CONGRATULATIONS TO CATE ON HER ACCEPTANCE TO STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Mathematics) HIGH SCHOOL NEXT YEAR!
We've known for a couple of weeks now, but I thought I would finally share with you all. Next year will be the first time EVER that I will only have one student homeschooling. We will miss Cate, but she will be experiencing new adventures in learning! (Jake also attends the same school.)
CORE WORK
CATI
- English Grammar 101: Section 8 - Verbals and Phrases (83%) and Section 11: Punctuation (95%)
- My Life in a Post: blog (She would love some followers and readers...)
- Vocab Test: List 9 (100%), List 10 (90%), List 11 (50%)
- Jungle Book (Kipling)
- Khan Academy: Pre-Algebra (90% Completed)
- CNN Student News
SAM
I also started Sam on math review at Prodigy (LINK). It's a free on-line math game that encourages kids to review math concepts. (NOTE: The game is based on wizards and magic, so if you are uncomfortable with that then this resource wouldn't work for you.) My plan is to use it as a 10 minute or so review AFTER he completes his Saxon math lesson and timed facts test 2-3 times a week or when he needs a break from "the usual" text work.
(He also has Khan Academy Math 4 where he has completed 45%.)
He also spent some time designing and building a "wheel loader" with front end suspension (as the wheels stay on the ground no matter the "terrain") out of Legos.

ASTRONOMY
- English Grammar 101: Section 1 - Nouns - Lesson 3 (50%/87%), Lesson 4 (65%/65%)
- Writing: 5 Paragraph Essay - Finished Rough Draft, Edited, Final
- Cursive Copywork: Genesis 1:1, Psalms 4:8
- The Tale of Despereaux (DiCamillo), Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School (Kinney)
- Saxon 65 - Lesson 19 (Division Factors), Lesson 20 (Ways to Write Division), Test 3 (90%), Lesson 21 (Equal Parts Problems), Lesson 22 (Division with Remainders), Lesson 23 (Halves, Quarters, Tenths), Lesson 24 (Dollars and Parentheses) and Lesson 25 (Whole Number Factors)
- Timed Addition Facts - Starting Time/Correct 9:00:17/99, Current Best Time/Correct 4:47:11/100
- Timed Subtraction Facts - Starting Time/Correct 6:48:80/100, Current Best Time/Correct
- CNN Student News
His handwriting has gotten oh-so-better this year. It's not perfect, and sometimes he mixes cursive letters with printed ones, but it's legible and not huge. But the biggest accomplishment? He doesn't dread writing quite as badly!
I also started Sam on math review at Prodigy (LINK). It's a free on-line math game that encourages kids to review math concepts. (NOTE: The game is based on wizards and magic, so if you are uncomfortable with that then this resource wouldn't work for you.) My plan is to use it as a 10 minute or so review AFTER he completes his Saxon math lesson and timed facts test 2-3 times a week or when he needs a break from "the usual" text work.
(He also has Khan Academy Math 4 where he has completed 45%.)
He also spent some time designing and building a "wheel loader" with front end suspension (as the wheels stay on the ground no matter the "terrain") out of Legos.

ASTRONOMY
Sam and I finished Chapter 10: Saturn this week.
- Notebook and Project Page
- "Saturn: Crash Course Astronomy #18" (You Tube)
- Saturn's Tilt, Seasons, Gas Make-up, Rotation, Rings
- Cassini Mission
- Scientist Biography: Christian Huygens
- Make a Centaur Rocket Project
GENERAL SCIENCE
Sam and I read chapters 22-28 in History of Us: The First Americans Prehistory-1600 (Hakim) these last 2 weeks.
- Hernando Cortez and the Spanish Conquistadors
- Aztecs, Quetzalcoatl and Moctezuma
- Rebus, Pictographic Writing, and Codices
- Mesoamerica: Olmecs, Zapotecs, Mitla, and Mayans
- Maize
- Esteban and Fray Marcos Search for Cibola
- Coronado, De Soto and Cabrillo
- Onate, Santa Fe and Missionaries
MUSIC HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY and CULTURES
Cati studies Music History with Easy Peasy Homeschool, and finished Year 3 Geography and Cultures last week, and started Year 4 Modern Music this week. Since the lessons are quick, she completes one week per day, sometimes more. This week she completed weeks 23-36 then 1-6.
- Jazz and Concert Band Practice
- Percussion, Brass and String Instruments
- San Francisco Orchestra Historical Music
- Listen to Identify Instruments Played in an Orchestra
- Play and Compose Music
- Hans Pfitzner
- Das Christ-Elflein
- Tchaikovsky and "The Nutcracker"
She went to Jazz and Concert band practices this week, and had her Jazz competition last Thursday. Later in March her jazz group will travel to play in the state competition!