IEW-Week 3

Now we're getting to the good stuff.

Today we began Unit 4. This is a short report with an introductory sentence and a conclusion sentence (which we will learn next week) building towards Unit 6, the 5 paragraph report format.

For those of you that were not present in class this week, here's the quick run down:

We covered lessons #6 and #8 in class: summarizing a reference, topic/ clincher sentences that repeat and reflect, -LY sentence openers #3, and VSS #6. Remember: one topic per paragraph, no peanut butter and jelly with tuna fish!

The assignment is to choose A) Do you want to do a report on Charlemagne (lesson #6) OR on the Vikings (lesson #8), B) How many paragraphs do you want to do? Level A is 2 paragraphs, Level B is 3 paragraphs with the option of pulling in your own source text if you have chosen to report on the Vikings.

Moms, if you feel that 2 paragraphs is too much for your student, please do one well written paragraph rather than a rushed or hurried through 2 paragraph report. We are blessed to have some very young and new learners in class. :) Grace abounds! We want everyone to fall in love with the written word NOT begrudge yet another grueling assignment that is beyond their means.  On the other hand, for those of you with Level C writers, the sky's the limit! Allow them to chose a subject of interest, find their own source texts, and really dig in! Do try to steer them towards Medieval/ Renaissance history topics.

There is absolutely nothing to turn in next week.

Please work on your rough draft paragraphs this week with the understanding that next week we will cover lesson #7 which teaches them to write an introductory sentence and a conclusion sentence.

Almost everyone got to read in class. Yay! There will be time to read more next week. I enjoyed reading everyone's first papers very much. Talent abounds and it's going to be a wonderful year learning and growing together. Each paper included a "Glow and Grow" comment card. This was a suggestion that I was given at tutor training so I thought I'd give it a try.

Also, I passed out a quick overview of the papers that are due for the rest of the semester. Can you believe that we only have 4 papers left? My goodness the semester will just fly by. If you did not get this handout, let me know.

Take a moment with your student to talk about the library research paper that will become our Faces of History dinner theatre presentation at the end of the semester. Any topic is acceptable including a general class of people (such as "Monks of the Middle Ages"), a specific person ("Joan of Arc"), or a field of interest ( "Weapons"). The world is their oyster to explore and discover! This is a great opportunity to integrate subjects by having them begin their research and practice doing it in bits and pieces through Foundations presentations or having them choose a topic from a history sentence or science question. Work smarter not harder, right? If this paper is causing confusion or concern for you, please let me know. For more information read p. 93 in the IEW History student book. It says that we "may spend two weeks on this lesson" however, we will be spending four. This is a very important skill to learn and we will spend time working with it.

Have a blessed week!
Melissa