Oral Interp videos

The kids did their versions of a take on Little Red Hiding Hood in class, and Mrs.  H. asked me to tape/post here so they can write a self-critique.

Oral Interp Videos

Mrs. H. asked me to post these for students' self-assessments. They all had to perform the different character voices from the same selection from Shakespeare's Pyramus and Thisbe. 

Tutoring Center 2012-2013

We had the first day of classes on Tuesday. Classes offered this year are Drama, Government, Theology (Didache), Middle School Physics, Middle School Lit & Composition, Biology, High School Lit, Reading Shakespeare, and Writing. I am teaching a couple of Sixth Grade classes in Geography and Art!

Thinking of next year...

I am putting together initial plans for next year at our Tutoring Center classes at the library... so far we have Biology lined up, and Scriptures with Didache, and maybe Government. A Shakespeare-reading class, and a class on Oral Interp/Drama. I will lead a History-study group using Light of the Nations, and we will also have a middle school Physics class.

Looks like it will be another full, great year at Tutoring Center!

At home Number Six will begin French with Rolling Acres School, and continue Latin at the diocesan Catholic School. Number Seven is interested in Quiz Bowl and soccer.

I love making plans. Next year feels like a vast blank canvas to be filled with good stuff at this point. May God help us.

More Demonstration Speeches

These two were on calligraphy techniques and dance steps!

A day at TC

Today it was another full day at our TC. We started with an excellent Power Point presentation on Life issues by Travis Benson, diocesan attorney and homeschool dad, invited by Mrs. G.'s religion class.
In Speech the kids presented their demonstration speeches and subjects varied from balloon sculpting, to a secret recipe of the easiest cookies ever, to dancing lessons and crystal making.
In middle school Lit the students watched a BBC episode of one of their favorite books of the year so far, James Herriot's All Things Great and Small.
Another busy day at homeschool Tutoring Center!

Russia reports

We finished the chapter on Russia in History and the students presented their reports yesterday. We heard about Ivan the Terrible, Vladimir, Nicholas the Last Czar, Peter the Great, the Communist Revolution, and the events in Fatima concerning Russia. The students got creative and brought a large colored map of Russia and its neighbors, a hand drawn picture of Ivan the terrible and... Russian Chocolate Cake!

The large map was worked on by Number Seven (who was absent) with the help of her sister who presented it to the class. We used Wonder Maps, given to me as a gift from Bright Ideas press on the occasion of my winning the Blog Award. I must say that s a fantastic product, allowing maps of any part of the world to be printed with many levels of information and in any possible size!

An interesting item Number Six and I found while researching Fatima was this Timeline from EWTN.

Taj Mahal project

What a fun class we had yesterday at TC! The students brought Taj Mahal versions in sculpted popcorn and soap, Legos, artwork, papers and ... a cake! We closed chapter 12 on India, and on to Chapter 13!

History studies

I lead a History study group on Tuesdays, and we just finished All Ye Lands' chapter on Japan.

We closed the chapter with several students' presentations: we heard about the Japanese poems called haikus, about Commodore Perry and the opening of the Tokyo Bay ports after centuries of isolationism, about the Nagasaki Martyrs who gave their lives for Jesus Christ and whose blood was the seed of Christianity in Japan, about the exquisite and curious art of Bonsai (miniature trees), about the life of a Samurai, and about the great Saint Francis Xavier, called the second great Apostle of Christ after St. Paul! Also, we were honored with Mrs. S.'s presence, she assisted her boys in their Japanese food report and we all got to have some homemade Sushi! They also brought Japanese newspaper, money and Kimonos! Thank you S. family!

I think sometimes of my role with this large classroom of kids from 4th to 8th grade and doubt the fruitfulness of my definitely imperfect work. This is the only Catholic Textbook Project volume I have not written the workbook for (I am finishing the last chapter of Light of Nations Part 2!) so I have had to come up with some different ideas for students' work and activities. Assigning different topics for students to present, in their choice of manner, has worked well. I have also written simple skits that the students presented in class. If the students have learned and the class has been successful is is because the book is wonderful, and the students are equally wonderful! Although I have a licenciature degree in Art from my Brazilian college, which is somewhat equivalent to an education degree, I have never sought to be a classroom teacher. But leading a group of homeschool students whose education has been home-centered and home supported has been very enjoyable.

Fifth Grade Latin

The sounds coming from two friends doing their Latin homework sound like music to my ears. Thank You Mrs. S. for teaching an excellent class! They are using Memoria Press' First Form Latin.

Ancient Greece reports

We are studying World History using All Ye Lands at our homeschool Tutoring Center. The kids presented their reports yesterday and I was very pleased. The stories of Romulus & Remus, Horatio, Cincinnatus, Cicero, Virgil, JC and Hannibal paraded through the classroom as papers were read aloud along with nicely done posters and oral reports presented, and even poetry! Finishing the class  period with a memorized recitation of the first stanzas of the Aeneid was superb! Thanks to my excellent students!

Dissection at Tutoring Center!

The students were excellent, cooperative, and had a great atitude. Best of all, they welcome the curious and willing younger siblings! Thanks to Mrs. S. and to all who worked to make this a success!

The Seven Silly Eaters, speech by Number Five, and others

She did a wonderful job yesterday at Tutoring Center! Of course, the Seven Silly Eaters is our favorite picture book of all times.

Christmas Speeches, part 2

Tutoring Center Speech Class

Enjoy the first five manuscript speeches on Christmas traditions!