I'm using this post to record what the children have done for the two months of 'no man's land' between the end of December, and the beginning of March.
I haven't been homeschooling for very long but I have learned that this two month period is, essentially, a complete write off in terms of school. As March is starting to show us slightly better weather, we're getting back into school more and more. I feel as though I should record this sort of thing so that the next school year, when it happens again and I find myself in February wanting to cry because my children all insist they can't spell, tell time, complete basic arithmetic or sit still for more than a few minutes, I won't think it's something new. It isn't new. It has always been thus.
The 8 Year Old
Math
We have continued working very slowly through the Kumon workbooks I purchased in the fall, and are picking up speed on those again. I am still trying and not succeeding at implementing Saxon Math 5/4, which is approximately his level but so far away from his interest. Our main focus for the past two months has been to memorize the multiplication tables and to that end we are fairly steady up until the 10 times. We took this book out of the library as well:
Which introduced the idea of prime numbers, which led to us practicing the Sieve of Eratosthenes, which turned into a rabbit hole of discussing patterns.
I haven't been homeschooling for very long but I have learned that this two month period is, essentially, a complete write off in terms of school. As March is starting to show us slightly better weather, we're getting back into school more and more. I feel as though I should record this sort of thing so that the next school year, when it happens again and I find myself in February wanting to cry because my children all insist they can't spell, tell time, complete basic arithmetic or sit still for more than a few minutes, I won't think it's something new. It isn't new. It has always been thus.
The 8 Year Old
Math
We have continued working very slowly through the Kumon workbooks I purchased in the fall, and are picking up speed on those again. I am still trying and not succeeding at implementing Saxon Math 5/4, which is approximately his level but so far away from his interest. Our main focus for the past two months has been to memorize the multiplication tables and to that end we are fairly steady up until the 10 times. We took this book out of the library as well:
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| Link |
Which introduced the idea of prime numbers, which led to us practicing the Sieve of Eratosthenes, which turned into a rabbit hole of discussing patterns.
Spelling
The 8yo finished Spelling Workout B and started Spelling Workout C. Printing is smaller and clearer. We are working on cursive handwriting.
Reading
In terms of reading lessons, we have completely failed in the past two months with that. However winter always brings on a big upswing in free reading and so far he has 35 titles on his list of Books Independently Read This School Year. We are entering another reading stage change where he is moving beyond simple chapter books and into longer chapter books, but is still fluctuating between the two levels. If this goes as his change between advanced readers and early chapter levels went I imagine he will be firmly into longer chapter books by the end of the year.
Music and Physical Education
Swimming lessons were on hold for these two months and have just started up again. Physical education was mostly the occasional trip to go tobogganing, or else playtime outside with siblings, but not structured. We need our weekly structured P.E. and I need to remember this in future years.
Music lessons continued but his teacher feels like he is now beginning to reach the end of her teaching ability so I'm researching music schools/teachers to move him to.
History
Still reading A Child's History of the World. I keep it in the car to read and we rarely go anywhere in the winter. Sigh. So we're not too far along at this point. Really would like to finish it up this Spring and start our next history book.
The 6 Year Old
Math
The 6 yo has plodded faithfully through math and is now 30ish lessons from finishing her year's work.
Spelling
Problem, she's also four lessons from finishing her year's spelling book. I started implementing spelling tests to see if she was just floating through the work but she's getting, on average, only one word per list incorrect. So, I've ordered Spelling Workout B for her and she can do that in the next week or so once she's finished Spelling Workout A.
Reading
This is the reading-est child. She's reading on level with her older sibling and is set to pass him very soon. This is her latest book:
My plan is just to keep shoveling literature at her. Suggestions for a six year old who reads like a twelve year old are welcome.
The 6 Year Old
Math
The 6 yo has plodded faithfully through math and is now 30ish lessons from finishing her year's work.
Spelling
Problem, she's also four lessons from finishing her year's spelling book. I started implementing spelling tests to see if she was just floating through the work but she's getting, on average, only one word per list incorrect. So, I've ordered Spelling Workout B for her and she can do that in the next week or so once she's finished Spelling Workout A.
Reading
This is the reading-est child. She's reading on level with her older sibling and is set to pass him very soon. This is her latest book:
 |
| Link |
My plan is just to keep shoveling literature at her. Suggestions for a six year old who reads like a twelve year old are welcome.
Music and Physical Education
The 6 year old is set to take the 8 year old's space in piano lessons when he moves on to a new teacher. This hasn't happened yet.
The 4 Year Old
At the 4 year old's insistence, we are 'learning to read'. In our house this means the well-worn copy of Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons. We're on lesson 9. She's a trouper.
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