Week 14 Seminar Recap & Notes

Week 14 - Next week is our last week together - where has the time gone????

Here's the recap.....  (PLEASE SEE THE GUIDE FOR HOMEWORK DUE FOR WEEK 15 )

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.   What have scientists develop that has the same characteristics of sharkskin?
 2.    What is the largest shark (it's a herbivore)?
   
Logic/Math
Just a few terms this week.  Just keep drilling, drilling, drilling!

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 & covered the concept of negative exponents.

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 5th declension.  We previewed this weeks homework -exercises #70-74.  We discussed the new vocab on p62.  We reviewed new grammar rules (blue book) #69-71.  I reminded the students to write flashcards for new grammar rules, vocab & put new vocab for this week under the 5th declension tab (except for verbs - we'll tackle that later).

We took a grammar rules quiz over rules #45-64 and graded those in class.  They can use the quiz as well as the previous quiz to study for the mid-term.  The students were advised to study vocab, rules and declension endings for the mid-term.

****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 fish.  Continue to have them practice their presentation skills at home - especially eye contact and "voice volume".  When you feel your child is ready, have them start presenting from note cards.   I PUT OUT A SWEET CHALLENGE TO READ YOUR PRESENTATION FROM NOTE CARDS IN WEEK 15. 

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 sharks so look ahead for topics & sources.

Here are some possible helpful websites:

http://www.animalspot.net/galapagos-shark.html 

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/anatomy/Skin.shtml 
http://carm.org/a-few-reminders-about-what-evolution-actually-means 
http://animal.discovery.com/fish/most-dangerous-shark.htm 
http://travel.cnn.com/lufthansa-tests-shark-skin-881186  

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

Today we reviewed our arrangements elements by using the student's ANI charts (for those that volunteered to let us use their charts).  We reviewed how to sort, coming up with those "labels" (that become our main proofs) for the sorted groups.  We discussed identifying "like" ideas in those groups and making sure we are not repeating the same idea with different words in our sub-proofs.

This week the students will sort their ANI, complete Lesson #3 Arrangement A-Guide to exordium p29; Lesson #4 Arrangement A-Guide to amplification p45-46; Lesson #4 Arrangement B-Basic Pers. Essay p 47-48 & create an outline using Lesson #4 Basic Pers. Essay Temp p 49.  Students should bring in the worksheets as well as their outline as well as their ANI charts.  I will encourage the students to share their outlines in class so they can get feedback and work on any "issues".

Suggestions for parents @ home:    Assist/guide student in sorting ANI and developing "labels" (names for groups - proofs).  Review student worksheet pages.  Review outline looking for 3 separate clear ideas for the main & sub-proofs. 

Debate/Geography

We drew Europe and filled in the remaining countries & features.  We practiced drawing the "outline" of the world.  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.

I forgot to bring in the geography terms quiz so I will email that out.  I will provide answers so you can grade at home.

We played pictionary to review geography terms. **NEXT WEEK IS OUR TEST ON EUROPE.  PRACTICE DRAWING & DRILLING COUNTRIES & CAPITALS!!  Do a practice test on Friday to see what you need to practice on Monday.

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.   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.  We do have our mid-term next week, so DRILL, DRILL, DRILL those flashcards.

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 14 in each book.  Check that student is filling out study guide for ICJH & answering questions for DCYB.  Drill catechism questions 1-42 (remember they must be able to state word for word).