Hello All!
This is such a fun group of students–I think we are really going to enjoy learning together this year!
We had our first edition of Visual Vocabulary (VV). Today, we learned: poignant and blight. These words are taken from SAT/ACT vocabulary lists and each week we do VV, students are given the definition, the part of speech, the synonym and antonym. Then they write a sentence using the word in context. We will be adding to the list throughout the semester–so don’t lose that worksheet–keep it behind the Vocabulary/QW tab!
We dove right into writing with two notetaking techniques: the Key Word Outline and the Stick and Branch method. Both of these useful techniques are skills I hope students will practice and make a lifelong skill. Both have their strengths and are useful in different ways. We discussed that a KWO is helpful when taking notes from a linear or narrative piece of writing. The Stick and Branch method is like a KWO “on steroids” and is much freer form. It is great for taking notes when the source text/talk jumps around or feels a bit disorganized. You can connect ideas easily in this geographic and intuitive form of notetaking.
We practiced these two techniques on a familiar fable: “The Tortoise and the Hare.” Using a clip from Andrew Pudewa’s University-Ready Writing, students listened to the fable being read two times through. The first time they created a KWO; the second time through they created the stick and branch style notes.
After that, we took another run at the method and listened to a 10 minute clip from the Sean McDowell podcast. I told them that this length of time is about one quarter of a lecture. As we listened, I took notes live on the whiteboard. Students copied mine or wrote their own and used mine as a reference. Their homework is to do it again with another 10 minute talk of their own choosing: a sermon, a podcast, a Tedtalk, etc.
All this talk about miracles led us beautifully into a discussion about our novel Peace Like A River. After that, we switched gears to Literature–Peace Like A River. We discussed the timeline of the book so far. It was mentioned how the narrative tends to jump around with lots of flashbacks and things told “out of order.” I posted a few questions and gave them time to discuss the high points and help them get those in their minds. The next chapter is the BIG action, so I want them to be ready! Instead of a worksheet over the reading, I will be giving them an in-class quiz to check their understanding.
No Grammar Discussion today. Next week, we’ll start as promised!
Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Blessings,
Mrs. G
Homework
Notetaking–choose a 10 min. talk
Read Chapter 4 & 5 Peace Like A River
Quiz next week (in class!)
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