For anyone who has looked at the high school page, I wanted to show you how one of those courses could be used. I’ve started using the 9th grade literature and composition online class from Georgia Virtual Learning as a base for my 8th Level English.

I’ve added answer keys for the grammar assignments, grading rubrics, extra reading and assignments, vocabulary and other resources and organized it day by day just like we are used to.

Since it is “officially” a high school level course, it could be counted on a transcript. I’ve made up a simple grade sheet to record grades and list right on the directions each day what to record and guidelines for how to assign grades for writing assignments.

I’m still not going to get to the high school courses for awhile. It’s still at least a year away, but this will give you an idea of how we can use those online courses.

As you look through the curriculum, anywhere it says “Read page 4 about…” is a link to the online curriculum. I can only link to the main page of each unit, so I always have to write what page to go to.

Here’s the link again: 8th Level English

I chose one writing assignment from both 6th and 7th grade.

It is the English assignment from day 64 on the 6th level and the English assignment from day 40 on 7th level. If you have already passed those days, please consider sending in an essay. I posted my daughter’s 7th grade essay, but I can’t find hers from last year to post on 6th grade, so 6th grade is empty right now. I posted a poll for kids to check off which essay they read, so they can see who hasn’t received feedback yet. I plan on leaving them up for a while, so the kids could read more than one if they are interested. I’ll have to see how it goes.

Let’s give it a try.  I think it can only help.

If you want to take a look at the peer editing page…

Here’s an idea, just an idea at this point. But I would need you to participate, so I want to know what you think. I’m not exactly sure how it would go at this point, but here are the basics.

Starting in maybe 4th or 5th grade I would choose a couple of writing assignments for the children to send to me to post online. You would have to include an email address, but not a name. I would need to know what grade the child was in and what assignment it was for. As the assignment, I would say to send me your essay and read and critique one of the other essays posted online for your grade level. I would offer direction for how to read the paper and how to offer feedback. They would send an email directly to the student who wrote the paper with feedback.

Children will be working on editing skills and hopefully be more motivated to do well in the first place!

What do you think? Would your children be willing to share their work? Would you be willing to include an email address for people to write you? I wouldn’t be previewing their comments. I really don’t think I want to be a go between. I will write in the directions to have a parent preview the feedback before they send it. It’s an idea. It would take time to get things on there to read.

Think about it and let me know. In the meantime, here are two blog posts by my online friend Jimmie who started a peer editing group at her homeschool coop.

Why You Should Start a Peer Editing Group

Teaching Writing with a Peer Editing Coop

Here is her peer editing checklist that I use in the curriculum already.