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 Three Billy Goats Gruff (narrative), Fungus Gnats (non-fiction), Bushrangers (non-fiction), Growing a Garden (non-fiction), Rodeos (non-fiction), Ned Kelly (non-fiction), Sea Pig (non-fiction)

Spelling ~ 

We continue with Ozspeller lists that I source online.

Monkey is working through the Year 6 lists.

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

Handwriting ~

Foundation Handwriting Yr 5

Grammar ~

We are taking a break from our grammar curriculum this year. Monkey is not ready for Analytical Grammar (the high school version) so we are just taking a little break for now.

Literature ~

"The Three Billy Goats Gruff" by Nick Bland
"Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen
"Little Town on the Prairie" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
"These Happy Golden Years" by Laura Ingalls Wilder

MATHS:

Haese Mathematics Yr 5

We have switched our mathematics curriculum this year (in line with what Monster is doing) and I'm so glad we have. I'm also having Monkey review Yr 5 math. I wasn't confident last year that he had mastered enough of the concepts and his frustration levels were very high when he worked on math. I don't want him to follow in my footsteps and hate math and feel like he can "do" math, so a review was the right thing to do. Our AP (the woman from the Department of Education who oversees our homeschooling) totally supports my decision and had a quick discussion with Monkey when she visited in December last year, impressing upon him that it isn't about how fast he learns something, but about how well he learns it. With that said... we embarked on the new textbook and he did quite well.

He covered the following concepts during Term 1 while completing the first three chapters of the book: Whole Numbers, Multiplying and Dividing Whole Numbers, and Angles and Lines

SCIENCE:

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

"Wildlife Rescue: Koala Hospital" by Suzi Eszterhas
"Your Amazing Digestion: From Mouth Through Intestine" by Joanne Settel, PhD
"Salty and Sugary Snacks: The Incredibly Disgusting Story" by Adam Furgang

HISTORY:

We began a Bushrangers Unit Study. Below is the list of books we read aloud:

"Our Past: Bushrangers" by Charles Hope

"Bushrangers: A History of Australia's Outlaws" by Anna Purcell

"Bushrangers: Heroes, Victims or Villains" by Jill B. Bruce

"Bushrangers" by Stephen Gard

"Meet Ned Kelly" by Janeen Brian

"Ned Kelly and the Green Sash" by Mark Greenwood

"Wanted: Famous Outlaws ~ Ned Kelly" by Tim Cooke

"Captain Moonlite" by Jane Smith

"Ben Hall" by Jane Smith

"Frank Gardiner" by Jane Smith

"The Horse Who Bit a Bushranger" by Jackie French

Other History Books We Read:

"My Mob: The Story of Aboriginal Family Life" by Alex Barlow & Marji Hill
"Sharing Our Cultures: The Story of Aboriginal Cultures" by Alex Barlow & Marji Hill
"Awesome Aussie Dogs" by Australian Geographic
"Meet Marly" by Alice Pung
"Marly's Business" by Alice Pung
"Marly and the Goat" by Alice Pung
"Marly Walks on the Moon" by Alice Pung
"A Computer Called Katherine" by Suzanne Slade
"The Upside-Down History of Down Under" by Alison Lloyd

GEOGRAPHY:

Below is the list of books read aloud and/or independently through Term Two:
"A Focus on Urban Habitats" by Jane Hinchey
"New South Wales"
"Sydney" by William Day

CREATIVE ARTS:

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

PDHPE:

SOCIAL:

Term One Social Events:

Weekly participation in our homeschool group (until COVID lockdown)

Weekly (minimum) trips to the library to return/check out books

Celebrated Monster's 13th birthday

Taronga Zoo Trip as a family