Weekly Wrap Up 9-17-10

For two weeks in a row it felt like the house was fighting illness.  Laura was doing better after the first couple days of the week, but she still had some recovering to do.  By the end of the week we had transitioned from a strict schedule to pages assigned for Laura's work.  I love the schedule.  It isn't gone completely.  I am simply revamping it.  Laura has made such good progress that, at this rate, she'll be done with her work within a brief few months.  For most subjects this is fine because she can just move up to the next grade level.   I don't mind her going fast either.  However, I do want to slow her pace down a bit so I can have time to add character training.  I also have decided that I want to give her a little bit of time per day to delve into her own interests, whether that be art or just a book she wants to read.

Math - On accident, Laura skipped a whole pace.  She grabbed the wrong new one and began working.  By the time I realized it, I also realized that the pace she skipped only contained one new concept.  The rest of it was simply review.  So, I looked at the couple pages that covered the new concept, and worked them with Laura.  The rest of the pace we just left.  Laura practiced the new concept again in the pace she started on accident, so she learned the concept.  It is amazing how she is flying through math this year.  I already have to order the next quarter of materials.  I guess I don't have to worry about her being behind.  She's not only catching up to the Saxon 6/5 level, but to the whatever she may have lost over the last year when she was struggling with memorizing multiplication tables.  Thank God!!

Science - This was the first official fifth grade pace for Laura.  Until this point we had been using up some leftover fourth grade paces.   In this pace, Laura is learning about living and nonliving matter.  She is learning about molecules and molecular theory. 

Word Building -  Laura aced her spelling test again this week.  She is doing so well lately with spelling.  I feel like last year we struggled a little with spelling.  I honestly think she is doing so well this year in her subjects because her brain has matured some and she is ready for tougher concepts.

Social Studies - Laura has began American History.  She has spent the last couple weeks studying John Eliot and the Native Americans.  She finished the pace in ten days.  She did good, but I think if I slow her down a little she might not be so overwhelmed with information. 

English - Laura has been learning about letter writing in English.  She has learned all the parts of a friendly letter and a business letter.  She has written letters of her own.  She actually enjoyed this quite a bit.  On her own she wrote a friendly letter to her aunt.  She is now requesting a stamp and an envelope so she may address and mail it.

Literature and Creative Writing - Laura finished another pace in her Literature and began a new one.  This is the last pace that goes along with the book Choice Stories for Children.  This is the one subject Laura would skip if she could.  She loves to read, but this subject is usually tough for her.  This is another area where I've decided she definitely needs to slow down just a bit.

Bible - Laura's New Testament Reading is going well.  This week we read from 1 Corinthians 7 through 1 Corinthians 15.  At this rate we should be through the New Testament by Christmas.

Independent Reading - Laura had gone to the library a couple weeks ago and picked up These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder to read on her own.  However, when she finished Rosa, I decided to schedule the book for Laura's school time.  She wants to read it, and the other book I had planned can wait.

Read Aloud - We are still reading The Boys and Girls of Colonial Days.  We aren't moving very quickly.  I think the next book we will take a break from historical fiction.  Laura likes it.  I'm the one wanting something different.

Character Traits - Laura studied several character traits this week.  She worked on Proverbs 25:8, which talks about settling differences in a Godly way.  She worked on Tolerance, being concerned, being observant, and being generous.  We began a character notebook that I hope to share more details about soon.

This next week will hopefully find us all healthy and well.  Laura is working hard, and the results show.  The fact that she is buzzing through some of her work shows that she is making steady progress.  Her grades have been good too.