Mid-Year Curriculum Review for 4th Grade
Sonlight D US History 1 with Readers 3
We are working through the new Sonlight D with some of the older books added in from the 2017 version. We're also reading the regular readers + the advanced readers. So, it is going to take a big chunk of time to get through this Sonlight level. I'm expecting to be finished by the end of next summer. I'm ok with that, because some of the books in this level are some of Sonlight's best selections.
I am not using Sonlight's Bible selections this year - I substituted 100 Bible Stories (Concordia Publishing House), My First Catechism (Lutheran) and The Apostles (Adventures in Faith). We are almost finished with 100 Bible Stories and My First Catechism. Both are excellent.
Some of my son's favorites from Sonlight D this year are:
- Explore Native American Cultures!
- Pocahontas and the Strangers (this is from the 2017 version)
- Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
- The Corn Grows Ripe
Math
We switched from Wild Math to Beast Academy + IXL 4th Grade Math Workbook. I should've stayed with Wild Math. He enjoyed that program so much more. We're using the online version of Beast Academy and the timers in the exercises stress him out. He did learn a lot from the IXL workbook, but he doesn't like the repetitive exercises. I've resorted to teaching math without a curriculum, adding in some project-based math (which he really likes) and using Beast Academy as a supplement. In other words, I really messed up his math this year, but he is still making progress with it.
Language Arts
Early on, we dropped Masterbooks LA, because it was a terrible fit for him. There's also no real support in their Facebook group for parents who are having difficulties with their curriculum due to dyslexia or learning issues. I taught him the parts of speech without a curriculum. We are also using Mad Libs for fun. He's doing free writing, which he loves.
All About Spelling is a giant thumbs up. Very dyslexia-friendly, also.
Handwriting without Tears = no complaints. Super self-explanatory and simple to use.
I have stopped using Barton at level 4, because his reading has just taken off. Barton got him reading when no other reading program could.
Science
We are using Abeka's 4th grade science textbook, Understanding God's World. This is super simple to teach from. I just have the textbook, which I understand there's a workbook and teacher's manual, but he is not going to want to fill out workbook pages. I read the lesson with him and we do the short lab/demonstration at the end of each lesson. We do the review questions out loud together.
I have really enjoyed teaching from this textbook. My son loved the birds unit. We took a rabbit trail from the animal unit to read a bunch of library books about animals, but we will return to the textbook afterwards.
All of the labs/demonstrations have worked and they use simple objects from around the house.
French
We're watching the French with Mr. Innes series on Youtube and I think this is my son's favorite subject. These videos are excellent for elementary-aged kids. He has a more complete curriculum on his website that we intend to subscribe to when we finish the YouTube series.
Art
Artistic Pursuits Book 1 is going well. Sometimes, he does not want to do the exercises in the book, but wants to do his own art, which is fine. He's filled up an entire sketchbook this semester.
Mid-Year Curriculum Review for 12th Grade
My 12th grader is actually supposed to be an 11th grader (if she went to public school - she just turned 17 a couple of weeks ago). But, she started taking college classes in August and is only doing three home made courses with me this year. I'm graduating her in May.
Personal Finance
We use Mathusee Stewardship for this subject and it's also excellent. No complaints.
Classical Literature
We put this list together ourselves and it's been a great list of books. She's read almost the entire list at this point, so she will probably be finished in January. Her list includes:
- The Epic of Gilgamesh
- Sophocles' The Three Theban Plays
- Beowulf
- Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
- Shakespeare's Poems and Sonnets
- Shakespeare's MacBeth --> she's currently here in the list
- Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream
Dual enrollment courses at the college
She's taking English 1301 (Composition 1) and Kinesiology 1164 (Intro to Health and Physical Fitness). She has 100% in both classes. Since it's almost time for finals, I'm assuming she will end the semester with a 4.0. She's registered for English 1302 and US History 1 for the spring semester.
The one thing I would be wary of with dual enrollment classes is adult content in the classes. My student is a minor, so that was a topic I was concerned with. So far, we have not had any problems and she likes her professors.
