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| Amanda - 5th Grade |
| Amanda moved in with us the middle of July, 2003. "Gotcha Day" is May 14th, 2004. She began the fifth grade in August 2003. She had to attend public school because the adoption was not final and we were at the mercy of DSS. As soon as we signed intent papers, we were legally able to pull her out of public school and begin home schooling Amanda. She had been struggling in public school, had been labeled ADHD and was being heaviily medicated. We simply stopped all her medications at Christmastime after we brought her home. We have been getting to know the "real" Amanda ever since! |
| During this "getting to know you" period, we've been de-schooling. De-schooling, in this case, could be defined as letting Amanda work with non-conventional curriculum just to see how she works, how she thinks, and what motivates or excites her about school. Actually, we're finding we have to get her excited about school all over again. Amanda has begun rewarding herself with some good grades and finding fun stuff to do that's educational, too. She's making some good friends in the homeschool community and learning that "school" is a 24/7, lifelong proposition! Amanda has to learn to entertain herself and not depend on others to keep her entertained or tell her what to do for fun. Fifth Grade I'm going to go ahead and list what we're working with this year, though I would not recommend it for a full curriculum for your student. Math Book 2 "Mathmatical Reasoning through Verbal Analysis" by Critical Thinking Books & Software. This book is written to the NCTM Standards. This is NOT intended as a math curriculum, but, "As a result of exploring each exercise to the fullest extent, layer by layer, the students should show significant gains in vocabulary development, increase observation skills substantially, and be able to process mathematical concepts on a much higher level." Amanda is also receiving a monthly salary and must budget her money in order to save, tithe and still have it last the entire month. Language Arts Right now, I'm having Amanda journalling using a "Prompt" sentence just to keep her writing (and to work on writing legibly). We have begun "Writing Strands", a curriculum the girls are able to work on together. History Amanda enjoys history so we have started her on her sixth grade history a bit early. We're using Alpha Omega History and Geography. Overview: World Geography (latitude & longitude, western and eastern hemispheres, the southern hemisphere, political and cultural regions) The Cradle of Civilization (Mesopotamia, the land of Israel, the Nation of Israel, Egypt) Greece and Rome (geography of the region, beginning civilizations, contributions to other civilizations, the influence of Christianity) The Middle Ages (the feudal system, books and schools, the Crusades, trade and architecture) Six South American Countries (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, three Guianas) Other South American Countries (Equador and Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, Chile) Africa (geography and cultures, countries of northern Africa, countries of central Africa, countries of southern Africa) Modern Western Europe (the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, World War I, World War II) Modern Eastern Europe (early government, early churches, early countries, modern countries) The Development of our World (cradle of civilization, the Middle Ages, modern Europe, South America and Africa) Science Amanda is doing "science mapping" using Building Thinking Skills "Concept Maps for Life Science - Thinking Connections." "As graphic organizers, concept maps show how concepts (things, ideas, objects, activities) are realated or linked to each other. They are visual road maps of meaning and understanding. This includes the following ideas: ~ Knowledge is constructed. ~ The most important factor influening learning is what the learner already knows. ~ Concepts are the central elements in the structure of knowledge and the construction of meaning. ~ Concept maps serve to externalize concepts and improve thinking. Amanda has an interest in science, and the mapping will be completed before the school year is out, so she will then begin her sixth grade science. Amanda has also started a typing class using "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 15" Physical Education Amanda has joined the YMCA Swim Team this year and is on the "Silver Group" though she has begun practicing with the "Gold Group" occasionally. Her swimming skills are improving by leaps and bounds. She has learned to dive from the starting blocks and her flip turns are a thing of beauty! Ice Skating is a new endeavor this year. Amanda is making strides (and falling less!). We try to go for a few hours on a Friday each month. BOOKS READ: Nancy Drew #69 - "The Mistletoe Mystery " by Carolyn Keene "The Ocean Within" by V.M. Caldwell "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain "Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain "Anne of Green Gables" "The Wide Window" "Maniac Magee" "A Murder for Her Majesty" "Oliver Twist" "The Secret Garden" "The Call of the Wild" "Heidi" "Little Women" Field Trips Taken: Columbia, South Carolina - Took the trolley around downtown, Five Points, USC. Columbia Museum of Art The State Museum Savannah, Georgia - Went for a weekend on a swim meet. Got to go through the historic discrict by the river one night. "Lion King Ballet" at the Koger Center. African drums! Riverbanks Zoo Links to other grades Amanda has or will attend: Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Seventh Grade (Part 2) Eighth Grade Freshman Year Sophmore Year Junior Year Senior Year |