Today Max began with adding and subtracting decimals, completing two pages in his workbook accurately and without assistance. Then, we moved on to subtracting fractions with like denominators. To solve, Max changed the mixed number into an improper fraction, subtracted the improper fractions, and changed the the answer back into a mixed number when needed. Finally, Max worked on adding fractions with different denominators finding the least common multiple of the denominators before adding the fractions.

We worked hard on measuring angles again today. I created two more worksheets to mimic the work from his school workbook. The first one was a series of triangles that Max had to measure (all 3 angles) and then recreate. He was frustrated at first because he couldn't figure out the naming of the angles so didn't know how to get started; but once we worked one together he was able to do the rest with only a little help from me. The second worksheet I made was just a review of the acute vs. obtuse, inner vs. outer scale, and measuring the angles. Again it took a review before to get Max into the swing of things but he worked well once he did a few. I also assigned Max pages 34-35 in his decimal workbook. He did a good job of remembering how to borrow while subtracting. He got 23/25 correct the first time!

This morning Max continued with his Haunted House story. He finished up the body paragraph and the ending paragraph. His story turned out great! He included many details and descriptive words which made it very exciting! Then Max created an illustration to accompany his story. It was also detailed and looks great along with his story on the bulletin board. We also continued reading from Ramona the Pest. I read chapter 4 "The Substitute " and Max loved it! He wanted more!!

This morning I started out with a "Mad Lib" type of activity with Max. This was helpful in reviewing story structure, grammar, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, plural vs. singular, and present vs. past tense. Max enjoyed the silliness of the final product. Then I assigned him the task of creating a narrative story. I offered to give him prompts or allow him to create his own topic. He chose to write a story about a haunted house. He started by completing a narrative story outline. Max brainstormed setting, characters, main idea, problem, etc. and filled out the outline. Then he began writing the story. He was able to complete the introductory paragraph and most of the body. Tomorrow he will complete the story and create an illustration of the haunted house. For read aloud I read chapter 3 in Ramona the Pest. He did get his own copy of the book and he's absolutely loving it!

Today we worked solely on angles. Max had homework from his school in Monaco so we worked on that first. We started with page 55 which involved measuring the 3 angles of a triangle and then re-drawing the exact triangle. Max worked hard but did find it challenging. He was able to complete them all with some help from me. Next we worked on page 57. This page introduced "turns" in a circle. Max had to decipher what quarter of a turn was made for 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees, and 360 degrees. He wasn't seeing it at first but when it clicked, he was able to answer quickly. Next we moved on to pages 58-59. Max had to use all of the skills from pages 55-57 in order to complete these pages and he did well. Only a little guidance from me... Finally, I created an extra practice activity again where Max had to determine which scale to use on the protractor, if it was an obtuse or acute angle, and measure the angle. This was tiring, but he did well. We will continue to practice and review.

This morning I introduced Max to a research project he was going to work on. We researched endangered animals and Max picked one that he wanted to learn more about (he chose the Giant Panda). Then he used several websites to gather information and we took notes on what he learned. Max created a Panda poster with information that he wrote on topics such as: characteristics of a panda; habitat; why they are endangered; what is being done to save them; etc. He also illustrated a panda on the poster. He did a great job and was proud of his work. He requested to hang it on his bulletin board and it looks nice in his room! For reading I continued to read aloud "Ramona the Pest". He is enjoying the book so much and didn't want me stop. He even took a picture of the book so that he and his mom could purchase a copy of their own!

Today we started math by working on Max's Kumon Decimal/Fraction workbook. He completed workbook pages 32-33. He got 17/25 correct. The problems that gave him trouble were when he had to borrow to subtract. He and I reviewed the ones he got incorrect so that he was able to see where he was getting confused. Then we moved on to his Kumon Fraction workbook. He completed lesson 16 in that book (pages 32-33). This was adding fractions with different denominators. He did a bit better today with determining the least common denominator and only missed a few because he didn't reduce the fractions all the way. Finally we worked on angles. I created a activity for him with many different angles. His assignment was to say whether to use the inner or outer scale. He also had to say whether it was an obtuse or acute angle. Then he had to measure the angle in degrees. Max still gets confused on which scale to use and deciphering between acute or obtuse so we will continue to work hard on those skills. Max worked hard and did not get frustrated!

Today I offered Max a few prompts to write about and he chose "What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you? Explain and make sure to include how you felt during and after the event." Max chose to write about his trip to Disney World's Hollywood Studios when he rode the Tower of Terror ride. He did a great job of using descriptive language to describe how he enjoyed the ride! He also did a great illustration to add to his story.
I brought several chapter books from home and I let Max choose one for me to read aloud to him. He chose "Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary. I read pgs. 1-29. Max really seemed to enjoy it and laughed out loud several times while I read.
In the afternoon, one of the other teachers had created an Earth Day lesson in the dining room. Max got to decorate his own recycling box for his classroom. He enjoyed painting, gluing, drawing, and being creative with his box. He also really seemed to get along well with several of the boys and had fun getting to know them better!

This morning Max worked on decimals, fractions, and angles. He brought several workbooks with him from home and from school. He began with adding decimals in his Kumon Decimal/Fraction workbook. He did a great job and said he enjoys adding decimals. Then we moved on to subtracting decimals and he did workbook pg. 30-31 in the same workbook. These were a little more challenging as he had to borrow while subtracting but he did a great job again! Max used his Kumon Fraction workbook to complete page 31 where he was adding fractions with different denominators. This was a little more difficult for Max because he had to find the common denominators and he wasn't always sure how to find it when the numbers weren't multiples of each other (i.e. 10 and 15; 6 and 15; etc.). Max also completed page 51 in the decimal/fraction book where he was rewriting improper fractions. Finally, we worked on angles and deciphering how to measure them, how to name them, and what type of angles they were. This gave Max the most difficulty. We will continue to work on them tomorrow.

Max worked on multiplcation and division multistep word problem task cards with up to three steps to solve. He completed mathletics categories: multiplication, division, groups of 9-10, and rounding to the nearest ten to solve. Max worked on long division.