Schoo Year 2010-2011 (4th/5th grade)

Well, we somewhat started school this past Monday. I am not making him do much for school. We are just gradually wadding into school instead of jumping feet first into the deep end. I think this may go well. I am going to try to incorporate more You Tube videos and more fun into this school year.

Zachary will be in 4th grade this year. His Science, Social Studies (Texas History), Health, Art, Latin and PE are all 4th grade. He is 50% finished with Spelling, Literature, and Language Arts (except for Grammar he will finish it in a week). After he finishes up the last half of Spelling, Literature and Language Arts he will begin 5th grade. He will be starting 5th grade math and it will be interesting because it seems most of it is online and I'm not really needed. I am only needed if he needs help.

Brooke's first day of Preschool / Drawing

Yesterday, Brooke started Preschool at Kindlelight. She is in the 3 year old classroom even through she is only 2.5 year old. She is as tall or if not taller than most in her classroom The teacher said she did very well. That she was the most outgoing of all the kids. She would go play in all the centers where the other kids would just stand and be still.

Brooke drew a picture of a little girl today.

Sunday School Summer Swim Party

Yesterday was our annual Sunday School Summer Swim Party. There were so many kids but atleast no one was pregnant this year. The pool was so nice and the kids really did enjoy it, even the bigger boys (men) who decided after dinner to have a diving, distance, and cannon ball contest. Mark and Zachary went out on the boat first and did the tube. Zachary did the tube by himself, I'm so proud of him. Then they switched and took the wave runner back into shore.

Brooke and I hung out at the pool but then we decided to get onto the boat. I've been going to these parties for 4 years now and this was the first time I went on the boat. She then said she wanted to do the tube. So, we both hopped into it and off we went. After we got out she said "That was a blast". Yes, this is coming from my 2.5 year old lil girl. She is the dare devil in our family and the one to give me gray hairs.

The food was good there were hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, desserts.

All in all in was a great day with great friends. Can't wait for next year.

First Sleep Over

Well, Zachary had his first sleep over. A good friend of his came to our house. They were playing, laughing, making tents, and having a blast. Then around 10:00pm the other boy started crying. He didn't bring something from home and he just wanted to go home. So, we called the boys mother and she came and picked him up. Zachary was so sadden by the boy going home we had both boys crying at one point.

We have told Zachary that we will try later in the future and that for right now we will have playdates during the day at our house. However, Zachary has no problems spending the night at someone else's house so he could go over to his friends house.

Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech -- Signs of the Times News

I read a Valedictorian's speech to her graduating class and was very moved by what she had to say. She talks about how the education system failed her and how it is failing all children. It is a great article and I wish everyone could read and listen to what the children of our nation are trying to tell us about their education.

Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech -- Signs of the Times News: "http://www.sott.net/articles/show/212383-Valedictorian-Speaks-Out-Against-Schooling-in-Graduation-Speech"

Summer

WOW! I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. SORRY!

Well, school is over. Zachary has completed all of 3rd and 4th grade math. He has also completed 50% of 4th Spelling, Literature and Grammar so he will begin where he left off next school year.

June was really busy. The first week Zachary, Brooke and I drove to Longview, TX everyday. Zachary had a robotics camp that he attended. He really did enjoy it. He was able to build a spidar robot and a kangaroo robot.

The 2nd week was VBS/Sports camp at church. Zachary and Mark went to the park for Sports camp and Brooke and I went to the church for VBS. They both had a great time but we may take next year off.

Then we had a week that had nothing to do. It was really nice since we had been so busy for 2 weeks.

Then the 4th week Zachary and I attended Webelos Summer Camp at Camp Dierks in Oklahoma. It was 4 days 3 nights in a tent. It rain a little bit on us but not much. The first full day was very hot. Zachary earned his aquanauts, scientist, geologist, and foresters badge. He also earned his archery and bb gun belt loop and pin, however, he had already gotten those b4.

Now, we are up to 4th of July weekend. We will be meeting our new choir director tonight and tomorrow will be the 4th of July celebration at Trinity Baptist Church.

As soon as I have uploaded a video from Webelos camp I will post it. My camera ran out of batteries, UGH!

Finished!!!!

Well, Zachary has officially finished 3rd grade even through he finished it last year too. But, this is recognized by the state where at last year wasn't. So, you may be asking what is he doing now. Well, we have completed 90% for 4th grade math, 9% 4th grade spelling, 14% 4th Literature, and 28% 4th Language Arts. He will continue this until June 30. The school doesn't allow a student to move up a grade in any of the other subjects. Since we have to do 6 hrs of school a day he is progressing in his 4th grade subjects faster than normal because we have lots of time and few subjects. We are also doing an independent study on Chemistry and the Medieval Time period.

When Zachary starts school next year he will be considered a 4th grader but will be starting 5th grade math and will be over half way finished with 4th grade spelling, literature, and language arts. So, probably 3-4 months after school starts he will be mainly doing 5th grade subjects while the rest will be 4th grade. I am wondering if at some time we should try to get his other subjects up a grade level so that he would be doing the same grade for all subjects. This could only be accomplished by having him test out of these subjects that he is below compared to his other subjects. I am just thinking if we needed or wanted to transition to a regular brick and mortar school the transition would be smoother.