We’ve already had a weather closure, but we shall persevere! Thank you to everyone who joined in for our first-ever online PREP classes. We will not let a little weather get in our way!

My prayer for all of you is that you will finish this semester well; challenge yourself to be a better reader, writer, and student; and most of all grow in your knowledge and love of Christ. I’m happy to help in any way I can!

Blessings,

Mrs. Mathis

Dear Classic and American Lit Students and Parents,

I’ve sent out an email this morning (Sept. 4) via the PREP website. Please read and respond. I’ve updated the homework for both classes on their respective pages here.

We will be fine and will be able to complete the syllabus as planned 🙂

American Lit WILL MEET on the week of October 30. This was previously announced as an off week, but that has now changed. New syllabus will be distributed next week.

You are in my prayers and I thank God for His mercies and protection!

Blessings,

Mrs. Mathis

3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.

5 tabbed dividers: notes, handouts, quizzes, tests, 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

Mark your calendars!

PREP West Orientation  Monday August 14, 6:00 PM, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church

PREP Northwest Orientation  Tuesday August 15, 6:00 PM  Cypress Bible Church

If possible, attend the campus where your child is registered. If not, you are welcome to attend the other campus. If you will be absent, please plan to visit the first class for the first 15-20 minutes.

If you have registered for the 2017-2018 school year, you will be hearing from me soon. Expect some emails explaining the remainder of the registration process (supply fee, curriculum purchases, etc.).

Upcoming dates: Orientation for the new school year will be in August. I’ll let you know as soon as we have dates/times in place.

I’m looking forward to meeting you!

One of the joys of teaching is the chance to introduce students to new friends: inside the pages of their books. One way I do this is by discussing what we read. Our talks are informal and, I hope, instructive. Sometimes they are no more than a skate across the surface as we endeavor to see the big picture. Other times we plumb the depths of theme and characterization as we seek to see the inner-workings of the story before us.

Mortimer Adler says it beautifully:

“The teacher’s role in discussion is to keep it going along fruitful lines—by moderating, guiding, correcting, leading, and arguing like one more student! The teacher is first among equals. All must have the sense that they are participating as equals, as is the case in a genuine conversation…These basic insights are epitomized by Socrates…he describes his role as a teacher by analogy with the service performed by a midwife who does nothing more than assist the pregnant mother to give birth with less pain and more assurance. So, according to Socrates, the teacher assists the inquiring mind of the learner to give birth to knowledge, facilitating the process of discovery on the learner’s  part.” ~ Mortimer Adler

Orientation Reminder: If you aren’t able to attend either orientation, August 17 (Cypress) or August 20 (Katy), please plan on attending a brief session the first 15 minutes of class.

Here is the list of supplies for each class:

Reading & Writing 2 :

WriteShop 2 (student edition only)

Synonym Finder (or other thesaurus) – for use at  home

Current Novel: we begin with The Wind in the Willows

The Magic Lens II- grammar book

3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.

Tabbed Dividers: Notes, Grammar, 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 & American Lit:

3 ring binder with clear view/insert cover. This way the students can keep the syllabus in view at all times.

5 tabbed dividers: notes, handouts, quizzes, tests, 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

(American Lit – Bring your copy of Ben Franklin. Classic Lit – Bring your copy of Windows to the World. I will be distributing your Lost Tools of Writing texts at Orientation/First day of class)

Thank you to everyone who attended our PREP High School to College seminar last night! Here is the sample transcript for you to use:

Sample Transcripts

This is the project I’ve helped with for the past year. The new, fifth edition of The Lost Tools of Writing is even better than the last. I’m excited to be able to use this in the upcoming school year with my Classic Literature and Composition students. I’ll have a sample available at the PREP Open House this spring.