Third Grade Week 32.5 in Review

This wasn’t a full week, so I figured I’d give it half of a week’s recognition.  LOL!  The short week was a welcomed change, too, and we’re enjoying the mini break from schooling.  Here’s how the week went for us…
Bible – Our Bible lesson was on “God’s Children Obey,” and we read John 15:8-12.
Math – This week we worked on halfway between tens and borrowing from hundreds.  Caleb is still doing really well with his multiplication facts so far, and that makes my heart proud.
English – This week Caleb worked on using quotation marks and commas.  He did really well, and I’m thinking more work will help cement it all for him.
FUN SCHOOL – With this being a short week, we didn’t get to all of our FUN SCHOOL studies, but that’s okay.  Here’s what we did…

• Take a Tour Tuesday – Caleb visited a site where he was able to see how chocolate is made from seed to sweet.  He really enjoyed it, but he would have loved it more if it had ended with a chocolate eating session. 
• Take It to Your Seat Tuesday – Caleb chose a “More Than One Meaning” activity.  He used sentences and word cards to complete sentences using words that have more than one meaning (bow, pitcher, plant, punch, etc).  He then completed two worksheets to make sure he understood the concept.

• Who Do You Know Wednesday – This week Caleb chose to learn about George Washington Carver.  He used books from the library to gather his research so that he could complete his notebooking page.  As I was discussing one interesting fact with him, he said, “He was a ‘jobinaire’ (a word he created) because he had so many jobs.”  I couldn’t help but laugh, and then I had to explain that ‘jobinaire’ wasn’t a word, but he assured me that it should be. 

The rest of our week will be spent enjoying the break from school.  We’ll gear back up for our next full week.  Until then, we’re going to enjoy some “free” time. 

Third Grade Week 32 in Review

Another week at Childress Academy for Boys is complete.  It’s hard to believe that we’re slowly approaching the end of 3rd grade.  Time really is flying by, and I think it’s because we’re having so much fun! 
Bible – Our lessons were on “God’s Children Trust Him” and “God’s Children Give.”  We read Matthew 14:24-31 and Psalm 96.
English – Caleb started a new ACE Pace, and he started working on when to use certain words.  This week he focused on a/an, learn/teach, sit/set, let/leave, there/their, its/it’s, and can/may. 
Math – He finished up CLELU 205 by taking his test.  He scored 91%.  Then we moved on to CLELU 206.  He worked on multiplying by 2, thousands and tens, and two-step story problems.
FUN SCHOOL – Our new plan is still going really well.  I really think this was the best decision we’ve made, and I look forward to continuing to implement it for the next few  years. 

• Map it Monday – This week I introduced Caleb to Text Mapping.  I used a non-fiction book to teach him how to use the different parts of the book and how to do research.  We focused on the Chapter Titles, vocabulary words, picture captions, fast facts/lists, and then the text.  Once we were done, he had to answer several questions about the book. 

• Mathematical Monday – This week we played Pyramid 13 with cards.

• Travel Somewhere Tuesday – Caleb chose to learn all about Canada this week.  He used books from the library to complete a Crossword Puzzle, and the he completed a fact sheet for Canada.  He also made a small version of the Canadian flag.

• Working with Words Wednesday – This week we worked on Writing Super Sentences.  This activity was done to help Caleb progress from simple sentence to more advanced and descriptive sentences.  He did really well with the exercise, and I think it’ll help his writing.

• Want to Know Wednesday – This week Caleb decided he wanted to learn more about clouds.  We spent some time studying the different types of clouds, and then he painted each type of cloud.  We then made a ‘cloud in a jar’, and he thought that was the coolest thing.

• Think it Through Thursday – This week Caleb worked on test prep skills again.  We did a little work with reading comprehension and spelling.
• Turn the Page Thursday – Caleb read from some of his animal books…the boy LOVES animals.  He has so many animal books, and he’s always grabbing them over any other book. 
• Fun Friday – We took the opportunity to join some friends at Johnny G’s Fun Center (a local indoor play area with laser tag, mini-golf, bumper cars, token games, bounce houses, etc.).  Both boys had a GREAT time, and it was a great way to release some energy since the weather had been pretty rainy. 

I hope you all are having a great school year.  We’re looking forward to taking off a few days next week.  Nothing special planned…just a small break from school. 

Third Grade Week 31 in Review

We are done with another week of schooling.  This week was a little off because our calendar started in full force this week.  Caleb is running track, and with practice 3x a week and other obligations, life just got a little bit CRAZY!    Here’s how our week of schooling went…
Bible – We discussed “God’s Children Love Him” and “God’s Children Love One Another.”  We read John 12:1-3 and 1 John 4:7-11.
English – Caleb finished up his ACE Pace by doing a little review work.  He then took his test, and he scored 100%.
Math – This week Caleb worked on multiplying by 1, thousands and ones, multiplying by 0, and right angles.
FUN SCHOOL – It was harder finding time to get everything accomplished this week, but we still did well.

• Map It Monday – This week we talked about timelines.  Caleb then completed an Event Log of his life, and then he turned that into a timeline.

• Meet the Press Monday – Caleb decided that he would report on Animal Secrets.  He took some time to do his research, and then he presented his facts.

• Take a Tour Tuesday – Caleb decided that he wanted to check out an organic egg farm, so we used this link.
• Take It To Your Seat Tuesday – Caleb chose to work on a Food Webs activity this week.  He used cards to make his own food webs, and then he had to draw a food web.  He decided one wasn’t enough, so he drew another one. 

• Who Do You Know Wednesday – Caleb chose to study Abraham Lincoln this week.  I must admit, Abe is my favorite president.  So, I was pleased with Caleb’s choice.  He used library books to learn what he could, and then he completed a mini bio notebooking page.

• Well-Played Wednesday – Caleb chose to play a new game we picked up…Brian Quest Smart!  It was a good game, and I think it’ll be one we play a lot around here. 

• Trivia Thursday – Since Caleb was out sick on Thursday, I chose to skip this when we continued with school this week.
• Turn the Page Thursday – Caleb enjoyed reading his library books.

Like I said, our lives are crazy now that track is upon us.  Adding in a sickness doesn’t make it any easier.  So, we’re doing well to get school done. 

Blog Makeover

Since it had been a while, I figured it was time for a much needed blog makeover.  So, I contacted Leslie over at Sweetie Baby’s Custom Blog Design.  I’ve worked with Leslie in the past, and I knew that she would do a fabulous job.  I love that the header depicts the personality of both boys…Caleb is full of joy, and Micah is his comedic self!  The fact that they love each other is also there with the middle picture.  Thanks Leslie for working with me and doing a wonderful job.  I it!

Third Grade Week 30 in Review

We completed another week, and once again it was a LOT of fun.  Here’s how our week went…
Bible – Our Bible stories were on “We Must Be Born Again” and “God’s Children Are New Creatures.”  We read John 3:1-5 and I John 3:1-3.
Math – We worked on writing thousands, what time did it happen, and order of factors.  Caleb is still doing really well with this math program, and I’ve already ordered our materials to continue for 4th grade. 
FUN SCHOOL – We had another awesome week of fun school studies.

• Make Something Monday – Since Caleb wanted to work on origami, we read The Paper Crane by Molly Bang.  Then, he got busy on some origami projects.  I must say – this was not an easy task.  We checked out two books from the library, but it wasn’t easy by any means.  I ended up having to help him a LOT!

Caleb’s cat

• Mathematical Monday – Since “making 10” is what makes adding and subtracting easy, I decided I wanted to help Caleb “cement” those math facts.  So, he worked on a “Sum 10” activity.  We then played a Pyramid 10 game, and it was a LOT of fun…we’ll definitely play it again.

• Travel Somewhere Tuesday – This week Caleb decided he wanted to visit Japan.  So, he read a few library books on Japan, and then he worked on some crossword puzzles.
• Technology Tuesday – Caleb watched two DVDs on Abraham Lincoln.
• Working With Words Wednesday – This activity replaces Wednesday Writing, but it’s the same idea.  Since Caleb has recently studied prepositional phrases, I wanted to do an activity that would help him with that.  After talking to Mari Beth, a fellow homeschooling mom, I came up with a hands-on activity using the “The mouse goes ____ the box(es).”  Caleb had to place a mouse somewhere in relation to a box, and then write the preposition describing his placement. 

• Want to Know Wednesday – I asked Caleb what he wanted to learn more about, and he chose organs.  After telling him we have lots of organs, I had him narrow it down to two…he chose the brain and the lungs.  We did some reading about these two organs, and then he completed a notebooking page.

• Think It Through Thursday – Caleb played an inference riddle game online.  This game made it a bit obvious that we need to work on inferences. 
• Turn the Page Thursday – Caleb read some of his books, and then he shared 3 facts that he learned while reading. 

Be sure to check back next week as we implement a few new concepts into the FUN SCHOOL schedule.