What We Studied

This was our last week covering Rome (and boy am I ready to move on). We also continued with jazz, finished one read aloud and started another, and completed another unit in math. It was much too cold to do anything or even go outside (average temperature was -20). Here’s hoping this is a bit warmer.

Literature and Poetry

We finished Fortunately, the Milk on Tuesday and started Sideways Stories from Wayside School on Wednesday. Beyond that, we continued with Arthur reading books to me and a few literature studies.

• Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

• Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

• Polar Bear, Arctic Hare by Eileen Spinelli (poems)

• Dumpy’s Valentine by Julie Andrews Edwards (Arthur read)

• Thomas & Friends: Valentine’s Day in Vicarstown (Arthur read)

• Thomas & Friends: A Valentine for Percy (Arthur read)

• Mouse Loves Love by Lauren Thompson (Arthur read)

• Valentine Surprise by Corinne Demas (Arthur read)

• Too Many Valentines by Margaret McNamara (Arthur read)

• Porcupining by Lisa Wheeler (literature study)

• The Littlest Valentine by Brandi Dougherty (literature study)

• Brave Irene by William Steig (literature study)

• Robot in Love by T.L. McBeth (literature study)

Math

We finished off Unit 2 (review of addition and subtraction) and Unit 3 (measurement) along with another unit on Khan Academy. Next week we should be moving back into more challenging units. We also covered the basic idea of algebra.

• Mystery Math by David A. Adler

Social Studies

We are dong with Rome! This week we covered the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, various art and mythology from Rome, and a general wrap-up of the main people and events we covered.

• Eyewitness Ancient Rome

• Barbarians by Steven Kroll

• The Ancient Romans by Shuter

• Ancient Rome by Mack

• Roman Myths by Eric Braun

Science

Nothing formal this week

Art

Nothing formal this week

Music

Continuing jazz! We got through 1930s-1950s this week. Arthur still likes swing and ragtime over all the other forms we listened to. I’m partial to the blues. He really did not like bebop.

• Jazz by Walter Dean Myers (poems)

• Jazz ABZ by Wynton Marsalis

• Sophisticated Ladies by Leslie Gourse

• Looking for Bird in the Big City by Robert Burleigh

• Dizzy by Jonah Winter

• Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown

• Jazz on a Saturday Night by Leo and Diane Dillon

• The Little Piano Girl by Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald

Unit Theme

Another week, another two holidays to celebrate. We finished up our Valentine’s Day Study in the beginning of the week. And then we covered Presidents’ Day toward the end of the week.

Valentine’s Day

• Celebrate Valentine’s Day by Carolyn Otto

• If You’ll be My Valentine by Cynthia Rylant

• Love by Matt de la Pena

• There’s This Thing by Connah Brecon

• Moo-Moo, I Love You! by Tom Lichtenheld

• Here’s Comes Valentine Cat by Deborah Underwood

• A Short History of Valentine’s Day by Sally Lee

• Love Ruby Valentine by Laurie Friedman

• Duck and Hippo: The Secret Valentine by Jonathan London

• Pete the Cat: Valentine’s Day is Cool by Kimberly and James Dean

• A Giant Crush by Jennifer Choldenko

• Ruby Valentine Saves the Day by Laurie Friedman

• Groggle’s Monster Valentine by Diana Murray

• Mr. Goat’s Valentine by Eve Bunting

• Hedgehog: A Sharp Lesson in Love by Ben Sutton

• The Valentine Express by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

• Love by Stacy McAnulty

• Tucker’s Valentine by Leslie McGuirk

• Love, Splat by Rob Scotton

• Chick n Pug: The Love Pug by Jennifer Sattler

• A Valentine for Frankenstein by Leslie Kimmelman

Presidents’ Day

• Presidents’ Day by Anne Rockwell

• Presidents’ Day by Rachel Grack

• Abraham Lincoln by Peter Benoit

• George Washington by Peter Benoit

Misc. - Random picture books read

• Snow Day by Lester L. Laminack

• Penguin Flies Home by Lita Judge

• Snow Sounds by David A. Johnson

• William’s Winter Nap by Linda Ashman

• If You Come to Earth by Sophie Blackall

• This Pretty Planet by Tom Chapin

Highs

• We started reading Sideways Stories from Wayside School. This was one of my early elementary favorites and I’m really hoping Arthur loves it just as much.

• We read so many books this week! I love reading and I’m so glad that the boys are into it also. Arthur’s reading has improved dramatically since Christmas and I’m super excited!

Lows

• We didn’t get to spend any time outside because of the frigid temperatures. It’s really hard as we still don’t feel comfortable going to the open gyms and indoor play spaces this winter. Here’s hoping next week gets a bit warmer and we can go outside at least.

Next Week

If the temperatures hold, I’m thinking about a trip to the zoo Wednesday or Thursday. And we’ll make sure to get to the library like usual. As for our subjects, we going to try and finish our jazz unit, complete Unit 4 in math (multiplication), read a chunk of Sideways Stories, and start our Plants and Solar System unit for science. I can’t wait for the Planets and Solar System unit, it’s always one of my favorites. We will be focusing more on space exploration and will definitely highlight the landing of Perseverance last week!

Next up on the TBR pile: