Dear Families,
This was a Tuesday I am glad to have behind me. I am sad to say that behavior was not satisfactory. I seemed to constantly have to tell the children to stop talking. There were way too many private conversations while learning and listening should have been happening. There were a few bright spots of undivided attention, but very few. Please tell your children to keep all attention on the subject at hand, to not speak out without raising hands to be recognized and, most importantly, to obey my directions promptly. I am most mindful of the teaching time we lose when those three courtesies are not followed. I want all of us to work hard and finish the year well. No coasting!
We missed Talia and Spencer and prayed for your safe return next week. I taught about the Vietnam War--a most difficult topic to summarize to a third and fourth grade level. Your student has a sheet we completed in class that I want them to go over with you. I did my best to explain why there were, and are, two views of that war and what an unsettling time that period was for our country. Mrs. Beach was my helper and had valuable input as her Dad was deployed three times to Vietnam.
We studied the Tet celebrations in Vietnam and your child should have some mementos to share with you. We cleaned our room as is done in preparation for Tet and made an interesting Apricot, coconut rice cake.
Latin had some difficult new concepts and really needs to be gone over well this week at home. We acted out the Bible story complete with palm trees and tent stakes! We broke into two groups and learned part of MLK's speech. Have your child recite their portion to you.
I look forward to seeing my students in May and having a most productive learning day.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read ch. 61 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Memorize Week 24 memory work.
3. Finish memorizing your part of the MLK speech and recite it for your family.
4. Read chapters 1--10 of THE DOG OF KNOTS.
5. Discuss the Vietnam War with your parents. Read chapter 39 in SOTW.
6. Complete Lesson 24 in Latin.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Reflections on Yesterday and Assignments for 4/27/10
Hello Families,
I hope the children enjoyed yesterday just half as much as I did. Then I know they will have had a great time. Our tour guide at Penn Center was amazing. He graduated from the Penn School in the late 1940s. He walked our legs off and I imagine him to be 70 at least. The place is beautiful and so peaceful. The children's behavior was outstanding. The first 20 minutes were spent watching a video and they remained very quiet and respectful throughout. (Although we had just watched a long video of MLK making his "I Have A Dream . . ." speech) I'm very proud of them. Please plan another longer outing there. There were many trees that needed climbing and a leisurely picnic under the shade trees is a must.
We had a good latin lesson before leaving. I hope the students had some fuzziness from last week cleared up. Have your student explain two things from Bible. How fat was the king that was killed and what cycle did the Israelites fall into. Oh, and what does it mean to "compartmentalize" our lives.
Enjoy Spring in the Lowcountry and I will see you Tuesday!
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Chapter 59 in the Bible Story Book
2. Please catch up your History reading. Several children mentioned they did not have time to read chapters 37 and 38 for yesterday. We will not press on into ch. 39 for next time but, instead, will spend time learning about the Viet Nam War.
3. Finish reading the MLK book.
4. Continue practicing Week 23 memory work.
5. Complete Lesson 23 in Latin. Write the new words for Lesson 24 three times each. (Answers will be emailed.)
I hope the children enjoyed yesterday just half as much as I did. Then I know they will have had a great time. Our tour guide at Penn Center was amazing. He graduated from the Penn School in the late 1940s. He walked our legs off and I imagine him to be 70 at least. The place is beautiful and so peaceful. The children's behavior was outstanding. The first 20 minutes were spent watching a video and they remained very quiet and respectful throughout. (Although we had just watched a long video of MLK making his "I Have A Dream . . ." speech) I'm very proud of them. Please plan another longer outing there. There were many trees that needed climbing and a leisurely picnic under the shade trees is a must.
We had a good latin lesson before leaving. I hope the students had some fuzziness from last week cleared up. Have your student explain two things from Bible. How fat was the king that was killed and what cycle did the Israelites fall into. Oh, and what does it mean to "compartmentalize" our lives.
Enjoy Spring in the Lowcountry and I will see you Tuesday!
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Chapter 59 in the Bible Story Book
2. Please catch up your History reading. Several children mentioned they did not have time to read chapters 37 and 38 for yesterday. We will not press on into ch. 39 for next time but, instead, will spend time learning about the Viet Nam War.
3. Finish reading the MLK book.
4. Continue practicing Week 23 memory work.
5. Complete Lesson 23 in Latin. Write the new words for Lesson 24 three times each. (Answers will be emailed.)
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
assignments for 4/20/10
Hello Families!
I'm sorry to be late posting. Life with a graduating senior is a whirlwind of activity. I'll try to do better.
We had a great day yesterday. We had show-and-tell AND still got to all subjects. Yeah! We spent alot of time looking at pictures and talking about JFK's assassination. We didn't take much time with MLK since we will read a biography about him. The book reports were outstanding!!! I'm so proud of everyone and the work they put into that.
I am trying to pull together a field trip for next Tuesday. I've e-mailed you my tentative plan. The Penn Center staff did get back in touch with me. Visiting the museum and having a guided walking tour will cost a total of $8 per person. I have a query into Nicole and Alice to see if there is any funding to defray that expense and will let you know. I plan for us to have class as usual including lunch in the morning. We'll leave Trinity at noon and return at 3:00. I do not think there is anything to have spending money for.
We had some questions about our work on the Latin Review. I plan to get in touch with an expert and will e-mail the answers later this week.
Enjoy the beautiful springtime.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read chapter 57 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Practice and learn Week 23 memory work.
3. Read the first 6 chapters of Martin Luther King, Jr.
4. Review our probability lab with you parents.
5. Read Ch. 37 and 38 in SOTW.
6. Finish the Unit 4 Review in Latin. Write the vocab words for Lesson 23 three times each.
7. Review the features of the U.S. from the CC book. Go back to the mountains in lesson 11 and move through lesson 23. I want us to be able to point our their names and locations on a blank map by the end of the year.
I'm sorry to be late posting. Life with a graduating senior is a whirlwind of activity. I'll try to do better.
We had a great day yesterday. We had show-and-tell AND still got to all subjects. Yeah! We spent alot of time looking at pictures and talking about JFK's assassination. We didn't take much time with MLK since we will read a biography about him. The book reports were outstanding!!! I'm so proud of everyone and the work they put into that.
I am trying to pull together a field trip for next Tuesday. I've e-mailed you my tentative plan. The Penn Center staff did get back in touch with me. Visiting the museum and having a guided walking tour will cost a total of $8 per person. I have a query into Nicole and Alice to see if there is any funding to defray that expense and will let you know. I plan for us to have class as usual including lunch in the morning. We'll leave Trinity at noon and return at 3:00. I do not think there is anything to have spending money for.
We had some questions about our work on the Latin Review. I plan to get in touch with an expert and will e-mail the answers later this week.
Enjoy the beautiful springtime.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read chapter 57 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Practice and learn Week 23 memory work.
3. Read the first 6 chapters of Martin Luther King, Jr.
4. Review our probability lab with you parents.
5. Read Ch. 37 and 38 in SOTW.
6. Finish the Unit 4 Review in Latin. Write the vocab words for Lesson 23 three times each.
7. Review the features of the U.S. from the CC book. Go back to the mountains in lesson 11 and move through lesson 23. I want us to be able to point our their names and locations on a blank map by the end of the year.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Happy Easter!
Dear Parents,
I enjoyed the day with your children today. We're reading an excellent book and I enjoy discussing it with them. We looked at a map of Berlin that I hope made it home. Several of the sites in our book are shown on the map. We saw a picture of the wall being constructed and discussed writing from different perspectives. In history we learned that Castro closed schools in Cuba for eight months and sent all teachers and students into the countryside to teach the peasants to read. We made books similar to the ones used. His goal was to abolish illiteracy in Cuba. For fun we stood toe to toe and had staring contests. The first one to blink was a communist!
Latin is proceeding well. Mr. Tkach, (Thomas) was in my room after school and said he was impressed with the chants we're learning and that there were many his students don't know. We drilled the features on the US map. My goal is for us to not only be able to name all the rivers, canals, trails, etc. but to point them out on a blank map. We were actors in Bible and had fun improvising. We'll have two probability labs in science when we return.
Many thanks to Mrs. Irvine for her help, today. Please enjoy our break and I will see you in April. The first day back is show-and-tell!
love to all,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read chapter 55 in the Bible Story Book.
2. learn week 22 memory work
3. finish Escape to West Berlin.
4. read chapter 36 in SOTW
5. complete lesson 22 in latin
6. work on memorizing the names and locations of all our geography features from the Classical Conversations book.
7. Read a book over the break of your choice. Below is a link to a book report form that I want you to use to write a book report about your book. It is geared for 4th graders but I want you 3rd graders to give it a try,too.
I enjoyed the day with your children today. We're reading an excellent book and I enjoy discussing it with them. We looked at a map of Berlin that I hope made it home. Several of the sites in our book are shown on the map. We saw a picture of the wall being constructed and discussed writing from different perspectives. In history we learned that Castro closed schools in Cuba for eight months and sent all teachers and students into the countryside to teach the peasants to read. We made books similar to the ones used. His goal was to abolish illiteracy in Cuba. For fun we stood toe to toe and had staring contests. The first one to blink was a communist!
Latin is proceeding well. Mr. Tkach, (Thomas) was in my room after school and said he was impressed with the chants we're learning and that there were many his students don't know. We drilled the features on the US map. My goal is for us to not only be able to name all the rivers, canals, trails, etc. but to point them out on a blank map. We were actors in Bible and had fun improvising. We'll have two probability labs in science when we return.
Many thanks to Mrs. Irvine for her help, today. Please enjoy our break and I will see you in April. The first day back is show-and-tell!
love to all,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read chapter 55 in the Bible Story Book.
2. learn week 22 memory work
3. finish Escape to West Berlin.
4. read chapter 36 in SOTW
5. complete lesson 22 in latin
6. work on memorizing the names and locations of all our geography features from the Classical Conversations book.
7. Read a book over the break of your choice. Below is a link to a book report form that I want you to use to write a book report about your book. It is geared for 4th graders but I want you 3rd graders to give it a try,too.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Happy St. Patrick's Day! and assignments for 3/23/10
Good Evening!
We had a good, and somewhat of a calm day. Many thanks to Spencer's mom, Mrs. Victoria, for helping us. We were able to have a few activites outside because of the great weather.
For Geography, we are really concentrating on the land forms that are identified in the Classical Conversations book after the states and capitals. This is a challenge, but the last map in that book has all of them identified for us. Science was a probability lab from the CC book, too.
We discussed Communism in history as we learned about the Korean conflict. I encouraged my students to ask their parents who they thought was right when Gen McArthur was relieved of command--him or Pres. Truman. The lit read is also a good source to spur conversations about communism. The activity we did in lit involved learning about the genre of realistic fiction. These works include detailed descriptions so we went outside and had to make an accurate representation of a scene. It was a good exercise. We played a game in history to study Ho Chi Minh and his teachings. We spent a good amount of time reviewing chapters 20 and 21 memory work. Latin received a strong portion of our morning and your students are doing great (usually better than their teacher at grasping these latest lessons).
Be sure and wear green tomorrow and enjoy learning together.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read ch. 53 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Learn week 21 memory work and practice week 20 as well.
3. Read chapters 5--8 in Escape to West Berlin.
4. Describe our Probability lab in science to your parents.
5. I will not be covering ch. 34 in SOTW in class. I will leave it up to you as to how you cover it at home. Read ch. 35 for next week.
6. Complete lesson 21 in Latin. Here is my suggestion for dividing the work.
Wed: ex. B
Thurs: ex. C
Fri: ex. D, E, and F
Mon: ex. G and write lesson 22 words three times each.
7. Review that map at the end of the Classical Conversations book several times this week. We want to work toward not only being able to name the land forms but locate them on our blank maps.
We had a good, and somewhat of a calm day. Many thanks to Spencer's mom, Mrs. Victoria, for helping us. We were able to have a few activites outside because of the great weather.
For Geography, we are really concentrating on the land forms that are identified in the Classical Conversations book after the states and capitals. This is a challenge, but the last map in that book has all of them identified for us. Science was a probability lab from the CC book, too.
We discussed Communism in history as we learned about the Korean conflict. I encouraged my students to ask their parents who they thought was right when Gen McArthur was relieved of command--him or Pres. Truman. The lit read is also a good source to spur conversations about communism. The activity we did in lit involved learning about the genre of realistic fiction. These works include detailed descriptions so we went outside and had to make an accurate representation of a scene. It was a good exercise. We played a game in history to study Ho Chi Minh and his teachings. We spent a good amount of time reviewing chapters 20 and 21 memory work. Latin received a strong portion of our morning and your students are doing great (usually better than their teacher at grasping these latest lessons).
Be sure and wear green tomorrow and enjoy learning together.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read ch. 53 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Learn week 21 memory work and practice week 20 as well.
3. Read chapters 5--8 in Escape to West Berlin.
4. Describe our Probability lab in science to your parents.
5. I will not be covering ch. 34 in SOTW in class. I will leave it up to you as to how you cover it at home. Read ch. 35 for next week.
6. Complete lesson 21 in Latin. Here is my suggestion for dividing the work.
Wed: ex. B
Thurs: ex. C
Fri: ex. D, E, and F
Mon: ex. G and write lesson 22 words three times each.
7. Review that map at the end of the Classical Conversations book several times this week. We want to work toward not only being able to name the land forms but locate them on our blank maps.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
WHEW! and assignments for 3/16/10
Good Evening!
Our day was packed! Ask your student about folk dancing, thank you notes, rutabagas, snakes, their pancreas, little red books, and performing Friday night!
Enjoy your week and I will see you Friday at the Open House. Watch for e-mails concerning a meeting place to prepare for our performance.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Ch. 51 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Practice History Memory Sentences through week 19 at least twice before Friday. Do not press on into week 20. We did in class, but I want them to concentrate on our performance material for the Open House.
3. Finish Otis Spofford and read chapters 1-4 in Escape to West Berlin.
4. Read ch. 33 in SOTW.
5. Complete Lesson 20 in latin and write lesson 21 words three times each. Here is a suggested break down for the week. NOTE: This is a challenging lesson--be sure to work diligently on the new material.
Wed: exercises B and C
Thurs: exercises D and E Go over this several times
Fri: exercises F and G
Mon: write lesson 21 words three times each.
Practice ALL the latin chants several times before Friday night.
Our day was packed! Ask your student about folk dancing, thank you notes, rutabagas, snakes, their pancreas, little red books, and performing Friday night!
Enjoy your week and I will see you Friday at the Open House. Watch for e-mails concerning a meeting place to prepare for our performance.
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Ch. 51 in the Bible Story Book.
2. Practice History Memory Sentences through week 19 at least twice before Friday. Do not press on into week 20. We did in class, but I want them to concentrate on our performance material for the Open House.
3. Finish Otis Spofford and read chapters 1-4 in Escape to West Berlin.
4. Read ch. 33 in SOTW.
5. Complete Lesson 20 in latin and write lesson 21 words three times each. Here is a suggested break down for the week. NOTE: This is a challenging lesson--be sure to work diligently on the new material.
Wed: exercises B and C
Thurs: exercises D and E Go over this several times
Fri: exercises F and G
Mon: write lesson 21 words three times each.
Practice ALL the latin chants several times before Friday night.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
assignments for 3/9/10
Dear Families,
We had a busy but fruitful day. Many thanks to Mrs. Karen for helping us and to Mrs. Stephanie for being our guest speaker. She told us of her training and work with the mentally challenged and was able to relate to Corrie ten Boom's love of working with these special people. As a college student, she traveled and was able to hear Miss ten Boom in person!
It is very late so please ask your student all about our day. The History reports were great. I don't plan to share my paycheck this time either--even though you did a great job teaching two chapters.
We are planning to recite our Latin chants and our History sentences/songs at the Open House. We worked on that today and I think we can be ready.
Enjoy each other and I will see you next Tuesday!
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Lesson 49 in the Bible.
2. Practice week 19 memory work. Also, review all our History Sentences at least twice this week.
3. Finish reading Twenty and Ten. Begin reading Otis Spofford through ch. 3.
(A refreshing, light break after such heavy "reads" lately!)
4. Read ch. 32 in SOTW.
5. Complete Lesson 19 in Latin. Suggested daily breakdown:
Wednesday: exercises B and C
Thursday: exercises D and F
Friday: exercises G and H
Monday: Write Lesson 20 words and meanings 3 times each.
Please practice saying all the chants clearly and from memory at least twice this week.
We had a busy but fruitful day. Many thanks to Mrs. Karen for helping us and to Mrs. Stephanie for being our guest speaker. She told us of her training and work with the mentally challenged and was able to relate to Corrie ten Boom's love of working with these special people. As a college student, she traveled and was able to hear Miss ten Boom in person!
It is very late so please ask your student all about our day. The History reports were great. I don't plan to share my paycheck this time either--even though you did a great job teaching two chapters.
We are planning to recite our Latin chants and our History sentences/songs at the Open House. We worked on that today and I think we can be ready.
Enjoy each other and I will see you next Tuesday!
love,
Mrs. Tkach
ASSIGNMENTS:
1. Read Lesson 49 in the Bible.
2. Practice week 19 memory work. Also, review all our History Sentences at least twice this week.
3. Finish reading Twenty and Ten. Begin reading Otis Spofford through ch. 3.
(A refreshing, light break after such heavy "reads" lately!)
4. Read ch. 32 in SOTW.
5. Complete Lesson 19 in Latin. Suggested daily breakdown:
Wednesday: exercises B and C
Thursday: exercises D and F
Friday: exercises G and H
Monday: Write Lesson 20 words and meanings 3 times each.
Please practice saying all the chants clearly and from memory at least twice this week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)