Grading Key: Effort
& Skills
4 - Advanced E
- Excellent U - Unsatisfactory
3 - Proficient
G - Good
X - Not Applicable
2 - Approaching S
- Satisfactory
1 - Below N
- Needs to Improve
Days of Instruction: 49
Arithmetic: The areas of math Jacob
continues to study/practice are :
word problems factors
multiplication,division
fractions
multiples
addition
decimals prime factorization
subtraction
percents prime numbers
money math
number lines geometry
time/clocks
fact families times tables
real-life math experiences
Jacob uses the Saxon Math program, math CD roms, and the Pokemon Learning
League to do his math. Grade: 3 (G)
Reading: Jacob continues to show excellence in his
ability to read with accuracy, appropriate inflection and intonation, and poetic expression. Extra time and effort is
put into making sure he is comprehending the material being read. He does moderately well in determining the meaning
of unfamiliar words by using context clues. Jacob enjoys reading for pleasure, especially magazines dealing with technology,
video games and nature. He is nearly finished with reading Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain. Also this quarter, Jacob read Much Ado About Nothing
by William Shakespeare (Scholastic’s Version). In addition he read various magazines, websites and books on subjects
such as technology, first aid, astronomy, and slavery. He has read poetry by Rudyard Kipling. Grade: 4
(E)
Spelling: Jacob corrects misspelled words and rewrites
assignments so that spelling is correct throughout his work. His memorization skills have helped him do well in this area.
Grade: 3 (G)
Writing, Grammar & Language Arts: The homeschool
curriculum has been integrating the Vocabulary Vine Latin & Greek Roots
program, which is challenging and fun. Jacob prints and writes in cursive daily, however he requires constant reminders in
order to stay neat. Jacob continues to develop skills such as note-taking, brainstorming, and organizing ideas. He is
posting his ideas, assignments and essays on his internet homeschool webjournal. He has typed emails, improved his writing
abilities by continuing study of proper grammar; parts of speech, sentence structure, and phrases. Jacob continues to
respond to literature through writing and narration. This quarter he has utilized The
Ultimate Grammar Reference Easy to Use Guide. Grade: 2 (S)
Health & Safety: The focus this past quarter
has been on basic first aid tips, fire prevention, safety guidelines to follow when alone at home, review of when to call
911, stranger danger. Grade: 4 (E)
History: This quarter
Jacob has studied slavery throughout history from ancient Babylonia, ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, Middle Ages, the Spanish
colonies in the 1400-1500’s and in the English Colonies in the 1600’s to the Civil War era. Historical figures
such as Aesop (Greek), Spartacus (enslaved Roman gladiator), Nat Turner (African Slave), Frederick Douglass (anti-slavery
activist), Robert Smalls (escaped African Slave), among others were studied. Other topics covered were: Slavery’s
impact on the Southern economy, it’s reliance on cotton, tobacco, sugarcane and other cash crops, the plantation system,
the Cotton Kingdom, Wilmot Proviso, the cause and effect of Triangular Trade, the Middle Passage, the Constitutional Convention
of 1787, the American Colonization Society, the formation of the Confederate States of America, significance of Fort Sumter
in 1861, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Jacob has also memorized all the Presidents of the
United States in chronological order, and
half the capitals (so far) of the United States. Grade: 3 (G)
Science: The study of minerals and their properties
were the focus this quarter. Properties such as luster, color, cleavage & fracture, streak, specific gravity, hardness
were investigated through hands-on study via field trips to Albany Pine Bush Nature Preserve, Indian Ladder Farm, Lake George.
These trips also afforded the opportunity to find rocks and discuss their qualities; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
rocks, and the effects of weathering, erosion, compaction, cementation, and lithification (the rock cycle). In addition,
fossils were found in a number of places, allowing first-hand discovery of preservation, via petrification, molds and casts
and trace fossils. Jacob memorized the Mineral Scale of Hardness. Grade: 3 (G)
Art: Jacob has really tried his best this quarter
in art. He drew his favorite characters from his Pokemon game and created some computer art with the aid of a few CD
roms/programs. Grade: 2 (S)
Music: Jacob practiced guitar, piano and fiddle.
Grade: 3 (G)
Physical Education: Jacob enjoyed nature walks and
hikes, went scootering, played many games of tag and began resistance training. Grade: 3 (G)
Typing & Computer: Jacob is progressing slowly
but surely at typing with proper hand positioning and appropriate speed and accuracy. His computer literacy skills are improving
and he continues to demonstrate fluency in several programs and internet research to aid in completion of schoolwork, as well
for the purpose of finding information for personal interests. He continues to improve his punctuation skills with the use
of various typing programs. Again, Jacob’s abilities really shine in this area (computers and technology in general).
He continues to love learning about technology and displays constant interest in seeking knowledge via [supervised]
internet. Grade: 3 (G)
Teacher Comments - 1st Quarter
Jacob is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.
He has completed the required 225 hours of instruction. He really enjoys computers, technology, science and playing
violin.
He continues to receive speech therapy at XXXXXX twice weekly.
Submitted by Daniela on November 14, 2006
