Weekly Update

while it doesn't seem like we made good progress, what we did do was take a moment and FOCUS on a couple of simple basic concepts that I feel are critical. Memorized Multiplication Facts. if you can not do times in your head, you are at a disadvantage, so while we will most likely be doing extra classes during spring break. we are going to nail these times tables.

secondly, we are going back through study island and bringing up averages up in all areas to a minimum of 80% mastery, which is a challenge since some are so low, that it takes a 100 correctly answered questions to dilute those first failures.

Also not reflected is that he has read 4 books this week. FOUR. for FUN. hallelujah!

POKEMON: DIAMOND AND PEARL ADVENTURE!, VOLUME 5
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Millennium World, Vol. 3
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Kaiba's Revenge, Vol. 4
A Hero's Guide to Deadly Dragons (Heroic Misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III)

So I am not disappointed or stressed, we have 4 weeks left to make up the difference and gain 20%. We just have to give up spring break, and do 3% each week and we can still make our goal, but I will be resuming the Academics before Liberal Arts. Which I have highlighted in our progress chart above.

Scary Masks

Make a Balloon Mask in Art Club.
a balloon, Paster cloth Face, you use aluminum foil to make a mold for the nose, and some scary paint.
here is a link:

DONE...

Cub Scout Bear Rank

Bear Badge

Target age group:

3rd grade

Arrow Points

1 gold and 6 silver, for 70 completed electives.

Level:

Bear

Art Appreciation

lots of wallpaper of lots of different artists, some are as good at drawing as me.

Friday Progress

points of admiration:

Study Island, Magnus mastered every single objective in the TAKS study preparation course for both Math and Reading, one one particularly difficult objective, he failed the first three attempts so badly, that it took 109 questions to bring his average up to passing. bless his heart for keeping at it. it showed perseverance and determination that I found admirable.
he went on to attempt to master two other curriculum courses, Social Studies and TimberToes reading that shows initiative and willingness to go beyond expectation to be a self directed learner.

While today was not pleasant for him, we went to an education day activity with many other children for social interaction and group learning, he was not at all comfortable, but at the park, he was pushing two boys that he is in cub scouts and early elementary education class with and it was a thrill for me to see him interactive playing with two boys his own age. I hope that there is more to come.

Fast forward to this evening, he found Math is Fun and was working on his multiplication facts on his own for himself. we even created a times table sheet on an envelope and he learned how fast he can fill in a worksheet with that and it just might be a really good idea to memorize it.
yep, dancing the happy dance tonight.

AMAZING

More Coffee? Probably not.

As you know, each week has been a struggle for us, and as we embrace week 22, I can tell you that I am beyond exhausted. We get up and we start school at 8 am and sometimes it is with resignation and sometimes it is with recalcitrant indignation. I would just love to have a vacation from the stress and anxiety of unmotivated reluctant learning. that being said, Dad did affirm that if we do not see some improvement that the boy would be 'one the bus to a brick and mortar' in the fall last night. I would have to say that the stress of pushing and pushing and pushing on a daily basis is very debilitating.

Yesterday I made a decision to focus on forcing our way through writing in action. It is a painful painful process but like eating liver and broccoli, we are just going to have to get through it with as little bloodshed as possible. THAT still remains to be seen of what qualifies as LITTLE in this situation. For some reason my voice becomes much more harsh and grating, loud and to the point of cruel screaming as we work through each page at a painstakingly slow process. yesterday we survived from page 12 through page 17. 5 pages in 5 hours is not how I would choose to spend my day. But we have procrastinated as long as humanly possible I do believe.

that being said, we changed gears at some point this morning before I had to give up entirely and we went to STUDY ISLAND to work on our 'averages' we discovered some fun and sneaky activities that are fun. Timbertoes was good for working on reading and comprehension skills. Social studies reinforced our social studies that we have been struggling through. Not that social studies is difficult, by any means, but that there is just not enough hours in the week when you are desperate to get the bare minimum done on math / literature / language done.

One of the ideas that came to me that would help with the TAKS prep is a 'trial run' through the testing environment outside of the home school habitat and in the 'location setting' I wonder if it is possible to have a TXVA meeting at the location before the actual test to practice test taking? It would also be good to plan to arrive a little early with some snacks to help with the jitters on the DAY of the real exam? just a couple of ideas that I thought would help.

I always feel better after a dry run and find that food is a great encouragement to get the kids motivated to get out the door in the morning.

• TAKS Revised Mathematics Charts
• Interactive Study Guides
• TAKS Study Guides
• Released TAKS Tests

Preparing to Enjoy instead of just Enduring the Journey

A child is helpless in choosing what is to be engraved on his/her mind during the formative years. The awesome responsibility is assumed, for better or worse, by us adults. Today we are shapers of the world of tomorrow. That is the plain truth. ~Walt Disney

What is the destination?
Alice in Wonderland:

Alice: Would you tell me please which way I ought to go from here?
Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don't much care where.
Cat: Then it doesn't matter which way you go.
~Lewis Carroll

In reviewing the IEP/ARD process which every parent should have in mind for their child, special needs or not. I must define Strengths and Needs.

Strengths:
Science
Math

Needs:
- Written Language
- Self Motivation
- Communication
- Social / Behavioral
_________________________________________
GOAL: Written Language
Objective: Complete

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
GOAL: Self Motivation
Objective: Take initiative and engage in education process.

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
GOAL: Communication
Objective: Use words instead of negative sounds and body language to get needs met.

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
GOAL: Social / Behavioral
Objective: respect other people's personal space, age appropriate behavior.

Short Term Objective:
sit independently during study time

Short Term Objective:

Short Term Objective:
_________________________________________

Academic Vision:
Destination and Path
Character Vision: Well being on the journey.

My School Progress

A online learning site. who needs public school?

http://www.bing.com/

Wizard 101 is Risky!

Have you ever ben in a duel and that thought you might die? even though a quest is fun, there is always danger. I like living on the edge. trouble is my middle name. to escap a threat on a quest I flee from the enimy. I use spells in battle to fight the enemy, or heal myself. when I win a battle I gain expeireince and gold (money). it is exiting too level ups. The pain feals good! It let's you know your not dead. Join me in a quest on wizard 101 if yo ulik danger. It's not just a game. It's hard. Just to even do so. I love too buy a fire beating dragon as a pet their HOT!

Another Bike Hike

it is 2.5 miles to the Art Club, and 2.5 miles back home. it makes a great adventure.
a blob of clay turns into a magical Pokemon Ball