http://www.imaginativeconservative.org/2011/11/in-praise-of-commonplace-book.html

I encourage you to read this article. If you haven’t already started a Commonplace Book, why not put a beautiful bound journal on your Christmas list? Those of you who have, I pray you’ll carry the tradition long past this school year.

Blessings,

Mrs. Mathis

If not, it’s probably time to clean out a folder. Yes parents, it’s that time again. The first round of grade reports has gone out and that means all the previous unit’s work needs to be removed and filed somewhere.

Reading & Writing 1 & 2:  Clear out anything from the previous unit. You will probably want to keep a few sample copies of graded work plus any tests. Projects can be saved or you can take a picture and save that.  Once I have issued the grade report you are free to do what you like with the papers. Some students have a really hard time finding work in class and when I look at their folders I can see why. Please take initiative to help them in this area. If they are not naturally organized, then sit down and explain why you are keeping/tossing/filing what you are. Do you need to purchase any additional supplies to keep the folder neat? Hole reinforcements, pocket dividers,  & clear sheet protectors can all keep a folder neat and tidy.

Classic Lit & American Lit: Keep all graded material close by until the semester grade has been assigned (in January.) At this age your student may be capable of handling his own organizational duties. If not, you have my permission to step in and take action. I realize you won’t be able to do this when they are in college <G>, but for now please understand that disorganization is costly.

Yesterday I taught my very first webinar for CIRCE, explaining and introducing the first  of the Lost Tools of Writing lessons, specifically the ANI chart. (If these acronyms confuse you, don’t worry. Plow on.) I was more than a little nervous, truth be told. Over 200 people had signed up. What if they all showed? What if I couldn’t keep track of all the questions? What if my hair looked stupid? (Just keeping it real here folks…who really wants to broadcast themselves on video?)

Like most worries, the ones I was most afraid of never came to pass and the one I hadn’t thought of did. The audio wouldn’t work unless I turned off the camera. So much for the new haircut!

To calm my opening jitters, I had one friendly note (Thanks Cindy!) sitting close at hand “I’ll be praying for you and I believe in you as a teacher.” These two reminders- that God is my source of strength and at least one person thinks I can do this – made a world of difference to me.

I hope and pray I can make the same kind of difference this year to all of you. This is why we pray for each other at the beginning of class. It’s also why I want you to know that at least one person – that’s me! – believes  you can do this. You can learn to read carefully and write beautifully!

Blessings, Mrs. M.

We are off to a wonderful start! Highlights:

-poem of the day featuring everything from eagles to sea monsters. One student called Tennyson a favorite!

-Psalm 1: What is the most important thing we can ever read?

-Practice descriptive paragraphs on my acorn shaped potpourri  holder. Each class put its own spin on things and I love to see their minds working. What objects will they describe for homework? I can’t wait to see!

-Fruitful discussions on laws in community, the role of church vs. state, and how far should one go in the pursuit of entertainment. Does “survival of the fittest” apply outside of the animal kingdom? These high-schoolers are deep thinkers!

See your inbox for a note about the upcoming schedule next week.

Blessings, Mrs. M.

Hi Parents,

By now (August 17) all should have received an email from me. High schoolers have their homework assignment, including attached file, and middle-school parents have a note about food allergies.  If you don’t have this, contact me and we’ll figure out how to take care of it. I used the email you posted on your PREP account. If this is not the email you wish to use, be sure to change it on the PREP website and let me know what the new address is.

Blessings, Mrs. M.

It’s that time of year! Here is the list for all classes:

Reading & Writing 1:

Reading & Writing 1 :
WriteShop 1 (student edition only)
Synonym Finder (or other thesaurus)
Current Novel: We begin with Holes.
3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.
Tabbed Dividers: Notes, Handouts, Writing, Returned Work
Include a pocket divider with one side labeled “take home” and the other side “bring back” to keep track of papers
Colored pencils
Pen (blue or black)
Notebook paper (white)

Reading & Writing 2:

WriteShop 2 (student edition only)
Synonym Finder (or other thesaurus)
Current Novel: We begin with A Wrinkle in Time.
3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.
Tabbed Dividers: Notes, Handouts, Writing, Returned Work
Include a pocket divider with one side labeled “take home” and the other side “bring back” to keep track of papers
Colored pencils
Pen (blue or black)
Notebook paper (white)

Classic Lit & American Lit:

3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.
Tabbed dividers, at least 4: notes, handouts, quizzes, papers,
Pen and pencil
5 retractable highlighters: orange, green, blue, pink, yellow
Student composition book (sewn type, not spiral) to use for a Commonplace Book: a place to collect vocabulary, quotes, and examples from their reading.

I sent the “Welcome to your class” letters yesterday via the PREP website. If you didn’t receive this email please let me know.

Thanks!

Renee

Learning for Little Ones. We can’t forget the most important first reading skill: pre-reading. Here’s a great idea for communicating Tabletop Truths over dinner. Placemats – durable, colorful – serve as a springboard for picture-based storytelling. Have fun creating and retelling your favorites! I met Sara and Lisa at the conference and fell in love with their bright cheery approach to sharing God’s word with little kids. Here’s their website http://tabletoptruths.blogspot.com/ where you can see all the designs for yourself. Each affordable, double-sided placemat features different colors, holidays, even kids’ hair color! (Shh….I bought a few for some little grandbabies I know!)

Thank you to everyone who sat through my talks, especially my “thumbs up” friends. You know who you are and your smiles were greatly appreciated!

Since I’m not in the market for a lot of curriculum these days (have you seen my shelves?) I thought I’d share a few finds with you.

First, who couldn’t use a little help in the organization and transportation department? I’m not talking the 4 wheeled kind, rather the “I have to haul this stuff around” kind. My rolling cart is my best friend during the school year, and now I have another way to corral my must-haves.

Thirty One: I hadn’t heard of this company before this weekend, but Bekah the delightful consultant did a super job of selling me on these bags and totes. Here’s her site http://www.mythirtyone.com/bekahb/ .  My desk supplies and file folders will be traveling in style this fall!

Hope to see you at this weekend’s Gulf Coast Home Education Conference. I’ll be presenting one workshop on Friday and two on Saturday.

Friday 9:45 AM – Study Skills Top 10 In this workshop I will discuss the basics of study skills – what they are and who can benefit from them. There are 2 common misconceptions when it comes to studying: you have to be a genius or you have to work so hard that you have no life. Actually earning good grades is a matter of working smarter. It’s about knowing what is important and what your role as a student is. I will cover the Ten Commandments of studying, beginning with the most important – paying attention – and ending with a reminder that there is a secret ingredient. The 10 skills are broken down into input skills, process skills, and output skills. Taking information in requires knowing how to listen well and take notes in class. It also involves careful reading and organization. Process skills involve applying the new information in order to learn it and making connections with the material. It also involves memorization. Output skills are usually what is measured: tests, papers, and projects. Whether your child is learning at home or in an outside class or co-op situation, these skills can help them learn and thrive.

11:00 AM Saturday – I’ll Take Learning for $1000, Alex (or How One Homeschool Mom Loved to Learn and Became a Jeopardy Champion) No, they don’t give you a list of questions to study and yes, I did practice. I love to talk about my Jeopardy story for several reasons. First, it’s all about having a dream and pursuing it. It’s fun to play the game at home, but I determined that I wanted to take the next step. Second, it’s about figuring out what is expected and how to get there. I did study – hard! – and I saw the results of that effort. Finally, there is always a support system in place and that is no small factor. The same things are true when taking any test, whether a weekly spelling test or something like the SAT. As homeschool moms we can help our children learn how to take tests and reduce anxiety with a few simple pointers. They work! Students need to know what their goals are, they need to know how to study to reach them, and they need to acknowledge and utilize the support systems available. Rehearsing to appear on national television and rehearsing for a test have a lot in common.

8:30 AM Saturday — How to Wreck a Book (Or How to Read & Mark Your Books for Greater Comprehension, Retention, and Enjoyment) With a small investment – less than $10 – you can help your child take reading to a new level. This highlighting method can be used with any book in any subject. I teach Literature and Composition to 7th-12th graders. I also have 5 children who each have different academic strengths and weaknesses. As a student myself, I know the “fear” that comes with facing a book and thinking “I’ll never understand this!” I’ve been privileged to learn a method for highlighting and marking up a book that offers several benefits. To begin, it’s hard to fall asleep when you are keeping track of 5 different colors! Next, for the visual learners out there, nothing looks prettier than a color-coded page of information. Auditory learners can benefit by keeping up a running question-and-answer commentary in their heads as they read. The colors correspond to vocabulary words, plot/main ideas, characters, setting/structure, and favorite quotes. By the time you have marked up a book, you truly “own” it.