Our sweet little classroom continues to hold up against the rain and is a lovely place to learn and play! During the break I will begin to clear the area for our semi-permanent home down by the floating classroom. If you love clipping, weed-whacking, and general clearing of a space, please let me know. I'd love to have some company (bring clippers, loppers and gloves to join in the fun!). I hope that your families will have a nice break while continuing to stay safe and honor the TGS protocols for keeping everyone well. I am looking forward to a two-day drive along my favorite road - The Blue Ridge Parkway.
Each student received a math packet at the beginning of the week. As we did not finish the packet while at school, please make sure your child finishes this packet some time over the break and returns it on the Monday we get back. Their other assignment is to finish reading The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate.
The Norse Myths block ended on Friday; however, there are two important stories that have not yet been told. I will use some of our Extra Main Lesson time to tell these stories even though they will not be represented in our ML book.
The next block is Botany I. The students will be challenged to learn several recitations during this block. I will email the poems to you as I introduce them, and would love for you to help your child memorize each one. There is so much beauty and wonder in the world of plants. I am looking forward to helping the students to draw and paint a series of pictures as part of the block. We will be making a terrarium with plants from our forest. When these come home, I will send information about the plants and how to care for the terrarium and I encourage you to participate with your child in caring for it. When we study mushrooms and algae, I would like to show the students what the tiny algae plants look like, and what the gills of mushrooms look like. If you have a microscope you would be willing to loan me for that part of the block, please contact me via e-mail/text.
We have completed our review of Form Drawing for Cursive, and when we return I will be teaching cursive writing with a fountain pen. We will also begin a series of Form Drawings for Geometry.
The math and grammar reviews will continue. In math, we will be focusing on division and will begin to review fractions.
I am really enjoying our class dynamic. Your children are eager to learn, and they have a great sense of humor. Sometimes their quick wit makes me laugh in a moment of distraction...
Our running and long jumping continues. Three students ran a full mile this week. YAY!
Be well, stay safe, and know that you are loved,
Kathee
