Progress Report for a Six-Year-Old

PROGRESS REPORT FOR BONNIE SMITH 2003/2004

READING: Our literature-based program has included reading to Bonnie from a variety of genres, including fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Among the books we have read are the Harry Potter series, Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and L. Frank Baum's Oz series. We have also read several picture books including many multicultural folk tales, simple science books about animals, and works by contemporary authors. Bonnie has a full grasp of phonics, and can read easy readers fluently.

WRITING: Bonnie enjoys composing stories verbally which we record on paper. She then illustrates her stories. Bonnie also writes regularly on her own. Thank you notes, birthday cards, and diary entries are her most common vehicles for practicing printing skills. Bonnie can form capital and small letters of the alphabet with ease.

MATHEMATICS: Through cooking, shopping, games, and play with pattern blocks and Cuisenaire rods, Bonnie's skills in counting, reading, and writing cardinal and ordinal numbers have grown. She can count into the hundreds, and can read up to three digit numbers. She understands the concepts of addition and subtraction and can solve one-digit addition and subtraction problems. She understands the concepts of measurement and can use a ruler. Bonnie is also interested in money, and can identify and count coins and dollar bills.

HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES: Bonnie enjoyed learning about her maternal ancestral heritage on a recent trip to Italy. She visited her grandmother's birthplace and childhood home, learning about the simple village lifestyle of the Italian peasant. In Rome and Florence, she visited significant historical sites such as the Duomo, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Vatican. With each visit, important social and historical aspects were discussed. At home, Bonnie enjoyed field trips to locations including Plimoth Plantation, where she learned about pilgrims and Native Americans.

SCIENCE: Bonnie has enjoyed simple bird watching, and studying the bird books of David Sibley. She is able to identify several types of birds and bird families. She enjoyed observing and discussing the lunar eclipse last November. She participated in a class at Drumlin Farm that involved animal care, farm work, cooking, and exploring the farm. Bonnie is curious about the natural world, asking questions and theorizing about the world around her.

THE ARTS: Bonnie draws and paints regularly with materials including watercolor, cray-pas, crayons, markers, pencils, and tempera paints. She enjoys simple sewing, including sewing buttons onto her father's shirts. She viewed many great works of art in Italy, and enjoys visiting local museums. Bonnie takes occasional violin lessons, and enjoys experimenting at the piano. She sings regularly with an intergenerational chorus, performing in up to six concerts a year. She also performed in a production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore."

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Bonnie enjoys riding her bike often, and joins the family on five to ten mile bike trips regularly in the warm weather. In colder weather, Bonnie enjoyed a homeschoolers gym day. She also enjoys hiking at the Fells and other locations.

HEALTH: Bonnie understands and practices good hygiene, including teeth brushing and hand washing. She also understands and continues to learn about the importance of good nutrition.