WEEK IN REVIEW - Spring Baby Time

This post is linked to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers Weekly Wrap-Up! Check it out.

We had a pretty full week of school. It seems like Emme is just breezing through everything. I give her a bunch of things to accomplish and she's finished everything (correctly) before I turn around! She's even doing better in math, believe it or not!

I went to an advanced sixth grade spelling course (she's finishing up 5th grade but already finished the 6th grade spelling book) that we will work on through the summer. She finished up her reading book for the week (The 2nd in the Pippi Longstocking series) and read 6 of the "100 Greatest Bible Stories".

In nature study we have seen so many wondrous things. There are babies everywhere! Duck and geese babies, kittens, groundhogs, skunks, etc. We have 9 baby ducks swimming out in the backyard creek. We fed them today and they came right up to the bank. We've also seen lots of goldfinches, cardinals, and black-capped chickadees. Emme found a little dead bird one afternoon and we identified it as a common yellow-throated male warbler. Poor little thing. We also identified a great white egret - so regal! Love them :) Also in nature study this week we did some tree identification, which we will continue with next week.

In math I'm afraid to say it was more boring review worksheets. Drills. But she is getting them done correctly and in better time. So we'll call it progress!

We did a unit study on Cinco de Mayo where she learned about the history of the date as well as learned about Mexico, the Mexican flag, and did a few activity worksheets surrounding the holiday. (Not to mention we had chicken fajitas for dinner!)

Emme did lots of computer work this week as well as watched several educational videos - mostly on animals as she loves them and wants to be a vet someday.

More drills ensued with cursive handwriting! I know a lot of public schools don't even teach it anymore, but Em does 2 pages per day.

In Science we discussed humidity, water vapor, dew and then moved into cloud formation and the different types of clouds. We will continue with this next week as well.

We didn't do much in history this week - but that is because next week is World History week! I have a couple of projects planned as well as several books we'll discuss.

I hope everyone had a terrific week with their homeschoolers!

Sherry

Lesson Planning

Here are some of our plans for the upcoming week:

HISTORY:

Story of the World ch. 22, Revolution and The American Revolution

Supplement: Kings & Queens of Britain, George III and War with America

Review questions & narration. Map Work & coloring page. Make an American Flag.

Read : "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" by Longfellow and Intro to Dec of Independence

Chapter test.

NATURE STUDY:

Continue working on bird notebook.

Read in HB of Nature Study: p 27 - 37 birds

Utilizing Harmony Art Mom's suggestions on her blog for Spring Birds

Lots of bird watching and bird feeding going on at our home

Read pages 98-99 in "My Nature Journal"

Read pages 10-12 in "Bird Watching for Dummies"

Utilize Enchanted Learning

2 chapters in the Burgess Book of Birds.

SPELLING:

Em finished her 6th grade spelling book, so we will be using the 6th grade word list HERE with worksheets HERE.

GRAMMAR:

We have a 5th grade grammar book that we use and also use worksheets from a free download we received last week. We will finish 3 lessons.

READING:

3 chapters of her current reading book, reading comprehension (3 lessons), and we will start a new read aloud - not sure what it will be yet - perhaps Alice in Wonderland.

MATH: 4 review sheets and the introduction of a new concept.

CURSIVE: We still work on cursive and copywork! This week she will finish 3 lessons of cursive (6 pages) and will do 2 pages of copywork.

SOCIAL STUDIES: 2 lessons.

SCIENCE: 2 lessons.

There is always a lot more reading, drawing, coloring, projects, etc. But these are some of our plans for the week!

Sherry

Weekly Wrap-Up: Week 11

Yes, I've been very bad these past several weeks with posting and "wrapping up" our weeks! Please join Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers in their weekly wrap up each Friday!

This past week we began animal classification in Em's science book. She also did this vertebrate/invertebrate wheel from Enchanted Learning and watched a video of a jelly fish (invertebrate) and alligator (vertebrate). Here is a quick and easy quiz.

We began a new read-aloud, The Exiles at Home, which is about 4 sisters who sponsor a boy in Africa unbeknownst to their parents. They have to try and make enough money to send each month and write letters back and forth getting to know him. This is an absolutely perfect read for us right now, as we just started sponsoring a girl in Ghana and a boy from Tanzania. Next week we will start a unit study on Africa.

We're covering the basics in math, grammar, spelling, and copy work. We're reading in the Gospels in the Bible and learning about climates in her history/social studies book.

Em began a Thanksgiving notebook last week. She read a play, colored some pictures, and did some vocabulary sheets.

She also helped pick out items, pack, and turn in Operation Christmas Child boxes. We had a long discussion about how children in other countries live compared to her and how blessed she is here in America. She and her sister made 40 Christmas cards to send to Compassion International for unsponsored children as well.

Next week will be a short week, but I hope to fit a lot in!

Blessings,

Sherry

Week Five Weekly Wrap Up-ish

This post is linked up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers!


This week was a complete hodgepodge. We had moments of brilliance - and a whole lot of 'we'll get to that later'.

Highlights:

The deer have returned to our field. There were two beautiful does in the field this morning and they stayed still long enough for a good look before loping into the tall grass.

The birds have returned to our feeders! This has made our cat Jasper VERY happy - as the feeder is right outside his window! Wrens, sparrows, red-winged blackbirds and lots of pigeons so far.

We had a wonderful nature and art day at the park drawing and observing ducks and geese!

There was also great times with visiting relatives, letters to sponsored 'sisters', and another football game.

Driving through the neighborhoods we've observed changing trees, squirrels and other critters starting to gather food, and have discussed why we have daylight savings time.

Em started two new books, did some math, grammar, science, and spelling.

Home Ec day with grandma was spent putting together a gingerbread house, doing some beading, chocolate chip cooking making, and puppy-sitting!

Next week will focus more heavily on academics - but I think life lessons are important too!

Sherry

Teacher's Planning Day

Here's a quick look at our week five:

Math: Daily multiplication review, chapter one review, moving on to chapter two.

Spelling: Lesson 5 in our spelling book, spellingcity.com

Cursive: Daily cursive pages

Reading: New read-aloud, "The BFG", Em will finish up her current book, and we will read lesson 4 in her reading book.

Grammar: Doing chapter one review and moving on to chapter two.

Religion: Week 3 at Hearts of Wisdom - Cain and Abel. New notebooking pages.

Science: Reviewing chapter one, moving on to chapter two!

Nature: This week's focus is horses. Now I have to figure out where we can go and see one!
We're still working on our nocturnal animals unit study. This week we'll color a few pictures and do a Raccoon lapbook.

Social Studies/Art: Preserving historic places

Art: We will start our study on Degas. We will also learn how to draw a cat.

Socialization: We have a birthday party, art class, and church activities.

1st Birthday

This is my nephew Caleb - and he turned one today! He really enjoyed his cake!
He also loved his little laptop that Auntie bought for him! His favorite gift :)


I caught Emme off guard with this one. She rarely allows photos!



Caleb was all worn out after his big day!


Sherry

Weekly Wrap Up: Week Four

I'm linking up to Weird, Unsocialized Homeschool's Weekly Wrap Up!

MATH: We did a chapter review in our new math book and Emme did well, 90%. The rest of the week we continued with multiplication review with math rockets, worksheets, and flash cards.

SPELLING: Once again Em did outstanding in spelling. She received a 100% on her quiz at Spelling City. I love how you can print out the results or even a certificate of achievement at that site!

HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES: I'm sorry to say it remained boring this week. *sigh* Just finished up the first chapter, all about government. Definitely have to make the next chapter more exciting!

CURSIVE: Did several pages from Mastering Cursive 5th Grade - definitely improving.

GRAMMAR: We practiced run-on sentences and did a full chapter review and quiz. Emme got a 93%.

RELIGION: Finished up week 2 of Hearts of Wisdom study - did another 2 interactive notebook pages.

SCIENCE: Read in the CLP Nature Reader 5 all about how the tongue and teeth aids in digestion, both in humans and in animals. In our science book we read about how plants help with pollution and oil spills. Since it is such a timely subject, I think I will take the time to do a one-week unit study on oil spills. I found wonderful resources at the Tug At Nature blog.

NATURE: Lots of nature talk this week with the change of seasons. We started an Autumn Leaf unit study and worked more on our Fall notebooking pages. Went for a walk on a local Nature Trail. Did some drawing in our nature books of tall grasses, trees losing their green color (not yet colorful, just getting more drab) fall wildflowers, and cat tails. We sounds thousands for crickets and three types of butterflies. We got to observe some "talking" crows (they were communicating between a telephone pole and a tree) and watched some cute little sparrows eating berries and chatting happily in a small tree. Will work over the weekend on finding some ducks and geese so we can work on the Handbook of Nature Study Blog's week 2 challenge.

HOME EC & ARTS & CRAFTS W/ GRANDMA: Em stays over my Mom's house every Thursday while I work. This week they baked and decorated Halloween cookies. Emme did everything aside from using the oven. She made a Halloween craft, colored a felt picture with markers, and did a craft of a cat with plastic bead art. Oh - and did a beaded necklace as well. I think the time she spends with my Mom is invaluable and one of the most important parts of her homeschooling!

READING: Finished up "The Witches" and she is almost finished with "Poppy" - next week we will start a new read-a-loud and a new book for Em to read as well. In her free time she is reading fairy books - but I think the next book I will have her read is "Bunnicula"!

Em went to another of her brother's football games this week! Even after how bored she was last week. Even if neither of them act like it, I am sure he appreciates her support!

I hope everyone has an exciting and enriching week of homeschooling!

Sherry