IEW-Week 4

What an exciting-in-a-circle kind of day! My sincere apologies to Ryan- hehehe- I'm just going to have to find an analogy that doesn't make him cringe! But we managed to keep our peanut butter and jelly separate from our tuna fish and still combine them into one cohesive paper!

If the concept is still a bit fuzzy, please check in with me. It is quite a doozy to grasp the first time around. Just to sum it up:

          The Introductory sentence comes first and tells the reader a one or two word summary of every point that the report will discuss. The Topic sentence of the first paragraph comes second and introduces the focus point of the first paragraph. Then we get to the 4 -7 facts that the first paragraph is about. Last, the first paragraph Clincher sentence repeats or reflects 2 -3 key words from the Topic (not Introductory) sentence.

          The second paragraph opens with its own Topic sentence. That is followed by 4 - 7 facts and details supporting its topic. It is finished off with a Clincher sentence that repeats or reflects 2-3 words from its Topic sentence. Then the whole report is summed up with a Final Clincher sentence that repeats or reflects 2-3 words from the Introductory sentence at the very beginning of the report.

Does that help? It is a lot of repeating and reflecting but it drills the structure into them until it becomes second nature and they begin to write really well done papers.

This week's assignment is to add in your Introductory/Final Clincher sentences and edit anything that doesn't sit quite right with you. THIS IS IMPORTANT: I totally forgot to say in class that on the Checklist for Charlemagne, #3 and #6 is not listed! Up to you moms, but I think it should be added in and required because it is teaching them to vary their sentence patterns and structure.

Also, we ran out of time to read the sample story on pg 50 in the book. It's a great idea to have them read that before they dive in. Even though they helped me edit "My Story" a second look at the intended end product may prove useful.

Thank you, thank you Mrs Bate for the doughnuts! Yum!

Don't forget that you have some excellent resources in your pocket to reinforce what we're learning in class: read the lessons in the book, study the charts, drill the flashcards, quiz the Memory Work just like you do for EEL. Focus on getting the structure and style and not necessarily the paper. The paper will come once the tools are learned. Always cut down the assignment (or add to) to fit the needs of your student. We are creating a toolbox of skills to use for life not a noose to hang ourselves with when life becomes... life. :) If... when you find that your week gets hairy, boil it down to the basics!

As always, email me, email me, email me when questions come up!

Have a great week and if you are interested in my personal weekly checklist, email me and I'll get it to you.
Melissa