Term One Review

ENGLISH:

Reading:

All three boys read lots of books for their independent reading time. I do not dictate what books they choose for their “free” independent reading time. I keep a list of all the books the boys read in their portfolio for easy review.

Monster: Is no longer participating in Premiere’s Reading Challenge this year as he completed it in Year 9. However, if he finds PRC books in the library that look interesting to him, I’m certain he will pick them up and read them. He is also enjoying reading e-books on his phone - the trick is for him to remember to tell me that he has read them!!

Monkey: This years Premier's Reading Challenge started at the end of February and it will take him the whole time (until August) to complete the reading challenge so the next time I go to the library I'll be searching for books that I think will most interest Monkey as he really enjoys reading books about animals.

Munchkin: As Munchkin is the most voracious reader of the three boys, the Premier’s Reading Challenge is quite easy for him. Similar to other years, Munchkin read SO many books from the PRC list in between the end of last year and the beginning of this year, that he has read his required number of books already and the challenge has only been running for a month. My plan, therefore, is to scour the shelves at the library when I'm there for the school holidays events and choose some different books for Munchkin to try.

Writing:

All three boys continue to use the Institute for Excellence in Writing: Teaching Writing Structure and Style curriculum. It allows each boy to work at a level appropriate for their age and ability. It “grows” with the child so to speak. See below for a list of the types of writing each individual boy did during Term One.

Monster: Eggplants Satire (Unit 1/2), The Age of Enlightenment (Unit 4/6), Cell Structure (Unit 1/2)

Monkey: Eggplants Satire (Unit 1/2), Water Cycle (Unit 1/2), Indigenous Australians and Water (Unit 1/2), Technology and Water (Unit 1/2)

Munchkin: Eggplants Satire (Unit 1/2), Firestick Farming (Unit 1/2), Bottle Nosed Dolphins (Unit 4/6), The Little Red Hen (Unit 3), Stars (Unit 1/2)

Obviously, because of Munchkin's health issues in Term 1, writing didn't go quite as I had planned. Because of this, I will be doing some advanced planning of writing assignments for all three boys over the school holidays in hopes of preventing a similar problem in subsequent terms.

 

Spelling:

Monkey:  I use the Ozspeller website to choose and create weekly word lists for him. I quiz him orally Monday – Thursday and then he takes a written test on Friday morning. In Term 1 Monkey decided he would like to review the Advanced spelling lists again. Spelling is an optional subject for him and I'm pleased that he is continuing to review this year.

Munchkin: Term One this year Munchkin has continued to work through the Targeting Spelling workbook that I started with him last year. When he finishes the current book he is working through I will decide if he needs more review with Targeting Spelling or if he is ready to work through the Ozspeller website again.

 

Literature:

Below are the books I selected to read to the boys for their literature this term. Munchkin’s books were read to all three boys, Monkey’s books were read to Monster as well, and Monster’s books were read only to him.

Along with “classic literature” there are three books that we read aloud repeatedly. The first is the Bible and then we also read “The Book of Virtues” and “The Moral Compass” by William Bennett.

Munchkin: This term we read the following books: "The Bad Beginning" by Lemony Snicket, "Folk Tales and Fables of the World" by Barbara Hayes, "The Reptile Room" by Lemony Snicket, "Mr Popper's Penguins" by Florence and Richard Atwater, "The Wide Window" by Lemony Snicket, "The Miserable Mill" by Lemony Snicket, and "The Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett   

Monkey: This term we read the following books: "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" by J. K. Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling   

Monster:  This term we read the following books: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon,    

 

Grammar:

Monkey: I started Season Two of Analytical Grammar with Monkey this term and quickly discovered that I need to brush up on the curriculum before we continue. So we have paused Monkey's grammar curriculum for the time being, and likely won't pick it up again until next year. This will give me ample time to familiarize myself with Seasons 2 and 3 of the program before then.

Munchkin: is not doing any grammar curriculum this year. I have learned that (for our family) grammar is best introduced in the late primary grades or early high school grades. Given that I have had to review spelling rules with Munchkin, I have decided to hold off starting formal grammar lessons with him until he starts high school (Year 7/7^th grade).

MATHS:

Monster: Began his Haese Mathematics Year 11 textbook - Mathematical Methods. Over the course of the term he completed the first five chapters of the textbook covering the following topics: Relationships Between Variables, Quadratics, Relations and Functions, Polynomials, and The Unit Circle and Radian Measure

Monkey: Continued to work through the Haese Mathematics Year 7 textbook. Over the course of the term he completed chapters 13 - 16 which covered the following topics: Ratio and Rates, Line Graphs, Probability and Statistics. He will finish the Year 7 textbook easily in Term 2 and immediately get started on the Year 8 textbook.

Munchkin: Began the Haese Mathematics Year 5 textbook. Over the course of the term he completed chapters 1 - 2 and nearly all of chapter 3 before he got sick with the appendicitis. The topics we covered in term 1 were: Whole Numbers, Multiplying and Diving Whole Numbers, and Angles and Lines. I opted not to finish chapter 3 (angles and lines) with him when he got home from hospital. We will finish it at the beginning of next term and move on from there in the textbook.

 

SCIENCE:

For the remaining school subjects I try to teach all three boys together as a group as much as I possibly can. So I will now start listing Munchkin’s work first and work from youngest to eldest boy rather than repeatedly recording the same things.

I rely heavily on our library for quality books to cover the content we study in the remaining subjects. When I am planning a unit study I do a subject search for books and reserve any and all that look like they will be suitable for the boys. I include picture books, junior non-fiction, and I’ve just started including adult non-fiction for both Monkey AND Monster.

 

Munchkin, Monkey, Monster:

 Munchkin: We read the following books this term for our Science Content:

"A Water Report: Water Supply", "A Water Report: Water Use", "A Water Report: Water Quality", "A Water Report: Recycled Water", and "A Water Report: Water Conservation" by Michael & Jane Pelusey, "Water Supply" by Angela Crocombe, "What Happens When We Recycle Water", "Water For Australia: Being Waterwise" by Bruce McClish, "Invisible Forces", "Electricity and Modern Technology", "Surrounded by Chemicals", "Marvellous Magnets", "A World Full of Materials", "Turn Up the Heat"  by John Lesley, "Exerting Forces", "Electrical Energy", "Adapt to Survive", "Growth and Survival",  by Australian Geographic Science Series, "World's Strangest Ocean Beasts" by Lonely Planet Kids, "Cells" by Under Your Skin Series

Monkey: We read the following books this term for our Science Content:

"What If We Do Nothing: Water Supply" by Rob Bowden, "Australia's Environmental Issues: Water" by Peter Turner, "Australia's Hydro-Electric Power Schemes

Monster: We read the following books this term for our Science Content:

"The Cell: A Visual Tour of the Building Block of Life" by Dr Phil Dash

HISTORY:

Munchkin: I read the following books aloud to Munchkin for History this term:

"Meet Rose", "Rose on Wheels", "Rose's Challenge" "Rose in Bloom" by Sherryl Clarke,  "The Secret of the Youngest Rebel" by Jackie French, "Meet Alice" by Davina Bell 

Monkey: I read the following books aloud to Monkey for History this term:

"The Genius of the Ancient Greeks", "Meet the Greeks" by James Davies, "The Who Was History of the World" by Paula Manzanero, "Technology in Ancient Greece" by Charlie Samuels, "At Home With the Ancient Greeks", and "Aristotle" by Steve Parker

 Monster: I read the following books aloud to Monster for History this term:

"Dead Famous: William Shakespeare and His Dramatic Acts" by Andrew Donkin ~ independent

"The Enlightenment" by Michael Adcock, "The American Revolution" by John Ziff, and "Electric Ben" by Robert Byrd

 

GEOGRAPHY:

Munchkin, Monkey, Monster:

We read the following books as part of their Geography studies this term:

"A Thirst for Home" by Christine Ieronimo, "Outback Australia: Life on a Cattle Station", "Outback Australia: Life on a Dairy Farm", "Outback Australia: Life on a Sheep Station" by Michael & Jane Pelusey,  "Thailand" by Blastoff Readers, "Japan", "South Korea and North Korea", "India", "Bangladesh" by Jane Hinchey, "Wildfires", "Heatwaves" by World Book Library of Natural Disasters Series, "Indigenous Cultures", "Custodians of the Land", "The Importance of the Environment", "Floods and Bushfires" by Australian Geographic Geography Series, "Food Around the World" by Children Like Us Series

 

PDHPE:

We did not read any books in Term 1 that dealt specifically with PDHPE content.

 

 Creative Arts:

       "Music and How It Works" by DK Publishing

 

Latin: (Monster)

Monster is currently working through two Latin textbooks independently. They are Lingua Latina Familia Romana and Lingua Latina Exercitia Latina 1.

 

Marine and Aquaculture Technology: (Monster)

"The Deep: The Hidden Wonders of Our Oceans and How We Can Protect Them" by Alex Rogers

German: (Monkey)

Monkey is currently working through "Getting Started With German" by William E. Linney. We first discovered this series when Monster was beginning his Latin studies and we have been really pleased with the curriculum. Monkey works fairly independently through his lessons and over the course of Term 1 he has completed 86 lessons. Each lesson requires him to read a bit of information and then translate ten sentences. Monkey also practices his German on DuoLingo on his mobile phone.

Creative Arts ~ Drawing: (Monkey)

Monkey has chosen creative arts for his second elective with an obvious focus on drawing and painting. I don't direct much work for him with this elective, he simply draws or paints when the mood hits him. As I find videos or books that I think will interest him in these areas I point them in his direction. I photograph the artwork that he creates and include it in our reporting on the blog. He has also begun his own sketchbook for this year that he will draw/paint in and be prepared to show to our AP when she returns in two years for our registration process.