Summer Learning Resources?(Vanity)

4/29/15 | me

[nitzy]

Does anyone know of any good teaching/learning resources for a 12 year old kid over the summer?

I am specifically interesting in supplementing the new common core, dumbed down public education that he is getting during the school year with classical learning that they no longer teach.

I am particularly interested in the topics of logic, reason, civics, rhetoric, philosophy, grammar, history (from a conservative standpoint), etc... that would be suitable for an 8th grader.

[nitzy]

**I know many on here think public education is child abuse but we are in a pretty good rural/suburban school district with good ratings (relatively speaking) and I simply can't afford to send him to the local Christian private school.**

[MeganC]

We homeschool and supplement our homeschool curriculum with free online courses from Khan Academy and we also use the free Imprimis publication from conservative Hillsdale College for discussing political and social issues.

Google them and try them out! They’re both free so you’re not on the hook for anything!

(I have to admit I have learned A LOT with both resources!)

[cuban leaf]

khanacademy.org

[bajabaja]

Khanacademy.org has some good material on the sciences. As to history and those subjects where liberal bias creeps in, I will defer to others.

[JRandomFreeper]

A person decides what they can afford.

/johnny

[ClearCase_guy]

Memoria press has a good web site. Good for logic and classics.

[cripplecreek]

You could probably adapt the freebie Hillsdale college courses on the constitution and federalist papers for a 12 year old.

[Idaho_Cowboy]

I would highly reccomend the Uncle Eric series of books for teaching history, economics, and political science from a non-statist viewpoint. They are easy to read and very engaging and informative, no matter the age of the student.

http://www.chaostan.com/books.html

The Daily Grams books are the best quick daily Grammar review out there. It gives a daily worksheet to keep concepts fresh and keep students practiced in grammar and punctuation.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0936981059/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=38540065496&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2893170803137604595&hvpone=27.39&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_4qv2csbnxp_b

[Yaelle]

Google the well trained mind forum. Lots of good info there and you can ask questions.

Agreed that going through the Hillsdale constitution course together over the summer would be awesome.

Check out the LSAT prep books - some are just full of great logic puzzles.

Go to any homeschooling convention near you and go into the resources hall. Bring money, lol. There might be some awesome books, games, etc. (You probably can get into the resources hall without paying for the convention.)

[Conservative4Life]

Here are the resources we used for homeschooling and supplementing the summer...

http://oldfashionededucation.com/
http://www.letshomeschool.com/articles16.html

https://www.chcweb.com/catalog/ (cost some money but for 8th grade and up it is self guided)

[Dawn53Fl]

If you’re worried about math...get a Saxon Math book and start using it with him. You can get the older version of the books on ebay. Here’s a link to a test that will tell you which book to start with:

http://www.sonlight.com/homeschool/curriculum/placement-tests/saxon-placement-tests/

When we were homeschooling, many moons ago :), we did Saxon math year round. Each new book, we’d be able to skip the first lessons, I’d just have him take the test till we got to a test he couldn’t do and we’d start at that lesson. They are very repetitious and that is the beauty of the books, IMO.

After Saxon Algebra II, just before what would have been 10th grade, my son tested into College Algebra at the local Community College, and all his higher math classes were taken at the college (with the Dual Enrollment policy, tuition was free and if I would have had to teach Calculus and Analytic Geometry, my head may have exploded.)

I think what you’re planning on doing is a good idea. We mostly did school year round, didn’t take long breaks, and no breaks from math.

[ken5050]

I'm gonna disagree with all of you.

It's summer..just make sure he (is it your son, or daughter?) outside playing,..lots of physical activity..maybe a program at your local Y..try and do some stuff with him on weekends..museums, field trips..camping.

Encourage him to read...anything...get him away from the boob tube and the computer.. Try Rush's "Revere" books..he'll learn REAL American history..

IOW..don't overload him..he's a kid..

[virgil283]

For American history none better than David Barton ('Wall Builders' website) see also his videos...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnFw1f6K2W8&list=PL6817C0A746F5D6B4

[iowamark]

I know many on here think public education is child abuse but

You were right the first time.

[DannyTN]

You might try...
Mooc.com
edx.com
Microsoftvirtualacademy.com

[enraged]

Fishing camping biking sports zoo. Live life, learn much.

[ken5050]

Fish On!!

[Excellence]

The entire K-12 sequence from Hillsdale is available online.

[Excellence]

Also Netflix has an educational video section.

[nitzy]

He does Boy Scouts where we camp once a month and will be involved in summer training for Cross Country so I am not worried about keeping him outdoor and active.

Also, he was supposed to “earn” a dirt bike by getting straight A’s at least one quarter this year. He has missed it by a couple classes each quarter and it looks like he will not get it in the last quarter. I need a fall back plan because I really want to get it for him but I also want him to feel he earned it. I thought if he completed some courses or passes some tests over material that he should know but that his school doesn’t teach, that would be a win / win and he could still get his dirt bike.