School's Out!

 Whew! What a school year! This was probably our hardest year of homeschooling to date because of the big overhaul they did to all the school's systems. It took A LOT of getting used to by parents, students, and teachers alike. I felt most sorry for the teachers since the new system tripled their workload in addition to all the help they had to give to us parents as we all learned how everything worked. But we eventually got the hang of it and school days got easier, although I still don't like the new system. It now takes six clicks to get a lesson open as opposed to the previous two. "Progress" isn't always better when it comes to technology. :P

Here is one of the silly "improvements". The kids get these "brain breaks". It says, "It's time for a brain break! Get a drink of water, stretch your legs, or do something of your choice and then come back." which really does nothing but get them off track. Normally they are halfway through a lesson, or at least after it's been ten minutes or so but in the Phonics lessons they literally give one within the first minute! How can you need a "brain break" 32 seconds into the lesson?!? :P  

 

 

One of Lou's last ELA assignments was an opinion piece. She chose to write about her favorite snack: fruit. Here is her graphic organizer...

 

 

 And her opinion paragraph.

 

 

 

Peanut brought home some of her artwork at the end of the year. I was super impressed with this! She was given one half and had to make the other! 

 

 

A landscape painting. 

 

 

And this cute pencil cactus. She's so talented! 

 

 

Speaking of art...Lou had a class on making donuts. 

 

 

And ancient vases. 

 

 

And ancient headdresses. 

 

 

Peaches got to watch a movie "in class" one day with her friends.  

 

 

All done with 1st grade! 

 

 

All done with 4th!  

 

 

On to summer!!