Subjects for 7th grade include skill areas of Math, Logic, and Vocabulary and the more general subjects of Bible, Reading, Writing, and Science. We’ll look at each of these in detail considering the goal of the subject study, particular methods, resources, and pacing of each task for the year. The idea is to determine what the student should learn in a given subject for the year. Then gather quality resources for the student to interact with. Next determine the specific interaction tasks and break these into manageable daily tasks. You should have a long list of daily tasks for the year for each subject. The daily lesson plan amounts to choosing several of these tasks, one for each subject combined with the day’s math and language arts lesson.
It may sound confusing at first but this plan should remove (or at least reduce) the confusion. For each subject, we’ll work through a plan for the entire year. Remember, you don’t need to plan the whole year before the start of the school year. Staying just a few weeks ahead of the student actually works better. You can alter your plan through the year depending on the student’s interests and needs. At the 7th grade level, your child is right in the middle of the process of changing from a child into a young adult, so a flexible plan is required. You should remain sensitive to the pace at which “adult” concepts of philosophy, poetry, and logic are introduced. Realize that the student’s interest in some subjects may be more mature, while remaining more childlike in others.
Recall Paul the Apostle’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” The 7th grade age is when this transition from childhood is fully underway. Embrace it and delight in this special season of watching your little one grow up right before your eyes.