We began our week with a chapel led by Pastor Dan Jongsma of DCF. He talked to us about farms, and specifically about fences: how they keep animals safe and protected, keep them close by so the farmer can care for them, yet provide lots of freedom within the enclosed space for the animals to roam around. God provides "fences" for us, too: the 10 commandments. These commandments are given to us by a loving God who cares for us and protects us and gives us lots of freedom within the boundaries he sets for us. God wants us to stay within the "Law of Love"--to love God above all else, and to love our neightbors as ourselves. If you have a chance, ask your child about this lesson on fences!
Today was a working day in class. Our book clubs met again, and students worked together to discuss their books and complete their assignments. Most of the students are keeping up with their reading and doing a good job working with others in their group. All students will be finishing their books and completing their last assignments for our next book club meeting on FRIDAY. (Field Day is Wednesday, so students have a little longer to wait till their next meeting.)
We also continued researching our topics. I've asked students to do some at-home researching this week and to make, if possible, a trip to the library to try to find some print sources to use for research. Students are expected to come to class on Friday with at least 15 research notecards completed, and they should also bring with them two print sources (books, magazine articles, etc.) If finding a print source is a problem, please let me know in writing.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
May 11
Our devotions today were based on a passage from Romans and used a neat analogy: just as a glove isn't capable of much on its own, but can do amazing things when filled with a hand, so we are--not capable on our own of living according to God's standards, but when filled with the Holy Spirit, capable of great things! We prayed together for God to fill each one of us and help us to live in the way he desires!
We are well into our books for our Book Clubs, and each group has met three times now. Students are reading, quizzing each other, discussing, and sharing their work with one another. It's great to see the students collaborating as they talk about their books and share their observations! Clubs will continue to meet and read for two more sessions.
We began working on research papers today. Students will be writing a 750-1000 word (3-4 page typed) research paper on a significant person or event. Students came today with their topics and began doing research online. We talked about notetaking and avoiding plagiarism, and students learned how to create a source card and take notes from that source. We'll continue to research next week, and students will be required to consult print sources as well, so if you have a trip to the library planned, have your child check for books related to his or her topic.
We praised God today for the beautiful weather and the opportunities we have to delight in his marvelous creation. Enjoy today and the weekend ahead!
We are well into our books for our Book Clubs, and each group has met three times now. Students are reading, quizzing each other, discussing, and sharing their work with one another. It's great to see the students collaborating as they talk about their books and share their observations! Clubs will continue to meet and read for two more sessions.
We began working on research papers today. Students will be writing a 750-1000 word (3-4 page typed) research paper on a significant person or event. Students came today with their topics and began doing research online. We talked about notetaking and avoiding plagiarism, and students learned how to create a source card and take notes from that source. We'll continue to research next week, and students will be required to consult print sources as well, so if you have a trip to the library planned, have your child check for books related to his or her topic.
We praised God today for the beautiful weather and the opportunities we have to delight in his marvelous creation. Enjoy today and the weekend ahead!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 2
Today we worked on essays based on The Hiding Place. The students are writing five paragraph essays in which they discuss a theme (message) of the book and use examples from the story to show how this theme is conveyed. We looked today at the structure of an essay--introduction, body, and conclusion--and what is included in each of the parts. I also gave the students a writing guide for their essays; it's designed to help them think about each sentence they write and how it is related to the essay as a whole. We spent some time writing in class, we will have a little more time to work in class on Friday. The essays will then be due next week Wednesday.
We also prepared today to move on to our next reading assignment. The students will be working in groups called Book Clubs to read novels together. Each club will be assigned a different novel. Groups will have reading assignments each day, and each member of each club will have a job to do related to that reading. The clubs will meet during class and members will work together to present and complete the assigned jobs. Today we talked about book clubs and learned about the jobs, and on Friday students will receive their club assignments and we'll get started reading!
We also prepared today to move on to our next reading assignment. The students will be working in groups called Book Clubs to read novels together. Each club will be assigned a different novel. Groups will have reading assignments each day, and each member of each club will have a job to do related to that reading. The clubs will meet during class and members will work together to present and complete the assigned jobs. Today we talked about book clubs and learned about the jobs, and on Friday students will receive their club assignments and we'll get started reading!
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