12 Weeks Core E

I usually do Hannah’s write up first, so I’ll get Ben first this time. We finished up week 12 a couple weeks ago so getting through week 16 before Christmas is an actual chance this year. I’m not sure we’ve ever done that, but it would be nice. 🙂

We are doing American History II. We finished with the civil war and are getting through all the between stuff up to World War I. It was an exciting time in the US, lots of growth and inventions.

Ben is joining Hannah in her reading the bible requirement for our devotional time. Then we have a short reading assignment each day for school and scripture memory. We also have a devotional that we sometimes do. 

In history/social studies, we’re moving along in our two spines The Landmark History of the American People, Vol 2 and Children’s Encyclopedia of American History. When we started World War I, we also added a great book called The World Wars by Usborne. We usually have a song or poem from Wee Sing America each week.

Read Alouds are fun. We finished reading Caddie Woodlawn and The Great Wheel and we started Little Britches. We also have one or two selections from Oxford Illustrated Book of Americam Children’s Poems each week. And we do a current event assignment with the World Kid’s subscription that he has.

Language is a struggle for Ben not because he can’t do it, but mostly because he doesn’t want to. We have to redo some of our work for lack of trying, but in general he does ok. Spelling with Sequential Spelling 2, grammar with The Grammar Ace, vocabulary with Wordly Wise 3000, Book 4, a cursive and creative assignment each week. 

He has read Shades of Gray, Sing Down the Moon, and Old Yeller as readers. He just started a book about Helen Keller and that is exciting.

In science, we finished up a light and color unit and moved into electricity and magnetism. We’ve made a couple different types of compasses and an electromagnet.

Math is moving along. Ben enjoys math for the most part. Still working in Horizons 4.

Extras keep us happy. Benjamin has decided to teach himself how to play the harmonica. He is doing pretty good. Has the basics down and is learning a couple Christmas songs. He still does almost daily Spanish practice with Duolingo. This past semester, he played soccer for the first time and really enjoyed it. And coming up, he will be starting basketball again. Ben turned 10 a couple weeks ago so we have had his party as well as actual birthday celebrations. He also had Rangers Winter Camp which he always enjoys. We had a trip to Arkansas to see the Schaders and the Fall Festival at our church. 

He saved up his money to purchase a replacement Ipad since his had a cracked screen. This is a pretty big feat as he usually spends his money quickly, I think his birthday gifts helped a lot. 

Overall, a pretty good second 6 weeks.