reflections on 10/31/08 and assignments for 11/4/08

Dear Families,

We had such a great day! Someone was praying for us and I want to find out who 'cause their prayers are the kind that get answered. We had Mrs. Kerry Cook assisting us which is awesome because she doesn't even have a child in our class. She was great--many thanks!

We wrapped up our study of the Old Testament with a healthy discussion. Latin proceeded smoothly and we are anxious to add the Doxology to our list of Latin prayers we've memorized. History was most interesting as we learned together about India. I've heard from several of you how hard the chapter on Japan and China was to do a narration on. I'm sorry for that. I've included another option for this chapter on India. Instead of a narration, there are review questions your student can opt to answer. I hope this helps homework run more smoothly.

We had a great time saying good-bye to Mr. Revere and I. We remembered some of our favorite parts, illustrated more chapters for our own book and talked about an important lesson. The one in Romans 8:28. We serve such an awesome God that He can take bad things that happen and bring good from them. We reflected on the bad voyage Sherry had to the New World and the hard time at the glue factory and how she ended up so much happier because these bad things had been a part of making her the free horse and friend of Mr. Paul Revere. Today as we illustrated, I read the the Wadsworth poem The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. I wanted them exposed to it and we will touch on it again later in history.

We had a great lesson on plurals in grammar and finished our testing of minerals in science. Your children were exposed to the process of identifying minerals and rocks. We weren't real precise, but they learned alot about the process. We finished the day by making rakhi bracelets made in India to bring good luck. Also, we went outside and played a game called kabbaddda that exercised your lungs! It is a village game also played in India. Lastly, we were exposed to the elaborate theatrical performances from this part of the world by watching a scene from The King and I. It's at the library to borrow in VHS form. I think they are all interested in finishing it.

We enjoyed our celebration pizza party and some treats brought in by classmates, Mrs. Nicole (or was that Minnie Mouse?) and Mrs. Fowler who stepped in at the end of the day and helped things run even smoother.

Love to all and enjoy this crisp weather!
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar--3rd--review lesson 31 on page 84
--complete ex A and B on page 85
--complete "Using Singular and Plural Nouns"

2nd--read lesson 16 of Unit 3
--write the answers to "Oral Drill"
--read through the sheet sent home and complete exercise A only

Literature: NOTE: The Three Musketeers, which is our next selection, was chosen to keep our students in touch with literature set all over the world. Sometimes these abridged versions have to slice out alot of the literary devices we'd love to expose our children to. It will be great for our children to hear this adventure but we will hit it fast. We have two great books waiting for us for the holidays. My plan is to just have you read at home; there won't be any exercises to do. We will be reading large portions, though. This should proceed fast because the reading level of this book is alot easier than the last. With all that said:
--read through page 35 of The Three Musketeers

History: --Choose on option: 1. produce a narration on ch. 11 or 2. answer review questions
--read "Charles Loses His Head" of chapter 12 (pg. 115--top of page 119)

Science:--review our lab with parents
--tell them about the tests we conducted on our minerals: color, streak, hardness, luster, crystal shape

Latin:--review lesson 6
--complete page 33

Bible:--choose an option: 1. complete homework sheet pg. 199 (use a KJV) or 2. write a narration on ch. 110

reflections on 10/28/08 and assignments for 10/31

Good Afternoon Families!

We had a good day in our temporary setting. The room was bigger and more kid friendly. Of course, this gets us a bit wound up and we spent time getting ourselves under control so that teaching and learning could happen. I guess Halloween week is a tough time for focusing.

We sailed into our new unit in Latin and started learning a new prayer. We did take time to show Mrs. Brenda Gudzan how well we know the Sanctus. She was quite impressed and very much appreciated for all her help. Our Bible "So What" was that we must follow God even when it is extremely hard as it must have been hard for the Jewish men to send off their heathen wives in our story. Mrs. Brenda and I agreed it was, once again, a lesson you spend your whole life learning.

I covered three lessons in grammar because they were so closely related. History had some good discussion about the tough laws that closed Japan down to Christianity and eventually from the whole world. We pretended to be the various factions in China and ended up as friends and benefitting our country. Ask your student about what they learned.

We were truly scientist in Science today. We experimented on rock samples and tested them for hardness using several tools I brought in. Once again, we are sad that Mr. Revere and I will wind down this week. We looked at a map of Boston and discussed all the places that are mentioned in our story. I think all my students know what a simile is--see if they can explain one to you.

We ended our day by making Chinese lanterns and solving some tough riddles that are often used to decorate lanterns. See if your child can remember one and fool you.

Enjoy the cool weather and your children and I'll see you Friday--still at the Presbyterian Church.

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar 3rd: review lesson 27
--complete "Writing Proper Nouns"
--complete "Recognizing Common and Proper Nouns"
--review Lesson 28
--complete ex. A and B
--review Lesson 29
--complete "Using nouns to answer questions" and "Review and Practice"

2nd: (Oops! I will phone both parents with the assignment. I'm posting from the library and I left it at home! Sorry!)

Literature:--review the vocab words
--finish reading the book (postscript, too)
--Answer in your own words: "Why were the Colonials successful in defeating the British troops?" (pg. 144--145)

History:--write a narration on ch. 10
--read ch. 11
--mapwork for ch.11
--optional color page for ch. 11

Science:--review our lab with your parents

Latin:--review lesson 6
--complete pg. 32

Bible:--read half of chapter 110
--answer questions 1--5 on sheet sent home
--bring Bible Story Book next time

assignments for Tuesday, 10/28/08

Dear Families,

Personally, I'm glad to be back to our regular schedule. Friday was a good day--not much fun, I'm afraid, but good. Any school day with TWO tests and rain can't be fun. Your students were troopers and I'm proud of them. Mrs. Stokes, Riddock's mom, was a great help and I appreciate her.

When we were finishing William Bradford everyone was to sad it was over. We're feeling the same way as we just have a short time left with Sherry in Mr. Revere and I. Next we'll go to France and read about The Three Musketeers.

We're leaving Esther having talked about the important lesson of doing what God wants us to and what is right even when it is very hard to do. I assured them it is a life-long struggle to apply that lesson to your life.

We're beginning a new study in Science about rocks and minerals. We are going to learn how to test rocks and determine what kind of sample they are.

A note about History. Last year, we skipped some of the chapters of SOTW to accommodate the length of the Trinity school year. This year we will touch on every chapter to be sure our students have a taste of what was going on all over the world during this time period. You will see that some chapters we will not go into as deep of a study as others.

We have some fun things planned as the holidays approach. Keep reading the newsletter for updates. Enjoy your children this weekend!

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar:
3rd: --read and review lesson 26
--complete exercise A #1--5 on page 75
--complete exercise B
--complete Review and Practice

2nd: --read Lesson 9 in Unit 2
--complete "For You To Do" on page 85
--complete exercise B on page 85

Literature:
--define the vocabulary words
--read ch. 11

History:
--read ch. 10 in SOTW
--complete mapwork
--optional color page

Science:
--show and tell your parents about the rocks we used in Science

Latin:
--NO HOMEWORK!

Bible:
--read ch. 109
--make a list of 4 or 5 miracles God did while the Jews were captive in Babylon. We've been studying these and they are listed on the first page of the chapter.

reflections and assignments for 10/24/08

Whew!

Mrs. Stone and I are out of breath. We had a whirlwind of a school day. Many thanks to Mrs. Stone (Kirsten's mom) for helping out. We made pizza in science and compared it to the layers of our earth--then enjoyed eating it! One of our students fell in the pond at lunch but emerged un-scathed. What a good sport! Because this week has been a bit hectic with the make-up day, I took the liberty of bringing the movie, The Prince of Egypt, that we viewed between yesterday and today. I think all enjoyed it. Legos were required in science yesterday and they stayed and were enjoyed for two days as well. Back to serious school starting Friday!!!

Report cards will be distributed next week. Also, there are plans for a celebration of some kind after school on the 31st. Watch the Trinity Newsletter for more updates.

Enjoy two regular, learning days with your student and I will see you on Friday.

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar for Both Grades: Study for Unit 1 test on Friday.

Literature:
--review vocabulary
--read chapter 10
--answer review questions

History:
--optional--finish making paper dolls (no need to return these, just enjoy them at home)
--mapwork
--optional color page
--read the rest of chapter 9
--produce a narration on the whole of chapter 9

Science:
--for any that didn't, please turn in your month-long weather journal
--go over our pizza lab with your parents

Latin:
--study for test on Friday

Bible:
--finish reading chapter 108

for Tuesday, 10/21/08

Hello,

I'm still struggling with internet difficulties so I'm at the library on-line. In your student's assignment folder is a handwritten note for what they need to do tonight for tomorrow. Also, second graders, could you bring your text book again tomorrow. We will do another review in class for our test on Friday.

love to all. . .
Mrs. Tkach

Assigments for 10/20/2008

I'm having internet problems. For Monday please have your student read the next chapter in Mr. Revere and I. Also, please read the next chapter in SOTW.

assignments for 10/17/08

Hello!

We had a productive day again today. We walked like Peter Stuyvesant, did an experiment to show air really does weigh something, made latin flashcards, made scrolls, and enjoyed some sunshine after days of rain. We are slowly progressing through The Witch of Blackbird Pond. If anyone needs stocking-stuffer ideas--your children LOVE playdough. We model with it while I read or why we wait our turn to walk on a peg leg.

Mrs. Hatchell was our assistant and helped so much. Chloe donated a podium for my use. It was so helpful! I think we should all be proud of our science quiz grades. I know I am. I sometimes mutter and complain about all the prep time in conducting the labs but then the quiz shows your children are "getting it". YEAH!

Encourage your students to be diligent the next two days at home with you and I'll see them Friday. Also, I think you are all aware that we will have school next Monday, October 20th to make up the storm day we lost in September.

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar: 3rd--review lesson 20
--complete exercise A & B under "Using Apostrophes in Contractions"
--complete exercise A at the top of page 56
--at parent's discretion complete the review in Lesson 21
--review lesson 22 on page 58
--complete Practice With Capitalization. Note: You don't have to write the whole sentence, just the words that need to be capitalized.
--complete Review and Practice on page 60

2nd: --complete handout sheet
--read lesson 23 on page 54
--complete #1--4 on page 55
--read lesson 24 on page 56
--complete "More Practice and Review" on page 57
--read lesson 6 of unit 1
--complete "More Practice and Review" page 21 (Don't write the whole sentence)

Literature:--memorize Yankee Doodle lyrics by end of October
--go over vocab before reading
--read ch. 6 & 7
--answer review questions after reading

History:--put Manhattan Letter in your history section
--write a narration on "The Dutch in the New World"
--read all of ch. 7
--mapwork
--optional color pages

Science: --go over our labs with parents
--continue weather journal which will be due on Tuesday

Latin:--finish making flashcards from page 26 (verbs, nouns, and practical latin terms)
--study and complete page 27 (not derivatives)

Bible: --read chapter 107
--complete True/False sheet using your Bible

OOPS!

I've been meaning to say that if you want the supplies I asked you to buy to be stored at school, I have room for them now. I have Chloe's and Riddock's. Use one of the folders to put all the work from William Bradford into. This will open up the literature section of your big notebook and it should just have Mr. Revere and I work in it now. The William Bradford folder can be stored at home. Make sense?

See you Tuesday!

a recap of our day and assignments for 10/14

Hello!

We had another action-packed day. Bible discussion is always surprisingly deep. I wish all could hear your children's thoughts on our Bible talks. You should be very proud and touched by their simple honesty. I believe everyone officially has the Sanctus memorized except for me. Your children are gifted in their language abilities. Keep it up.

We read some great books about life in Plimouth Plantation. Now, for my surprise! We are so familiar with the information we read in SOTW that we produced a narration as a class. Mrs. Joy, who was my helper, was our scribe. We produced a summary and she copied it down for us. You will find it in your child's assignment folder. It can be put in their notebook as a summary instead of having to do one for homework. Gamaliel had already done a narration and read it to us. We used alot of his ideas for our class summary.

We had a brief, but important grammar lesson about showing possession or ownership by using apostrophe s ('s). The lesson was straightforward and I think everyone "got it".

After lunch, we had to have a heart-to-heart talk about play that is appropriate at Trinity. I called it "rough boy play" although, often girls like this play, too. It is perfectly fun and enjoyable but just not at Trinity. We cannot have slapping, hitting, swatting bottoms, etc-- even if it's just for fun. These have their place, just not at school.

I had so many activities I wanted to accomplish with our literature time. We did go out for a picnic like the British soldiers enjoyed. We played rounders and hopscotch and shot chickens. We ate turnips and talked about how this was all some people had to use for money. They were even used in betting on the horse races! We went outside and saw that a furlong is roughly the distance around the block of St Helena's sanctuary. Sherry would have raced around 12 times to equal the distance she ran in the race on Boston Commons. Lastly, Mrs. Joy weighed us and we converted our weight into stones--a unit for measuring weight in old England.

We joined the 4th and 5th graders and viewed a video about weather for a short while then finished off our day with our science quiz.

Slow down. . .enjoy your little ones. . .your middle ones. . .even your big ones. (I'm talking to myself!) I'll see you on Tuesday.

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar:
3rd:--review lesson 19 on page 53
--complete exercise B
--complete "Review and Practice" on pg. 54

2nd:--complete handout sheet
--read and review Unit 1, Lesson 22
--complete "For You To Do" #1--7
--complete "More Practice and Review" orally with Mom

Literature:
--finish "Sons of Liberty" report
--review vocab then read ch. 5
--answer review questions

History:
--mapwork
--(optional) color page
--read "The Dutch in the New World"
--be sure and wear long pants next Tuesday

Science:
--continue weather journal

Latin:
--review as needed
--complete pg. 25

Bible:
--read the rest of ch. 106
--illustrate the Jews rebuilding the wall

assignments for 10/10/08

Good Morning,

I hope I'm early enough getting assignments out to not delay your school day. We had a busy day again yesterday. Science may have been my personal favorite. Of course, the sumo wrestling we did at the end of the day was pretty exciting. Ask you student all about it!

Your children are doing great and in my opinion are learning alot as well. Please keep me informed as to how things are going at home.

I'll be brief because I have a ladies Bible Study at my church this morning. It nourishes my soul. I pray each of you Moms can find a way to take time for that. We will all be better teachers in our homeschools if we can make time to hear from God.

love to all,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:

Grammar:
3rd: --review lesson 17 on page 49 NOTE: Please review these lessons on quotations carefully. It seemed to be new and my class was anxious for lunch by the time we were going over it.
--complete #4--7 of "Practice with Quotations"
--complete Review and Practice on page 50
--review lesson 18 on page 50
--complete exercise A & B on page 52

2nd:--complete hand out sheet
--read Unit 1, Lesson 19 on page 46
--complete "For You To Do" # 1 and 2
--complete "More Practice and Review" #1,2, and 3
--read Unit 1, Lesson 21 on page 50
--complete "For You To Do" #1,2,and 3
--complete "More Practice and Review" with Mom orally

Literature:
--familiarize yourself with vocab to help your reading
--read ch 3 & 4 of Mr. Revere and I
--write a report on the Sons of Liberty. Answer questions like "Who were they?" "Why did they form?" "When did they exist?" "Where did they operate?"
2nd graders: at least a 3 sentence paragraph
3rd graders: at least a 5 sentence paragraph
These reports will be due 10/14/08, next Tuesday.

History:
--write a narration on "The First Tokugawa Ruler"
--design a Japanese Family Crest using the handout for information
--read ch. 6 "Strangers and Saints in the New World"
--EXTRA-CREDIT: write a haiku

Science:
--review our Air Lab with parents
--go over study guide to prepare for quiz on Friday
--continue weather journal

Latin:
--review pages 22 & 23
--complete page 24

Bible:
--You've already read the first half of ch. 106--review it for class discussion
--answer these questions in complete sentences:
1. Why did God cause His people to be captured by their enemies?
2. Do you think it is important to obey God completely or is "half-way" alright? Why?

reflections and assignments for 10/7/08

Dear Families,

We had a great day of learning. I love to see light bulbs going off. I saw several today. Even in boring, dry, old grammar. We had several volunteers in and out because of a meeting. They were all helpful and we appreciate all of them. We missed Amelia who was sick--we prayed for you!

I must apologize to parents about a mistake I made with our Bible assignment. I've already apologized to our children and been forgiven. Apparently, my pages stuck together when I was making lesson plans and I just skipped over Lesson 105. Sorry! We read it in class today and enjoyed it. Great discussion. Riddock asked, "If God knew Satan was going to tempt Adam and Eve, why did He ever create him?" He got me. But this was a great lead into how our finite, little minds can't comprehend our great God and there are just somethings that are too big for us to grasp. I told them that and got off the hot seat!

Latin is going well and they assure me they are enjoying the homework. Many have the Sanctus already completely memorized--ahead of time! We took turns acting out some of the verbs. Grammar was mostly about quotation marks and their proper use. It was a hard concept. Work with them in knowing the difference between a direct quote and an indirect quote. (Hint: on the homework sheet, there are no indirect quotes. They all need quotation marks!)

We enjoyed lunch on time for a change and came back up for two science labs. We condensed the water cycle into a bowl. I'm going to leave the project processing until next class and we should really see how water that is evaporated in no longer salty. We also did a lab that your children can show you in their book that illustrates the water cycle.

Literature was fun because we performed a play! I wrote a short script from chapter 1 and the students acted it out for Abby and me. Abby gave them two thumbs up! The book just gets better and many already liked it after only one chapter. I promise either the vocab gets easier or you just get used to it. It's a great read!

For history we were exposed to some literature selections suggested in SOTW. Ask your student about the tall tales from Japan that I read to them. We ended the day with a history project in which we made wish sticks to hang on a tree in your yard. We studied how the people of Japan were not Christian and in certain festivals hung these wish sticks in hopes that the wind would carry their wishes off to fulfillment. We were all glad that we have prayer instead of wish sticks!

Enjoy this beautiful fall weather and learning along side your children.

love,
Mrs. Tkach

ASSIGNMENTS:
Grammar:
3rd: --review lesson 16 page 47 and 48
--complete handout sheet page 7
--complete Exercise A and B
--BONUS/EXTRA CREDIT complete "Can You Do This"

2nd: -- complete handout sheet page 7
--read and review Lesson 18 in Unit 1 on page 44
--complete "For You To Do"
--complete "More Practice and Review" orally with Mom

Literature: --complete vocab exercise
--read ch. 2
--complete review activities

History: --write a narration on the first half of ch. 5 of SOTW
--complete mapwork
--(optional) color page
--read second half of ch. 5

Science:
--show your parents the cut-and-paste weather lab and explain the water cycle in your own words
--continue your weather journal (They looked great when I checked their progress today!)

Latin:
--review as needed
--complete page 21

Bible:
--read Psalms 126
--be prepared to discuss how happy the Israelites were to return home