History:  This quarter Rachael has studied slavery throughout history from ancient Babylonia, ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, Middle Ages, the Spanish colonies in the 1400-1500’s and in the English Colonies in the 1600’s to the Civil War era. Historical figures such as Aesop (Greek), Spartacus (enslavedRoman gladiator), Nat Turner (African Slave), Frederick Douglass (anti-slavery activist), Robert Smalls (escaped African Slave), among others were studied.  Other topics covered were:  Slavery’s impact on the Southern economy, it’s reliance on cotton, tobacco, sugarcane and other cash crops, the plantation system, the Cotton Kingdom, Wilmot Proviso, the cause and effect of Triangular Trade, the Middle Passage, the Constitutional Convention of 1787, the American Colonization Society, the formation of the Confederate States of America, significance of Fort Sumter in 1861, Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.  Rachael has also memorized all the Presidents of the United States in chronological order, and half the capitals (so far) of the United States.  Grade: 3 (G)

Science: The study of minerals and their properties were the focus this quarter.  Properties such as luster, color, cleavage & fracture, streak, specific gravity, hardness were investigated through hands-on study via field trips to Albany Pine Bush Nature Preserve, Indian Ladder Farm, Lake George. These trips also afforded the opportunity to find rocks and discuss their qualities; igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, and the effects of weathering, erosion, compaction, cementation, and lithification (the rock cycle).  In addition, fossils were found in a number of places, allowing first-hand discovery of preservation, via petrification, molds and casts and trace fossils. Rachael memorized the Mineral Scale of Hardness.  Grade: 3 (G)

Art:  Rachael learned how to sew using the sewing machine, and sewed a pair of curtains for a neighbor. She also embroidered her jeans and her name on some material. She drew many studies of the human figure with the aid of a drawing kit she ordered from Scholastic.  She also drew cartoons of Garfield, Peter from Family Guy and characters she created inspired from our own family cat and dog.  Grade: 4 (E)

Music:  Rachael practices guitar, piano and fiddle regularly.  Grade: 4 (E)

Physical Education: Rachael enjoyed biking, scootering, heelying, skateboarding, walking, running, hiking, aerobics, pilates, and nature walks this quarter. Grade: 4 (E)

Typing & Computer: Rachael is excelling at typing with proper hand positioning and appropriate speed and accuracy. Her computer literacy skills are yet improving and she demonstrates near-fluency in several programs and internet research to aid in completion of schoolwork, as well for the purpose of finding information for personal interests. She continues to improve her punctuation skills with the use of various typing programs. She is managing her computer files in an organized fashion. Additional skills worked on include: copying, pasting, using key controls, linking, site organizing,weblogging, checking email, using SiteBuilder to prepare for future instruction in XHTML. Grade: 4 (E)

Teacher Comments - 1st Quarter

Rachael is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter. She has had no absences from instruction this quarter.  She has completed the required 225  hours of instruction.  She continues to shine in art, music, reading, and typing.

The only area of concern is Rachael’s health; she continues to deal with random bouts of pain and discomfort caused by fluid retention near her cervix and uterus which requires surgical correction in the near future. At times the pain is distracting enough for her to have to cease an activity, take a rest and continue at a later time. Otherwise she is a happy child who gives 100% in the learning process.

Submitted on November 13, 2006 by Daniela