Week 7 - It's Time for a Party! Revised post

Hi Moms,
For some reason the extensive post I composed this morning disappeared and only a small portion of the information I shared has appeared in your inbox.  I will try to remember most of my original post:)  Here we go again...

Greetings Essentials families,
At long last we have reached the goal of a "Writing Rewards Celebration."  All of the students have looked forward to this event and it should be a fun time to celebrate their hard work and learning this semester!  The theme and menu will be a surprise.  Additionally, each individual student will be recognized at the celebration with a certificate for "Excellence in Writing."  Erin and I have decided that we will celebrate at the end of the IEW/Essentials block.  We will make a quick class change, eliminate math games, and party at the end of class (approximately 2:40-3:00).

STRUCTURE - Unit III - Summarizing Narrative Stories - The Story Sequence Chart
Yesterday we reviewed Unit III Structure - The Story Sequence Chart.  All of the students are working hard and enthusiastically to understand the grammar of the unit (characters, setting, conflict, plot, climax, resolution, moral or theme).  This week challenge your child to memorize the elements of The Story Sequence Chart.  In their lesson pack I included a memory song to help them memorize this information.  The song is to the tune of Thomas the Tank Engine's theme song.  If your child prefers to learn from a list instead of a song, I also included a memory help in the form of a list - The 4 C's and the 5 Keys.  Memorizing this information will help greatly as we move forward in IEW.  Also, if your homeschool schedule allows continue to practice the Banned Words Song from last week, the IEW Grammar Memory Work, and IEW Vocabulary.  We will be spending time next week playing a review game covering all that we have learned this semester, so REVIEW, REVIEW,REVIEW - and let the games begin!!!

STYLE - NEW DECORATION  - "CONVERSATION"
We discussed adding a new decoration to our writing, "conversation" between characters.  We highlighted the list of Grammar Rules in the back section of their notebooks, Rule 4: Using Quotation Marks in Dialogue.  Because the list is extensive, I have recommended two exercises that you and your child can complete this week in an effort to master these rules.  As always, these recommendations are optional and subject to our own homeschool schedule.  The first exercise is located in the Grammar Rules section of your student's binder p. 68, the second exercise was distributed in class.  Please refer to your Weekly Guide for pacing these exercises over the week.  Next week I plan to provide a practice sheet again.  Hopefully, this will aid everyone in gaining a strong command of using conversation in their writing and properly punctuating it.

Attention Class #2 - Some of you got away on Tuesday without a copy of the "History Note: Babylon" sheet. I know I didn't catch everyone before you left.  I will give you a copy next week for your child to illustrate:)

Lesson 10 - 2 Week Assignment!!! "The Fall of Babylon"
In class we completed Key Word Outlining the first section of the story your child will write over the next two weeks.  Please use your Weekly Guide and Final Checklist to help you at home as you work to complete the KWO, brainstorming, and rough drafts for sections I and II  (Section I - Characters and Setting, Section II - Conflict and Plot).  Your child will not be required to turn in a rough draft next week, but please bring your lesson packet to class.  We will be reviewing the third section of the story next Tuesday.

"True education is a transformational process in growing in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom."
Unit III is a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn critical thinking skills.  Asking questions is the next step beyond the "grammar" stage of learning.  Use Unit III to help your child grow to this new level of "understanding" by analyzing the story and having them formulate the questions to complete the KWO.  In class we used the microphone as a fun prop to emphasize the importance of the question and answer process.  At home continue to practice asking questions.  Use the questions directly from the Story Sequence Chart as a script.  You can have them ask you the questions and/or you ask them the questions.  Model the process for them.

I hope you have an enjoyable week of writing.  I am looking forward to next week's celebration!

Blessings,
Tina