Week 13 Seminar Notes & Recap

Week 13 - Can you believe we only have 2 more weeks?????

Here's the recap.....  (PLEASE SEE THE GUIDE FOR HOMEWORK DUE FOR WEEK 14 )

PLEASE NOTE FOR WEEK 15:  We will be drawing all of Europe & features, there will be a Latin mid-term for all info covered, and there will be a catechism "mid-term" for all questions covered through week 14. 

Even though we have some mid-terms, I plan to have a "party" in week 15 playing as much review games in the strands as possible.  It would be great if everyone could bring in a treat to share.  Please let me know if you are able/willing to bring in something.  I'll send an email out this week. 

Challenge (Sweet treat reward)
 1.   Find 2 creatures with a symbiotic relationship
   
Logic/Math
No new vocab today - Yeah.  Keep drilling previous terms!

Each week we will continue to review previous week's concepts through dialectic discussion with the problems the students bring in.  In each problem we work we will ask the same questions (based on the common topics) - see previous blog for detail on questions.

We did a little mental math & ran out of time so we did not cover new concepts.

POINTS: Bring in a math problem from their homework to explain to the class -  5 points.

Be sure the students bring in the completed lessons you assign to class (even if they are not doing Saxon).

**Students should bring in a problem from their math lesson to share (can be one they struggled with; one they think will stump the class or anything they found interesting & would like to share & explain)  This will help them be rhetorical!!

Grammar/Latin
In class we went over questions from last week's homework.

This week I introduced the 4th declension.  We previewed this weeks homework -exercises #62-69.  We discussed the new vocab on p56 & 58.  We reviewed new grammar rules (blue book) #65-68.  I reminded the students to write flashcards for new grammar rules, vocab & put new vocab for this week under the 4th declension tab (except for verbs - we'll tackle that later).  I reminded the students that prepositions, adverbs etc go under "indeclinable words".

We only had time for a quick ground of charades to review vocab.  Next week we'll start the 5th declension!!  We may have a quiz on the last set of grammar rules #45-64 (from blue book).

****It is important that the students parse/label each sentence so that they can clearly identify the parts of speech in order to translate it properly.   I will be awarding candy for those who do!!! :)

Suggestions for parents @ home:  Make sure you and your student preview the next week's lesson as stated in the guide so that they are prepared to discuss it in class. Drill student on vocabulary & grammar rules.  Check daily assignments (or have students check).  Continue to have students focus on memorizing endings for the declensions - sing the songs & work those charts, as well as memorize vocab & rules.  It's a good idea to write the endings out - like copying mastery charts in Essentials.

Research
Today the students presented on reptiles.   Presentation skills were once again good.  Continue to have them practice their presentation skills at home - especially eye contact.  When you feel your child is ready, have them start presenting from note cards.  

Continue to look for interesting, unknown facts about the topic and put those IEW tools to work.  Again, they should develop a good paragraph with interesting facts - min 5-7.  The skills we are working on are research as well as good presentation skills.  **They can bring in a "sample/example" of the topic.

Our next topic will be fish so look ahead for topics & sources.

Here are some possible helpful websites:

http://carm.org/dictionary-fish 
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/ 
http://www.animalspot.net/category/fishes 
http://www.worldgiants.com/index.php 
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/07/130731-name-this-fish-contest-exploration-pristine-seas-science/ 
http://www.vri.cz/docs/vetmed/49-9-343.pdf 
http://creation.com/fish-swim-birds-fly-day-5 

POINTS:  Tell me how fish played a role in history?

Suggestions for parents @ home:  Help students locate sources from Internet or library.  Assist in editing rough draft; listen & provide feedback for oral report (eye contact, etc). & check drawing.  Have them practice reading their report for you or even the whole family!

Expo/Comp

In class today the students read their papers aloud.  We identified "stylistic techniques" used etc, we looked for parallelism in the thesis, exordium & amplification.  We also discussed how their paragraphs should be about 5-7 sentences (not 3) - they want to give examples from the book, scripture etc. to "back up" their proofs - again answering the "why, when, how - so what questions to get that detail.

Since we are starting a new book and new paper, we brainstormed characters & actions from Amos Fortune and created a class issue.  I explained to the students that they will use all the tools we learned so far to create their new ANI (5 Common Topics Worksheet, Comparison Worksheet & Invention Worksheet) - again LTW is cumulative so we are building on our skills.

So this week the students will create their issue & complete those worksheets again - 5 Common Topics, Comparison & Invention (all were emailed to you previously) and complete an ANI chart with 30 items per column. They will bring all of these to class.

Suggestions for parents @ home:    Review student worksheet pages.  Review ANI to ensure there are 30 items per column.

Debate/Geography

We drew Europe and filled in the countries & features for week 13.  We practiced drawing the "outline" of the world in teams.  Students should be doing this on the large laminated sheets at least once each week.  They will continue to draw the parts of Europe we've covered - adding each new week.

The students took a geography terms quiz.  We'll have another quiz next week.

We a game to review geography terms.

Students should bring in maps that they've drawn.  They'll show the class their best map.

DRAW FOR POINTS!!! Students will earn 5 points for each map drawn this week (after they draw 8 which would be 2 per day for 4 days)  Bring to class your best map!!

****Remember that at the end of the year we will be drawing the world - states, countries features - everything from memory.  Students need to continue to draw areas they've been tested on.   (They can draw on the large laminated maps I gave them at the beginning of the year).  The more they draw the better they'll get - the more they will be able to remember.

Suggestions for parents @ home:  Drill student on provinces & capitals as well as geography terms.  Check daily drawings for accuracy & labeling.  Be sure students continue to draw previous geographic areas - adding them to new areas.  Continue to drill previous states & capitals.

Rhetoric

We reviewed our ICJH summaries and answered questions based on on the Chapter.   We read over DCYB and discussed the related bible verses.  

We raced to write catechism question answers with each teammate writing 1 word, then next teammate wrote 2nd word etc.  We also played a little jeopardy.  The students still seem to be struggling with the catechism questions.   They are very tricky because they have to state them word for word. Please let me know how I can come along side you in this area.

In the 2nd semester students will begin to lead class discussions for ICJH & DCYB, so begin talking about & practicing that at home.

Suggestions for parents @ home:  Discuss chapter 13 in each book.  Check that student is filling out study guide for ICJH & answering questions for DCYB.  Drill catechism questions (remember they must be able to state word for word).