Oak Meadow Grade Seven Review!

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It’s that time of the year again! Bug has *leveled up* to seventh grade, and I am so excited to share with you our review of Oak Meadow grade seven. We’ve been using Oak Meadow with Bug since the third grade, and the program has definitely changed and grown with him over the years. I’m nervous and excited to officially be in middle school with him — he’s our oldest child, so this is a first for us!

Check out our initial thoughts about Oak Meadow Grade Seven over at our “Box Day” post! 

Oak Meadow Review

Oak Meadow Grade Seven is a complete curriculum program, covering language arts, history, science and math. For the purposes of this review, I am going to go through each subject separately, because you can purchase just the science, or just the history to use with your child if you don’t need a full program. However, remember that the elements are intended to be used together, to create a complete, well-rounded program for your child.

Oak Meadow Grade Seven World History

I’m going to start with World History, because I feel like this is the gem of Oak Meadow Grade Seven. History is really the core of the program (and has been for the last couple grade levels), which I love. The history manual is also the largest student book in the bunch, with the most content.

OMHistory

We took the kids to see a home from the Civil War era as a part of our studies this month- Our current home has a ton of wonderful historical sights to see! 

Within each history lesson, you’ll find:

  • “Textbook reading” within the student book (with room in the lined margins to take notes).
  • Map based activities
  • Art and Music lessons within the historical context
  • World religions
  • Projects & writing assignments
  • Reading suggestions

You’ll also find the majority of the programs writing assignments in the history book. (Composition instruction is included in the English manual.) Each lesson has a handful of options for writing topics.

This is one of Oak Meadow’s greatest strengths- and one of the reasons Bug enjoys Oak Meadow so much. He always has an option as to what assignment to do. Oak Meadow has done a beautiful job at not only training students towards independence but also allowing them the freedom to take ownership of their education.

For example, in lesson three, there are multiple options for projects to learn more about ancient China:

  • Learning about enameling (and writing about it)
  • Learning about how rice is grown
  • Write a short story about living in the Forbidden City
  • Design a government advertisement to convince farmers to move to northern China
  • Write a report on five different works of Chinese art

By allowing the student choices (within the framework of the program) middle schoolers are more inclined to be cooperative. No one likes to be told what to do! I have found that Bug tends to get excited about at least one of the options (or, in middle schooler speak, he says “this option isn’t that bad.”

Oak Meadow Grade Seven Earth Science

Science is always my favorite part of the Oak Meadow curriculum, and this year is no exception. Oak Meadow does a fantastic job at balancing textbook reading with activities. The experiments and activities included are completely reasonable for Bug to do on his own without much need for me to pull things together. They demonstrate important concepts clearly and simply.

Each week, your child will:

  • Read the science lesson – the text is full of colorful images and includes room for note taking in the margins
  • Conduct experiments
  • Make observations
  • Track what they learn in their science journal
  • Complete research projects
  • Take a test – tests can be used as a graded element, or, your child can simply answer the questions in their science journal if you aren’t interested in testing each week.

OMScience

Our toddler was obsessed with the measurement portion of Bug’s science lesson. Bug loves to bake, and enjoyed experimenting with equivalent measurements.

Oak Meadow Grade Seven English

Oak Meadow English is designed to use in conjunction with the history program, meaning, if you were to be purchasing individual curriculum elements, I would reccomend using history as a stand-alone program, but not English (unless you also bought history). The history and science programs include writing assignments not found in the English manual.

The English manual includes lessons on:

  • Vocabulary
  • Spelling
  • Grammar
  • Mechanics (punctuation)
  • Composition instruction (such as outlining)
  • Literature

The literature assignments include reading (which comes with the full curriculum) and additional literature recommendations if you happen to have a voracious reader in your home. The assigned literature has comprehension and deeper thinking questions within the reading.

OMLA

Bug has been reading Summer of the Monkeys, which was one of my favorite novels growing up! For this assignment, he illustrated one of his favorite scenes from the book. 

The English book also contains the student planner for the week. Your child will be encouraged to plan their week, to take note of needed materials and stay on top of their lessons from within this book.

Oak Meadow Grade Seven Math

Oak Meadow’s grade 7 math is very solid. The text itself is written in a conversational manner, and shows examples within the text, so as your child reads the lesson they are able to see the work as it is supposed to be done.

Things I love about Oak Meadow Grade Seven Math:

  • There is a ton of white space. When dealing with complicated subjects (like math) I love our books to have plenty of space so it’s easier to focus on the written problems without feeing overwhelmed. There is plenty of white space both in the lesson, and on the problem pages.
  • Oak Meadow starts simple. The lessons start with basic examples, and then work their way up to more complicated problems. This allows your child to master the concept quickly and easily before tacking more difficult problems.
  • All answer keys are included
  • Tests are included

I feel that Oak Meadow’s Grade Seven Math follows a pretty standard scope and sequence. If you are new to Oak Meadow, don’t forget you can choose to use math at a different level (for example, get the grade seven curriculum, but choose to use the sixth grade math book instead) if you needed to for your child.

Oak Meadow Grade Seven Teacher’s Manual

We’ll get the #1 question out of the way quickly here- yes, I do believe that you need the teachers manual to use Oak Meadow. At least, I feel like *I* need the teachers manual to teach it. The Teacher’s Manual gives me an easy overview of what Bug will be doing each week, without needing to pull out his curriculum books. It includes supplemental information which helps me be able to ask him questions about what he’s learning, and participate in the conversation easily. It gives me additional examples for complicated concepts, so I can work with him if he gets stuck. It also includes the answers for the literature questions and science tests. I rely on my teacher’s manual heavily throughout the year.

OMScience2

Oak Meadow leaves plenty of time for us to get out of the house and explore during the school week. We spent a Friday at the beach, and of course, incorporated lessons into our adventures. What better place to practice scientific observation than at the beach?

If you are still on the fence about Oak Meadow, check out our other reviews:

Oak Meadow Grade 1
Oak Meadow Grade 3
Oak Meadow Grade 4
Oak Meadow Grade 5
Oak Meadow Grade 6

 

Oak Meadow Review (1)

We’ll be sharing a week in the life with Oak Meadow soon, with even more chances for you to enter to win! Make sure you’re following us on Facebook so you don’t miss a thing! 

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172 Comments

  1. I wouldloveto win grade two or three for my son who is somewhat between these grades ☺️ We have friends using Oak Meadow and it looks great.

  2. We would love to win the 4th Grade curriculum. I have a daughter who will be in 4th and a son who will be in 3rd next fall. We are excited to try Oak Meadow! So very excited, it looks great!

  3. I would really love to win the 2nd grade level. I have two girls (not twins) that are doing the same grade and a 6th grade girl.

  4. I am interested in 6th grade! We are just now learning of Oak Meadow and it looks very interesting!

  5. We would love the 7th grade curriculum! I have researched this curriculum and intend to use it for next year!

  6. As a first time home schooling grandmother to a 3rd and 4th grader, I would love to have the 4th grade curriculum.

  7. I would be very thrilled to have kindergarten, 2, 3, or 4th. I have always wanted to try OM, and this would be the perfect opportunity! Thanks for giving us that chance, and for all you do!

  8. Im hoping to win 7th! We’ve also been using it since my oldest was in third grade….best decision!

  9. Seriously considering moving into homeschooling for the first time… So OM Grade 2 for us, and a little luck that we can do this!

  10. I really hope I win grade one! I can’t afford to actually buy Oak Meadows since I’m a single disabled parent, so I truly hope it works out since I love the program!!

  11. I would love Grade 4. Looking for something with more structure. With 3 other girls, my youngest being 2, I never seem to be able to get the full schedule I would like. I know a lot has to do with my organizing skills, which are lacking, to say the least. Lol. I feel that Oak Meadow will make the difference. By the end of the school year I feel I lose my girls’ interest because I have had to piece things together when they lose interest in the curriculum. Trying to find the right fit and Oak Meadow feels right.

  12. I just bought OM 8TH grade English but was just going to wing the rest of the subjects due to finances, so I would love the entire 8th grade curriculum!

  13. We would love to win 4th grade. We’ve been looking at Oak Meadow for years but haven’t been able to afford it. Thank you!

  14. I would love to win grade one, I have heard quite a bit of good things about this curriculum and would love to try it out!

  15. Ooh I have always wanted to see what Oak Meadow is like. 3rd grade would be best for our use, I could share it between my 2nd and 4th grader that way.

  16. Grade 5. My grandson has been sick for 2 years and we are slowly making our way through grade 4. But will be ready for grade 5 soon, God willing.

  17. I would hope to win either grade 4 or grade 7, as we have a small budget for homeschool materials. I’m thinking grade 4 would be best. I taught 7th grade in public school for a long time, so making lessons at that level is pretty easy for me. Elementary is much more difficult, so this awesome curriculum would really help out!

  18. Grade 8. My eldest is currently in Grade 7 and this curriculum sounds like something she would really enjoy.

  19. wow that looks exciting! I’d love to win 3rd grade. I love those history project ideas! Too fun!

  20. I would love any one of the levels, but would definitely start with Kindergarten. My little man is only 5, and his school partner (his cousin) just moved an hour and a half away. My SIL & I kept each other structured, so not having her close is not going to work for weekly school get together’s. This would help me stay focused and organized.

  21. Our Family is going to be homeschooling for the first time. We would absolutely be beyond appreciative to win Grade 2!!

  22. Really interested in 2nd grade. In Montessori right now and it’s just not working. She’s gifted and doing the minimum amount of work she can get away with and the teachers don’t care because she’s doing the minimum expected. She loved learning before school and now considers it a chore.

  23. Would love to win the 7th grade OM for my son. He is my last homeschooler and my youngest son. Thank you!

  24. I would love to win the 5th grade curriculum. Looking to add more structure to my daughter’s education, while allowing her to make some of her own decisions.

  25. I would love to win Grade 2. We will be doing Grade 1 next fall and I love to plan ahead. I fell in love with Oak Meadows after hearing about them on the site and we’ve been loving the Kindergarten curriculum this year.

  26. I would love to win fourth grade for number three son. That’s what he will be in next. I’ve had a terrible time getting science and social studies together for him that is interesting and not a crazy amount of work for me. I have an anxiety and just can’t handle all of the searching anymore.

  27. Which grade? Hard to choose, we have a bunch of kiddos! I guess I would go with 2nd grade. We’ve kinda been doing our own thing since KG and I’d like to get her into something a little more formal.

  28. We really would love to win the second or third grade curriculum! We are trying to feel out where to launch into more structured “school” and I love your enthusiasm about this curriculum so much that I’m leaning toward it more than any packaged curriculum.

  29. I would like to win, first year of homeschool for my 4 kiddos. I enjoy every moment that I have with them!

  30. Since dd is moving into 4th and is ready for mor independence so I’d love to win that. Thanks for your reviews!

  31. 7th grade I have been struggling with the curriculum thing we are using time4learning. thank you for the chance to win 🙂

  32. This would be an amazing blessing & an awesome birthday gift (April 3rd)! 🙂 We would need 6th grade

  33. I would love to win the 5th grace Oak Meadow curriculum. Have been picking out different curriculums for different subjects and would love to try one that contains everything!

  34. I would love to win 5th grade! My son has been using Oak Meadow since 2nd grade and it works really well for him.

  35. We’ve never tried Oak Meadow, but I would love to try it with my 6 year old for this next “school year” So I would love to win for a second grade package!

  36. New to homeschooling, son started late January and daughter today. This curriculum looks and sounds great. One going into gr. 4 and one into gr. 7. Would love to win either. Thanks

  37. We would love a 3 grade set! Been reading a lot about Oak Meadow and sounds like it would be a great fit for our almost 3rd grader!

  38. We Love Oak Meadow! My son is currently in Second Grade and I have already purchased the Oak Meadow Grade 3 curriculum for next year. So, we would really appreciate winning the Grade 4 Curriculum. Thank you. 🙂

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