Homeschool Middle School English

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As a parent, choosing the right English curriculum for your middle schooler can feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there – from traditional textbooks to online programs to literature-based studies. How do you decide what’s best for your child? First, take a deep breath. There is no one-size-fits-all curriculum that works for every student. The “best” choice depends on your child’s learning style, interests, academic strengths and weaknesses, and your family’s educational philosophy. That said, here are some middle school English curriculum paths to consider:

FundaFunda Academy

FundaFunda Academy offers a number of English courses for middle schoolers, including Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers and Writing Mechanics. FundaFunda classes are asynchronous (no live component) but have weekly deadlines and the students interact with each other and the teachers.

Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers

Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers is perfect for students who hate to write. The assignments are unusual and sometimes a bit zany. The purpose is to make writing so enjoyable students forget they are writing! Instead of grades, students will receive feedback which will include plenty of praise for what they have done right, as well as suggestions for improvement. Plus, they will be able to earn prizes!

Writing Mechanics

In Writing Mechanics, on the other hand, students will learn the mechanics they need in order to write well. They will do exercises to improve their grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary and then they will put what they have learned into practice. Students will also learn to proofread their own work and peer review their classmates’ essays. This claims aims to prepare students for the rigors of high school English classes.

Seven Sisters Homeschool

Seven Sisters Homeschool offers a wide variety of English courses for middle schoolers. Some of their longer form options include Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales and Middle School Guide to Essay Writing. The also offer various literature study guides.

Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales

In Middle School Short Story Writing Guide: Fairy Tales, students will learn to understand the elements of a fairy tale, create characters, establish settings, develop backstory, form plots, write dialogue, edit, and proofread. This course is designed to be used 4 days a week for 5 weeks. The lessons are short and designed to help students achieve success.

Middle School Guide to Essay Writing

Middle School Guide to Essay Writing is a 10-week course designed to be used 4 days per week. It teaches students basic essay format, persuasion, literary analysis, how to write compare/contrast essays, how to write editorials/letters to the editor, and it also includes tips for taking short-answer essay tests to give your student skills they will need for the future.

Literature Study Guides

Seven Sisters Homeschool’s literature guides are meant to be used in conjunction with the book they relate to. These guides teach students about background information, genre, vocabulary words from the book, and summarization and plot development. They include comprehension questions for each chapter and suggested supplemental activities as well. There are literature study guides for a wide variety of classics including Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, Snow Treasure, and Sarah, Plain and Tall.

Literary Adventures

Literary Adventures offers a plethora of online bookclubs for students of all ages, including middle schoolers! Each one is designed to take about a month to complete they include background information and hands-on activities. They are designed to instruct your student in spelling, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, literature, and writing. There are many options to choose from, including A Wrinkle in Time, Holes, Bud, Not Buddy, and Wonder.

The array of choices may seem bewildering at first. But look at your child and family’s needs, and don’t be afraid to mix and match components from different programs. Taking the time upfront to carefully select the right fit can immensely enrich your student’s middle school English experience.