Tweaking It?

Well, the first week is over, so, for a control freak like me, it's time to evaluate our curriculum choices (and second guess them all).

Reading: As I mentioned before it is WAY too easy. Even with the suggested modifications for "gifted" kids Curly Q. isn't really learning anything. I gave her a reading assessment and she is reading at a 2.6 grade level. So it's not surprising that a first grade language arts program isn't doing much for her. She isn't complaining about it so I think we will stick with it for a while longer.

Math: We are using Singapore Math 1A and it is a good fit. Since it has no drill work, I have been supplementing with some worksheets. I also bought a cd game of addition bingo which Curly Q. is really excited about using.

History: I can't really evaluate Story of the World yet because we just did the introduction this week. I do think that it will be Curly Q.'s favorite subject once we get into it.

Science: On Tuesday I tried to teach Curly Q. to use the library computer to find books about forests. The problem was that each search came up with tons of stuff that didn't apply to her. I ended up finding books for her and having her decide whether they would work for her lesson. The girls loved our field trip to the forest, and they are already begging to go back.

Bear: The Singapore earlybird math is a bit of a joke. Bear seems well past any of the activities presented s far. She did enjoy the montessori type activities I set up for her though. On the reading front I was happy that after only a tiny bit of work she finally calls S by its name instead of by its sound. Today she didn't really want to do calendar, but with a bit of coaxing she came and participated. She knows her months amazingly well.

So my verdict is that we should "Stay the Course" at least for the time being. Next week we will talk about apples during language arts. I also planned Bear's stuff around apples and the letter A. We will also start the first "real" chapter in history and do our first in depth animal study. Wish us luck!