7th GRADE CURRICULUM CHOICES | and homeschool plans! 2023-2024

Hey mamas! Here are my honeschool plans for my almost 7th grader!
Are you doing anything similar? Have you tried any of these?
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I’m Christina. I’m married to my best friend, Seth, we have 5 kids (ages 3, 4, 7, 11, & 15), and love our family, Jesus, and adventuring together.
We are passionate about being counter culture, including alternatives to traditional schooling. I have experience as a public school teacher, private school teacher, and homeschool mom!
I love the Charlotte Mason education approach, and many others, but I’d say we are more of an eclectic homeschool-mixing the different aspects of homeschool styles that we love-living books, literature-based learning, Montessori, nature study, and so much more!
Whether you are considering homeschooling, new to homeschooling, considering alternative ways to educate your child, or just looking for some encouragement and inspiration for your motherhood journey, I hope you feel welcome and encouraged here 🤍
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[@nikkithorsgard6524]

I did the same thing with my 6th grader this year for math and l/a! The best decision I ever made!

[@OldFashionedLiving]

I have a son going into 7th grade and I've really been stressing because he isn't on "grade level " in math. Thank you for sharing your outlook, it was very encouraging!

[@RootedHomeLife]

You are so welcome! Don’t worry mama!!

[@jenw5577]

My son is also going into 7th and he just started 5th math. I’m glad I’m not alone.

[@GraceFilled]

I love this so much!! This is so freeing for moms that have a child that moves slower in a paticular subject.

[@tathimitchell]

Yes! It's so important to honor the pace of each child. I too have a child who moves slower in math, and that's 100% ok! Well done! ❤

[@RootedHomeLife]

Thanks mama!

[@amberhicks1807]

I am always so thankful for your perspective. This past year I decided to do a second year of 2nd grade math with one of my kids because I just felt like she needed more time to truly understand the concepts before moving onto multiplication and division. It was the BEST decision for her. I feel like so many people thought I was crazy not to push her forward to keep up with public school. As a former public school teacher it has taken awhile for me to readjust my thinking but education is about the child not an arbitrary timeline created by a system. So refreshing to hear you validate this.

[@RootedHomeLife]

I’m so glad you made a decision that was best for HER. Good job mama ❤️

[@lynnyates6232]

Hearing your heart is like a breath of fresh air! Yes!!!!! To EVERYTHING! THANK YOU!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aww you’re so welcome!!

[@lmiller2003]

Hello! I feel so refreshed after hearing more about how you homeschool your older ones. I would love to hear more about your high schooler and how you decide on credits and work on a transcript. Thanks again for the encouraging video!

[@RootedHomeLife]

I do have a homeschooling through high school resource that has planning pages and an exclusive video over in my Etsy shop!

[@amandareed3585]

you are my people!! we have a similar "how we started homeschooling" story. my daughter is the same way, she had so many gaps in her math but excelled in language arts. she just finished tgatb math 6 and it was her 9th grade year. thank you for normalizing this approach to schooling

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aww I love that!

[@hstewart3612]

You should know-level 6 of TGTB LA is technically an 8th/9th grade public school equivalent. NOT that you’re trying to equate to public school levels! I understand this video completely, as I have an 8th grader just finishing math 5 for the same reasons. She’s also finishing level 6 LA and it would be pretty intense for a 6th grader. TGTB is definitely above “grade level”. My curriculum picks are very similar to yours and we have the same homeschooling style. It’s rare to find someone I can relate to in this homeschooling world! So, thank you! I appreciate your videos ❤

[@MelissaGrayum]

What level would a 6/7th grader use for TGTB LA? He’s a really young 7th grader next year. Thanks!

[@hstewart3612]

@@MelissaGrayum depends on his prior knowledge but I’d go with 5

[@MelissaGrayum]

@@hstewart3612 Thanks for the response. I was thinking of going with 5. My 3rd grader has done 3/4 of Level 2 and it's exactly where she should be.

[@RootedHomeLife]

I can totally see that!! I have heard so many moms question is the LA from TGTB is “enough” and I’m like trust me, judging from 5 years of witnessing the knowledge and skills that kids came to me with in 10th grade, it is PLENTY!

[@KarenTaggart]

I've been debating adding IEW writing to TGTB LA. My daughter is going into 7th grade and will be doing TGTB Level 6, but we have done very little with writing. Last year, Level 5, we skipped most of the writing exercises because we were trying a different writing course. But it was very basic and didn't really "stick". I hear great things about IEW, but I don't want to add extra work and make it stressful! Any tips or advice on the writing portion of TGTB? @@RootedHomeLife

[@tahiryandriamasy5533]

I love how you speak so positively about your kids. You’re such a role model.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aww thank you ❤️

[@ashleybraley6312]

This is the gut feeling I’ve had from the start. Make sure skills are solid and don’t worry about level numbers. I love hearing the confirmation from someone who has seen public school from a teacher’s perspective. My oldest is the same age as your son this video is about and you’ve given me so much confidence/comfort as we move to older grades. When we started homeschooling at 5 years old I never imagined teaching a preteen and it’s happened so fast 😅

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! We know what’s right in our gut! It just can confuse us if we listen to what the world says is normal and right!

[@melodyandhermunchkins6548]

Christina, I love this video so much!!!! I felt as a public schooled child myself you must fit into a “grade level box with the same learning style” as everyone else. I am going to be perfectly transparent here, I didn’t understand math until I had a amazing college professor, who actually took the time and taught me. I was really good at memorizing facts and that’s what got me through. I am teaching my girls (who are 10 and 8) to understand and then to memorize. Thank you, I always relate so well to you maybe it’s because my teaching style is very similar to yours.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@suzannegundlach]

My rising 7th grader is in the same math boat as your son! We switched math curriculum years ago and I had to start him in TGTB level 3 in 4th grade. Last year he took 5th grade standardized tests and did phenomenal in math (after finishing level 4). This spring he was finishing level 5 - I had him take the Saxon math placement test to see where he would land, and he placed in math 8/7! So even though we might feel like they're working in a level lower, they're really getting a solid math foundation at just the right level. 😊

[@Courtney_Perry]

How did you take the placement test on the website

[@RootedHomeLife]

That’s awesome!!

[@GinaRLacy]

Christina, hearing how you use curriculum and the way you dip in and out of it all is so refreshing to hear! I do this too, but don’t hear of too many other mamas on KZbin that take the same approach. Every 5 weeks or so our mash-up of curriculum changes and we touch a lot of different approaches. For the GRH units, the ELA component for the Year 3+ units are very rich especially if you add on the Seatwork journals and/or the novel studies.

[@RootedHomeLife]

I’m so excited to try the newer units!!

[@hollyaleman8631]

My upcoming 7th grader is also still working through TGTB 5th grade math as well.

[@RootedHomeLife]

So many have said this! This is why it’s good for us mamas to chat!!

[@netcreativedesigns]

You know what? Good for you guys! Do what’s best for your kids and you

[@McGoughHeather]

Mom, I say the same thing. I know the pandemic was awful for many but for MY family, it was the biggest blessing and it allowed my spouse to see why homeschooling would work best for us. Also, my 12 yr old is also in TGATB 5 Math and ELA due to some concept holes from “private school” education.

[@RootedHomeLife]

I think there are so many of us with this experience!

[@allheartandsong]

Math u see got my son out of his math slump. He was struggling so bad in 5th grade and now he is a 7th grader and thriving. Math u see is such a great program and sometimes overlooked but they explain it in such a different way thay makes sense.

[@RootedHomeLife]

I’ve heard great things about it!!

[@BoulderwalkFarms5711]

I know this is an older video, but u still wanted to comment! I love your videos! I appreciate how raw and real you are. It majorly helps with my public school mindset, from being public schooled myself. You have given me the ‘okay’ to relax. You are such an inspiration! I’m actually switching up our math curriculum, this coming school year. And I am torn with two curriculums. I’m drawn to The Good and the Beautiful, but I also feel that my kids aren’t up to their ‘level’ with TGTB. So this video has been perfect and reassuring! Thank you so much for being YOU! You’re an inspiration to so many!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yay! I’m so glad!!

[@viralprimenetwork]

It's always fascinating to see how different families approach homeschooling and tailor their curriculum to suit their children's needs. By the way, we sent you an email expressing our admiration for your content and expressing our interest in collaborating with you.

[@heatherrenaldo9182]

We started homeschooling during the pandemic too and had to go a level back. I found our school system stopped teaching new stuff and only sent out work they had already finished for review. There were MAJOR gaps to fill especially in math. I have no qualms about going back a level for my son. He has done so well and no longer struggles.

[@RootedHomeLife]

So glad it gave us the wake up call many of us needed!

[@Simple_Homeschool_Mama]

My daughter was the same way. You are doing an awesome job. I did the exact same thing you did with your son with math. We also have only been doing math about 2 times a week since spring. We are homeschoolers and we can make the curriculum work for us and not the other way around. Keep up the good work.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! Thank you!!

[@GinaRLacy]

Also, the Growing Up With God unit is beautifully written and would also help your son understand how he was intentionally created. I just finished it with my boys and it was wonderful!

[@RootedHomeLife]

I’ve heard such good things!

[@Spurz166]

My son will also be in 7th grade. This video gave me some peace of mind. My son was in an "exceptional children's" class during his public school years. (He is high functioning ASD) We also started homeschool during the pandemic and found that he was "behind" in math along with many other things. He has bad school anxiety and was "selectively mute" at achool. Barely speaking to anyone. We are still doing 3rd grade math and im okay with it. Some days I have those thoughts like he "isnt on grade level" what am i going to do?! But then i look at my son and think no Im doing whats best for him not what society wants us to do.

[@Spurz166]

I have to also say that in those "EC" classes the children, high functioning or not, are all lumped together not by grade level. The issue I had with that was that the teacher and aid were so busy with the students that had more needs that my child most of the day sat in "the quiet corner" with headphones on trying to drown out the chaos. He did not learn much. I don't blame the teachers because he had some amazing ones but the system as a whole did nothing to help those children learn and thrive. Okay I'll step down from my soap box now. 😅

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! You are the best teacher for your child! No one will have his best interest in mind like you will!!

[@ash71724]

Even though my kids are very young and we're just getting started with homeschooling I enjoy watching your videos on your older kids' curriculum too. I know years from now when my kids are older I'll be circling back to these videos!

[@RootedHomeLife]

I find that helpful too in just thinking ahead!

[@Courtney_Perry]

What about for 8th grade? Tried looking back at past videos and didn’t see anything for 8th grade curriculum for your oldest. Thank you, this will be my 1st year teaching them!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Saxon math with Nicole the Math Lady! I’d go with TGTB level 7 Language Arts. It’s actually above grade level and you can add in the level 8 honors book studies to make it more challenging if needed. There’s no level 8 other than the book studies so the next level is HS level 1. The other subjects you can choose whatever you want! I love unit studies from Gather Round, but TGTB also has great science and history courses.

[@RhondaTowanda]

Excellent video! I believe there is No Being Behind in homeschool education! They may have gaps from a curriculum or from being in public school. I also don’t sweat the small stuff like using lower grade curriculum. If my children are interested in it, or I feel it will help the, we use it! We use a 7-9 age level workbook that used the book “Poppy” I used it for my 17 & 13 girls, they loved it, and they learned so much! Plus they still talk about that book “Poppy”. I don’t worry about grade levels or age levels. We use “ Learn Math Fast” and we started with book 1. The lessons they knew was a refresher. I have been homeschooling for 16 years, and in the last several years, I just learned to Not Sweat the Small Stuff! I think we should just use whatever curriculums we want! No matter the levels! I enjoy your channels very much! 💜🌻💜🌻💜🌻

[@RootedHomeLife]

I love this! Thank you for sharing!!

[@theselittlesprouts]

My oldest is the same way from the pandemic. She I feel, will be kinda in between “grades” for awhile. I have been considering doing “6th” grade over again just for this reason and giving her the freedom of more time to move slower through concepts. I love that you made this point in this video I think it is definitely helpful to hear it for many. 😊

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! The in between grades thing is real!

[@kristystaats169]

We started because of covid as well.. we just finished up our 3rd year homeschooling. Some good DID come out of covid.. and for us it was homeschooling. We’ve got 5 kiddos as well! My daughter (just finished grade 6) did TGTB math and LA 5 this year. It was a good thing for her! The current LA 7 (old) can be used for grade 9 and a hs credit can be given.. so for me.. she’s right on track!! No need to justify it mama!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@darlinglittlethree5860]

This is exactly what we are doing with math for my 6th grader. I felt really bad about the number on the book, but I realized that it's important for her to have a proper understanding and good solid foundation before she can confidently move on to harder math. So for her, we are are saxon 5/4 and math mammoth 4 for extra practice on specific areas she struggles with.

[@susieq8557]

Best way to learn.

[@BoulderwalkFarms5711]

Thank you so much for sharing! I know I’ve said it before, but you are so inspirational. I went to public school for all grades. I have always struggled with teaching and relaxing. I felt as if I needed to stay on track. Finish everything. And do school a certain way. This past year I have learned so much from your videos as well as a few other homeschooling moms. And I am truly appreciate and grateful for your alls videos and sharing your hearts! I am finally being ‘okay’ with not doing things an exact way as I was taught. And I am so excited about it! I have a 10, 8, 7, 5, 3, and 1 year old. We are so looking forward to our homeschool official change!

[@RootedHomeLife]

You are so welcome! I’m so glad it’s helpful!!

[@andreaf1118]

Thank you so much. I needed this video. We are also pandemic homeschoolers and my daughter is going into 7th. We are taking our time in math. I let her watch this with because she feels behind. ❤

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! It doesn’t make sense to go faster if that’s not what they need!

[@joelzinga2418]

Good job mama! Love this so much.

[@FamilyValuesTV]

WOW you really made me feel better about the levels of my children. The pandemic really put us behind. We also started homeschooling bc of the pandemic and once I took them out I found out my son was behind in reading and the school he was at was just passing him even though he could barely read. So he's very behind on that and behind on math and science. My daughter is an avid reader so she didn't get too far behind but she is a year behind in lang arts and reading. I'm so grateful we pulled him out bc who knows where he would be. He's technically supposed to be in 4th grade but he's reading at a 2nd grade level. So I'm working through level 1 of TGTB but we're moving fairly fast but going over concepts he doesn't really remember. I'm doing the same thing you're doing by just moving with him and only going to the next level when he's done with the last. Your video has really helped me feel better about where we are bc I was feeling like a failure.

[@mamatofive1]

I’m watching all of the curriculum hauls, trying to make a plan for next school year! I knew you used Gather Round, like we do, and I’m always curious what other homeschoolers add to it. I have a lot to think about with GR for my oldest who is entering grade 8. We LOVE Gather Round, but I’m not sure if we’ll continue it for my oldest, or move him to something else. I find the workpages too open ended for the older grades, and like it doesn’t push him enough. Just thinking out loud here 😆 Does your 11th grader still do GR with the rest of your family?

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! We’ll be doing them all together!!

[@lindahodge9515]

Love your video❤ I agree with everything "grade levels " Is so overrated!😮 we learn at our own pace!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Thanks so much!

[@cieloazul9833]

Appreciate your honesty... thank you so much for your video

[@LisaRupertus]

You don’t have to justify your choices. We did level 5 TGATB LA for grade 6 (unfortunately half way through my son expressed how much he hated it, so we went back to Masterbooks and then we went into level 6.) Teach where they are so that we give them what they need. ❤

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aw thanks mama!

[@heatherray2025]

My kids are all "behind" in math but same thing with small christian school. They went for a few years and came out struggling and behind so we went back and focused on foundations for a year before moving on. As a note, have you seen the YWAM young readers? they are written in verse and big beautiful pictures. We love them. Very interested in the Not Consumed sibling pack...down another rabbit trail I go :D

[@RootedHomeLife]

I actually just ordered some of those!

[@samibuck]

My son will be finishing up level 4 LA beginning his 6th grade year and I’m totally fine with it! I’m like you and hope the updated level 6 is ready by the time he gets to it! I’m in no rush with school. Will it really matter what level he’s on in the grand scheme of things? Nah, I don’t think so. We are also in NY 🍎

[@RootedHomeLife]

No it won’t matter! That’s exactly right!!

[@jessicasaldarriaga3769]

Girl, please link where you are getting your cute shirts!!! Also, great video and awesome picks!

[@karynnekrasowski3525]

I love all your Christian shirts! Do you have a favorite shop for them?

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! Created for Grace (on Instagram) and @simplylivingit

[@raykelly4593]

Math is tough and best learned through constant daily practice. Even 5 mins a day would be better then once a week. It can be independent, set a timer and flash cards. Few minutes every day to exercise math concepts is best. Math learned and returns best constant practice. Keep it short and sweet.

[@fab5bailey369]

We have almost the same year plan with Chemistry and Ancient 😊.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yay!

[@nichole_danielle2083]

Thank you for being an amazing encouragement!!

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aww you are so welcome! Thanks for being here ❤️

[@BaileyAcademy]

Love your videos, thanks for sharing.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Oh thank you so much! Thanks for being here❤️

[@Soulful_luv]

I'm so glad I found your channel. I live in New York and I just wanted ask you about testing in NY. I was wondering if am allowed to give the test and write the assessment? Thank you

[@missdalta7616]

This is exactly how I feel. Could you please tell which Intro to Psychology books are you interested or recommend? Thanks. God bless you.

[@amandamendoza4181]

It hurts my heart that you feel you need to justify why you do what you do, or why you choose what you choose! I love that you are so genuine and real, but as a mom of 4 I am not here to judge you or your child and where he/she is at. Just here for ideas. Hope most others watching are the same.

[@RootedHomeLife]

Aww that is so sweet of you. Thank you! ❤️

[@donosky8896]

I know this is an older video but what would you recommend for a sixth and eighth grader that are above their grade levels? My eighth grader is doing schoolwork (currently at a charter school here in Texas) at a 10th grade level. My sixth grader is doing schoolwork (same school in Texas) at an eighth grade level. Any suggestions on what to do for them to not be repeating things they’ve already learned? :)

[@sarasali3077]

Love this. My youngest is in level K and I just finally realized she can continue into next year (we do school in summer, but less) and it’s all good. She’s 6 and I think it gets pretty tough! So I am finally letting it go and letting her finish when she’s ready instead of forcing it on her. She blew through level K math, but is more resistant with LA. Letting go is helping us both 😅

[@RootedHomeLife]

Yes! Good job mama!

[@Slurhkable]

I am in the same boat! Same level same age. Lol

[@RootedHomeLife]

We are clearly not alone! ❤️

[@fordfamily-zl9bc]

Also what's your schedule for independent work vs family studies?

[@RootedHomeLife]

I have a video from last year about this but maybe I’ll do an updated one! The short answer is pretty much group subjects in the morning, Independent work in the morning!

[@fordfamily-zl9bc]

How do you handle noisy younger kids during family time subjects?

[@RootedHomeLife]

I actually just talked about this over in Made2Homeschool! Our biggest help lately is taking lessons outside!!