Friday, January 15, 2016

Weekly Wrap-up: Week 16 - Celebrating the 100th

We're celebrating our 100th day of homeschooling today! Cate actually reached 100 days on Monday, but Friday just seemed like a better day to celebrate when Sam reached it too. (And by Friday we all like a slower, simpler day of homeschool.) At this pace our year could wrap up by mid-April!

CORE WORK

CATI
  • English Grammar 101: Section 5 Modifiers - Adjectives and Adverbs
  • Writing - How to Stay Motivated and Focused 5 Paragraph Essay
  • Vocab Test List 14 (92%) -15 (96%)
  • The Swiss Family Robinson (Wyss), Laddie (Straton Potter)
  • Khan Academy Pre-Algebra - 80% Completed

SAM
  • Grammar and Writing Handbook: Unit 2 - Possessive Nouns
  • Writing - My Favorite Outdoor Places Perfect Paragraph
  • Grammar Ninja - Level 2
  • Cursive Copywork - Ephesians 4:32
  • The Borrowers (Norton), Rascal (North)
  • Khan Academy Math 4 - 45% Completed
  • Saxon 65 - Lesson 1 (Number Sequencing), Lesson 2 (Odds/Evens), Lesson 3 (Place Value with Money)

Sometimes changes must be made. Sam hasn't moved forward on Khan Academy, reviewing the same concepts without mastery, in 6 weeks. Even a 2 week break did not "reset" his learning. "Blocks" happen for everyone, but especially for kids with unique learning challenges. For now, he will continue on with Saxon 65, watching DIVE lessons and completing daily problem sets.

We also read some math literature on angles and cones.


VAN SCHOOL
Several times a week, Sam and I do some of his studies in the van while waiting for Cati at band practice. It's not an optimal time to focus, but a perfect time for read alouds and review.

With Sam's learning challenges, he often has trouble recalling basic information that we've reviewed over and over for many years. This can be frustrating for both of us, yet necessary to learn and understand. This week I pulled out his month flashcards as he wasn't able to tell me the 12 months, in or out of order.

  • Month Flashcards
  • Grammar and Writing - Commas Review
  • Rascal
  • History of Us - Woodland Indians, Treaty of Peace


ASTRONOMY
Sam finished up Mars with making a salt dough model of Olympus Mons, and creating a volcanic eruption with baking soda, vinegar and food coloring. Then we started Chapter 8: Rocks.


GENERAL SCIENCE
Cati finished Module 6: Foundations of Geology in Apologia General Science this week, learning about rocks and minerals, sedimentation, and physical weathering. Unfortunately, due to it being winter, some of her experiments will be postponed until the spring when we can obtain dirt from outside. She received a 100% on her exam.

U.S. HISTORY and GEOGRAPHY
I read aloud to Sam from History of Us: The First Americans Prehistory-1600 (Hakim). We covered chapters 10-12.

And he continued to review US geography with Sheppardsoftware. 50 out of 50 states consistently placed correctly at Level 3!

MUSIC HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY and CULTURES
Cati finished early American music history with Easy Peasy Homeschool, and that started Geography and Cultures. Since the lessons are quick, she completes one week per day, sometimes more. This week she completed weeks 35-36 and 1-3.
  • Composed Original Music with Beatlab
  • Reviewed Instruments of an Orchestra
  • Violin, Viola and Cello

ENRICHMENT

Cati
  • Jazz and Concert Band
  • CNN Student News
  • Walked miles
  • Photography

Sam
  • Cub  Scouts
  • CNN Student News
DAYS COMPLETED: CATE - 103 | SAM - 100

As always, special thanks to these bloggers for their weekly homeschool blog link-ups. Click the buttons to see what other homeschoolers are doing!

 photo 337a3ef2-b881-48f4-8a2c-9c69e457cb5b_zps8b6152cf.pngHomegrown LearnersWeird Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Happy Homeschooling!

10 comments:

  1. I always love your school plans! We love the Sir Cumference books. And I adore your header...it is beautiful!

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    1. Thanks, Phyllis! I wanted a brighter look to the blog this year. The banner shows a change of seasons, and that certainly represents what's going on around here.

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  2. You do such a great job. Your kids love their learning. Sigh. It's nice to see.

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    1. Most times, but I'll be honest...Some days are a HUGE challenge with distractions, frustrations, and bad attitudes. It's those days that I try to get through with the basics as quickly as possible and hope tomorrow will be better. We all have these days, just they aren't often shared.

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  3. I LOVE Caitlyn's photograph; she's got quite an eye and lots of talent.

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    1. Thanks! Her perspective is usually unique, and not what I would think to do. It makes her compositions more interesting.

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  4. Volcanoes are always fun! I love your van school idea! It's a great way to the keep the learning momentum going while waiting.

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    1. Band breaks up learning on 3 of our school days. Instead of being bored waiting, it's better to keep busy and productive. He brings a small bag with schoolwork with him (depending on what we already finished that morning). In warmer, less snowier weather, we walk a short trail near band for nature study and exercise. Sometimes it's hard for him to focus though.

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  5. We have spent a fair amount of time in van school over the years. I love the Mars volcano!
    Blessings, Dawn

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes you gotta! Van school is a GREAT time to get in some learning while waiting. It passes the time quickly and productively!

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