Challenge A - Week 3
Another wonderful week with your children! Thank you for sharing them each Tuesday with me! I pray they are having a fun time learning, and that they are getting adjusted to the challenge programs.
Long post...please be sure to read carefully! I am not a great writer, nor a very interesting one, but I am working on it. Please bear with me as I learn to blog in a more interesting fashion.
Math
We discussed and demonstrated problems about equal groups from Lesson 13. Without much prompting, the students could tell me about parts of a whole being fractions, decimals, and percentages. We worked a bit on Lesson 14 with problems using parts of a whole. We spent more time on looking at equivalent fractions using a clear ruler. By using the ruler, the students could see the equivalent fractions of an inch. I stressed, stressed, and stressed the importance of reducing fractions. We did not do problems or examples in doing so, but we will start with this on Week 4 as a review. I may do that each week to get them used to reducing. That was such an issue with my own children...can they ever get enough practice?? Lesson 16 was briefly discussed, but we did not do any conversions.
This week...
**Complete Lessons 17 - 20 as directed in the guide
**Take Test 3 at home
**Bring your answers and any problems with the lessons to class
Literature
They are ready to write their rudimentary persuasive essay. PARENTS PLEASE NOTE...this is an rudimentary essay. It should be short and simple following the example on page 7 in the Student Book. It may seem too simple for them after working with IEW, but remember that we are learning a different type of writing. IEW are lessons are on information gathering and expository writing. LTW are lessons on persuasive writing, which they will learn to "dress-up" a different way as they go through the program. Keep reminding yourselves and your students of this point. All writing cannot be addressed with the IEW method. It is a wonderful way to introduce and carry students through their elementary years, but it is time to develop a more critical approach. LTW offers that, but we have to start with baby steps. This year Challenge A programs across the CC community are starting LTW, next year Challenge B will be added, the next year Challenge 1 will be added and so on. Your students are ushering in a new way to express their ideas, and hopefully, persuade others to believe as they do. Can you see how this can be used by God to further His kingdom?
This week...
**Write the simple persuasive essay supporting the thesis we developed in class. Some of the students believe that Edmond should have followed the White Witch, and others believe he shouldn't have. We discussed proofs supporting both points of view. They should have those in their Student Books.
**Read Carry On Mr. Bowditch
Latin
Latin was shortened so we could finish the proofs with LTW. We declined the vocabulary on page 7 in the Accusative case and discussed when to use this case. We did not discuss the Genitive case on page 16 in the purple book as much as I would have liked, but Ex. 8 and Ex. 9 will cover it.
NOTE: When the exercise directions read "Say in English or Latin", I want them to write it and say it.
This week...
**Complete the following: Ex. 6, even numbers; Ex. 7, odd numbers; Ex. 8 even numbers; Ex. 9 odd numbers. (Of course, they can do more!!)
**Study for Lesson 1 Quiz. Which will be open book, and they will be able to discuss the quiz with their classmates...not me! (I envision a big huddle in the middle of the room with the students discussing on their own...Lesson 1 Latin. That looks so cool to me in my mind... I hope you catch the vision as well!)
**NO STRESSING ABOUT THE QUIZ. By design, it will set them up to succeed, not fail. I will not let that happen. I will be watching their interactions closely!!
Click on link to hear vocabulary from Lesson 1.
Click on link to hear the First Declension noun endings. Stop the video at 1.06 minutes!
Rhetoric
I know now why so many tutors enjoy this part of the day. We had a great discussion about how God created the "odd planet", earth to support life for us. They will be reading and writing more about our "odd planet" this week. In DCYB, we read about how truly different God is from "the force" that Luke Skywalker depended on. This book is so much fun to do with the students. Be sure to be learning three catechism questions each week. By Week 4, they should know the first 9.
This week...
**Read Chapter 3 in both books and record the written work in their blue spiral books.
**Study the first 9 catechism questions.
Geography
Your children are so diligent! They worked diligently on the US map and features drawing quiz. The geography terms stumped some of them, so be sure to keep up with those.
I am going to switch things up a bit. Instead of giving them the drawing test and the geographical term quiz on the same day...I am going to alternate them. Every odd numbered week, they will have the drawing and labeling test. Every even week, they will have the geographical term quiz. that is self checked.
So...Week 4, they will be quizzed on the geographical terms for Week 3! Week 5, they will be tested on Canada. Week 6, they will be quizzed on Week 4 and Week 5 geographical terms, etc.
We started Canada and watched a video introducing us to our wonderful northern neighbors. Thanks to the Gaines family for the delicious maple donuts and candy, and the salt and vinegar chips. I love maple anything!!
NOTE ON GRADING GEO STUFF! I will give a 1, 2, or 3 depending on the artistry, accuracy, and neatness of the map drawing. If you, as the teacher, want to give a different type of grade, then please feel free.
The quizzes are self corrected. I have them circle the numbers that they did not answer and mark the numbers they missed. This will give you an idea of how they did. Some students were tempted to change answers when the checked their work. Please let them know that this is unacceptable. Take a moment this week and discuss integrity and honesty. No grade is worth comprising one's integrity...this vital life lesson has got to take hold now, and with urgency, if you have not already discussed it with your child. Believe me...I did! And I will stay on it!
This week...
**Study Week 3 geo terms for quiz.
**Draw...Draw...Draw and label Canada. Since Canada is such a difficult draw with the northern islands, I am fine with them "blobbing" those islands. They must, however, label the provinces and featured islands correctly.
Science
We listened to all the reports except a couple. On Week 4, I would like to do something a bit different. I want to go on a wildflower hunt and do flower and herb pressing in class. I think class would be more interesting if we did some presentations and some topic associated hand-on activity. Please let me know what you think about this. It is a slight diversion from the guide, but I want to incorporate all the learning modalities.
This week...
**Wildflowers is the research topic. Bring in a thick book that we can use to press our flowers. I will send it home for you to stack more things on top. Joe thought of a cinderblock to use at home...great idea!
Have a great week!!
Blessings,
Debbie
For Math, isn't it lessons 13-16 and test 2 this week?
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