Friday, October 23, 2020

Week 1

 We finished our first week of homeschooling.  I feel like it's better than virtual but I still worry about doing enough.  I think that's the big question that I won't really be able to answer until he returns to public school and we see grades.  Anyways here is our week.


Math-He compled a placement test.  He technically didn't pass it but some was terminology.  With a few explanations was able to pass it.  We're doing Teaching Textbooks level 6.  He got a 95% the first day so I encouraged him to just answer the questions and get a few lessons done the next day.  He got 75% on two lessons.  So day three he went back and rewatched the video then re-answered the questions he got wrong.  He got a 95% on both.  Today he did lesson 4 and got a 75%.  I had him try again on questions he got wrong and he got a 95%.  I am a little nervous it's too high for him because he only barely passed the placement test and he is not finding the early lessons super easy.  However I feel like this is the level he needs to complete to be ready for 6th grade so worst case we'll have to explain things to him.

ELA-There is so much to this subject!  We're reading Johnny Termain and we got a guided reading packet for it.  He's not really enjoying the book and having trouble remembering details.  I think I'm going to try to do reading in the afternoon and have him read during independent time on Monday.  I hope this helps him be able to recall details better.  I just got the writing curriculum and we were able to do three days of it.  I like the curriculum but he's way behind on grammar so I'm going to need to expand on that part.  I'm also nervous about how much he'll write when the time comes.  We're back to doing All About Spelling almost daily.  I love this curriculum because it's easy and straightforward.

Science-We did two short days of Science.  I need to figure out a schedule for everything to make sure we're hitting all our necessary subjects regularly without feeling so rushed!

Social Studies-We learned about the French and Indian war.  If nothing else he learned a lot in this subject.  We read about different perspectives too and I think that helped him better understand it.  We're now watching a documentary about it.

Health- We did health last Friday.  That will probably be it for a little while.  We learned about fats in foods and nutrition in general.

Music-Our amazing friend who does lessons gave him an assessment.  We should be good here.

Art-He decided to create a scene from a book in Minecraft.  Not sure if this counts.  We talked about learning about photography.

PE-We're doing football and soccer.  He's going to compare them at some point next week.

Overall I feel overwhelmed but we're covering a lot.  I do need to start working in time for me to exercise again.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Homeschooling

It's been forever since I blogged but I'm undertaking a new adventure and wanted to document it.  Because of Covid Patrick (10) will be homeschooled.  Virtual learning just wasn't working for him and giving him headaches.  My two girls (8 and 5) will be continuing with virtual.  My two year old also does virtual but with occasional in person and I supplement a lot at home mostly to keep him busy.  Now that I've caught up let's discuss curriculum plans.  I start Monday.

ELA

I really had trouble deciding.  We're definitely doing AAS because I got it to supplement and love it.  He's almost done AAS3 and we only started in May with level one.  I also think WriteShop will be a good fit for us.  Writing is an area of weakness.  I'm also doing a novel study with Johnny Termain.  I got a guided reading packet on Teacherspayteachers.com.   And for additional grammar or gaps parts of The Good and the Beautiful.  

Math 

We're going to try Teaching Textbooks with math games to supplement.  We'll start with a free trial so this is subject to change.

Science 

He wants to do Chemistry.  I got a course from Easy Peasy.  I also got some books from the library to supplement.

Social Studies 

American Revolution is up first starting with the French Indian war.  I have Story of the World to help guide us but this one is pretty piecemeal.  I may eventually break down and buy something on teacherspayteachers.com but for now I'm just using free things.

Health

I'm hoping to do a little lesson on fats and nutrition for all my kids tomorrow.  After that we'll be learning about the brain with plans for him to build one on Minecraft.

Music 

Private trombone lessons have this one covered.

Art
I got a lot of books about art history.  I'm going to let him pick artists to imitate or write about.  

PE

We're going to start with a soccer/football unit.  Followed by archery.  No real long term plans for this one.  

I really enjoyed looking back at all the things we did when he was little.  He's not as into pictures so expect less.  I might put something together about my youngest too.