Classical Conversations
Broken Arrow, OK
Details for you
The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Psalm 24:1
Yay! We made it through the first day of community! Way to go! I know the first couple of weeks can be hectic until you and your children develop a routine that works for you. Maybe you are wondering what to do during the week. Here are some suggestions. This is just a guideline. Remember each homeschool will look different. Some of us keep it very basic, others of us may add a few things that we think our children need. Remember to keep it fun and simple for you and your kids.
1) Review the "New Grammar" memory work everyday about 15 to 20 minutes. You can use the techniques the tutors demonstrated in class and other ideas you have found. If I am in the car, I play the CD. If you are home you can stream the weekly memory work or play it on your ipad. An android version will be released this fall for Cycle 2.
2) Do your language arts every day, whether that is Essentials or you are doing a phonics program. Also do your own math program everyday.
3) Check out library books related to the history and science we are learning and read stories together. Some weeks we get to this but other weeks we don't. I don't stress out about it anymore.
4) If you are inclined, try to do the science experiments at home talking about the steps of the scientific method. See if you come up with different results than we did in class.
5) Try to go over the fine art techniques you learned in class. There are many resources on CC Connected and in general on the internet.
6) Practice tracing maps or drawing them freehand if your child is older.
7) Read aloud to your children daily.
8) Spend time outdoors, children need time to play. It's an important part of their education.
REMEMBER TO KEEP IT SIMPLE AND STICK IN THE SAND.
Essentials Parents:
Work on your charts daily and editing exercises in the Essentials guide.
Follow your Teacher's guide in the Medieval Writing Book for the daily writing schedule.
Play mind math games with your kids.
When Mrs. Tener schedules the videos for IEW scheduled to attend. The videos are for you the teacher. It will help you teach the new unit.
For Week 2:
Family Presentations - The Burritt Family
Playground Duty - Kim Lee/Kara Wadsworth
Suggested Oral Presentations: (remember you can always choose what you want your child to present, this is just a suggestion)
Biomes: Choose one of the seven biomes and share interesting facts. Bring home a picture to illustrate your Biome.
Skill to practice: Eye Contact. Look at each member in the audience to make him/her feel special.
If you are going to be out for a day please ask another family to cover for you for cleanup and or playground rotation. Our clean up schedule with details will be posted by my white board for the first few weeks. At the end of the day the families of Essentials and Challenge should work together to clean up the Challenge and Essentials classrooms as well as making sure the bathrooms are cleaned. The hallway with Classroom #2 and Challenge room also needs to be vacuumed.
Community Announcements:
Volunteer Roles
Here is the sign up sheet: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zDi5krsV9BSQrJjWyXGLjuavGQpyOlXpgyULMHa4Ztc/edit?usp=sharing
Birthdays
Maps and Facility Fees
Parking
The Core Book Club
Biome Showcase
On Week 5 (September 21st), The kids can bring in a representation of any biome from week 1's grammar. This could be a diorama, or a model. It needs to include which biome it represents, plus an example of a carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore, and a producer, consumer, and decomposer which is native to it's environment. These all need to be labeled. These are the only guidelines. Your kids can be as creative as they want. This is not a contest per say but more of a showcase where the kids can do something fun. While showing off their work and seeing their peers work also. We can have a table that showcases these. I might have a small reward for those that participate. I haven't decided that yet.
Community Handbook
Map Contest
Week 1 and Beyond
In geography this week, students memorized and located the continents and oceans. This broad overview will prepare them to begin drawing and labeling all countries in the world, by the time they have completed all three cycles of Foundations. In Challenge A, they will learn to draw and label them on the world map. These activities will give students a mental map that, if properly reviewed, will last for a lifetime. From then on, when they read history, literature, or current events, they will be able to place people and events on this mental map.
In Foundations this week your child learned the 8 parts of speech. In Essentials this week we also learned the parts of speech. In fact, all the English Grammar we learn in Foundations, will come up again in Essentials. The classical model is about repetition and going a little bit deeper in our understanding each time we are introduced to material a second and third time around.
Online Extras
Short video on what CC Connected is.
Mrs. Tener shared the third video with her Essentials Class. I thought it might help some of you too.