Term One Evaluation ~ Munchkin

ENGLISH:

Reading ~
* Daddy and I have read 197 books to Munchkin this term.
*Munchkin also read 69 books independently. These were a mixture of picture books and Fitzroy Early reader books.
* A book list of all books read will be included in his portfolio for the year.

Munchkin enjoys his online Reading Eggs program as well as his online Teach Your Monster to Read program.  He spends some time each school day working through the lessons. During the term he finished the Reading Eggs lessons and moved on to the Reading Eggspress levels.

Munchkin's reading ability continues to grow. He has completed another level of the Fitzroy Readers and is enjoying some easy Level 2 I Can Read series books over the summer holidays. He is beginning to be able to read silently to himself, so I then check in with him to see if any of the words caused problems for him.

Writing ~
Since Munchkin is not reading fluently I do not require him to do a structured writing curriculum at all. He participates in some copy work (writing thank you notes and birthday cards) and will frequently ask us to spell words for him to write down when he is drawing.

Spelling ~
I am hand creating spelling lists for Munchkin this year. I am using CVC words at the moment and will expand to CCVC words in Term 2.

Handwriting ~
Targeting Handwriting Yr 2 

Grammar ~
Junior Analytical Grammar requires too much writing/reading for Munchkin to participate yet so he will do this program in a few years time.



MATHS:

Munchkin is working through a  Maths Plus Year 3 textbook this year.

Topics we covered this term in the Yr 3 textbook included:
Addition facts, Skip counting, Three-dimensional objects, Centimetres, Subtraction facts, Writing and ordering numbers, Symmetry, Informal areas, Changing addends to make 10, Inverse operations, Describing position, Tally marks and column graphs, Connecting addition and subtraction, Multiplication facts (2s), Prisms and cylinders, Measuring in centimetres, Odd and even numbers, Rounding numbers to 10, Triangles, Time in minutes, Expanding 3-digit numbers, Multiplication facts (5s), Grid maps, Column graphs, The division symbol, Jump strategy for addition, Parallel lines, Informal capacity/litres, Subtraction patterns, Halves, quarters, and eighths, Pyramids, Calculating area, Split strategy for addition, Related multiplication facts (4s), Picture graphs, and Digital time
Diagnostic Review 1

Munchkin also enjoys the Mathseeds program online that is part of our Reading Eggs subscription. He works independently (unless he needs help with reading the instructions) and I am continually impressed at the level of difficulty he has mastered on his own.



SCIENCE:

Munchkin listened in on the read alouds with the older boys. The list of books is the same.



HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY:

The early years of history/geography in the national curriculum focus mainly on identifying change and continuity within the family unit. They also look at significant people, events, places and sites. Finally they look at changes in technology on people's lives over time. All of this can be more than adequately covered with quality books so we read a LOT of historical fiction and non-fiction books that are aimed directly at Munchkin's age.

As for geography, students are to focus on sequencing events in order using terms related to time. They also compare objects from the past and present. Again, simple terms that are more than sufficiently covered in the number of books we read and the range of topics.



PDHPE:

We did a very short unit on safety.

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety at Home" by William Day

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety Away From Home" by William Day

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety Online" by William Day

.



CREATIVE ARTS:

SOCIAL:

Term One Social Events:

Celebrated his brother's 13th birthday
Attended a baby shower for a close family friend
Attended Good Friday church service
Attended Easter Sunday church service
Bingo event at the library

Term One Evaluation ~ Monkey

ENGLISH:

Reading ~

* You can see from my weekly reviews that we read LOTS of books, aloud and independent.

* A book list is included in Monkey's portfolio with a list of all books read each term.

Writing ~

We still use, and LOVE, our Institute for Excellence in Writing Program

Teaching Writing: Structure and Style

In Term One, Monkey wrote paragraphs on the following topics: The Fox and the Stork (narrative), light (non-fiction), The Thirsty Cow (narrative), Lenses (non-fiction), The Lion and the Mouse (narrative), The Ant and the Dove (narrative), and The Mouse's Tale (narrative).

Spelling ~ 

We continue with Ozspeller lists that I source online.

Monkey is working through the Year 5 lists.

He has an oral quiz Monday through Thursday and a written test on Friday.

Handwriting ~

Foundation Handwriting Yr 4

Grammar ~

This year we are reviewing Junior Analytical Grammar
Term One we worked through units one through four: nouns, articles and adjectives, pronouns, and prepositions.

MATHS:

Maths Plus Yr 5 Textbook

Term One units covered the following topics:

Revising 3-digit Addition, Multiplication Facts, Recognising Angles, The Kilometre, Addition and Subtraction Strategies, Thirds, sixths, and twelfths, Revising polygons, Calculating area, Revising 3-digit subtraction, Revising division facts, Picture graphs, Cubic centimetres, Addition and subtraction strategies, Expanding numbers to 6 digits, Grid references, Revising mass, Multiplication strategies, Problem solving, Chance experiments, Naming prisms and pyramids, Revising 2-digit division, Number patterns, Dot plots, am and pm time, Two digits multiplied by one digit, Equivalent thirds, sixths and twelfths, Protractors, Metres and kilometres, 4-digit addition with trading, Missing numbers, Drawing objects, Picture graphs, Division strategies, Mixed numerals, Classifying three-dimensional objects, column graphs.

Diagnostic Review 1

SCIENCE:

Below is a list of the science related books we read:

"Fact Cat: Light" by Sonya Newland

"Light: A Question and Answer Book" by Adele Richardson

"Physical Science in Depth: Light" by Alfred J. Smuskiewicz

"Food and Farming: From Farm to Table" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury

"Food and Farming: Feeding the World" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury

"Science Answers: From Sun to Bulb" by Christopher Cooper

"The Book of Australian Minibeasts"  by Charles Hope

"Food and Farming: Farming and the Environment" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury

"Light and Colours" by Gerard Cheshire

"Light and Colour" 

"Food and Farming: Farming in the Future" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury

"Light and Dark" by Exploring Light

"Shadows" by Exploring Light

"Reflecting Light" by Exploring Light

"Earth's Changing Surface" by Australian Geographic Science

"Food and Farming"

"Food and Consumers" by Hazel King

"Common Brushtail Possums" by Greg Reid

"Frilled Lizards" by Greg Reid

"Fairy Penguins" by Greg Reid

"Kookaburras" by Greg Reid

"The Book of Australian Birds" by Charles Hope

"Introduced Species in Australia" by Kay Crabbe

HISTORY:

Monkey began and in-depth and intense Australian history unit.

This should take us two years to complete.

We read the following books as part of the unit study:

"Lost! A True Tale From the Bush" by Stephanie Owen Reeder

"Australian Geographic History: Convicts of the First Fleet" by Margaret McPhee

"Meet Nellie" by Penny Matthews

"Australian Geographic History: The First Colonial Governors" by Kenneth Muir

"Nellie and the Secret Letter" by Penny Matthews

"Birrung the Secret Friend" by Jackie French

"Australian Geographic History: Governors, Squatters and Battlers" by Joel Weston

"Nellie's Quest" by Penny Matthews

"Australian Geographic History: Major Events in Colonial Australia" by Stuart Bremer

"Barney and the Secret of the Whales" by Jackie French

"Nellie's Greatest Wish" by Penny Matthews

"Meet Poppy" by Gabrielle Wang

"The Secret of the Black Bushranger" by Jackie French

"Barney and the Secret of the French Spies" by Jackie French

"The Secret of the Youngest Rebel" by Jackie French

"When the War is Over" by Jackie French

"Poppy at Summerhill" by Gabrielle Wang

"1844 Do You Dare: The Last Horse Race" by J. Moloney

"Poppy and the Thief" by Gabrielle Wang

GEOGRAPHY:

We read the following books as part of geography this term:

"A Focus on Rainforests" by Jane Hinchey

"A Focus on Dry Forests and Woodlands" by Jane Hinchey

"A Focus on Deserts and Grasslands" by Jane Hinchey

"Temperate Forests" by Greg Reid

"The Big Book of Antarctica" by Charles Hope

CREATIVE ARTS:

Monkey spent LOTS of his free time during the term sketching and drawing.

PDHPE:

We did a very short unit on safety.

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety at Home" by William Day

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety Away From Home" by William Day

"Children and Safety in Australia: Safety Online" by William Day

SOCIAL:

Term One Social Events:

Celebrated his brother's 13th birthday
Attended a baby shower for a close family friend
Attended Good Friday church service
Attended Easter Sunday church service
Bingo event at the library

Term One Evaluation ~ Monster

ENGLISH:

Reading ~
* You can see from my Weekly Review posts that we read (aloud and independently) a LOT.
* A book list is included in Monster's portfolio with all the books he reads each term.

Writing ~
We still use and LOVE the following curriculum
Institute for Excellence in Writing Program
Teaching Writing: Structure and Style

In Term One Monster wrote paragraphs on the following topics: The Fox and the Stork (narrative), The Pacific Ocean, The Thirsty Crow (narrative), The Southern Ocean, The Ant and the Dove (narrative), The Atlantic Ocean, The Lion and the Mouse (narrative), The Indian Ocean, 

Spelling ~
Monster did not do any spelling this term. We may review spelling periodically but I don't feel he needs daily practice anymore.

Handwriting ~
Monster did not do any handwriting (from a textbook) this term.  He continues to use neat handwriting when he writes thank you notes or written letters to friends and family and I feel that is practice enough.

Grammar ~
This year we are using Analytical Grammar which is the next step up after Junior Analytical Grammar.  Term One we worked through units one through five: nouns/articles/adjectives, pronouns, prepositional phrases, subject/verb, and adverbs



MATHS:

After much thought and deliberation, I changed what math textbook we are using. The teacher edition book (with the work through solutions for each problem) was ridiculously expensive for the Cambridge books. Thus I have changed to Haese Mathematics as I'm able to get the student textbook (which is reusable), a homework book, and a teacher edition work through book, for a MUCH more reasonable price!  I also like the layout of the problems much more as well.  Monster isn't particularly happy with it, but such is life.
We completed chapters one through six covering the following topics:
Algebra, Indices, Percentage, Sets and Venn Diagrams, Algebraic Expansion and Simplification, and Interpreting Tables and Graphs
Though we do not have to "grade" our students work when we homeschool here in Australia, I am keeping an Excel spreadsheet of Monster's and also my math grades this year.  So far in Term One, Monster is getting 95% and I am getting 84% which is not too bad for either of us!!



SCIENCE:

Below is a list of the science related books we read.
"Fact Cat: Light" by Sonya Newland
"Light A Question and Answer Book" by Adele Richardson
"Physical Science in Depth: Light" by Alfred Smuchkiewicz
"Food and Farming: Feeding the World" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
"Science Answers: Light From Sun to Bulbs" by Christopher Cooper
"Food and Farming: Farming and the Environment" by Richard and Louise Spilsbury
"Light and Colours" by Gerard Cheshire
"Light and Colour"
"Food and Farming: Farming in the Future" by Ian Graham
"Exploring Light: Light and Dark"
"Exploring Light: Shadows"
"Exploring Light: Reflecting Light"
"Ecosystems" by Greg Reid
"Earth's Changing Surface" by Australian Geographic
"Food and Farming"
"Food and Consumers" by Hazel King
"Common Brushtail Possums" by Greg Reid
"Frilled Lizards" by Greg Reid
"Fairy Penguins" by Greg Reid
"Kookaburras" by Greg Reid
"The Book of Australian Birds" by Charles Hope
"Introduced Species in Australia" by Kay Crabbe



HISTORY:

We read the following books as part of our Medieval Europe/Black Plague unit study:
"Castles" by Sean Sheehan
"The Black Death and the Transformation of the West" by David Herlihy
"Town Life" by Fiona MacDonald
"Cathedrals and the Church" by Patricia Levy
"Lady Dance" by Jackie French
"Famous People of the Middle Ages"
"Life in a Castle"
"Children and Games in the Middle Ages"
"Plague A Cross on the Door" by Ann Turnbull


Other History Books:
"Fair Dinkum Histories: A Nation of Swaggies and Diggers" by Jackie French
"Lost! A Tale From the Bush" by Stephanie Owen Reader
"Meet Nellie" by Penny Matthews
"Fair Dinkum Histories: Weevils, War and Wallabies" by Jackie French
"Emergency Echo" by George Ivanoff
"Medical Mission" by George Ivanoff
"Nellie and the Secret Letter" by Penny Matthews
"Birrung the Secret Friend" by Jackie French
"Australian Geographic History: Governors, Squatters and Battlers" by Joel Weston
"Nellie's Quest" by Penny Matthews
"Barney and the Secret of the Whales" by Jackie French
"Nellie's Greatest Wish" by Penny Matthews
"Horrible Histories: Deadly Days in History" by Terry Deary
"Meet Poppy" Gabrielle Wang
"The Secret of the Black Bushranger" by Jackie French
"Barney and the Secret of the French Spies" by Jackie French
"Horrible Histories: Rowdy Revolutions" by Terry Deary
"The Secret of the Youngest Rebel" by Jackie French
"Poppy at Summerhill" by Gabrielle Wang
"1844 Do You Dare: The Last Horse Race" by J Maloney
"Poppy and the Thief" by Gabrielle Wang



GEOGRAPHY:

We began the school year looking at the effects of various forms of land degradation, with a focus on deforestation.
Below is the list of books read aloud and/or independently through Term One:
"Development or Destruction: Deforestation" by Richard Spilsbury
"Animals and Deforestation" by Matteson Claus
"What if We Do Nothing: Rainforest Destruction" by Ewan McLeish
"Australia's Water Shortages" by Greg Reid
"A Focus on Rainforests" by Jane Hinchey
"A Focus on Dry Forests and Woodlands" by Jane Hinchey
"A Focus on Desserts and Grasslands" by Jane Hinchey
"Temperate Forests" by Greg Reid
"The Big Book of Antarctica" by Charles Hope





ELECTIVE #1 ~ LATIN:

Monster continued to work through Visual Latin 2.
He completed one per week most weeks of the term.




ELECTIVE #2 ~ MARINE AND AQUACULTURE TECHNOLOGY:

For Term One we have focused on Ocean Study.
We also began looking at books about Antarctica
We read the following books throughout the term:
"Oceans of the World: Pacific Ocean"
"Oceans of the World Southern Ocean"
"Atlantic Ocean"
"Oceans of the World: Indian Ocean"
"Antarctica: The Frozen Continent" by Greg Reid
"Oceans of the World: Arctic Ocean"
"A Focus on Coasts and Oceans" by Jane Hinchey

SOCIAL:

Term One Social Events:

Celebrated his 13th birthday
Attended a baby shower for a close family friend
Attended Good Friday church service
Attended Easter Sunday church service
Bingo event at the library

Term One: Week Eleven ~ Life Skills, Games, and Books

Eleven week terms are ROUGH!

It was a hard slog through this last week, but we made it! 

Aside from Monster and I finishing up a unit of math, everyone else was done with written work, so we spent the week reading, playing games, and working on life skills!

Munchkin is learning how to make his own toast. 

A frantic game of Tenzi!! 

Sleeping Queens has made a revival in the house. 

 Australian history read alouds for Monkey!!

Medieval Europe/Black Plague history read aloud for Monster. 

Geography/science read alouds for the two older boys... 

 We tried for finish all four Poppy books before the end of the term, but couldn't quite get there, so we'll finish that series in Term 2.

Term One: Week Ten ~ Play Dates, Games, Lizards and Books

We are enjoying some extra activities as we wind down the term.

Monday this week we spent the day with one of our homeschool friends.

The older boys enjoyed playing all manner of boards games... 

While Munchkin and the girls used their imagination and a bunch of cardboard to be creative. They made their own "mine-pads" and "mine-phones"!! 

We enjoyed some more rounds of Qwixx this week as well. The boys and I LOVE this game and it is a good thing that a local shop stocks the replacement score cards because we're going to need them soon. 

It has become routine to check for our Blue Tongue Lizard EVERY Thursday on our way to the library. 

We're having all sorts of fun looking for early reader chapter books for Munchkin in the library each week. 

Picture books still make up the vast majority of the books he chooses though. 

These books aren't classified as early readers, but Munchkin handled them quite well. 

 We're just enjoying one more read through all the orange Fitzroy Readers!!

Independent reading for the Monkey... free choice on the left and PRC selection on the right. 

 Munchkin is done with all his written book work for the term, so he had LOTS of extra reading time, allowing him to read three Team Hero books in one week.

 Other picture book selections...