Multiplication

We've been being introduced to multiplication in a sneaky kind of way the past couple of weeks, and the past couple of days we've been doing full-blown multiplication, all without memorizing the multiplication chart! That will come in time (probably sooner than later) but now she's learning it by drawing it out in grids and other visual ways and by using small shaped pieces to line it all up on her desk. She's enjoying all this playing!

She's been studying ecosystems in science, which is pretty fascinating for her. She's working on a report on jackals for the composition part of language skills, and whenever we finish that I'll print that here. We just finished up a unit in adjectives in the GUM (grammar, usage and mechanics) segment of language skills. She's working on test readiness in literature and Italy in history. She's been painting and making clay models in art and I have a photo or two of that to show. Music is hopeless because although she's quite musically inclined, I'm not and I struggle to figure out the simplest things I'm supposed to be teaching her. On one lesson this week I gave up on trying to teach "crescendo" to her from the book and the supplied music and found a YouTube video of a fascinating performance of the orchestra classic (and childhood love of mine) "Bolero." Ahhh, much better!

She went on a field trip this week to the Governor's Mansion and learned more about their pets than anything else I think. I keep hearing about the Beebes' dog Viper and the Clintons' now-deceased cat Socks. Her dad went with her on the trip and it seemed more interesting to him than her!

We are looking forward to a few days off this coming week!