Week 4 at a Glance

Week 3 and going onto Week 4.  The weeks are zooming!  

Recapping Week 3 of Essentials.  Delving into the dialectic, we tackled the analytical tasks sheet, EEL tasks 1-3.  Loading the grammar, we continued with our mastery grammar charts, focusing on nouns and pronouns.  In writing, we learned the Key Word Outline (KWO) technique.
 
Here is a quick preview of Week 4:  We will be looking at the simple structure, imperative purpose, S-Vi pattern sentences with EEL tasks 1-4.  We will also be reviewing mastery grammar charts A-F.   In writing, we will learn some additional stylistic techniques to use in our Jamestown paragraph.
 
This week we want to continue loading the grammar by memorizing our charts A-F.  Copying the chart is a great learning tool!  And remember to "scale" the memorization work to the needs of your child/children.

If you child would enjoy sharing the second poem written last week, we will make time at the end of class to present. 

Vocabulary Quiz Schedule

HBW Vocabulary Quiz Schedule

(For Home Use)

Quiz 1       September 20

Quiz 2      October 4

Quiz 3      November 8

Quiz 4      January 24

Quiz 5      March 6

Final         March 27

All quizzes are cumulative. 

We will not be covering lesson 22 which is included on Quiz 5 and subsequent quizzes.

We will not be covering lesson 23 and 29 which is included on the final exam.

Week 2 Assignment

IEW: U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons

And Essentials of English Language

Week 2 Assignment

·         IEW – writing assignment

a.     Make and learn your vocabulary words for Lesson 2.

b.     Write two poems, following the model on page 15 of the U.S. History-Based student book. 

·        One describing Native Americans watching the explorers coming to their land

·        One describing the European explorers.

·        Fill in the blanks with an action verb and a phrase to continue the thought

·        Follow the checklist on page 17

·        Remember that poetry is not “paragraph” form writing. Each line begins with a capital letter.  And the Punctuation follows paragraph form.

·        Bring in an illustrated final copy of each poem for your end of the year bound book.

·        Be prepared to share with class

·         EEL assignment

a.      Work on memorizing and copying Charts C-D

b.     Week 2 EEL editing exercises

·        Review the punctuation and capitalization rule, spelling rule, and homophones

Week 3 at a Glance

WOW!  Two weeks under our belts!  :)

Recapping Week 2 of Essentials.  We continued looking at the big picture of the Essentials of the English Language (EEL).  Delving into the world of verbs.  We added strong verbs and -LY words to our arsenal of "dress-ups" for the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).

Here is a quick preview of Week 3:  We will begin looking at "our puzzle" piece by piece by working on the first two sentence classifications.  We will also be learning  attributes of nouns and pronouns.  Tackling unit 1 in IEW Teaching Writing: Structure & Style, we will take a look at note making and outlines.
 
This week we want to continue memorizing grammar  Charts A, B, C, & D.  Copying the chart is a great learning tool!  And remember to "scale" the memorization work to the needs of your child/children.  

I am looking forward to the presentation of the "strong verb" poems.  Have your child choose one of the two poems to present.  However, we will include both poems in our "End of the Year Book".  

Have a great week! 

Week 2 at a Glance

What an exciting first week in Essentials!  As an indicator for the remainder of the year, I foresee a fun-filled, enjoyable class while tackling material designed to develop and encourage our children to become great writers.

Recapping Week 1 of Essentials.  We looked at the big picture, walking through an overview of the Essentials of the English Language (EEL).  Had a bit of fun with the stylistic techniques for Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), tackling the dress-up, Quality Adjectives and the decoration, Alliteration.  

Here is a quick preview of Week 2:  We will continue our look at the big picture in EEL, over-viewing the parts of speech with an emphasis on verbs.  Strong Verbs and -LY Words are on the docket for The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), as we continue studying stylistic techniques in our writing.

This week we want to make a concerted effort to memorize Charts A & B (pages 398 & 400 of EEL guide).  Copying the chart is a great learning tool!  If you want to get a jump-start on Week 2 memorization work, try tackling the Verb Charts C & D (pages 402 & 404 of EEL guide).


I am looking forward to the presentation of the America poems.  Please encourage your child to participate in the presentations. 

The Student Resource Notebook

The Resource Notebook

U.S. History-Based Writing Lessons

Throughout the year, you will be building your own Resource Notebook from the Student Resource Notebook (free download with purchase of U.S. History-Based Writing).

Supplies needed:

1  1 to 1 ½ inch binder

2.  8 divider tabs labeled: VERBS, -LY, ADJ, SENSES/EMO, DEC’S, TRANSITIONS, GRAMMAR,  and CHARTS

3.  Needed for week 1:

a.     Resource Notebook pages 5-6 (place in front of tabs in your binder)

b.     Resource Notebook pages 29-34 (place behind tab ADJ in binder)

c.      Resource Notebook page 42 (place behind tab DEC’S in binder)

Welcome

Welcome to the CC community and Essentials!  As the tutor for Essentials 1, I am excited to see how our year unfolds.  Embarking upon this adventure together with the Essentials of the English Language as our map, I am thrilled to partner with parents in an endeavor to inspire our children to develop a love for grammar and writing. 

My husband Jonathan and I have been married for 17 years and have five children… Hannah (14), Dwight (12), Abigail (10), Rachel (7), and Sarah (2).  Shortly after marrying, Jonathan and I moved to China and worked with a mission organization, living in Shanghai and Kunming for the next ten years.  My homeschooling origins have their roots in China.  My children have been homeschooled from the start using the classical approach to education.  Although not with CC during all those years, I am excited about this material and will do my best to relay the information in the same manner I would prepare for my own family.  And here is my disclaimer: I am a registered nurse by training. ;) As a nurse, I have worn many hats and education is simply one of them.  But as parents, we are all educators. 

Thank you for the opportunity to pour into your child’s life.  I consider this a privilege.  I look forward to becoming more acquainted throughout the year.  Let this “Essentials” adventure begin.  J

Sincerely,

Jenelle Logan