One Month into our School Year Update (4th Grader)

 What's Going Well:

• Sonlight D
• He and I just really like these books!  It's a very enjoyable way to do history and literature.  My only concern is I don't see how we're going to get through level D in one school year.  I'm now planning to get through levels D and E in three years.  I feel ok about this, because that would put him around age 11-12 for level F and the books look very heavy for that level.  I think he would get more out of level F if he's older. 
• We are also adding in projects as we go from the Explore Native American Cultures! book. 
• Beast Academy
• He loves this.
• Mark Rober's Crunch Labs
• Expensive, but great quality materials and instructions. They put a lot of effort into these kits and they are excellent!
• French with Mr. Innes
• This channel is free on YouTube.  We're working through the French for Beginners playlist.  He loves this video course.  It's very understandable and not overwhelming.  I'm learning all the French words with him and it's pretty effortless.
• Lexile readers and Barton Reading Program
• Barton is very dry.  The readings are strange.  It's expensive.  It takes up a lot of space in our school room.  But, by golly, my son is reading and spelling.
• I started researching books by Lexile level and checking out books from the library for him based on where he seems to be.  This is going well, actually.
• Handwriting without Tears Cursive = super simple and he likes it
• BrainQuest Summer Workbook
• He can't do some of the exercises, because it's very public school-oriented, but he's able to manage with help.  He really likes this workbook.  We're about halfway finished.  He loves the map in the back with the stickers tracking his progress on the trails.
• Artistic Pursuits
• He was mad, because we couldn't do two lessons in one day (which is ridiculous).  Pace yourself, OK?

What We're Unsure Of/Seems Ok:

• IXL 4th Grade Math Workbook
• This is only a supplement, because I feel like he needs some extra arithmetic practice.
• He seems to be OK with this workbook, but it's not his favorite thing in the world
• Abeka 4th Grade Science
• The book is Understanding God's World
• I really like the book.  It's very easy to teach from.  We are not using the workbook, but we are going through the text and then doing the labs.  
• The labs are simple and work well.
• He seems OK with this textbook, but he was whining a bit about it.  I think it's the topic.  He doesn't seem to like physical science topics.  

What's Causing Tears:

• Masterbooks' Language Lessons for a Living Education 3
• I have removed it from his book basket for now until I figure out a plan
• He had an awful meltdown during this and I feel really bad.  I think this curriculum might be ok for students with mild dyslexia, but not severe dyslexia.