Tidbits of Learning: 1st Quarter

We are coming up on the end of the 1st 9 weeks for this school year. It has been hit or miss and we have had fun with lots of extras, but had a few illnesses as well that set us back.

Academics

BigSis-independently working with teacher graded courses for high school. Algebra, Freshman English, Earth Science, LA History, PE, Finding Your Path, Strategies for Success, and German 1.

Tadpole-on the same path BigSis was for 7th grade. Lit and Language Skills are hard. She has done a novel study on The Hobbit. We also did a LitWit workshop on The Hobbit with our homeschool group. Pre-Algebra is hard but I tutor another student 2x a week as well and this is working for Tadpole right now to sit in with my 8th grade tutor student. It is crazy but 8th grade Pre-Algebra using the same text with the LMS is easier on the student with less problems to work than Pre-Algebra in 7th grade with the OLS. Life Science is intense with microscope labs. She is taking American History.

Bubba-5th grade has been hard so far. Bubba is dysgraphic/dyslexic and the writing increase has made his day longer. He is doing well in Math and Science. History is hard as it has went to being a textbook. We are struggling to keep up with the text and worksheets for history. English is going fairly well except for composition. So far, he has read the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe for novel study.

Wiggles-1st grade is trucking along. I am thankful he is ahead of the curve with school as he misses days due to being sick. He is working on addition facts up to 20 right now. He is reading chapter books as well. His history is so interesting and pretty similar to SOTW. K12’s 1st grade history is by SWB as well. Science has been really a lot of experiments and learning to think like a scientist. His novel study is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle which I love.

We add on a few things to k12 here and there. Jon is not doing well with their composition series. So I bought Diamond Notes that Sonlight sells. . As long as I cover the same types of composition, it should not be an issue. He also does OT with Diane Craft’s book plus Click n’ Spell on the computer. I also have bought Miquon Math and Jump at Home Math to tutor the boys. Color math is working well for Wiggles, but sometimes Bubba needs more tactile learning. I actually like the composition series for 5th grade k12 to help my 7th grader with composition. She is not a natural writer and since she switched to k12 in 6th grade ….this series is helpful to her. She also does Duo lingo French and Spanish.

Field Trips/Socials

The coolest thing we have done so far this year was to take cookies to the firemen on 9/11. They placed a new memorial for 9/11 at the main fire station here.

Our yearly expedition to the Dixie Corn Maze. It is fun and a staple field trip.

As most of you know, Wiggles was terribly sick last year. He has had a fun fall with the corn maze, scouts, and school so far. He has battled a virus and infection this year. It set him back a bit but he is never down for long.