Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Thinking about next school year!

     Just a few weeks ago, I signed the contract to tutor/direct Challenge B for our rapidly growing campus. Since that time, I have visited two ChB classes. One in Columbia and the other in Charlotte. I learned a lot at each campus and am glad that I had that opportunity. My husband was so gracious to alter his work schedule and my parents helped with some grandchild watching!
     Our next event is Parent Practicum. The focus this year is on teaching science and inspiring wonder and awe through our childrens observations of God's wonderful creation! If you haven't registered yet guess what! It's free! There is a small fee for the kids camps for ages 6-12. It will be held at Church at Sandhurst. https://www.classicalconversations.com/calendar/2015-06?event_state=SC&tid=1106 At this time, we are working on having some Challenge level parent equipping sessions in the afternoons. I know that I found the afternoon session last year to be sooo helpful for me. Please plan to picnic lunch and stay for the afternoon sessions.
     Starting the Third Thursday in May, I would like to encourage Essentials and Challenge parents to join me for a book club. We will cover the book The Question by Leigh Bortins first. (You can pick it up at practicum.) This great book will be a huge help as we redeem our education together and prepare to think on a dialectic and rhetorical level. While working through the book we will practice some of the skills that your children will use in their learning process. http://www.mthopechronicles.com/2015/03/the-question-5-common-topics-and.html
     CC of Florence II campus will meet on Mondays at Church at Sandhurst. We will have orientation for challenge students the week of August 3rd, 2015. During orientation, your student will receive their first assignments and will learn about organizing their work. I plan to add information here on the blog on a weekly basis. In June I will post a list of supplies needed in addition to the required textbooks. I hope you will find this blog to be a great resource for your students and yourself to find help and encouragement.
     We have so much to look forward to next year in ChB. First semester we will start off with a bang, Science Fair! This isn't your typical Science Fair where the parents do all the heavy lifting. You will likely need to cough up some financial resources for supplies, but your student will be expected to do all the work. They will be scored by 3-4 judges and first, second, and third prizes will be given. We will also be learning about the history of science through researching great scientists and writing about them.
     In Exposition and Composition, we will continue finessing the Basic Persuasive Essay that we started learning in Challenge A. We will begin back at the beginning and adding exordium, narrative, division, refutation, and amplification. We only have 4 novels to work through first semester. Second semester we will discuss Short Stories through the 5 Common Topics. Students will also be guided through writing their own short story. At the end of the semester, we will be creating an anthology for the students to keep as a memory of their classmates and their own hard work.
     Logic will be studied both semesters. This is a great help for students as they get ready for the rigors of upper level math in the coming years. Please be sure to get the DVD's to help you and your child obtain a firm grasp of the subjects.
     Latin will plow deeper furrows in their knowledge of Henle. We will go further and a bit faster through Latin 1. Emphasis will continue to be on thorough memorization of vocabulary and grammar.
     In Math, Saxon Algebra 1/2 will form the backbone of our in-class discussion. Your student is not required to use the Saxon curriculum. However, I would like to know what you are using and at what level your student is performing so that I can include them effectively in class conversation. You may be surprised but the 5 Common Topics can even be applied to math! Math as a Conversation
     Alas, Mock Trial will have to wait for discussion; other than --- we have a field trip! May 15th from 9am-12pm we have been invited to observe the Columbia teams compete. Students 11 years old and up may join us. You may email me for further information. florchbdirector@gmail.com

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