1st Semester Week 10!

Whew! Week 10 is in the books. Some important info, then a quick recap!

Quizlet/Links - In an attempt to stay somewhat organized, I have divided the links into 6 week chunks. The drawback, of course, is that many of the links are big picture or overview (latin, comprehensive quizlet users) and I won't be re-entering the info for every 6 week chunk. So you can and should put on your detective hats and poke around to really get familiar with all the resources available to you! And I will continue to post relevant links in my weekly wrap up posts as well!

Conversation - We are learning how to have respectful, meaningful, thoughtful conversations in Challenge A. I think that overall, our class conversation skills have progressed over the last 10 weeks. This week was a bit tough - I had to do too much reminding and we were not able to be really fruitful in our discussion. I am hopeful, though. We are on this journey together! I'm already excited for next week!

Guide - Remember to always refer to the guide for weekly work. I try to summarize important things in the weekly wrap-ups, but I don't include all the assignments so check your guide regularly. And remember the helpful articles and resources in there!

Weekly Wrap-up:

Research - Goodbye, research papers (for now)! What fun we've had. We'll come back to research papers during second semester, but for now it's time for...

SCIENCE FAIR!

 - Here we go! Science fair is officially underway! I sent home some info for students AND parents to read through. For better or for worse, science fair really needs parental oversight and input throughout the entire process! I really hope this will be a positive, worthwhile experience, but to make that happen we've got to commit to this thing. And chip away bit by bit at the weekly assignments. 

- I have started a Science Fair category on the right. Go there for the reference materials and links that I have found helpful. Take time to look at sciencebuddies.com (a lot of your questions will be answered there). 

- If you get stuck, please ask for help. Don't delay!

- This week (remember to check your guide as well!):

• Begin to familiarize yourself with this big project. Read the documents I sent home with you (check the 'Science Fair' link on the right for all the documents). Look at sciencebuddies.com and the other links I posted there. Of course I'll link them here as well.
• Science Fair FAQ
• Science Fair Terms Defined
• What I wish I had known. Reflections from mom who did Science Fair with a Challenge B Student
• Science Fair Parent Meeting Document (from another ChA Director!)
• Websites:
• Science Fair Ideas We watched this in class. Good Science Fair tips and great ideas to get the creative juices flowing!
• NASA Science Fair Great series of videos. Watch them!
• Science Buddies Official CC recommended Science Fair site. Get to know it!
• CC Connected! Don't forget the resources for you on CC Connected! Classical Learning Center.>Hover over 'Learning Center'>Research>Science Fair
• Science Fair Inspiration
• Set up your science journal! 
• Remember, I gave you two very similar, complimentary documents on how to set up your journal. There is some variation in the 'Table of Contents'. You may decide which one to use! I added 'Scientific Method Overview' as the first item (glued onto page 1), then 'Abstract' (leave 3-4 blank pages), and then 'Research Problem'. You really only need to have these three items in your Table of Contents this week!
• Lab Journal - From CC Connected
• Lab Journal - from another Ch A Director (I leaned more towards this Table of Contents, but it's up to you!)
• Label all the page numbers in your lab journal! 
• Important note about your journal from an official scientist and science fair judge:
• In the world of science, absolutely everything is recorded (with dates)! Thoughts, observations, hypotheses, protocols, data etc. Please don't think or allow your student to think that the labnotebooks are some sort of busy work add-on for presentation purposes. Talk with your student about the reality of science labnotebooks. Lab journals are often the only record of the process you have, only record of failed attempts (important so no one repeats your mistakes 5 years later). Keep in mind that a too-clean, too-orderly notebook is evidence that you are leaving things out that may later be helpful to you or someone else, even critical...if only those things had been recorded!

• Work through the first assignment - the Research Problem! Write 1-2 paragraphs in your science log under 'Research Problem'.
• Week 1 - Research Problem

Latin - This week we did review games and then introduced Predicate Adjectives. Just more practice with all things adjectives this week. Pay attention to the preposition pro!

Remember the CC Connected Visual Latin videos? Remember Latin with Andy? Remember the youtube links for pronunciation and latin overviews in the quizlet/links wks 1-6? Remember you can always ask me and/or your classmates for help? Remember that Latin is pretty awesome? Oh you do remember? Great! I was just checking.

• Adjective Chart Treat this like copy work and get those adjectives mastered!
• Adjectives Overview

Exposition/Composition (LTW) - We didn't have a chance to read papers, but we should have time next week so Chloe, Dylan, and Emma - bring your papers to share. This week we had a good discussion about Number the Stars while eating a book themed snack. Then it was back to Arrangement! We walked through Comparison II - Differences. I think it was starting to click, but don't forget to ask for help if you need it. Students and parents, watch those LTW videos! They are short and so helpful.

This week's assignment is the invention for Essay 4. ANI chart (25 items per column!), sorting, 5 common topics, Comparison I, and the new worksheet for Comparison II. Pace yourself and have fun!

Debate/Cartography: This week we are adding Western Europe. Check the back of the guide for the weekly breakdown. Be diligent (do I say that quite a bit?).

My challenge to you this week: do your cartography every day, and at least one cumulative map. Do this for 5 noodles! Bonus! 1 noodle for each map you draw of BOTH western and northern Europe.

Logic: Thanks to Ethan for leading our math discussion this week. I will draw 2 names from the red solo cup for next week's math leaders. 1 noodle for bringing a prepared problem. And yes, we will play a math game with teeny tiny dice.

Rhetoric: Cue large dramatic sigh! Unfortunately this strand got neglected again this week, and I attribute it to poor class management and too much unfocused talking. Next week we will START with Rhetoric, and will be discussing chapters 8, 9, and 10, as well doing a catechism review game. Yes!

I will also be handing out a few treats next week!

Have a wonderful week!