All done!

We had a wonderful last day! A special thanks to Mrs. Ward for helping with the shark dissection, which we had to do indoors because of the rainy weather.

As I reflect on the year, I seem to remember only the good times! What a growing experience for us all. I will miss being part of the Greensboro CC campus next year, and I will keep all of you in my prayers.

Best wishes to you all for a safe and fun summer, as well as, continued growth spiritually and academically as you move through the Challenge program.

Blessings and hugs!
Debbie

Last week...

Hello all...

For the last day!

LTW:  I would like to see a detailed outline for The Bronze Bow. The outline format is on page 93 in the student book, Lesson Five Arrangement Template. They will share their elements of their outline with the class.

Apologetics:  Paper on topic of choice using the LTW format that we have been working on this year. I would like the students to share their papers, but I will not require it.

Science:  Dissect Dogfish Shark. We studied the dissection yesterday in class, so I think they are ready!

Math:  Games to reinforce skills. (They loved SKUNK!)

Latin:  Open book exam on material covered this year. I have not made it up yet, but it will probably be about 10-20 sentences to translate, Latin to English and English to Latin.

Geography:  I am requiring that the students draw the entire Earth labeling the 7 continents, 4 oceans, and the major lines of latitude and longitude. For each of the countries, I am giving them the maps to label with all that they remember. Of course, the list of features for each country will be available if needed. This work will come home for you to look at!

Lunch:  Pizza and drinks on me! I will order pizza from Domino's. Mrs. Ward is bringing cupcakes for dessert. If your child would like to bring something, they are welcome to, but do not have to.

I am planning on going the whole day...until 4pm. If by some chance you will be picking up your child early, that would be fine. (the dissection will be early in the day!)

Blessings,
Debbie

Week 11

It's chilly this morning, but the sun is shining and I see Spring! We had a small but productive class on Tuesday.

Just a few notes to keep in mind for the next and last weeks of class...

Be working on the Apologetics paper. I will give them some time in class on Tuesday to ask questions and edit their papers. It would be fun to do some peer editing! I am not expecting a finished product until the last week, at which time they will share their ideas with the class. I explained the topic and purpose of the paper to them and how nicely LTW format can be used. Of course, their ANI charts will have mostly "A's" and "I's" in it, since they will be affirming a Biblical Truth.

I am giving them copies of blank maps of each country for the final Geography memory test, as well as features for each country. However without help, I expect that they will be able to draw, from memory, the entire Earth. Label the continents, oceans, and important lines of latitude and longitude. So...they will come home that day with many maps for their teachers to peruse. It would be a great way to spend time in May for them to fill in what they leave out on Week 15.

Remember that there will be a Latin open book test on that last day to see how well they can remember the main topics taught this year. It is my plan to get them checked in class!

The sharks are here and smelling up my dining room! We will watch a live demonstration of a shark dissection on Tuesday, so they will be good and ready to "dive in" on Week 15. Mrs. Ward is going to come in to help with the dissection, which I hope will be outside under the trees. Pray for nice weather!

Please send me an email about snack. I think it is the Wolowitz family and they will be gone next week...I think! The last day snacks will be provided by the Harrell and Garmer families.

On Week 15, I am treating the children to a pizza lunch with soft drinks. Mrs. Ward is going to be bringing in some cupcakes for dessert.

Please refer to the guide for any assignments for the week. If you need to me, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Blessings for a thoughtful week remembering the soberness of the cross and the joyfulness of the empty tomb!

Praises!
Debbie

Week 11...(and counting!)

Hello All...

This week, I let the students sit where they wanted to, and they made excellent choices regarding their behavior. Please applaud their decisions...baby steps! :)  We didn't do anything out of the ordinary yesterday to report! I love those steady constant days when things are predictable!

There were several questions about the apologetics paper. Please contact me if you have specific questions about the apologetics paper. I think the papers/essays should be a page or two, because I know that is what this group can deliver. It is an opportunity for the student to elaborate on a topic defending their point-of-view about any idea regarding their Christian worldview. I suggested they look in one of the apologetics books we have been using...Don't Check Your Brains at the Door or It Couldn't Just Happen . They will share their papers on the 29th!

As for this week's work...follow the guide.

A few items to LOOK forward to as we approach the end of the semester:

• I have opted to do a dissection, which we will do on the last day of class Week 15 instead of a end-of-the-year body systems test in Science. (I am thinking about a shark! 2-3 children per shark.)
• There will be a drawing and labeling test of the whole world on the last day of class Week 15.
• There will be an apologetics paper due on Week 15. You can choose any topic that we have discussed this year, or one of the students own choosing.
• The Bronze Bow is the last book we will read, and it will be assigned to start during Week 13. We will walk through the process and learn new elements, but it looks like this is an essay that will be finished at home. I cannot see in the guide that I should collect it, so there is some freedom in finishing this paper.
• In the guide, it states to give a Latin final. I will give the students an open book review test on the main topics they have learned this year. Hopefully, we will have time to check it that final day and you can see what their strengths and weaknesses are.
• Nothing really to prepare for in Math.

Remember that April 29th will be our last day!

Have a great week!
Blessings,
Debbie

Week 10

Well, the weather did hold out for us! We raised the blinds in our room to watch it snow...it was lovely!

It was a wonderful class yesterday. There were lots of discussion throughout the day, and it was focused on our lessons.

A few points to remember as you work this week:

• AFRICA drawing and labeling test next week.
• Geography Terms test on Weeks 9 and 10 only.
• Crispin should be completed and ANI charts done.
• SKELETAL drawing and labeling test next week.

A few items to LOOK forward to as we approach the end of the semester:

• I have opted to do a dissection, which we will do on the last day of class Week 15 instead of a end-of-the-year body systems test in Science. (I am thinking about a shark! 2-3 children per shark.)
• There will be a drawing and labeling test of the whole world on the last day of class Week 15.
• There will be an apologetics paper due on Week 15. You can choose any topic that we have discussed this year, or one of the students own choosing. I will elaborate more on this on Week 12 or 13.
• The Bronze Bow is the last book we will read, and it will be assigned to start during Week 13. We will walk through the process and learn new elements, but it looks like this is an essay that will be finished at home. I cannot see in the guide that I should collect it, so there is some freedom in finishing this paper.
• In the guide, it states to give a Latin final. I will give the students an open book review test on the main topics they have learned this year. Hopefully, we will have time to check it that final day and you can see what their strengths and weaknesses are.
• Nothing really to prepare for in Math.

Remember that April 29th will be our last day!

Have a great week! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!
Blessings,
Debbie

Finally, Week 8

Spring is finally in the air! I am not sure that it is here yet, but it is around the corner! The make-up day for the day missed last week is on April 29th.

A few tidbits to keep in mind...

• No paper due this week...it will be due on Week 10.
• There will be the usual Geo Terms quiz next week, Week 9. (Remember that these are on odd weeks.)
• In Science, the students will be quizzed on the ear.

The Ward family is on the list for snack this week. The children really love the snacks and hearing about how or where they are made. It is been a real treat to have these each week!

I am holding fast to the guide, so please refer to it for the exact assignments. Due dates and quiz dates are there as well. If you have any questions, or need clarification, please let me know.

Week 6

This was a wonderful week with the students! Thank you, parents, for joining with me to keep them on the right track for learning.

The Fogleman family brought in some delicious homemade cookies with sugar, butter, and sesame...quite an Asian treat! Next week, our African snack will be from the Wolowitz family!

Not much news in regards to assignments...Follow the guide! If you have any questions, please let me know.

Short and sweet...
Blessings,
Debbie