of course , there are so many options at this stage , but here are just some of our favorites Something Out of Nothing , marie Curie and Radium by Carla McClafferty .

The Disappearing Spoon and Other True Tales of Rivalry , adventure and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements . This is the Young Readers Edition by Sam Kean .

Another chemistry resource is the Elements Ingredients of the Universe by Ellen McHenry , and this can be found as a free download on the author's website , ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop . Be sure to explore her website for other free downloads and lots of educational materials about science in particular , and you can find her at ellenjmchenrycom .

Another wonderful history book is An Indigenous People's History of the United States for Young People , revisioning History for Young People , and it's by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz . One of my favorites is A Little History of the World by EH Combridge .

It's a beautifully written book spanning pre-history to the 20th century , and it's a very easy read in narrative style , great storytelling . And then for language arts , writing for 100 Days by Gabriel Akhualovich . This is full of writing activities and skills lessons that are in the context of different writing exercises .

It's a very refreshing alternative to any language arts textbook . Now , in previous episodes in this series I've mentioned this concept , but I want to reiterate here that I love using children's books as a starting point for more advanced subjects , even all the way through high school . Children's books are often concise , beautifully illustrated and engaging .

It's a great way to hook even teenagers on a subject . Here's one example of this . We read Peter Siss's book Starry Messenger as an introduction to Galileo and the Renaissance . It's a beautifully illustrated book that describes Galileo as a genius who was willing to break with traditions and challenge accepted truths .

Here are a few other suggestions , specifically for resource material for the parent . I've mentioned before the Tasks and Content of the Steiner-Waldorf curriculum by Avison Rawson and Richter , the curriculum of the first Waldorf school by Carolyn von Heidebrand , and Between Form and Freedom Raising a Teenager by Betty Staley .

You can find links to all of these resources in the show notes for this episode at artofhomeschoolingcom slash , episode 210 . There you have it . There are so many possibilities for homeschooling in eighth grade . Don't let yourself get overwhelmed . Instead , look at your child and discern what you think they need at this time .

Consider what might come next for them , perhaps next year in their learning journey . Assess what's available in your community for learning experiences outside the home and partner with your teenager to come up with a plan that's just right for them .

Thanks so much for tuning in today , and if you liked this episode and know of someone who might benefit from listening . Please share the Art of Homeschooling podcast with them and I'll catch you next time . That's all for today , my friend , but here's what I want you to remember Rather than perfection , let's focus on connection .

Thanks so much for listening and I'll see you on the next episode of the Art of Homeschooling podcast .