Break is Over - Weekly Report 1/4/13

We started back to school Wednesday after taking a week and a half off for the Christmas/New Year holiday. 

We started our first day back after 10:00 because I let Noodle sleep in.  He had gotten to bed later than anticipated the night before, so I let him get the sleep he needed.  While he slept, I got my morning chores done, checked emails,  and forums and FB. Bear had a peaceful morning since Noodle wasn't up causing him aggravation.

Behavior wise, Wednesday and Thursday were bad. Otherwise, we accomplished a good amount of work.  I noticed that the days took just as long as the days we do language arts.  I am so torn. I know in  the past we have had days that most subjects got done, but I am struggling with quality over quantity.  I have really enjoyed this week of not rushing through Geography, History and Science, just to get them done.  However, I know at some point we need to do language arts again - it can't go on like this indefinitely. 

THIRD GRADE

Bible

We continued where we left off, with the story of Joseph.  Noodle did a short Notebooking page, we read Genesis 37 - 41, and we did all the review questions/workbook pages from God's Great Covenant, Book One .  We had a chance to talk about sibling rivalry, which occurs quite often in this house.  Granted, no one in this house is going to sell off anyone or kill them, but it made for good conversation.  Additionally, we continued using our Child Training Bible, as we had many opportunities to break it out!

Math

Teaching Textbooks got done as usual, however we also had a little fun expanding on those lessons. Noodle has been learning about Area and Length x Width, so in an effort to make things more fun and hands on, we taped off some of our floor tiles in the kitchen.  I tested a spot with dry erase marker just to make sure I wouldn't thrash my floor, and when it came off easily we went for it. 

Also, we did flash card practice and he played Splash Math 3 on the iPhone. Next week I am going to add in timed drills because he needs the practice to better be able to rattle off the answers. He seems to have slowed down.

Science

Wednesday we finished the chapter on Uranus and Neptune, along with a notebook page and an experiment called, "Make Clouds."

 

 

 

 

Then Thursday we started the chapter on Pluto. We actually read the whole chapter in two days, did the activities and the experiment of making ice cream.  Noodle loved the ice cream!

We investigated whether Pluto could be considered a planet or not. We started by looking up the definition of planet in the dictionary.

Next week we will complete the last two chapters of Apologia Astronomy. I know two chapters in one week is quick, but we started this book over a year ago and I originally intended to do it in one semester.  See how well that worked out?  Ugh. Anyway, we are wrapping it up and then we will complete the earth science lessons from RSO Earth and Space over the next couple of months so that  we can begin Chemistry, which is what Noodle is waiting for.


History

Noodle did a Veritas Press Online History lesson each day. This week we read about The Pony Express, we learned about the route and the riders.  Noodle was amazed that the youngest rider was only 11 years old.

 

We also learned more about Morse Code and the Telegraph Lines that were put in along the Pony Express Route. 

 

 

Decoding the first Transcontinental Morse Code Message.

 

 

Geography

 

For Geography this week, we finished talking about Delaware and moved on to Maine.

 

 

High School- Eleventh Grade

 

Bear spent our three school days meeting with his Chemistry Co-op class, as well as reading Red Badge of Courage and King Alfred's English. He completed a few lessons from Barron's Grammar and worked on the SAT Vocab Videos.  Of course, he did Algebra II as usual.

 

Additionally, he started the next unit of American Government assignments.

 

 

 

 

For a three day week, I feel pretty good about what Noodle accomplished.  Next week I am going to continue with my plan to do Bible, Math, Geography, Science and History.  I would also like to start a new literature unit, but I haven't decided yet.  I have lesson plans to choose from, so it is just a matter of deciding on our next book.

 

I have also been working on lists for the 2013-2014 school year, since in just a few short months the used curriculum sales are going to start up again!

 

Linking up this week with Mary at Homegrown Learners.