IEW-Week 11

The time has come! We're tying up loose ends so we can finish the semester with a bang.

Today in class we reviewed introductory paragraphs as well as conclusion paragraphs. We went through some very specific types of "Hook" openers and talked thorugh some examples. We also talked about using the pronoun "I" to turn our report into a first person story and went over some medieval words that we can sprinkle in to make our report sound a bit more "of the time period."

Several of you asked if the paper was due in first person or third person form.  Over the years it's been done many ways. Some people write the report itself in third person and then present it in first person but that is a tricky task unless you're a second or third tour student. What ever mom is comfortable with is perfect. You know your student and your level of comfort with the material.

First class got really into the lesson and we had a blast taking our rough drafts and thinking of great hook openers. It was great to see moms working with their students and to hear the different ideas that were coming from everyone's imagination. It was also a lot of fun to hear your ideas on how to mix in medieval words.

Second class said they were set to go so we jumped into the vocabulary word search. They did really well! I was very impressed. Nearly everyone finished it. First class, I handed yours to you on the way out the door so that you can do yours at home.

Final papers are due next week and we will have everyone read their papers and work on public speaking skills. Next semester we jump head first into creative writing. Let's beef up our oral presentation skills so that reading those super fun papers is really exciting! 

We also want to get a jump start on practicing for the Medieval Dinner. If you are not participating in that, you are invited to come in costume next week and strut your stuff! Your hard work needs its chance on stage too. :)

We will meet Thursday November 21 at 2pm (attention: This time may change but I will let you know if it does.)at Westside for a dress rehearsal. Please come in street clothes and bring your costume and a snack or two. Matt and Brie will be on hand to run through rehearsals with us so that we can get really comfortable in our skin in front of the crowd. Character development, stage business (what to do with your hands on stage), speaking from your diaphragm, and a little bit of fun and relaxing in character will make for a fun filled but productive afternoon. I am also hoping to have some theatre students from Guilford come to help fix the girls' hair!

We will dress for the show and walk across to Christ Community as a group. I know some of you have some conflicts during the day and will need to leave but the intent of this time is to really let the students have some genuine rehearsal time with a bit of coaching tossed in. Don't worry, they will get some down time to eat and dress and relax before "curtain" too!

Moms, once you drop them off, please consider wandering across to Christ Community to help Shelley, Amy, Patrice, Cynthia, and Sherry set up and decorate. These ladies have gone above and beyond to make this evening unforgettable for the classes and I am so grateful to all of them! JonVarnell will already be smoking the meat for dinner as well so please take a moment to say thank you. This is an amazing team.

I would  also like to say a big giant THANK YOU to Karen and her team for putting together a wonderful Marble Jar party! These students have worked so hard this semester to earn this treat.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me. I am here to help.
Your children are such blessings and I am humbled and grateful to have been a part of your first semester.
Melissa