End of the first month of Fourth Grade...

We have had a very busy August, so I have had barely any time to do everything I have needed to do. Overall, Fourth Grade has started well, with only one major snag- there was an initial (expected) tantrum-prone rebellion in the beginning of the month. She did NOT want to do school. She did NOT like math or grammar. She wanted TV and to go out to the playground or the pool and to go see her friends and to go shopping... She protested completing her work and discovered she was going nowhere. She could be on the couch, at the table, in her room, or anywhere else in the house. But she was not allowed to go to the playground, the pool, etc. Oh, there was also no TV or XBox. Or shopping. The day her rebellion turned to creative sentences in her grammar book, I knew she was getting the idea. So far, she has actually been getting her stuff done, and with a much happier attitude.

This is the grammar rebellion:

First Week of Fourth Grade

The first week of Fourth Grade is over, the year has begun!

My daughter had a light schedule, which turned out to be a very good idea. She was exhausted from her vacation with grandma, and once fell asleep while doing math. The focus for the first week was Reading Comprehension (Mary Poppins), and Math (numbers, including huge numbers). She even got a chance to do some real-life math helping out at a fundraiser booth! There were a few other lessons- like an impromptu history/science lesson on locusts. We discovered a nearby playground that has an extensive trail leading from it- and I can't wait to go back! We love hiking. She also had an important Choir performance, and the kids did such a terrific job!

For the rest of this month, she will have a gradual increase in classwork (starting Grammar and her Science curriculum, for example.) By mid-September, all her coursework should be in full-swing.

A very busy July!

We have had a very busy summer! Our area was hit hard by the derecho that passed through Maryland right before our Independance holiday. We still managed to head out for vacation, but were slightly delayed. I learned how useful having a CB-owning husband is on a road trip where over half the gas stations along the highway were inoperable due to power outages- he just kept up conversation with the truckers. We visited family down South and had a blast- after the power outages and storms, we also experienced a midnight swim, my daughter sang for the family Church, we moved some cinderblocks and got stung by bees, more swimming, trampoline-ing, a massive fireworks display, Legos, and, a lot of time with family.

My tire somehow got a hole in it while it sat at home for our vacation. That was a fiasco. We have had friends and Church events, which have all been incredibly fun, but last week, my daughter told me she felt a little burned out from all the activity, so, other than VBS and some family time, we have had an at-home week this week. VBS was super-fun, and I loved volunteering. The theme was bugs, and, lo and behold, my daughter caught a rather large praying mantis- which we then brought in for VBS. He- my daughter named him Manley Mantis- was a hit and fit in nicely with the theme. He has been released back into the wild, but so far has refused to leave our porch. Maybe he liked us?

I have planned out August, and part of September for homeschool. I am eager to start, but we still have a bit of vacation left. My daughter is headed for a visitation vacation, but once she comes back home, we will be slowly getting back into the school-days routine.

Pictures will be coming soon!

4th Grade Planning

I have spent several months looking over different ideas for my daughter's upcoming Fourth Grade year. I like a lot of what I used for Third Grade, but not all, so I had to make some new choices. I finally have the majority of the texts and workbooks I decided to use.

For Grammar & Writing, I will continue with Climbing to Good English (pictured), and add in Handwriting Without Tears (not pictured). For Reaeding & Comprehension, I will start with Mary Poppins and a comprehension workbook (pictured), followed by Reading Comprehension (Jane Ervin; not pictured). Besides using vocabulary from her various subjects, I will use a Greek & Latin Roots workbook (pictured).

For Mathematics, I will be using Aha!Math (not pictured), in part because I can print a record of what subject areas she has covered, and the program offers assessments. This is an online curriculum. For a workbook supplement, we both went over several different workbooks, and she picked this 4th Grade Math workbook (pictured). I will keep Sylvan in mind if she seems to be struggling doing written math, but this workbook is formatted in a similar way and did not intimidate her.

For Science, I chose a ScienceSaurus book (not pictured) and combining it with the Basic Not Boring Science for 4th to 5th grades workbooks (pictured).

For History, we are moving into Book 2 of Story of the World (pictured). For Geography, I chose the Geography Coloring Book (pictured). I will only be using certain sections of the coloring book, that are simple enough for my daughter and emphasize what she is learning. Other topics, like Government, may use other materials.

For Health, we will be covering different topics, and I do not have everything, yet. The Basic Not Boring series has a Human Body & Health workbook. I will continue to use ideas from our Hopscotch book (pictured) for P.E.

Art will have a variety of projects from other subject areas (like History). For Music she will continue her voice and instrument lessons.

This year I will be picking different famous people to do a brief look at their lives and how they contributed to the world. I will be choosing according to the topics she is studying, if possible. I also have some games, and am looking at others, that emphasize different subject areas. Abalone (pictured) & Treasure Trove are the newest, but we also have Around the World, Scrabble, Boggle, Bananagrams, and others.

Blue Angels & More

We had a terrific time going to see the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels last weekend. We went to Martin State Airport to see the team up close (very up close!) as well as the numerous other attractions. My husband took my daughter up in a Cessna- the first time for both (a local school was giving rides), and later, they both convinced me my fear of hights would not rear its ugly head. It was not as bad as theme park attractions (where I now keep my feet firmly on the ground!)

On their first flight: my girl is in the back.

My daughter has been practicing chin-ups, copying my husband as he stays Army fit. At Martin State Airport, the Marines had a bar up for any takers- she took their challange and (with a little help after 5) did 10 chin-ups to earn a large goody bag!

We saw various military aircraft, and I watched while my daughter & husband ran around ooohing and aaahing and squealing (okay, that was my daughter) with delight when something took off, did a fly-by, or landed. When the Blue Angels flew, we were able to be close-up for them lining up, taking off, and landing. Afterwards, we got their autographs.

The Angels lining up for take-off.

My girl's favorite pilot was #2 for the very little-girl reason of "he's the tallest!" She was super-impressed with his hight, and I was super-impressed with his gentleness and humor.

During this two-day field trip, we covered the War of 1812- this was the 200th Anniversary of that war; our Armed Forces, flight & aircraft, face-painting, and physical fitness. Whew!

Field Trip!

We have had a super-busy time, including a very fun field trip! My husband is in the Army National Guard, and one of the perks is how our FRG plans really neat events. Recently, the unit and families participated in a fun cookout, including... a rock wall! To say my daughter was overjoyed would be understating. Not only was there a neat lake with ducks and nests, a huge park to run around in, a DJ, tons of food (and deserts), but also a rock wall she must have climbed fifty times.

Racing a soldier to the top!

Homeschooling and Special Needs Children

My daughter is "special needs". It was a big reason why I chose to pull her out of public school and homeschool instead. I have researched a lot of the benefits and struggles with homeschooling a child who has struggles, and here are a few links:

HSLDA Special Needs has lots of information on homeschooling the special needs child.

Homeschooling the Learning Disabled and Other Special Needs Child from Bayshore Educational has links.

Experiences of ADHD-Labeled Kids Who Switch... from Peter Gray.

HSLDA Homeschooling and ADHD

I have found that my daughter responds very well to one-on-one, to being able to take a break- 5 minutes or a day- if necessary, to be able to slowly reinforce skills in focusing and handling emotions, and to be able to use right-brain and alternative methods of learning lessons. I have learned there are numerous different techniques, skills, and options that can be used as needed to help me as her teacher and parent.