Hello Masters families,
What an action packed day today! We kept on pace and covered an immense amount of material summing up an amazing semester. We began the day with a blast. All of the students had a great time launching their rockets and experienced success forcing their balloon rockets up, down, and across. Great teamwork! The stomp rockets were also explosive fun! Great work to all of the masters students today for a successful science adventure. Following the science time you all blew through tin whistle grammar and played a beautiful symphony of tunes together. It was fun to gather around the piano and play together for our last week of tin whistle. Thank you Mollie and Hannah for the accompaniment, you did a great job! All tin whistlers played with skill and knowledge.
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week 12:
History Sentence: Tell me about the Battle of Waterloo - Napoleon Bonaparte (stand up straight and tall) of the French Empire (put your hand over your eyes and look over your empire) was defeated (sad face) at the Battle of Waterloo (hit your sword down twice for the 2 O's) by British General Wellington (salute and make a W with your right hand) soon after the War of 1812 (draw your sword again) in the United States (point down to show you are in the U.S.).
History Timeline: Gutenberg Prints the Bible (open left hand - slap right hand over to mimic a printing press) The Renaissance (paint the Mona Lisa in the air) The Inquisition (flatten left hand open and point INto palm with right pointer finger) Columbus Sails to the New World (make a C with your hand and sail it in front of your body) Martin Luther Begins the Reformation (Nail the 95 Theses to the wall) Magellan Circumnavigates the Earth (rotate your right hand around your left fist/earth) Ulrich Zwingli and the Anabaptists (draw a large Z in the air) The Act of Supremacy (Put both fists on hips)
Science: What are some names of U.S. space missions? Mercury Gemini Apollo Shuttle
Each student received a coloring sheet of each of the NASA spacecrafts to color or attempt to replicate by drawing.
Math - Sing to the tune of BINGO "B-I-N-G-O" One-thou-sand-me-ters (sing 3 times) "and BINGO was his name-0" e-quals-one-kil-o-me-ter
English: More Indefinite Pronouns - we sang the grammar song from Mrs. Varnell to learn these pronouns. BOTH, EACH, NEITHER, EITHER, NOBODY, NONE!!!
Latin: Future Perfect Tense - In the FUTURE I'm aware o' a PERFECT heaven. (Amavero)
Each student received and placed in the front of the Latin section of their binders a handout with each of the tips to remember the Latin conjugations. Please use these to help your child remember the differences between the conjugations. We will repeat all of these conjugations during semester 2!
Geography: Eastern European Seas - Baltic Sea, White Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea
We located and labeled all of the seas on a blank map.
Zachary, great work on your "All About Me" speech and poster. We really enjoyed your detail and fascinating facts. Keep up the great work!
Today I was so thankful for an abundance of review time! We used the first 20 minutes to completely review 12 weeks of timeline, geography and science and then we dove into the awesome game "Will the Winner Lose???" We recited the 12 weeks of timeline and science as a group and individually labeled blank maps with all 12 weeks of geography!!! Amazing work. I think all of the students enjoyed the element of chance in our review game and did a great job reciting their memory work in all of the subjects. On Week 13 we will play this review game again to survey semester one.
Great work on a job well done this semester - our cups have overflowed with blessings. Enjoy the CC break over the holidays with your families. For the best success with your Foundations memory work, set aside time weekly to review through games, binder work, copywork sheets, and map drawing and labeling. I know at our home we will be working on our map drawing skills by drawing our Map of Europe more over the break as we rest from all of the new material. Any memory drilling you do over the break can be recorded on your Learning Log and turned in for tickets/CC Cash when your return from the break.
Thank you so much for the kind and generous gift today. The card was beautiful testimony to the CC family I am so blessed with. I hope you know my gratitude to all of you each week as you graciously support me in class and your children bless me with their smiles and unending effort and enthusiasm. This Thanksgiving I will be thanking God for each of you and our entire CC family - God is so good.
With much love and wishes for each of you to have a blessed holiday season,
Mrs. Gaines
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Week Eleven - Celebration Heaven
Hello Masters families,
We had another blessed day together yesterday. It seems impossible that next Tuesday is the last week of the fall semester and yet, as evidenced in our Jeopardy review game, the students have learned and grown so much. Parents, I hope you enjoyed the apple cider on this cold, rainy Tuesday! I just wanted to thank you for your unending support each week. Congratulations to all of the students on your well deserved Memory Marble celebration! The cake, ice cream, and cheese balls were yummy and we completed a full Jeopardy game which covered all subjects and stirred our learning by focusing on the questions instead of just the answers! Parents, this is an easy variation on memory work to play at home. You quote the answers and let the students supply the questions. This method of review strengthens their recall of the history sentence prompts, names of the Latin conjugations, names of the pronoun lists, science question terminology, and geography headings. For a fun twist let your child quiz you in the same format and then they will be reciting all of the grammar answers while teaching YOU the questions. Teaching someone else the information is a fun way to learn, and I know my girls love to put mom on the spot!
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
As time permits this week enjoy reviewing the memory work from semester one. Next week all of the classes will have an HOUR to focus on review! We will use our hour to do an in depth review of the material and follow up with a fun game called.... "Will the Winner Lose?" Parents you are invited to play with us. It should a fun way to show what we know from 12 weeks of "training our brains to retain".
Presentations!
Again, thank you parents for carrying on with presentations yesterday in my absence. I am sorry I missed out on Shawn, Caleb, and Sam's last presentation for the semester, but with the amazing poster work I was able to at least see the highlights of what their presentations were about. Colorful and creative displays guys - thank you for your hard work and effort! I look forward to more presenting adventures next semester with all of you. Zachary, we look forward to seeing and hearing "All About You" next week.
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week 11:
History Sentences - Tell me about the French Revolution...During the Reign of Terror (look scared) of the French Revolution, in the early 1790's (stretch your arms like you have just woken up), aristocrats were imprisoned in the Bastille (grab the prison bars with both hands) and had their heads removed (point to your head and nod forward) by the guillotine (use right hand as a blade and slice into left hand) while citizens fought (put up both hands in fists) for the "Declaration of the Rights of Man"(write on your hand).
History Timeline - The Magna Carta (cross forearms across chest), St. Thomas Acquinas (use right hand and left hand to form a "T"), Marco Polo (cover eyes on Marco and uncover eyes on Polo), The Hundred Years War (stab sword forward), the Black Death (place right hand around throat), and Joan of Arc (use right hand to make an arc), The Great Papal Schism (use both hands to make a pope hat and then split arms wide apart), John Wycliffe and John Huss (two hands together to the left and to the right of your body), Prince Henry the Navigator (row your boat), Fall of Constantinople to Mohammed the II (make a "C" shape with your right hand above your head, drop to your waist and then raise back above your head with 2 fingers)
Science - Name the other bodies in the solar system...
Asteroids, Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites, Comets
We talked about what each of these terms are and explained the order of Meteoroids (above the earth's atmosphere), Meteor (in the earth's atmosphere), meteorite (landing on earth - "rite" into the earth).
Math - Cubes 1's to 10's- We wrote out the equations on white boards and listened to the Cubes song on the CC audio CD.
English - All of the students placed a handout in their binders to drill the Indefinite Pronouns. We used the song from Mrs. Varnell to drill as well.
Latin - Present Perfect Tense - Memory Cue "In the FUTURE I'm aware o' a PERFECT heaven." We placed the final drill sheet in their binder for Latin this semester to drill at home, completed the sheet with dry erase, and listened to the audio CD from CC to master the Latin.
Geography - Eastern Europe - We pointed to and identified the following locations on their labeled map this week. Use prior geography knowledge to drill the locations:
Constantinople/Istanbul (on the SW corner of the Black Sea), Volga River (trace from the small body of water and curve right and down into the Caspian Sea), Moscow (located slightly below the top of the Volga River), Ural Mountains (dotted line through the center of USSR), Siberia (East of the Ural Mountains)
Have a blessed week, enjoy drilling your memory work, but be sure to record your drilling and European map drawing on your Learning Log to cash in next week. We will be shopping in the CC store Week 12!!! Turn in all handouts you have completed for Memory Marbles and any tin whistle practicing as well. This week try practicing your tin whistle songs with different DYNAMICS using STACCATO, LEGATO, and with a CRESCENDO to have some fun.
Have a blessed week!
Mrs. Gaines
We had another blessed day together yesterday. It seems impossible that next Tuesday is the last week of the fall semester and yet, as evidenced in our Jeopardy review game, the students have learned and grown so much. Parents, I hope you enjoyed the apple cider on this cold, rainy Tuesday! I just wanted to thank you for your unending support each week. Congratulations to all of the students on your well deserved Memory Marble celebration! The cake, ice cream, and cheese balls were yummy and we completed a full Jeopardy game which covered all subjects and stirred our learning by focusing on the questions instead of just the answers! Parents, this is an easy variation on memory work to play at home. You quote the answers and let the students supply the questions. This method of review strengthens their recall of the history sentence prompts, names of the Latin conjugations, names of the pronoun lists, science question terminology, and geography headings. For a fun twist let your child quiz you in the same format and then they will be reciting all of the grammar answers while teaching YOU the questions. Teaching someone else the information is a fun way to learn, and I know my girls love to put mom on the spot!
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
As time permits this week enjoy reviewing the memory work from semester one. Next week all of the classes will have an HOUR to focus on review! We will use our hour to do an in depth review of the material and follow up with a fun game called.... "Will the Winner Lose?" Parents you are invited to play with us. It should a fun way to show what we know from 12 weeks of "training our brains to retain".
Presentations!
Again, thank you parents for carrying on with presentations yesterday in my absence. I am sorry I missed out on Shawn, Caleb, and Sam's last presentation for the semester, but with the amazing poster work I was able to at least see the highlights of what their presentations were about. Colorful and creative displays guys - thank you for your hard work and effort! I look forward to more presenting adventures next semester with all of you. Zachary, we look forward to seeing and hearing "All About You" next week.
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week 11:
History Sentences - Tell me about the French Revolution...During the Reign of Terror (look scared) of the French Revolution, in the early 1790's (stretch your arms like you have just woken up), aristocrats were imprisoned in the Bastille (grab the prison bars with both hands) and had their heads removed (point to your head and nod forward) by the guillotine (use right hand as a blade and slice into left hand) while citizens fought (put up both hands in fists) for the "Declaration of the Rights of Man"(write on your hand).
History Timeline - The Magna Carta (cross forearms across chest), St. Thomas Acquinas (use right hand and left hand to form a "T"), Marco Polo (cover eyes on Marco and uncover eyes on Polo), The Hundred Years War (stab sword forward), the Black Death (place right hand around throat), and Joan of Arc (use right hand to make an arc), The Great Papal Schism (use both hands to make a pope hat and then split arms wide apart), John Wycliffe and John Huss (two hands together to the left and to the right of your body), Prince Henry the Navigator (row your boat), Fall of Constantinople to Mohammed the II (make a "C" shape with your right hand above your head, drop to your waist and then raise back above your head with 2 fingers)
Science - Name the other bodies in the solar system...
Asteroids, Meteors, Meteoroids, Meteorites, Comets
We talked about what each of these terms are and explained the order of Meteoroids (above the earth's atmosphere), Meteor (in the earth's atmosphere), meteorite (landing on earth - "rite" into the earth).
Math - Cubes 1's to 10's- We wrote out the equations on white boards and listened to the Cubes song on the CC audio CD.
English - All of the students placed a handout in their binders to drill the Indefinite Pronouns. We used the song from Mrs. Varnell to drill as well.
Latin - Present Perfect Tense - Memory Cue "In the FUTURE I'm aware o' a PERFECT heaven." We placed the final drill sheet in their binder for Latin this semester to drill at home, completed the sheet with dry erase, and listened to the audio CD from CC to master the Latin.
Geography - Eastern Europe - We pointed to and identified the following locations on their labeled map this week. Use prior geography knowledge to drill the locations:
Constantinople/Istanbul (on the SW corner of the Black Sea), Volga River (trace from the small body of water and curve right and down into the Caspian Sea), Moscow (located slightly below the top of the Volga River), Ural Mountains (dotted line through the center of USSR), Siberia (East of the Ural Mountains)
Have a blessed week, enjoy drilling your memory work, but be sure to record your drilling and European map drawing on your Learning Log to cash in next week. We will be shopping in the CC store Week 12!!! Turn in all handouts you have completed for Memory Marbles and any tin whistle practicing as well. This week try practicing your tin whistle songs with different DYNAMICS using STACCATO, LEGATO, and with a CRESCENDO to have some fun.
Have a blessed week!
Mrs. Gaines
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Week Ten - Let the Celebrating Begin!
Hello Masters families,
Yesterday was a rewarding day filled with the luminous light of the moon and the twinkling tunes of the tin whistle. I want to begin with a huge thank you to all of the students for a much improved effort on our class motto - "MINIMUM TALKING+MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION= A SUCCESSFUL MASTERS CLASS". Everyone showed improvement in this area and the benefits were immeasurable. I especially want to comment on the heart of participation in our class. It is such a blessing to see all of the students anxious to answer questions, demonstrate the tin whistle, and present. When I see these students trusting each other and having a happy heart to participate in class, it is a testimony of Godly character - they are building each other up and serving the Lord with gladness. They bless me. Please mention this to them this week as an extra word of encouragement.
Presentations: We all enjoyed well prepared presentations yesterday with amazing visual aids. I loved seeing the hard work and creativity the students displayed on their posters. I learned about all of them and everyone in the class enjoyed seeing each student individually shine and share their lives. Sam, we enjoyed your presentation from a different perspective - great story telling and detail, good work on your eye contact. Harrison, your poster was handsome and well planned. Using the summer and the winter was a great way to organize your presentation. Jonathan, your window pane poster was a creative way for us to "look into" what you shared about your life with us. Carlyssa, your three sided display board was packed with the love of your family and the sporty side of your life. Amazing work and preparation were displayed. Hannah, we loved seeing pictures from different times in your life and what you love to do with your family. I never knew about your archery interest - awesome. This was a great week to culminate all of the presenting skills we have focused on this year- confidence, voice control, body language, and thinking on your feet. Mollie, Shawn, Sam, Caleb and Zachary, I can't wait to see what you have planned for us next week!
IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR KNOWLEDGE!!!
As anticipated the students filled the Memory Marble Jar to overflowing yesterday and we will celebrate next week during review time. I am planning the following schedule for for next week:
9:30-10 Science, 10-10:30 Presentations, 10:30-11 Review and Celebrate, 11-11:30 New Grammar, 11:30-12 Tin Whistle. The students will also be able to cash in their Classical Cash at the CC store at points throughout the morning. It will be a day filled with reaping the rewards of their hard work. It is time to celebrate a semester packed with hard work. Please remind them to hand in any additional Learning Logs to me before the opening so I can add up any earnings.
REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!
Yesterday we enjoyed a fast and furious review session at the end of class where I answered questions about Memory Master, Excellence, and Power, the proofing process, and modeled using the proof sheet for review. We were able to review nine weeks of material in history, science and English in seven minutes. The students were on fire answering the questions!!! We will continue this style of review next week and prepare for our hour long review session/game in Week 12. As your schedule allows at home, use the techniques I mentioned last week for review.
Parents, this is a great time of the year to reflect on your child's strongest, favorite subjects and set any goals that they may have for the end of the year memory testing. However, remember that the memory testing at the end of the year is completely OPTIONAL. One of the main goals of all of this drill and practice is simply to "TRAIN THE BRAIN TO RETAIN". Yesterday I observed extreme growth in every student on their memory training. The brain is like a muscle, it strengthens as you work it. A little training every day reaps bountiful rewards. As you set these goals for your homeschool consider God's guidance and direction..."In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."Proverbs 3:6
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week Ten:
History Sentence: Tell me about the history of Russia... Listen to the Audio CD and act out...
Vladimir I (hold up a V with one hand and a 1 with the other) brought Christianity (make a cross on your chest) to Russia in the 900's (hold up nine fingers). In the late 1400's (use right hand and throw it over your shoulder to indicate LATE 1400's) Czar Ivan (hold up right pinky for the letter I) the Great built (hammer) the Kremlin (put two hands together to mimic the top of the Kremlin) in Moscow. Catherine the Great (fan yourself) expanded (throw arms apart) and westernized (throw a lasso) Russia in the late 1700's (use right hand and throw it over your shoulder to indicate LATE 1700's).
History Timeline: Motions continued...
Alfred the Great (throw right fist into the air above head on GREAT)
Otto I and the Holy Roman Empire (bring hand down and hold up the #1 on first)
The East-West Schism (point east then west)
The Feudal System (shake your finger)
William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings (Hold up 3 fingers for a W and then gallop in front of you)
Cathedrals in Europe (both arms extended above your head to form a steeple)
The Crusades (draw your sword)
St. Francis of Assisi (hand out alms to the poor)
Peg Dates: Final dates for this semester...
St. Jerome Completes the Vulgate 405 AD End of the Western Roman Empire 476AD Charles Martel, Pepin the Short, and Charlemagne 714-814 AD
Science: What are the phases of the moon? LEARN THESE IN ORDER
New, Crescent, Quarter, Gibbous, Full
We sent home a lot of handouts to make the most of our science question this week. First, they received a coloring sheet listing the question and answers for this week's science grammar. This sheet reveals the waxing and waning of the moon. Secondly, they received a sheet detailing all of the phases of the moon. On the back is a chart where your child can record the phases of the moon over the course of a month. Thirdly, they recieved a project they can complete to make a phases of the moon wheel to quiz their knowledge of what each phase of the moon looks like. Each student placed a brass brad in the front pocket of their binder to complete this project. Have fun with these this week!
Math: Squares from 1x1 to 15x15 We wrote all of the equations on their white boards for learning the squares this week. Listen to the audio CD and memorize the squares.
English: What are the Demonstrative Pronouns? This, That, These, Those
We listened to the Audio CD of Grammar Songs from Mrs. Varnell to drill the demonstrative pronouns and completed parts of the pronoun drill sheet in their binders.
The English grammar this year can be tricky so use the grammar songs from Mrs. Varnell and the drill sheets in your student's binder to help master this memory work.
Latin: Pluperfect Tense of the verb AMO "PLU RHYMES WITH BLUE - I'm a wearin'(amaveram) BLUE"
We listened to the audio CD, I modeled the hand motions, and completed our Latin sheets to drill the memory work. Next week I will introduce the last conjugation for the semester!!! Next semester we will review the same 6 conjugations. With all of the repetition, Latin is a great subject to master this year... and will be a HUGE help for your child for further Latin study at home and in the CHALLENGE program.
Geography: Western World (Central) We continued our learning on the World map and added three locations. Cuba (color in and mark with a C), Puerto Rico (circle and label PR), Incas (home of) label with an I, located in Peru, South America.
The Incas were a people group who controlled the land that makes up modern day Peru. Their civilization was strong in the 1400's - 1600's.
Tin Whistle - Remind your child to bring their tin whistle and tin whistle folder to class next week. Record any extra tin whistle practice on their Learning Logs for Meomory Marbles!
Have a blessed week,
Mrs. Gaines
Yesterday was a rewarding day filled with the luminous light of the moon and the twinkling tunes of the tin whistle. I want to begin with a huge thank you to all of the students for a much improved effort on our class motto - "MINIMUM TALKING+MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION= A SUCCESSFUL MASTERS CLASS". Everyone showed improvement in this area and the benefits were immeasurable. I especially want to comment on the heart of participation in our class. It is such a blessing to see all of the students anxious to answer questions, demonstrate the tin whistle, and present. When I see these students trusting each other and having a happy heart to participate in class, it is a testimony of Godly character - they are building each other up and serving the Lord with gladness. They bless me. Please mention this to them this week as an extra word of encouragement.
Presentations: We all enjoyed well prepared presentations yesterday with amazing visual aids. I loved seeing the hard work and creativity the students displayed on their posters. I learned about all of them and everyone in the class enjoyed seeing each student individually shine and share their lives. Sam, we enjoyed your presentation from a different perspective - great story telling and detail, good work on your eye contact. Harrison, your poster was handsome and well planned. Using the summer and the winter was a great way to organize your presentation. Jonathan, your window pane poster was a creative way for us to "look into" what you shared about your life with us. Carlyssa, your three sided display board was packed with the love of your family and the sporty side of your life. Amazing work and preparation were displayed. Hannah, we loved seeing pictures from different times in your life and what you love to do with your family. I never knew about your archery interest - awesome. This was a great week to culminate all of the presenting skills we have focused on this year- confidence, voice control, body language, and thinking on your feet. Mollie, Shawn, Sam, Caleb and Zachary, I can't wait to see what you have planned for us next week!
IT'S TIME TO CELEBRATE OUR KNOWLEDGE!!!
As anticipated the students filled the Memory Marble Jar to overflowing yesterday and we will celebrate next week during review time. I am planning the following schedule for for next week:
9:30-10 Science, 10-10:30 Presentations, 10:30-11 Review and Celebrate, 11-11:30 New Grammar, 11:30-12 Tin Whistle. The students will also be able to cash in their Classical Cash at the CC store at points throughout the morning. It will be a day filled with reaping the rewards of their hard work. It is time to celebrate a semester packed with hard work. Please remind them to hand in any additional Learning Logs to me before the opening so I can add up any earnings.
REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!!!
Yesterday we enjoyed a fast and furious review session at the end of class where I answered questions about Memory Master, Excellence, and Power, the proofing process, and modeled using the proof sheet for review. We were able to review nine weeks of material in history, science and English in seven minutes. The students were on fire answering the questions!!! We will continue this style of review next week and prepare for our hour long review session/game in Week 12. As your schedule allows at home, use the techniques I mentioned last week for review.
Parents, this is a great time of the year to reflect on your child's strongest, favorite subjects and set any goals that they may have for the end of the year memory testing. However, remember that the memory testing at the end of the year is completely OPTIONAL. One of the main goals of all of this drill and practice is simply to "TRAIN THE BRAIN TO RETAIN". Yesterday I observed extreme growth in every student on their memory training. The brain is like a muscle, it strengthens as you work it. A little training every day reaps bountiful rewards. As you set these goals for your homeschool consider God's guidance and direction..."In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."Proverbs 3:6
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week Ten:
History Sentence: Tell me about the history of Russia... Listen to the Audio CD and act out...
Vladimir I (hold up a V with one hand and a 1 with the other) brought Christianity (make a cross on your chest) to Russia in the 900's (hold up nine fingers). In the late 1400's (use right hand and throw it over your shoulder to indicate LATE 1400's) Czar Ivan (hold up right pinky for the letter I) the Great built (hammer) the Kremlin (put two hands together to mimic the top of the Kremlin) in Moscow. Catherine the Great (fan yourself) expanded (throw arms apart) and westernized (throw a lasso) Russia in the late 1700's (use right hand and throw it over your shoulder to indicate LATE 1700's).
History Timeline: Motions continued...
Alfred the Great (throw right fist into the air above head on GREAT)
Otto I and the Holy Roman Empire (bring hand down and hold up the #1 on first)
The East-West Schism (point east then west)
The Feudal System (shake your finger)
William the Conqueror and the Battle of Hastings (Hold up 3 fingers for a W and then gallop in front of you)
Cathedrals in Europe (both arms extended above your head to form a steeple)
The Crusades (draw your sword)
St. Francis of Assisi (hand out alms to the poor)
Peg Dates: Final dates for this semester...
St. Jerome Completes the Vulgate 405 AD End of the Western Roman Empire 476AD Charles Martel, Pepin the Short, and Charlemagne 714-814 AD
Science: What are the phases of the moon? LEARN THESE IN ORDER
New, Crescent, Quarter, Gibbous, Full
We sent home a lot of handouts to make the most of our science question this week. First, they received a coloring sheet listing the question and answers for this week's science grammar. This sheet reveals the waxing and waning of the moon. Secondly, they received a sheet detailing all of the phases of the moon. On the back is a chart where your child can record the phases of the moon over the course of a month. Thirdly, they recieved a project they can complete to make a phases of the moon wheel to quiz their knowledge of what each phase of the moon looks like. Each student placed a brass brad in the front pocket of their binder to complete this project. Have fun with these this week!
Math: Squares from 1x1 to 15x15 We wrote all of the equations on their white boards for learning the squares this week. Listen to the audio CD and memorize the squares.
English: What are the Demonstrative Pronouns? This, That, These, Those
We listened to the Audio CD of Grammar Songs from Mrs. Varnell to drill the demonstrative pronouns and completed parts of the pronoun drill sheet in their binders.
The English grammar this year can be tricky so use the grammar songs from Mrs. Varnell and the drill sheets in your student's binder to help master this memory work.
Latin: Pluperfect Tense of the verb AMO "PLU RHYMES WITH BLUE - I'm a wearin'(amaveram) BLUE"
We listened to the audio CD, I modeled the hand motions, and completed our Latin sheets to drill the memory work. Next week I will introduce the last conjugation for the semester!!! Next semester we will review the same 6 conjugations. With all of the repetition, Latin is a great subject to master this year... and will be a HUGE help for your child for further Latin study at home and in the CHALLENGE program.
Geography: Western World (Central) We continued our learning on the World map and added three locations. Cuba (color in and mark with a C), Puerto Rico (circle and label PR), Incas (home of) label with an I, located in Peru, South America.
The Incas were a people group who controlled the land that makes up modern day Peru. Their civilization was strong in the 1400's - 1600's.
Tin Whistle - Remind your child to bring their tin whistle and tin whistle folder to class next week. Record any extra tin whistle practice on their Learning Logs for Meomory Marbles!
Have a blessed week,
Mrs. Gaines
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Week Nine - November is here
Hello Masters families,
Another energetic week has flown by and believe it or not the semester will soon be drawing to a close! Sam, we missed you this week but we know you had an exciting adventure and we can't wait to hear all about it.
REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!!
As we approach the end of the semester I like to focus on fast and furious review to drill, drill, drill all of our grammar. Try to take time this week to review subjects going back to week one. This can be done using a variety of methods - if your student is strong on most of the subjects you could do copywork sheets (day 1), binder drill sheets and map labeling (day 2 ), oral drill and testing using proof sheet(day 3). At the very back of your student's binder there is a "proof sheet" that parents can use to quiz their students on memory work. As your child recites the memory work in each subject area check off the boxes. I will model this method on Tuesday. This method of review really increases student speed and accuracy and it is how testing will be conducted at the end of the year with the tutor and director. I will also answer any questions you may have about Memory Power (1 subject), Memory Excellence (3 subjects or more), and Memory Master (all subjects - explained in your CC guide).
Another approach if your students is not as familiar with all of the grammar is taking 1-2 subjects (as many you and your student can endure) a day and review them thoroughly. I would select a strong subject and a less familiar subject together to maximize confidence and success. Use the proof sheet and check the weeks off as you go through the material. The next day add new subjects and review what you covered the day before. You will be amazed at their progress from one day to the next!!! All review should be a celebration of what your student has learned - for the parents and the students! Their brains are sponges and it is amazing to see what they have absorbed. DO NOT REVIEW TO THE POINT OF FRUSTRATION - HAVE FUN!
Another word of encouragement is to remember that you will have from Thanksgiving until January to strengthen any areas you decide you want your child to master. It is a wonderful time to break from new material and writing papers from Essentials. Play a lot of review games at home and strengthen semester 1 before diving into semester 2.
Presentations: Another fun week of "Put it all together" speeches kept all of our attention and kept us guessing. Carlyssa, we enjoyed your tennis star speech, great job with your costume and prop. Mollie, good job with your Priscilla Mullins speech your demonstration of stale bread was memorable. Caleb, your facts about George Washington were clearly presented and you showed great confidence. Shawn, you had a very clever presentation on love that was presented with great confidence and first person perspective. This was an awesome interpretation of the topic. Zachary, you demonstrated great confidence in your presentation on Martin Luther King Jr., good detail, eye contact and pace. I am looking forward to learning more about each student as you present your ALL ABOUT ME speeches with a poster as a visual aid. Remember that each student is to design and complete their posters independently.
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week Nine:
History Sentence: Tell me about the Age of Absolute Monarchs...
This week we labeled our world maps as we sang/listened to the Audio CD. Use this week as another opportunity to combine geography and history to connect your child's learning between subjects.
Between the 1500's-1700's, Henry VII of England (E on England), Louis XVI of France (F), Philip II of Spain (S), Peter the Great of Russia (R), and Frederick the Great of Prussia (P -located in Germany) ruled during the age of absolute monarchs.
History Timeline: Barbarian Invasion and Vikings (make a viking helmet with both hands and place on head), St. Jerome Completes the Vulgate (hand to chest then up and out), The Council of Chalcedon (use right hand to make the letter C and emphasize 3 times), End of the Western Roman Empire (slit neck), St. Benedict and Monasticism(use right hand and pass split down the middle of your body from forehead to waist), Justinian the Great (hit right fist in left hand), Mohammed and Islam (halo over head), Charles Martel, Pepin the Short and Charlemagne (squat on the word "Short")
Peg Dates: Destruction of Jerusalem 70 A.D. Constantine and the Edict of Milan 313A.D.
Science: This week we reviewed the parts of the sun and the names of the planets in our song to the tune of "Pop Goes The Weasel".
Core, Radiative Zone, Convective Zone, and Sunspots, Photosphere, Solar Flare, AND the Corona.... Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - these are the planets! ALTERNATE ENDING (Neptune, No longer Pluto these are the planets)
I sent home a planet sticker mini-poster/diagram of the planets and different bodies in our solar system, I hope your child has fun at home completing these this week.
Math: 15's You may use the Audio CD to learn the 15's by skip counting, but then focus on the multiplication table to master the material. The 15's are usually easier to learn because every other one ends in a 5 or 0.
Latin: Pluperfect Tense Memory Hint "Pluperfect Tense - I'm a wearin' blue. BLUE rhymes with PLU - I'M A WEARIN' sounds like AMAVERAM. It is a stretch, but it works:)
Complete the chart I had the students place in their binders to review and practice with the audio CD and the hand motions.
Geography: Southwestern Asia - This week we labeled on the colored map and then labeled locations on the blank map. Parents of Cycle One students - this is a great opportunity to recall locations we learned last year in this region. Have fun with a trip down memory lane!
English: Interrogative Pronouns - We listened to the Audio CD and highlighted the Interrogative Pronouns on the Pronoun sheet in their binders.
Memory Marble Madness - There is no doubt that we will fill the Memory Marble jar to overflowing next Tuesday so I am planning a celebration on Week 11. We will also open the CC store for students to spend their hard earned cash!!! I already have the celebration planned and this time it will be a suprise! Way to go MASTERS!
PARENTS, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT THIS WEEK TO REMIND YOUR CHILD THAT WE NEED TO ELIMINATE EXCESS COMMENTS, JOKING AND TALKING DURING CLASS TIME! THIS INCLUDES ELIMINATING DISTRACTING TOYS FROM THE CLASSROOM. We have a lot of fun and want to continue enjoying review games and celebrations, so eliminating extra distractions will help us maximize our learning. Thank you for the help in this area.
This is a normal time of the year for students to have developed strong friendships and with that comes extra talking:) I will be placing them around the table in assigned seats this week. However, they have a lot of opportunities to choose their seats during science, presentations, and review games - this is when they need to move themselves if they are tempted to talk or joke around. Encourage your child to sit next to someone that will help them learn and save the social time for lunch. We have been so blessed with each other this year just use this as an opportunity to remind them of our class motto:
MINIMUM TALKING+MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION=A SUCCESSFUL MASTERS CLASS
I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to see all of you on Week 10! I hope to see all of the moms at Mom's Night Out Thursday, 7pm at Mimi's Cafe At Friendly Center.
Have a blessed week!
Mrs. Gaines
Another energetic week has flown by and believe it or not the semester will soon be drawing to a close! Sam, we missed you this week but we know you had an exciting adventure and we can't wait to hear all about it.
REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!! REVIEW!!!
As we approach the end of the semester I like to focus on fast and furious review to drill, drill, drill all of our grammar. Try to take time this week to review subjects going back to week one. This can be done using a variety of methods - if your student is strong on most of the subjects you could do copywork sheets (day 1), binder drill sheets and map labeling (day 2 ), oral drill and testing using proof sheet(day 3). At the very back of your student's binder there is a "proof sheet" that parents can use to quiz their students on memory work. As your child recites the memory work in each subject area check off the boxes. I will model this method on Tuesday. This method of review really increases student speed and accuracy and it is how testing will be conducted at the end of the year with the tutor and director. I will also answer any questions you may have about Memory Power (1 subject), Memory Excellence (3 subjects or more), and Memory Master (all subjects - explained in your CC guide).
Another approach if your students is not as familiar with all of the grammar is taking 1-2 subjects (as many you and your student can endure) a day and review them thoroughly. I would select a strong subject and a less familiar subject together to maximize confidence and success. Use the proof sheet and check the weeks off as you go through the material. The next day add new subjects and review what you covered the day before. You will be amazed at their progress from one day to the next!!! All review should be a celebration of what your student has learned - for the parents and the students! Their brains are sponges and it is amazing to see what they have absorbed. DO NOT REVIEW TO THE POINT OF FRUSTRATION - HAVE FUN!
Another word of encouragement is to remember that you will have from Thanksgiving until January to strengthen any areas you decide you want your child to master. It is a wonderful time to break from new material and writing papers from Essentials. Play a lot of review games at home and strengthen semester 1 before diving into semester 2.
Presentations: Another fun week of "Put it all together" speeches kept all of our attention and kept us guessing. Carlyssa, we enjoyed your tennis star speech, great job with your costume and prop. Mollie, good job with your Priscilla Mullins speech your demonstration of stale bread was memorable. Caleb, your facts about George Washington were clearly presented and you showed great confidence. Shawn, you had a very clever presentation on love that was presented with great confidence and first person perspective. This was an awesome interpretation of the topic. Zachary, you demonstrated great confidence in your presentation on Martin Luther King Jr., good detail, eye contact and pace. I am looking forward to learning more about each student as you present your ALL ABOUT ME speeches with a poster as a visual aid. Remember that each student is to design and complete their posters independently.
Memory Tips and Techniques for Week Nine:
History Sentence: Tell me about the Age of Absolute Monarchs...
This week we labeled our world maps as we sang/listened to the Audio CD. Use this week as another opportunity to combine geography and history to connect your child's learning between subjects.
Between the 1500's-1700's, Henry VII of England (E on England), Louis XVI of France (F), Philip II of Spain (S), Peter the Great of Russia (R), and Frederick the Great of Prussia (P -located in Germany) ruled during the age of absolute monarchs.
History Timeline: Barbarian Invasion and Vikings (make a viking helmet with both hands and place on head), St. Jerome Completes the Vulgate (hand to chest then up and out), The Council of Chalcedon (use right hand to make the letter C and emphasize 3 times), End of the Western Roman Empire (slit neck), St. Benedict and Monasticism(use right hand and pass split down the middle of your body from forehead to waist), Justinian the Great (hit right fist in left hand), Mohammed and Islam (halo over head), Charles Martel, Pepin the Short and Charlemagne (squat on the word "Short")
Peg Dates: Destruction of Jerusalem 70 A.D. Constantine and the Edict of Milan 313A.D.
Science: This week we reviewed the parts of the sun and the names of the planets in our song to the tune of "Pop Goes The Weasel".
Core, Radiative Zone, Convective Zone, and Sunspots, Photosphere, Solar Flare, AND the Corona.... Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto - these are the planets! ALTERNATE ENDING (Neptune, No longer Pluto these are the planets)
I sent home a planet sticker mini-poster/diagram of the planets and different bodies in our solar system, I hope your child has fun at home completing these this week.
Math: 15's You may use the Audio CD to learn the 15's by skip counting, but then focus on the multiplication table to master the material. The 15's are usually easier to learn because every other one ends in a 5 or 0.
Latin: Pluperfect Tense Memory Hint "Pluperfect Tense - I'm a wearin' blue. BLUE rhymes with PLU - I'M A WEARIN' sounds like AMAVERAM. It is a stretch, but it works:)
Complete the chart I had the students place in their binders to review and practice with the audio CD and the hand motions.
Geography: Southwestern Asia - This week we labeled on the colored map and then labeled locations on the blank map. Parents of Cycle One students - this is a great opportunity to recall locations we learned last year in this region. Have fun with a trip down memory lane!
English: Interrogative Pronouns - We listened to the Audio CD and highlighted the Interrogative Pronouns on the Pronoun sheet in their binders.
Memory Marble Madness - There is no doubt that we will fill the Memory Marble jar to overflowing next Tuesday so I am planning a celebration on Week 11. We will also open the CC store for students to spend their hard earned cash!!! I already have the celebration planned and this time it will be a suprise! Way to go MASTERS!
PARENTS, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT THIS WEEK TO REMIND YOUR CHILD THAT WE NEED TO ELIMINATE EXCESS COMMENTS, JOKING AND TALKING DURING CLASS TIME! THIS INCLUDES ELIMINATING DISTRACTING TOYS FROM THE CLASSROOM. We have a lot of fun and want to continue enjoying review games and celebrations, so eliminating extra distractions will help us maximize our learning. Thank you for the help in this area.
This is a normal time of the year for students to have developed strong friendships and with that comes extra talking:) I will be placing them around the table in assigned seats this week. However, they have a lot of opportunities to choose their seats during science, presentations, and review games - this is when they need to move themselves if they are tempted to talk or joke around. Encourage your child to sit next to someone that will help them learn and save the social time for lunch. We have been so blessed with each other this year just use this as an opportunity to remind them of our class motto:
MINIMUM TALKING+MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION=A SUCCESSFUL MASTERS CLASS
I hope you all have a great week and I can't wait to see all of you on Week 10! I hope to see all of the moms at Mom's Night Out Thursday, 7pm at Mimi's Cafe At Friendly Center.
Have a blessed week!
Mrs. Gaines
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