I’m flabbergasted that I’m teaching fifth grade this year. Fifth! When did this happen?
As sad as I am to see all the little boyishness disappear, I do love to see who he is becoming—the thoughtful questions he asks, the deep discussions he initiates, the connections he makes. It is rewarding to see him grow.
It’s just one more reason that this year is so exciting. My son is starting his second rotation through history, finishing the grammar stage of learning and edging into dialectic. This year for fifth grade, he will be comparing civilizations and contrasting mythology with the Bible. My husband’s post-graduate degree in apologetics is coming in handy to answer all of his deep questions, as well. So here’s what’s in store for fifth grade.
Core resources:
- Tapestry of Grace year 1, upper grammar and dialectic (Bible, history, writing, art)
- Christian Light arithmetic grade 5
- First Language Lessons 4
- Writing with Ease 3
- Creative Writer
- Spelling Power (we have an old first edition), Level F
- Latin for Children A
- Ancient Civilizations Maps (Creative Teaching Press)
- World of Science encyclopedia (My Father’s World) and physics/chemistry experiment kits
Extras:
- ReflexMath.com
- KeyboardingwithoutTears.com
- TakenCharge.com (computer coding)
- Greek Alphabet Code-cracker
- karate
- guitar
I still keep his assignments mostly 10 to 15 minutes, with math taking slightly longer at about 20 minutes, which means he can still finish his independent assignments in a couple of hours. He meets with me for about a half hour 3-4 days a week, and then 1-2 days a week we all come together for a couple of hours of history read-alouds and projects. He’s also grading his own daily work this year, which means I only grade tests and quizzes. It’s a schedule that gives us a lot of variety without draining their enthusiasm. As a matter of fact, I think the variety feeds our enthusiasm.
