Geometry week two was another successful venture into the sacred intersection of math and art. The students perfected their circle divisions and are beginning to see the geometry of both the natural world and in abstract. I am so grateful to walk this path with them as my eyes too see the world anew as we study together. We all felt a moment of awe during the story of Thales calculating the height of the Great Pyramid in his travels to Egypt and at how abstract geometrical thought shifted thinking worldwide.
I plan to continue our geometry studies in earnest this week while also being understanding of the challenges of staying focused the week before the holiday break. We will make time for work and fun.
Last week the students and I discussed the pros and cons of homework over the break. I am sensitive to the need for their minds to rest and to focus on family-centered time. There was some moaning, but they agreed to take home a geometry workbook and a novel to read when time and space allow. To that end, please implement an approach that works in the best interest of your family. The math work is light but should help keep topics fresh over the extended time off.
I handed out "Geron and Virtus," the final book of the many that we have read about Ancient Rome. The novel covers the conflict between the Romans and the Germanic tribes through the interactions of two youths. We studied this important period that ultimately contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire during our Rome block. I hope the book is a fun read and speaks to their hearts and minds and solidifies their understanding of this period and its implications. I know the prior novel I assigned "The Eagle of the Ninth" has been challenging for some of the students to get through and some are still working on it, but it is yet another fictional glimpse into an important time in the history of Rome and worth working through. My goal is that they finish "Geron and Virtus" by our return in January when we will begin our study of the Middle Ages. The book should be a meaningful lead in.
Creative writing continues to be a fun experience for all of us. We're focusing on content while highlighting specific parts of speech in each writing exercise. They have brilliantly creative minds, and I enjoy their stories.
Thank you!
