Our Homeschool
Progress Report

21 September 1997

We have almost finished with our first month of school. Here is what we have done through the month of September:

One of the first things we decided to do was to name our school. Kevin and Erin thought it over carefully, and came up with:

Kappa-Epsilon Academy.

Kappa is the Greek letter "K" (for Kevin) and Epsilon is the Greek letter "E" (for Erin). Mom added the Academy part--sounds "important", which our homeschool is (to us) !! We have designed and created a School Sign for our door, it looks Great !

Math: This past month has been spent mainly in review of the basic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). Both Kevin and Erin's computation skills had suffered badly due to the "fuzzy math" that was being taught in our school district. Kevin has moved on to simplifying and reducing fractions, converting fractions into decimals, and decimals back into fractions.
Both children have begun the review and practice portions of their Saxon Math Books. The lessons are challenging, but at least I can see those brains are working again!

Vocabulary, Language Arts: In Vocabulary we are doing weekly lists of 15 words. We look up the definitions, use the words in sentences, and then have our Test each Friday.
In Language Arts we are using the Easy Grammar Plus workbook by Wanda Phillips. Our beginning Lessons have been finding prepositions, prepositional phrases, verbs and subjects in a sentence. We are actually "diagraming" sentences ! (just like the good old days)
We are also learning Greek and Latin root words-to help with our vocabulary skills-the words we've learned are--

  • Photos --light
  • Graph --write, draw
  • Tele --far away, distant

Reading: Kevin and Erin will both be turning in one Book Report each month. The first books they have chosen are-
    Kevin- Redwall by Brian Jacques
    Erin- The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The requirements for each Book Report are--

  • Title & Author
  • List 5 unfamiliar words: define & use in a sentence
  • Main Characters
  • Setting
  • Plot
  • Type of Book
  • Opinion

As a special treat-we watched the movie "BFG" (Big Friendly Giant)-which was based on a Roald Dahl book. Cute movie !

Social Studies: In Social Studies we have begun our study of Africa. We have started in South Africa. Here is some of what we have been learning about this month:

  • Apartheid
  • Political Parties in South Africa
  • The Provinces of South Africa
  • Names of the Tribes and their designated "Homelands"
  • Climate and Environment of South Africa
  • Industries
  • Famous People from South Africa
Kevin and Erin will also be doing a report on the subject of their choice:
        Kevin--The Zulu Wars      Erin-Cape Province

Science: We are using Unit Studies in Science. Our first unit is Astronomy. We have been studying the various creation Myths, the Biblical Creation, and the scientific theories of the universe. We have also been studying the early astronomers, their scientific contributions and theories, and modern astronomers and the tools they use to explore our universe.

Bible Studies: We are reading The Parables of Jesus a wonderful book by Simon Kistemaker. We discuss one parable a week, talking about it's historical meaning, it's symbolism, and how we can employ it's message in our own lives. These are the Parables we have discussed this month-

  • SALT- Matthew 5:13, Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34-35
  • TWO BUILDERS- Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 5:47-49
  • CHILDREN in the MARKETPLACE- Matthew 11:16-19, Luke 7:31-35
  • the SOWER- Matthew 13:1-9, Mark 4: 1-9 Luke 8: 4-8

Computer: Beginning HTML is first on our list in computer. I have both Kevin and Erin working on their own pages here at Donnell House. Kevin has begun his first page on his own-it is a page dedicated to his current favorite books, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques.
Erin has been learning the basics of webpage creation, making links and adding graphics to her page here at Donnell house. Look for a "chatting on the web" page from Erin soon.

Art & Music: In Art we have illustrated one of our Parable Lessons, and we have begun pencil studies in preparation for our Watercolor projects. We have some lovely art books with Watercolors by Monet and Turner. We have also created a School sign for our door, and some magnets to brighten up our chalkboard.
In Music we are stuying Andrew Lloyd Webber-and have been listening to various tapes and CDs of his music. Kevin seems to like "Mr. Mistoffelees" & "Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat" from CATS while Erin goes crazy for "I Don't Know How to Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar and "Memory" from CATS

Physical Education: In "gym" class we do all kinds of fun stuff. Lately we have been having jump rope contests-both Kevin and Erin have been improving by leaps and bounds (*pun intended*)
We also use the neighbors trampoline, and we have constructed obstacle courses at the playground in the backyard. The most fun we have had so far is when we had a "sock war" in the house ! Of course, Mom is still finding socks behind the furniture !

Future Plans: In October--we will continue with our Astronomy unit in Science-researching the Sun and Planets, the Moon and Stars. In Social Studies we will move up into the South-central area of Africa. Both Kevin and Erin have chosen their second books for the monthly report.

Main Homeschool Page

 back continue on to October's Progress page

© donna donnell-1997/98/99
The Donnell House
www.oocities.org/Heartland/6565/

 

 

 

 


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