Semester 2 Week 9 Recap!

Bible Study

—We read the latter part of Ephesians 6 and began to discuss “the armor of God”.  We will continue this topic next week, so reading Ephesians 6 as a family may be a great way to have some dialectic discussions at home.

LTW

—The students shared the Refutation portion of their Arrangement outlines.  

—We introduced Simile and discussed how to create similes in a 3 step process. 

—In LTW, there is an emphasis on a simile being made up of two different kinds of things with a similar quality.  The students already knew that a simile was a comparison using “like” or “as”.  The fact that there needs to be “different kinds” in order for the comparison to be defined as a simile was new to the students.  

**Example 1: The robin was as loud as a freight train.  This IS a simile because a robin and a freight train are different kinds of things.  

**Example 2: The robin sang like a nightingale.  This would NOT be a simile because a robin and a nightingale are the same kind of thing.  

—The students should have their paper done by next week and the appropriate worksheets should also be completed.  

—Remind your student to read Crispin: Cross of Lead  this week and be ready to discuss the book in community on Thursday.

Geography

—Students practiced drawing the various contents of the world that they have learned up to this point.  All in all, they are doing very well.  It appears that most of the students still struggle with the eastern half of the USA.  Remind them to be drawing all of the areas, not just what is assigned that week.

—We discussed this weeks geography terms.  It seems like they are getting rusty with Geo Terms.  Please remind them to keep up with those.  Pictures are available on CC Connected.

Rhetoric

—We discussed this weeks Fallacy Detective Chapters 10: Faulty Appeal to Authority and Chapter 11: Appeal to the People.  These discussions are so enjoyable.

—I encouraged the students to search out logical fallacies this week to bring to class to discuss. Opinion columns in newspapers are good places to find fallacies. Also, political speeches may be good fodder for a discussion.  They will earn stickers if they bring these in.

Latin

—We introduced the future tense endings for the third conjugation verbs.  We then practice translating various latin words with various tenses.   

—We completed the seminar with an exciting team game.  I would call out a latin or english word and the students would search the board (the dry erase board was filled with various latin and english words) and whichever student circled the word first received a point for their team.   The students really seemed to like it.  It even got a bit physical.  Miss Chavez was putting on a clinic in how to properly box out an opponent in basketball. 

Research

—The students drew the Integumentary System from memory.  They shared their research regarding the skeletal system. 

—We had a discussion about the brain.  We had a thought provoking discussion about the mind vs the brain and the biblical ramifications of this.  

Math

—The students’ math problems that they brought to class were written on the board and the students rolled a dice to see who would go first.  They had to pick a problem that was not their own and then lead a class discussion to solve the problem.   This highlights the process of asking good questions.  They did a great job.

Here are a few ways your student can earn extra stickers:

—Bring in fallacies that they come across during the week.

—Bring in a math problem to share with the class.

—Memorize the books of the Bible.  Only a couple students have taken advantage of this.  There is a song on the Foundations CD to help with this.

—Present something that they have researched during the week during Research strand.

—During class, demonstrate integrating the the strands.  For example: during Research, mention a Latin derivative, or during Geography, highlight something that appears mathematical, etc.  There are so many opportunities for this!

It was another great week.  Miss Lo and Miss Forrester, you were missed.  Details regarding the pig dissection and pig roast will be coming soon!  We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

-Corey

Semester 2 Week 8 Recap!

Challenge A Semester 2 Wk 8 Recap

It was Open House day and we had several visitors in and out throughout the day.  This can be distracting for the students, but they handled it flawlessly.   They all represent their families and our community so well with their high level of maturity.   

Progress reports were handed out today.  If you have any questions/concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  These evaluations are tough to assess.  I can only go off of what I see in class.  You are their teacher and you know truly how they are doing day to day.  I hope the feedback is helpful.

Thanks, Corey

RECAP:

Latin:

—We discussed 3RD CONJUGATION VERBS today, which have ‘ere’ in the 2nd principal part.  The only difference between this ending and that of the 2nd Conjugation in NO MACRON over the first ‘e’ in the infinitive.  We looked at the present and imperfect tense of 3rd. Conjugation and noticed the variations in vowels.   We looked at exercises 156,157, 161.

—We played a vocab game in which students had to race to the board, which was covered in English words, to find the translation and circle it before the other team.  It was really fun and they showed that they are improving in their latin vocabulary.

Research:

—Students drew and labeled the heart from memory.  They are all doing FANTASTIC with these drawings.  Hopefully you, as the parent, are grading these when they get home.  You should be impressed.   

—Hopefully, you are also having a dialectic discussion with your student each week about what he/she is researching for each body system.  In class, each student may or may not get enough time to discuss their research in full.  They all seem very interested in learning about the body.

—I presented a Dermatology Slide Show to the students showing various skin conditions and diseases that I see at work.  (I had fun grossing them out!)   It is helpful for them to see that medical terms for conditions/diseases can be broken down quite simply to discover their meaning.  Latin awareness is crucial to the medical field, as well as math.  I enjoy demonstrating this in case they pursue that field of study someday.

Math:

—Students presented problems to the class.  I really appreciate their willingness to do this.  Please remind your students to bring a problem each week if they are not doing so.

—We discussed functions and how to graph them.  I made up a problem and asked the students if they could figure out a function for it.  I couldn’t figure it out myself but Miss Lo figured it out.  It was amazing.  I was very impressed. I gave them a number pattern whereby the numbers were increasing by 3 (1,4,7,10,…).  I had asked the students if there was a function that we could use to figure out what the 50th number in the sequence would be.  Miss Lo came up with the function of: y= x + [2(x-1)].   Awesome!

LTW:

—Refutation was introduced today. 

—The students were VERY talkative with this exercise, which makes for a great LTW day!

—The importance of completing ANI Charts fully was discussed.  I did see improvement in that this week.  I think Refutation is a wake-up call for completing ANI’s thoroughly.  It takes the full brainstorming process to arrive at quality proofs.   Both sides need to be thoroughly brainstormed.  Some students are choosing their side prematurely and not coming up with enough opposition ideas.  In persuasive writing, they are developing the skill of refuting the oppositions to their view which means they need to fully consider the oppositions.   

Geography:

—students drew Africa weeks 1 and 2 from memory.  They are all doing a great job with Africa so far.   Remember, these drawings in class can serve as their “weekly quiz”.  It is recommended that you, as the teacher, are grading these each week.  They are doing very well with their drawings.  The small countries below Mali are tough for most of them right now.  That is an area that still needs practice.

—Remind they to keep up their skills of the rest of the world.  This is all accumulating to being able to draw the whole world.  We don’t want them getting rusty on the Western Hemisphere.

—We played our travel game again.  This is a great form of practice and they seem to enjoy the challenge.  This could easily be an ‘at home’ game for you to play with your student.   

Rhetoric:

—The Fallacy Detective is such a great platform for discussion.  The time flies by when we are discussing the fallacies.  They all seem quite engage with this!

—We discussed the following fallacies this week:  Genetic Fallacy and Tu Quoque.  

Have a great weekend!

Semester 2 Week 7 Recap!

Hello!  We had a great week in Challenge A.  There were some visitors this week that are checking out the ChA program.  I was proud to show off these students and all that they are learning.  In both Rhetoric and Research, the new material has been a welcomed change.  We had lively discussions during both of those strands.  We missed Miss Chavez and Miss Lo this week and hope they get well soon. Its not same without them.

Corey

RECAP:

Bible Study

-We had a discussion about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, using the 5 Common Topics.  

LTW

-The students read their essays from The Door in the Wall.  They sure have learned a lot since the beginning of the year.  

-We introduced a new Invention topic: the topic of Circumstance.  

Geography

-The students drew from memory the first section of Africa.   We then discussed the next section that they will be adding this week.  

-We played a travel game where the teams were given a starting location and ending destination and they had to list all the countries (or states) that they would have to travel through on their journey.  Example: They started in Maine, USA and had to go to Uruguay or starting in Estonia and traveling to Mali in Africa. 

-We reviewed the new Geo Terms for this week.

Rhetoric

-We discussed the fallacies of Red Herring, Special Pleading, and Ad Hominen in chapters 5-7 of the Fallacy Detective.  The students really seemed to enjoy this new topic.   

-I will apologize in advance for helping to arm them with this rhetorical skill. You probably have already encountered your student pointing out the fallacious nature of something you have said. 

-We reviewed our catechism questions by playing Jeopardy.  Students need to keep working on memorizing the catechism questions.

Latin

-We introduced Reflexive Pronouns in Latin.  Since the genitive case of the reflexive pronoun is sui, it opened up a dialectic discussion regarding an english derivative—suicide.  This then led to discussing different “___cides”: Homocide—killing of a man (homo means “man” in latin), pesticide, herbicide, infanticide, genocide (gens means “tribe” in latin).  Discussing derivatives is a great way to help the students.  Its great seeing the wheel turning in the students eyes as they ponder these things. 

-We worked through some English to Latin translations in Exercise 153.  

Research

-The students drew, from memory, the digestive system. They all did an excellent job.  They seem quite interested in learning about God’s creation—the human body.  

-We had a conversation regarding the circulatory system and several students shared some of their research into different diseases: Strokes and Supraventricular Tachycardia.  We broke down the term ‘supraventricular tachycardia’ to show that the student can begin knowing what these diseases are by knowing latin.

Math

-Several students presented math problems and led the class in solving the problems.  We introduced several new skills that are in the upcoming week’s lessons. 

Practicum 2017

Registration for practicum is now open.  Camp spots fill up quickly!  Brody is going to be a teen helper this year and hopes his classmates join him!   -Kelly

Semester 2 Week 6 Recap!

Bible Study

-We reviewed some of the bible terms discussed thus far: Justification, Propitiation, Salvation, Redemption, and the Jehovah compound names.  

Latin

-We introduced the latin third person pronouns.  Declining them seems a bit daunting until you see the pattern in the endings.  They come in masculine, feminine, and neuter forms but the plural endings are similar to the adjectives: masculine—2nd declension endings, feminine—1st declension endings, neuter—2nd declension neuter endings.  If you remember that they start with the letter “e” then you have all of the plural 3rd person pronouns down.  

-Remember, A pronoun agrees with the word to which it refers, in gender and number. Its case depends on its use in its own clause.  (Grammar Rule #479).

-The students translated 2 long sentences from exercise 152.  It’s great to see them work together.  

Research

-The students drew the Respiratory System from memory.  They all did a great job and everyone got a sticker for it.  

-We discussed the Digestive System and several students shared some diseases they had researched regarding the Digestive System, including: Celiac Sprue, GERD, Erythema Multiforme, and others.  We discussed how difficult it is to figure out the various causes of abdominal pain and some different exam findings that helps zero in on the cause. 

-We introduced the Cardiovascular System using Latin (Circa, Atrium, Ventriculus), Math (Circumference), Mechanics (valves), and Construction (discussion of water pumps and sump pumps) to help elucidate the purpose and function of the heart.  Its great integrating different categories of knowledge to gain further understanding—dialectic discussions in action!

Math

-The students took turns leading the class in solving problems that they brought.  This is a valuable skill to lead others in solving problems.  They are getting better every week.  

-We introduced several new math skills from Lessons 81, 83, 84.

LTW

-I evaluated everyone’s arrangement outline for proper layout and content.  They seem to be doing a good job of grasping the concepts.  Remember to check over their work each week to see that they have completed all the tasks delineated in the Ch A guide.  They were suppose to complete various worksheets on Sorting, Exordium, Division, and Amplification, along with the outline.  

-They need to have several other worksheets and their finished paper done prior to the next community day.  

-They also should read the book Gathering of Days prior to the next community day.  This week off should give them plenty of time to read the book again.

Geography

-The students drew the entire map of Asia from memory.  It’s a tall task and one that deserves praise.  I recommend asking your student to show you their drawing and allow them to show off their skills a bit. 

-We introduced the map of Africa and broke it down into 4 weeks.  Hopefully, you all got the email I sent with the 4 week breakdown of Africa.  If not, either let me know and I can resend the email or you can download it from CC connected file sharing.    We had a great discussion regarding the continent of Africa including: its geographic peculiarities, its various natural resources, its tumultuous past, and its relationship to other continents both physically and historically.  We reviewed the students’ knowledge of Africa based in their foundation’s history sentences and time cards. 

Rhetoric

-We discussed the last chapter of ICJH (chapter 20).  It’s bitter sweet finishing the book.  There has been some great discussions throughout the previous community days, but I think everyone is looking forward to starting the Fallacy Detective.  

-The students should read chapters 6 and 7 by next community day, where we will discuss the chapters.  If they have extra time, it would be worthwhile reading the first 5 chapters but it is not required. 

-We played our first game of Catechism Jeopardy with the chart that the Glanzers graciously provided for us.  Thank you Jean Marie and Emily (and anyone else who helped)!

It was great.  There were only a few bumps and bruises obtained during the game.  You should ask your student about the game.  It was full of laughter.  It was hilarious to Master Brody and Miss Lo struggling over who got the spoon.  Master Brody was dragging Miss Lo along the ground.  She was as determined then as she was in the arm wrestling competition!  

All in all, another great week!  I hope you are having a restful week off!

—Corey