Challenge A FUN!

I had the privilege of subbing for our fabulous Challenge A Director, Terri Ulrich.  She and her precious family are on vacation and it was my JOY to serve her through subbing.

Thank you Mrs. Trujillo for bringing in goodies during our lively Latin time!

Thank you to Mrs. Pierce for the birthday goodies to share!

MATH

Math was WONDERFUL!!!!  We had great conversations about place value and expanded form.  The students had a blast coming up with H.U.G.E. numbers and then they would quiz one another by dictating the number to see if the other students could write it out correctly.  The students quizzed one another AND graded each others work.  Great job!   




SCIENCE

Science was filled with classically minded conversations about Algae and Protozoa.  We listened to the students read their reports and then spent time comparing and contrasting our discoveries.  

 
We circled anything that was true of both groups and specified those things that were different.  I pray the students learned a lot because I sure did.

One of my favorite science moments was when sweet Katelynn noticed the 1st declension on alg-ae. 

We closed science out by gearing up for next weeks topic....FUNGI!  I asked the students to share questions they would like answered about Fungi.  We filled the board and used this as a platform to begin next weeks research.  We talked about search engines and what it means to validate our sources.  

RHETORIC

Rhetoric was filled with deep discussions about galaxies, stars, creation.  

We reviewed the questions from Don't Check Your Brains At The Door.  Our chapter was on the myth of Cosmic Cop. 

Having fun while working on catechisms

GEOGRAPHY

We started off with a fun little quiz to see how much they had learned this week.  No Atlas was allowed as they sketched by hand the United States and filled in the states and capitals.  Remember that in Classical Education we focus on skill set and not checking off boxes.  If a student is still working on the states and capitals parents have the freedom to adjust their homeschool to set their children up for success.  We do no have to introduce rivers and features.  The number one goal is that they are able to sketch and label the states. 

LUNCH

Lunch time was all about celebration!  Thank you, Mrs. Thames and Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins for providing a wonderful lunch. 

Our birthday bunch!

 

Challenge!

Worship for Challenge A&B!

Today was the first day of Challenge at our St.Petersburg Classical Conversations.  Our Challenge A&B classes opened together in assembly. 

Challenge IV - Mrs. Doto

Challenge B - Mrs. Hawkins

Challenge A - Mrs. Ulrich

  

Meanwhile.....The Foundations team was gearing up for our start on 8/27

Tutors preparing for Cycle 2

Classroom Management

 Schedules

 

Math

 

Latin

Reason #101.....Why I Love Classical Conversations!

One of the things I struggled with as an independent homeschooler (For the first 12 years of our home education experience) was getting in my science experiments and art projects.  

I would sit down in the summer and make the most amazing lesson plans.  Oh how I loved dreaming and planning the creative side of of our homeschool.  I would gaze lovingly and longingly all the exciting ways we could explore God's creation through hands-on FUN!  My heart would overflow with impatience and excitement to dig in and get-going.  My mind could see my boys faces lighting up with huge moments and aha and joy!  

Then reality would come in and steal my perfect little dream.....

The problem was at the end of the school year those perfect little plans were still sitting on my lesson planner page looking back at me.   All the details it requires to order special little things like magnetic shavings, sunprint paper, cow eyeballs, Tempera and watercolor paint with horsehair brushes, would cause me to procrastinate and finally to resolve that it just wasn't going to happen this year.  I would placate myself by promising we would get to it the next year...and so the cycle went.

Fast forward to three years ago when we joined Classical Conversations.  

At the time I was looking forward to the already put together lesson plans being done for me.  I knew this would allow me to enjoy doing school without being bogged down in the putting-it-all-together phase.

It never occurred to me that another perk to being a part of the CC Community was that we would get to show up once a week for 24 weeks and have someone else take care of all the supplies, set-up, and clean up of art and science.  

It wasn't until a month into the program that I realized this was the first time in twelve years my boys were consistently getting to immerse themselves in the scientific method using experiments to peak their interest.

Today, as a first-time Foundations/Essentials Director I am putting together the science and art supplies for our next school year.  As I gaze upon my bed and see all of the wonderful supplies sitting there, my heart is overwhelmed with the purpose of community and the blessing it brings to set families up for homeschooling success.  

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.- Col 1:16

School Is Getting Ready To Start!

 One of the things I love most about being a part of Classical Conversations Community is that you never have to walk alone.  

Tonight our Challenge A Class gathered together at Terri Ulrich's for an evening of equipping.  As our beautiful tutor she led us through understanding what this next school year's writing program  is going to look like and how it works.

Lots of healthy goodies to snack on

Christa getting ready to enjoy a cup of decaf 

Beautiful mama's.

Lifetime friends coming together to grow in knowledge and understanding for the purpose of knowing God and making Him known.

Let the conversations begin!

"When you seek me with all of your heart you will find me" - Jeremiah 29:11