Home School June Week 4

This was our last week of intense home school for the summer. I cannot believe how quickly June went by.  My mom has come and gone and some of summer's highlights are already behind us now, too.

Our theme for this week was Trees and Ella did a great job.  She learned the difference between broadleaf and evergreen trees, was introduced to the concept of oxygen and how trees make it for us, acquired new tree related vocab (bark, limb, needle, palm, etc.) and gave some thought to all the resources we gather from trees, including all the things made from wood in our daily life.  Since it was timely, we also threw in some Fourth of July books and worksheets.  Ella was super excited about America's birthday and kept saying, "America is free now."

Ella mastered 12 new sight words, bringing her total to 49.  At the end of the school year, her teacher gave a me a list of 42 First Grade Dolch sight words.  Ella can now read 26 of them.  Her other sight words are from the Dolch pre-primer and primer sets.  In addition, Ella (and Emilia) earned their second level prizes in our library's summer reader program.  They each have to read just four more books by July 31 to be declared Super Summer Readers.  Among our literary selections, Ella especially enjoyed The Story of America's Birthday and The Giving Tree. Even though our tree themed week is over, she brought the latter book to me this afternoon and said, "Can we read this again?  I am still interested."  After reading the book once more I asked, "Why do you think the tree always helps the boy and almost gives up her whole self for him?"  Ella answered, "Because she loves him so much."

Even though home school as such has come to a close for this summer, we will continue to work on reading and sight words every weekday afternoon and on math every weekend until Ella begins first grade in August.  I also have a few ideas for some additional topics and concepts which we will address in a less formal setting.

Our sight word wall before the change-over last night

Today Ella got on the school bus bright and early at 7:15 and started attending summer school.  She's signed up for the two hour reading and the two hour math sessions through July 31.  She arrives back at home just after noon, in time for lunch, naps and afternoon fun.