Weekly Reports 10/10 - 10/14

~What We Are Reading~

Me: College Textbooks

Bear: Politically Incorrect Guide to Darwinism and Intelligent Design

Noodle: Read Aloud The Wizard of Oz (Junior Classic)

Noodle

Halloween Studies:  For October I have plans to learn about Halloween and do some cute crafts and recipes.  This week we read (or rather he read to me) Clifford's Halloween and Clifford's Halloween Parade.  I read aloud a cute book in poem format called Room on the Broom.  Here is our first attempt ever, at Cake Pops.  They are ghosts, goblins and pumpkins.  The ghosts and goblins have eyes. 

Our Halloween Reading

Latin:  This week we continued reviewing Chapters 1 - 6 of Song School Latin.  He is having trouble remembering things from Chapters 5 and 6 because he wanted to keep moving ahead. I put a halt to that because I was getting too many, "I don't know." answers.

Language Arts:  Noodle does about 5-8 pages a week from Explode the Code Book 4 and on average 3 lessons a week from CLE Language Arts.  For CLE he took the Book 106 test and started book 107.  Last week I was pondering the spelling and for now I decided I need to get over my nostalgia feelings about spelling workbooks and just do the spelling that is already in CLE.  Additionally I go over about 3-6 lessons a week with him, from First Language Lessons - he is getting a great introduction to Grammar from FLL and he loves to memorize poems.  Writing With Ease is going well.  Also, Writing Aids from Tapestry of Grace is just the right speed for us.

Spelling Test

For our read aloud this week (finally) we read The Wizard of Oz and then we all watched the movie. Believe it or not it was the first time my children have ever seen it.  Bear was not impressed, but I tried to explain that for 1939 it was very high tech!!

Math:  Abeka Arithmetic 2 is slow going! We are still doing very easy stuff, still reviewing from last year. I even cross some things out and combine two lessons to keep moving forward.  Hopefully soon some new concepts will be introduced.  I was really pleased with the pace last year and on a whole I like the Abeka Math Curriculum.  I plan on keeping Noodle with Abeka at least through 6th grade - once we hit Pre-Algebra and Algebra I will re-evaluate and do some research.  Yes, that was me thinking WAY ahead.  Please tell me I am not the only one who does that!

History:  We never managed to do any history this week.  Our Netflix streaming stopped working so we haven't been able to watch Liberty's Kids.  The Netflix works online, but our tv streaming stopped and I am pretty sure the Blue Ray device is defective because it refuses to connect to the internet at all.  We can't find the box, but we have our receipt. I hope it won't be an issue!

Science:  Sadly, we didn't do any science this week either.  We did discuss science topics for the upcoming science fair.  Noodle decided to do his project on Tornadoes.  It should be fun!!!

Bear

Algebra:  The tutor still hasn't had her baby so he has still been meeting with her.  He took another test this week. As much as he struggles and voices how much he hates Algebra, he manages to get A's on almost all the tests.  He has been finding some of the Khan Academy videos useful in explaining things further for him.

Russian:  We added a new workbook to the mix.  He is still doing the Step by Step Russian program, but now he is working through the Russian in 10 Minutes a Day workbook. It came with a CD as well.  He spends about an hour and a half to two hours a day studying Russian.

History: He mostly read about Thomas Jefferson and took his history test, with 100%.  This is the kid that hates history.

Grammar and Composition: Reading, writing, grammar and vocab.  The usual.

Biology: Mainly reading and comprehension this week. No labs.  Although, on the Physical Science front, you know the one he hated last year, he did blow up several bottles filled with water and dry ice.  The other kids at homeschool park day were wowed. I wish I had taken pictures, but I didn't.

Dear Mother -in -Law is arriving this afternoon. I need to drive to the Austin Airport to pick her up.  I still need to grocery shop and prepare her room.  Until next time!!