Week 8

Thank you very much for a very good Monday morning.  I felt like everyone was tired (maybe because of the time change), but I appreciate everyone's cooperation.  We miss you Seth, but we know you are having a wonderful time... make sure to take lots of pictures.

Presentation was fun - we drew, danced, ate and made sculpture (by the way, your children might have brought home their little pig sculpture, it needs to be baked at 275 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes)... what more can you ask for. I was so impressed when I saw everyone paying really close attention to the people who were presenting. That is respect and I would say, I am very proud of each and everyone of you.  Thank you very much. Next week's presentation is "Make us laugh" or Humorous interpretation, this will be another fun one.  Please make sure they have their joke, story or poem memorized and props are always welcomed.

Science Experiment was short and quick. We've discuss a little bit about the pancreas and the gallbladder when we were in the digestive system.  We will discuss a little bit about the spleen next week when we are in the lymph system.  Just remind them coloring is not a race. We do want our body and body organs to look pretty at the end of the year. Next week, please bring coloring materials and scissors.

New Grammar
Timeline: Song - CC CD
We sang through the timeline and did the hand motions taught during the opening ceremony.  the kids are getting better every week.  Keep on practicing.

History: Song - CC CD
I discussed a little bit about the background of the Missouri Compromise and we went over the memory work a lot of times and did the following hand motions:
 Henry Clay - right "C" hand
 Missouri Compromise - right index finger points to right forehead, then both index fingers point away from the body meeting at the midline.
 slave - both "S' hand palms down crossed at wrists
 free - both "S" hand palms up crossed at wrists then pull apart (as if breaking free)
In the worksheets I gave you, there are questions regarding 36 30.  I did not want to overwhelm them in class so I did not went over that with them. Feel free to do it at home.

Math: Song - CC CD
I am very happy that the kids are doing really well with skip counting... keep on!

Latin: Song - CC Connected NoGreaterJoy
We finish the Latin nouns with the same song (we were even able to review all of the nouns) and the following hand motions:
 testimonium - right palm facing face above the head and wave twice
 luminae - (same as lux) move right hand downward as it opens up
 Iohannes - right "J" hand
 tenebris/tenebrae - both hands palms in comes together in front of the face down to the chest

Science: Song - CC Connected NoGreaterJoy
I discussed a little bit about each part of the circulatory system and went over the circulation of blood beginning from the vena cava and ending in the aorta to the different organs. I stressed that the circulation of blood is one direction.  We went over the memory work a lot and did the following hand motions:
 heart - draw a heart over your heart
 arteries - left "A" hand moves away from the heart
 veins - right "V" hand moves toward the heart
 capillaries - open hands with fingertips touching
 red and white blood cells - "O" on both hands one at a time
 platelets - right palm over the left hand
There is a worksheet (Circulatory system matching - really small print) that I gave you that did not have an answer key, can I give it to you next week? 

English: Song - CC Connected NoGreaterJoy
I mentioned that raise is a regular verb, it is there to get the confusion out of the verb "rise." I believe the confusion is there... they keep wanting to say risen for past participle instead of raised. I did not erased anything on the board so that they can read it to get the confusion out.  Work on it at home.

Geography: Song - CC Connected NoGreaterJoy
Trace, say and point the five states we learned.  So far they are doing really well, even if i ask about other states, they can still tell me the capital.  For games and activities, see previous (week 6) post.

Fine Arts
We learned the notes and note values, the treble and the bass clef.  I gave them a sheet for their reference of what they learned in class.  They are doing really well.  We continued with the left hand "Hot Cross Buns" starting at "B" (one hole covered), using only all the notes on the left hand. We also played "Mary had a Little Lamb", which is also a left hand focus.  And then I introduced the same song, "Hot Cross Buns" now starting at "F" sharp (four holes covered), using only the right hand.  I will try to give everyone copies of the music next week. Just a quick reminder, let them play tin whistle at least 10 mins everyday.  Remind them of proper posture (sit or stand up straight), positioning (45 degrees) and make sure the holes are covered properly. Thank you. Congratulations everyone! I also gave you some worksheets on music theory.

Review
Every review game helps reinforce what they learn every week and I am very very happy to see that they really are learning their memory work very well.  Reminder for those who are doing the memory masters, you should have mastered your first seven weeks already. Keep on, challenge everyone.  I will challenge myself, too.

Book Recommendation
Here are some of the books I found at the local library.
To Preserve the Union Causes and Effects of the Missouri Compromise by Kaavonia Hinton
(in connection to this book, there is one that Dawn and I read last week on the War of 1812) Mr. Madison's War Causes and Effects of the War of 1812 by Kassandra Radomski
The Circulatory System by Conrad Storad
Heart, Blood, and Lungs by Steve Parker

      


Thank you so much for all your prayers, Dave's surgery went really well.  It has just been a very challenging recovery for me not him, because I have to do most of everything.  I am back to work and have a lot of deadlines to meet. Continue to keep us in your prayers.

Have a wonderful week... see you all on Monday!

Miss Zabrina