We started the term well, though we've had several distractions, we've managed to work despite these. Some weeks we've worked hard to 'catch up' on some previous weeks' work.
We decided that Genevieve would make her Confirmation this year too and have been preparing her and Mariah. As Mariah had already done plenty of preparation we've had to fast track Genevieve, and also she isn't independently reading nor as old so we've had to be selective. Using our know/understand points we've managed to cover alot of knowledge, both girls have also been using a workbook, Sacrament of Confirmation Catechetics and Genevieve has been listening to various saints books in search of her Confirmation saint. We have also used parts of the books I selected (see link above)
Introduced Ignatius to a maths/sounds workbook a fortnight ago, he completed the whole book (Kindergarten) in 3 days!
Saxon breezes through maths, still enjoying it.
Genevieve has had a 'breakthrough' with maths, soundly demonstrating she understand place values well. She does like to have me sit with her though for moral support
Mariah also likes me to sit with her, she truly has hits some hard concepts and though she does understand she needs the emotional shoring.
Malachi has been working through mathematics.com.au, achieving 40min daily.
Xavier has been doing his Open Uni Calculus course. He started off well, feeling he was doing well and was totally demoralised when he discovered he wasn't really understanding afterall. He took a hard hit when he failed his first course, Trigonometry and Algebra (as did 3/4 of his class). We are seriously thinking Open Uni for him at this stage is not the right path and looking at alternatives.
Language Arts
Reading
Genevieve and Saxon took a 'step back' and read lots of easy picture books, capturing a love of words. This was the best move to do, Genevieve finally believes in herself, believes she can read. We then moved onto basic chapter books for G, she reads about 2 pages a day, taking it easy, not intimidating. S has 'graduated' to long picture books, taking about 3 days to complete one.
Dictation
Malachi and Mariah have been using Spelling Wisdom, faithfully doing 2 exercises per week
Spelling
Mariah has been working through the Spell Well book which she quite enjoys
G & S have been doing a list a week of Schonell's, not too certain that it is very effective they way they are approaching it
Copywork
MJ & MT have been copying 'The Man From Ironbark' which I have been writing weekly on the board, in running writing.
Typing
Malachi has been using free online typing courses, completing about 40min weekly.
Writing
Mariah wrote weekly stories started by 'story sentences' created by me.
Mariah wrote letters to Chiara and creative stories
Malachi wrote a couple of stories using Story Starters.
IEW- Grammar of Poetry
Malachi and Mariah weekly worked on lessons with me, we covered onomapamea, alliterations and more.
Logic
Malachi is really enjoying Critical Thinking, completing a chapter a week.
History
Reading Child's History of the World - Hillyer with Mariah, Genevieve and Saxon. They are all interested and enjoy it. We're reading 2 chapters a week. After each chapter MT writes a narration, and G & S must dictate at least 1 sentence and then copy. Sometimes they dictate a longer narration and when they are tired of copying I finish the narration for them.
MT, G & S's Geography book doubled up for science, extremely earth science orientated. See below.
Geography
MT, G & S read the first few chapters of Child's Geography of the World - Voskamp. As with history MT wrote a narration for each chapter, G & S dictated at least a sentence and copied. This wasn't a good fit though, particularly for G, she cried and hated it with a passion. It is rather jam packed full of knowledge and yet quite wordy, I think it was too much for her. We have decided to abandon the book. Interestingly Malachi listened into much and remembered from when he heard to book 8 years ago!! We've decided I will create a unit topic on each continent, first stop Africa. We'll begin this in Term 4.
Art/Craft
The children have been on another 'How to Draw' book. MT in particular has totally shocked us with her talent!! G & S are also showing strong promise
Paper plane folding has also been hugely popular and been a big focus
Read Aloud
Golden Pathway Book 1 (several stories)
Little Old Mrs Peppperpot - Alf Proysen
More Adventures of Mrs Pepperpot - Alf Proysen
Saxon
First Holy Communion Days
Ten Eager Little Hearts
Genevieve
Several short saints books (female saints)
DVDs
Watched by Malachi & Xavier, science topics
Test Your Brain - Allan Butler (National Geographic)
Have read numerous picture books, revising back to the very basics and moving towards long picture books for Saxon and beyond to easy chapter books for Genevieve.
Mariah
Bobby Brewster's Scarecrow - HE Todd
The Hundred Dresses - Eleanor Estes
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder
