Fall Semester - Challenge A - Week 2

Tuesday was a full day! We did a little of everything...listening, talking, presenting, eating, discussing, eating, visiting, watching, eating...Yes! We had two delicious snacks. Thank you to Seth's mom for those S'more brownies, and to Joe's mom for those sugar topped Chocolate Chip cookies, which were brought in as the snack from the US. I can hardly wait to see what comes in from Canada!

Math

We discussed and demonstrated adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions; reciprocals; the 3 ways to write a division problem; writing division answers as mixed numbers; and improper fractions. Time ran out before we could get to an in-depth discussion about the topics in Lessons 11 and 12, but I was able to briefly describe the main ideas.

This week...
**Complete Lessons 9 - 12 as directed in the guide
**Take Test 1 at home
**Bring your answers and problems to class

Literature

We spent the entire time adding items to our ANI chart and categorizing the affirmative. Once we had completed categorizing the affirmative items, we realized that we only had two categories; one about Edmund and one about the White Witch. In order to move from the Invention to the Arrangement of our writing, we needed a third category, which we made about promises/temptations.

This week...
**Categorize the items on the negative column of the ANI chart. These items do not have to be categorized in the same groups as the affirmative items were. They are grouped according to what they have in common. (See pgs. 64 and 65 for sample grouping)

Here is the ANI chart we composed! Click on the photo for a better view!

Latin

We declined the vocabulary on page 7. All of the students were able to decline these first declension nouns with little difficulty! Choosing pieces of popcorn (wadded pieces of paper) they randomly paired up to translate and diagram the sentences in Exercise 5 on page 11. Before stopping for the day, we discussed gender # 32 and #33 in GRAMMAR, so Exercise 4 on page 9, should be a breeze. (HINT:  There is only one masculine noun on the list!)

 

This week...

**Work on Exercises 3-5. We did a lot of these in class, so it should not be too difficult for them to do.

**Continue to write and study vocabulary cards. There is vocabulary on pg. 7 and pg. 11.

**Read grammar rules 14-33. That is a lot to memorize, so just read through them a couple of times each week. 

 

Click on link to hear vocabulary from Lesson 1.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC2Gn7EnQRA

 

Click on link to hear the First Declension noun endings. Stop the video at 1.06 minutes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIMMJ3gHIv0

 

 

Rhetoric 

I know now why so many tutors enjoy this part of the day. We had a great discussion about the creation of the earth. I especially loved how well they seemed to grasp the idea of how "something cannot come from nothing." I purposely planned this class to come after lunch so we could be full and relaxed...and we sure were!

 

This week...

**Read Chapter 2 in both books

**Record finding from "ICJH" (It Couldn't Just Happen) in the front of the binder

**Record information in the study guide for "DCYB" (Don't Check Your Brains at the Door) in the back of the binder

**Study catechism questions in the center of the binder

 

Geography

We studied the US features in earnest. First, we located them on small US maps, then we took turns locating them on the bigger US map at the front of the room. We, also, located the rivers. Thank goodness for Google on my phone, because some of them were not even in the atlas. Please feel free to adapt the number of rivers to be located to what you, as the teacher, feel necessary. We did not get to the geography terms, but I will spend a little time quizzing aloud before giving the written quiz.

 

This week...

**Study Geo terms for Weeks 1 and 2 for quiz on them. It is a matching quiz, so the word and its definition are visible.

**Draw...Draw...Draw! I will give them a blank piece of paper for them to draw and label the US. Remember that I will collect them, but will only give a mark of 1, 2, or 3. One point each for artistry, neatness, and overall accuracy. Please let me know what changes you make to their map requirements.

 

Science

We only had time to listen to half of the class present their science writings. I am planning on hearing all of them in the weeks ahead.

 

This week...

**Research fungi

**Draw and write informational paragraph in sketchbook

 

(Click below for a brief lesson on Fungi)

http://www.kidsbiology.com/biology_basics/five_kingdoms_life/fungi4.php

 

 

The room that we are in is small! I would like to try sitting on the floor again on Tuesday. It worked fairly well. If your child would like to bring in a bean bag, that would be fine. Then, they would not have to be up against the wall, they could hang out in the middle of the room, freeing up some space against the walls.

 

Please encourage appropriate classroom behavior. Most of the children are settling in nicely to the new school year. Some are still a bit "out there" and need to be reminded to calm down a bit!

 

We are off to a fantastic start...I am worn out by Tuesday evening, but it is a "good" worn out...thank you for entrusting your children to my care and tutorials! I love all of them... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 



Hello Moms of Masters...

Natalie emailed me this morning to ask about a Marble Reward. Although I have not been adding marbles to the jar, your children deserve a special treat from us. Had I been adding marbles like I should have, it would be overflowing.

There will be pizza for lunch, but to munch on during class...how ‘bout fruit? It was a big hit last year! Some items to consider are... apples, grapes (red and green), oranges, Cuties, pineapple, ... I would suggest water to drink because it goes best with the fruit, but if you all want to get something else, then that would be great.

Let me know what you think! I am open to any ideas!

****I will be available after lunch on Tuesday for Memory Testing. I believe that I have two more students going for Memory Master, so I would like to test them first. It will take about 30 minutes each. After that, I can come get the others for testing. If you cannot test on Tuesday, see me to set up another time.

Please remind your Masters students that I love them, even when I have to remind them to correct their behavior and words! You all have awesome children and their enthusiasm is contagious! Thanks for sharing them with me each Tuesday. I will miss them...and YOU!

Blessings,

Debbie

Hello All...

The class was much more attentive this week with much less chatter! Thank you so much for taking a minute to encourage your child to stay with me. I even have to remind me...and my own son!

TWO quick notes for the week:

 

1. Begin the Memory Master testing with a parent and possibly another adult. Cynthia will be ready for the Director testing in Week 24 and some in Week 25, if needed. You will arrange a time with her.

2. PIRATE STUFF...eye patch, bandana (any bright color), big hoop earring, white shirt (any kind), blue jeans (cuffed up), black pirate boots or bare feet.

***********and any prop you may need...anchor, sword, treasure chest, chains, ropes, flags, etc.

 

***********I will take care of the boat and sails and such

 

***********You can bring your pirate stuff in a Ziploc bag with your name on it and I will keep it

                      You can begin to bring in your props as soon as possible, and I will keep them in

                       a safe place

 

***********ARRRRGGGGGG!!! Learn your prepositions and make up actions for them.

 

Love to you all!

Mrs. Black (or Debbie, depending on who is reading this )

Hello All...

There was lots of energy in our room yesterday! Whoa! I can tell that Spring is in the air. Let’s try to encourage the children to stay focused and lower their vocal volumes so we can more easily move from one topic to the next. We have four more weeks!!

Here is some info for next week...

--be on the lookout for pirate gear...eye patch, bandana, big loop earring, etc. Let’s not get any pirate costumes, instead we can wear blue jeans and big white shirts on the night of the program. Please do not be financially burdened by this. I have lots of blue bandanas and probably an eye patch or two somewhere around. Dollar tree may have some stuff too.

--be thinking about how we will present the prepositions...do we want to use posters...do we want to act out what we can.

--I will get the ship and put it in my car to use as our prop.

IMPORTANT MEMORY MASTER, POWER, OR EXCELLENCE INFORMATION!

--Those children that are interested in Memory Master should be reciting to parent and another adult. When you are ready for me to work with your student, let me know and we can arrange a time. I am pretty sure that you should be ready to recite memory work to me by or on Week 23 giving Cynthia a week or so to work in time with her.

--Those children that are doing Memory Power or Excellence can arrange a time with me as well.

--If you have any questions, please let me know. If I do not have an answer, I will check with Cynthia.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your school week. I love, love, love your children and am blessed to have spent time with them...even when they are chatty!!

Blessings,

Debbie (or Mrs. Black)

Hello All...

What great fun we had on Tuesday with the Valentines! I apologize for keeping you all so late...just not enough time in the morning!

Just a quick reminder that our presentations for the next two Tuesdays will be on an Essentials topic. You can choose to read one of your papers, or do a presentation on a paper topic. You can have one visual, but it is not necessary. The visual should, of course, relate to the topic.

Remember those presentation skills! I will be evaluating them with my checks!

ALSO...

We will be studying the orchestra and classical music for the last 6 weeks. I thought we might move, but we are not. We will continue to meet in the kitchen. Our beautiful classical music should not disturb the pastor’s study like our tin whistle music!

Love to you all! Have a great weekend!

Debbie (or Mrs. Black depending on who is reading the text!)

Week 9 - Mrs. Black's Masters

Hello All...

We had a wonderful time Tuesday morning. It is hard to believe that we only have 3 more weeks together until Thanksgiving! 2012 is flying by.

News Flash.......News Flash.......News Flash.......News Flash........

NO PRESENTATIONS TO PREPARE FOR. I WANT TO DO ANOTHER ACTIVITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE INFLECTION AND PERSUASION WE LEARNDED THIS WEEK.

__________________________________________________


Remember to keep studying and reviewing...A jeopardy game with the other Masters' Class will be on the 12th week.

YAY!!!!! We filled the marble jar, so we will have a celebration next week while we review. We will have our review early. Bring is 12-14 items of your favorite treat. I will bring water and paper products.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Black