We had a big shift in independent learning and in the depth of our learning this year as Mouse entered 4th grade. Using Sonlight’s Core D: America History Part 1 she has had to step up her independent reading and personal learning. I am happy to say that she is doing well with this, and I am continually excited for each new unit of study this year in history.
As I mentioned in our Quarter Wrap up post for our time together Mouse has been independently reading the bible on her own this year. She has read through the major stories is Genesis and Exodus this quarter.
For history so far this year we have studied Early Explorers and Indians (Native Americans, Incans, Aztecs and Mayans). This area of study has been a little bit difficult in that it has been hard to explain (especially from a Christian aspect) the belief systems of early Americans. She did not care for the Aztecs and all the sacrificing. While she learned a lot, she was finally glad when we ended that time in history. We have read aloud Pedro’s Journal, The Secret of the Andes, and Walk the Worlds Rim. Surprisingly Walk the Worlds Rim has been a favorite so far.
I ordered the advanced readers option for the readers portion from Sonlight, with the original intent that if any of the books were to difficult for Mouse that we would switch them to Read Alouds instead. So far, I have not had to do this, and she has enjoyed most of the readers so far this quarter. She has read so far this quarter: Where the Corn Grows Ripe, Pocahontas and the Strangers, Vostas: White Buffalos Story, Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims, A Lion to Guard Us, and The Thanksgiving Story. At the end of the quarter I was able to introduce her to her first American Girl Series Character: Kaya and she is really enjoying her story. The readers are bringing out sympathy and compassion. They are also helping her raise questions of fair treatment and helping her understand how to learn life lessons from history, which to me is just absolutely, amazing. This is what I have longed for in our home school and we are finally getting there through all of this rich literature.
I added in the supplemental Lap Book Activity from Sonlight to go along with our history this year, and I am glad we added this as well. Mouse really looks forward to when new project comes in her week, and she then enjoys sharing what she has learned with her sister as she is creating it. I also was able to find some resources to create lap books to go along with the American Girl books as well and she has enjoyed starting her lap book For Kaya at the end of March.
Mouse is advancing nicely in All About Spelling Level 3 this quarter. She has learned ways to spell e, how to drop the e, ways to spell er, the sound of oo, ways to spell I, and we are finishing up the quarter learning to spell contractions with apostrophes. We will finish this level next quarter for sure. She has really enjoyed that this level has her creating her own sentences in the writing station portion of the program. I enjoy seeing what she comes up with and seeing how she can combine different words into one sentence.
We jumped into our IEW (Institute of Excellence in Writing) curriculum this quarter as well. I am so glad that I found this program way back when and that I waited to start it when I knew she would flourish with it. I am glad I haven’t tried to push writing with her last year, because this year she has been ready to learn all things grammar and writing with me. She is loving Fix It Grammar: Nose tree. She has learned about nouns, homophones, end marks, articles, pronouns, who-which clauses, action, strong and helping verbs, as well as apostrophes showing possession. She has also been learning a lot and enjoying SWI-A (which is no longer going to be available from IEW since they revamped their program this year). She has reinforced her skills in writing a Key Word Outline. She has also developed her who-which clauses, -ly adverbs and is starting to sue strong verbs.
The only subject we have been struggling with this year has been math. She is still really enjoying math but has had a little difficulty getting single digit multiplication facts to stick. So, we took most of the beginning of this quarter developing those skills with math drills and reinforcement through practice worksheets and oral recitation with me during our walks and read aloud time. Finally, at the end of this quarter we have moved onto double digit multiplication. After a little snag and some clarification, we should continue to move on from there.
Outside of her academics she has also become independent in a lot of other things as well. She has taken the time to build a robot she received for Christmas. She has also been learning to make new styles of rubber band bracelets and learned latch hook skills as well. She is also enjoying reading several books outside of her school time as well. She is currently reading through The Never Girl Series.
