Week 20 - Timeline Finale!!!

Hello Masters families,
We enjoyed an energetic day today. I can surely say that spring is in the air and we are all feeling the warm weather and all of the excitement that accompanies it. Science was a great way to start the day and explore the second Law of Thermodynamics. Fine Arts was full of energy as well while we actively listened to Beethoven's 5th Symphony. (Parents, please take some time this week to emphasize to your child the importance of LISTENING during these Fine Arts sessions. Music often creates movement and the class struggled to remain still and silent during this lesson. Next week we will need improvement to get the most out of our classical music study. We want to enjoy our music study, but not interfere with the teaching and learning. Thank you for your help on this!)

We were all amazed at the "Rapid Review" presentations from Jonathan, Harrison, Mollie and Hannah. Grammar from Science, Latin, and the Timeline was beautifully recited with confidence and composure. All of the presenters exhibited strong presentation skills as they presented their memory work. I commend all of you on eye contact, volume, pronunciation, speed, and above all confidence. It is one level to be able to recite your memory work at home or one question at a time, it is another accomplishment to recite your an entire subject in front of the whole class!!! Amazing work Masters students! I thank God for the gifts he has bestowed on each of you.

Presenters for next week: You may choose to recite any of the memory work for the Rapid Review presentation. Practice with a parent or have the tutor guide you through a subject of your choice. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO RECITE ALL 24 WEEKS OF THE SUBJECT YOU CHOOSE!!! This is an opportunity to show what you know so the amount and the # of weeks you decide to share with us is between you and your parents. I look forward to seeing all that you have been working on at home. Another idea is that your recitation can be from several subjects that you like. For example, you may want to recite your favorite history sentence, science fact, English definition/list, and Latin conjugation. Have fun with it and we will all celebrate your hard work!

Memory Tips and Techniques for Week 20:
History Timeline: THE GRAND FINALE!
Wright Brothers and other Inventors - Fly with both arms out by your sides
The Great World War - Use both arms to form a globe over your head
Roaring Twenties - Dance forward and backward "The Charleston"
The Great Depression - Take both hands and push them down in front of you, make a sad face as you say "Depression"
World War II, the Biggest War - Make a globe above your head with both arms, hold up two fingers and then spread arms apart on BIGGEST war
The Cold War, Korea and Vietnam - shiver
The Space Race - bend at the knees straighten your legs and shoot arms above your head to imitate a rocket
Modern America - tap yourself on your shoulders
History Sentence: Tell me about the Vietnam War....In class we discussed the reason for the U.S. involvement in the war and the conclusion of the war. We also identified the meaning of guerrilla warfare and why that caused difficulty among our troops in the Vietnam War. Students also noticed the similarity between the Korean War and the Vietnam War sentences, finding the parallel interesting.
Listen to the CD and review the geography as you drill this week's history sentence.
Science: What is the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics? Heat will always flow from an area on higher temperature to an area of lower temperature.
****One way to memorize this is that the 2nd law refers to two temperatures - high and low - and then have your child place their hand high and low in front of them to emphasize the meaning.****
Math: Sing this week's math formula to the tune of "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain"
One inch equals 2.54 centimeters - yes it does (repeat)
One inch equals 2.54, one inch equals 2.54, one inch equals 2.54 centimeters - YES IT DOES!
English: An appositive is a noun which follows another noun and explains or identifies it.
Look at the bold letters to understand this hint... remember that you use noun twice and then think of OLD MCDONALD E,I,E,I,O (Explains Or Identifies)
Latin: Hint - (Present Perfect Tense) A WII is a perfect present. AMAVI is the Perfect Present Tense We completed our Latin charts and listened to the audio CD.
Geography: South Central Asia - We labeled the locations on our colored map and then on the black and white map.

The students enjoyed shopping in the CC store again this week. Continue to record your map labeling, drilling, and presentations on your log to get tickets to spend. The memory marble jar continues to stack up as students answer review questions during our new and review grammar time. Keep up the great work!

There was amazing improvement today with our "On the Spot" game and end- of-the-year skit. Thank you to all of the parents assisting with the students behind stage, Mrs. Varnell for the music help, and Mrs. Lilly for taking over as game show host! You were all fantastic! All of the students are improving with their "acting" and "memory" skills. Thank you for your cooperation, it should be a lot fun.

Finally, any students who wish to test for Memory Power, Excellence, or Master please let me know and we will arrange for a testing time with myself or another parent. There are still several weeks left in the semester, so take the time to drill and prepare. Do not feel any pressure to test early due to my situation. Only students testing for Memory MASTER need to test with a tutor and the director. If your child is going for Memory Master, any tutor can test your child in my place if I am not available due to the baby coming. However, if your child does want to test with me directly I will do everything I can to accomodate your schedule. It is one of the great joys of tutoring. There are 4 tests each memory master candidate must complete: Parent, Other, Tutor, and Director. Just be sure to plan enough time to get all of these proofs completed during Mrs. Varnell's time frame. Call me or pull me aside if you have any further questions or concerns.

Have a blessed week,
Mrs. Gaines