assignments for February 12, 2008

Hello Families,

Thank you all so much for praying for my daughter. God is awesome and we've had happier days this week.

I enjoyed Tuesday with my students--it was VERY laid back. We read alot. I have a list of literature selections that accompanies each chapter in SOTW to enrich and expand on the information given in the chapter. I was able to share more than the usual number of selections with your children. I bragged on my class to my friend, Mrs. Fowler. I think we could have "snuggled up" and read all day. Children that enjoy books are the cream of the crop. In my days in public school, it was a stretch to get just a few minutes of everyone's attention and we'd have to "bounce" to a new activity.

A related thought: We played some great educational games supplied by Ayla. I noticed some struggles with this activity. I speculate that Americans are losing the art of old-fashioned game-playing. Entering a game, each participant must accept the knowledge that someone will win and some will lose and that one losing could be ME! So many life lessons to learn sitting at a board game. I must "wait" for my turn. I must exhibit "give and take" or selflessness if someone else wants to be the red pawn and I wanted it. I must win graciously and considerately and lose in the same manner. Forgive me for this rabbit trail, but I did notice some struggling and I've just about given up on my own family as hopeless in this area. Maybe a positive exercise would be to dust off a board game (that has all the pieces!) and start at "square one" with the common curtesies of playing a game. I think there would be an abundance of "life lessons" to be taught!

We watched a film called "The Red Balloon" while we colored in our Medieval coloring books. The film shows a small boy's day with his red balloon on the streets of Paris. It has no dialogue but your children were quite interested in the story. It was suggested by SOTW author, Susan Bauer.

We conducted an interesting experiment about electricity. Ask your child about it and be sure the science speculation sheet gets into the science section of their notebook.

Mrs. Dominique was my "right arm" and a huge asset with French pronunciations.

I included a latin homework sheet for your student to do just for fun.

We will have a Valentine party at the end of the day next week. Check the blog for an update with details. Michele Owens (Luke's mom) is helping co-ordinate and plan it.

ASSIGNMENTS:

Science
-- pg 126 through mid 131
--produce a narration on what you learned
--enter symbiosis in science spiral

Grammar
--no homework

History
--produce a narration on ch.26 in SOTW
--map work
--color page
--read ch. 27 (I assume everyone comes to class having the assigned chapter read. I usually don't go over it, I spend class time enriching it. If they haven't read then they are lost.)

Literature
--questions and definitions
--read through pg. 81 in Robin Hood

See you all on Tuesday!
Mrs. Tkach