Walking and Talking
What's happening Week #15 at CC T&C?
Inspiration
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)
Classical Conversations believes in a stick in the sand.
“Here’s a simple question Leigh Bortins asks herself when teaching her boys or tutoring CC students: If I only had a stick and sand, could I engage with my students about the concept I want to teach them?”
—Classical Conversations 2010 Catalog, pg. 16
Foundations to Challenge Connection
“Our culture is obsessed with technology and entertainment. As classical, Christian educators, we need to be thoughtful about our education methods. In our generation, a tide has been turning—a tide that has eroded the foundation of true education and replaced it with a learning model as ineffective as shifting sands. I call this replacement model ‘edu-tainment.’ What do I mean? Let me expound. Unlike the proven classical model, which teaches through modeling, dialoguing, and critical thinking, edu-tainment attempts to educate using flashy tools and games that grab a student’s attention. However, much like television, the tools and games of edu-tainment leave students in a passive state of merely receiving stimuli. No real transfer or processing of knowledge—skills critical to a successful learning journey—takes place in students’ minds.
“Classical educators have referred to this approach as “filling a bucket”—pouring information into or around students (the bucket) until they can’t take anymore. Students become passive receivers—a bucket that overflows without retaining. In the long term, this filling-focused approach is unsatisfying and unsuccessful for students, leaving their spirits disengaged and their minds disinterested in life’s great learning adventure.
“In contrast, Classical Conversations programs, tutors, and parents strive to light the learning fire, to engage students in the process. We accomplish this primarily through modeling, working alongside our students with extensive dialogue and encouragement. The final result—“final” because it takes a while!—is engaged students able to work through their studies independently and confidently because they have had a sound model and encouraging mentors.”
Heather Shirley, “Edu-tainment vs. Stick in the Sand”
Announcements:
Our Presenting Family is Alana, Adeline, Cordelia, Isaiah, and Charlotte Rouggly.
As we study 6 great artists this quarter, remember to wear "paint friendly" clothing. This week we will be using a washable gold tempera paint in classes.
Please pack up lunches in the gym by 12:50 so the clean-up crew has time to sweep the floor before Essentials class begins at 1:00.
Opportunities
Let me know if you or anyone you know would like to participate in filling a box for St. Louis or Haiti kids. I will have my mom bring a box for you.
Calling all actors and actresses! Part of our Opening Assembly time in the 3rd quarter will be spent introducing the Great Artist of the week. I am looking for responsible and animated students to assist me in 5 minute skits about each artist, both in writing the skits and performing them. Let me know if you and/or your child/children are interested.
Volunteer Schedule
Nursery Volunteers
Grass (Please let me know if Colin isn't coming)
Blank
Classroom Helpers
Parents - Remember to sweep floors, wipe down tables, and replace trash liners (except Murphy's and Bacott's) in your classrooms at the end of class.
Eagin -
Jones and Sqrow
Mourreale -
St. Martin and Buskirk
Cord -
Bensinger and Moyer
Stith -
Rouggly and Teves
Murphy -
L.Ryan and Snell
Bacott -
J.Ryan
Lunch & Recess, Clean-up Crew
Snell
Blank
Buskirk
Cord
Please work together to determine who will take students outside (weather permitting) and who will clean up the gym by gathering waste and sweeping the floor. Brooms are located in the hallway closet on the opposite side of the gym. Bring the trash can from Sarah Mourreale's room and encourage families to use it instead of the other cans.
What will we be learning this week?
Presentation, Science, and Fine Arts
Presentation: Show-n-Tell or Academic
The suggested topic for Weeks 13-15 is Fine Arts.
Teach us how to play a song on the tin whistle.
Analyze the OiLS of a drawing you like.
Research a famous artist and present the information.
Our Science experiments involve Earth Science: settling soil and fossils.
The Fine Arts lesson is Great Artists - Our artist this week is Angelico.