Week 9

We missed you today Abby!  I sure hope you are feeling better soon.

Despite the cloudy weather, our sun print activity went well.  During our presentation time, we practiced the art of persuasion and discussed how inflection changes the meaning of our words or messages.  Please prepare a 2-3 minute presentation for next week that concentrates on the impact of inflection and the art of persuasion.  Your presentation should persuade the audience to believe in something...a good book you've read, a hobby or activity that you enjoy, a place you have visited, etc.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a great week!
Rhonda

Week 8

Another great day of learning and fun with your crew!  No presentations are due next week, we will continue to add some more presentation "tools" to our "toolbox."  Tin whistle time continues to move right along.  They are really sounding quite nice.  Try to work in some multiplication review at home if possible.  Flashcards are always great, but there are also several interactive options available also (Math Bingo, Multi Flow, etc.).  I hope you all have a great week.  See you Tuesday.
Rhonda

Week 7

We are off and running with Tin Whistle and Music Theory.  I must say, I was pleasantly surprised with the sweet sounds these students were able to produce!  Just remember to bring your tin whistle with you each week until the end of this semester.  We added some more "tools" to our presentation "toolbox" today and they had fun practicing their enunciation with some tongue twisters.  Please prepare a 2-3 minute presentation for next week and practice it at home using all the skills we have covered thus far.  The suggested topics are:
1.  Tell a dramatic or humorous story such as a fairy tale or a real life experience.
2.  Read an Essentials paper or some other written work.
3.  Recite any poem, memory work, or Bible verse.
As always, feel free to present on any topic that interests your student.
I hope you all have a great week!  See you next Tuesday.
Rhonda

Week 6

I can't believe we are already half-way through first semester!  At least it finally felt like fall today.  Thanks to everyone for their flexibility today with picture taking...I know we will all enjoy the results when the pics and yearbook are available.

We wrapped up Drawing in Fine Arts today with a Final Project incorporating the elements of drawing that we have studied over the last 5 weeks.  We will head into the Tin Whistle segment of Fine Arts next week.  Please remember to bring your tin whistle to class for the next 6 weeks (and make sure it is labeled with your name, please).

Another round of interesting presentations today...students tried their hand at origami, viewed a scene from the Nutcracker, watched some basic gymnastics skills, enjoyed some "Frankin-donuts", and much more.  No presentations are due next week, but remember your tin whistle!

I hope you all have a wonderful week!
Rhonda

Ooops, I almost forgot to share Sydney's recipe from today...here it is:

Chocolate Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
1.  Crescent Rolls
2.  Rectangle
3.  Smash pecans
4.  Mix cinnamon, melted butter, chocolate chips, pecans and brown sugar
5.  Spread
6.  Roll up
7.  Cut
8.  Place in pan
9.  Bake at 375 for 15 min.
 

Week 5

Everyone seemed to enjoy our presentation activities today!  They had fun using non-verbal communication to express different emotions or feelings for the audience to guess.  We also worked on using gestures to enhance what we are trying to communicate.  I look forward to seeing them put these skills into practice next week.  Here is a list of the suggested topics:

* tell a dramatic or humorous story such as a fairy tale or a real life experience
* perform a well thought through mime
* demonstrate a skill that requires more "showing" than "telling"; for example: how to do a proper handstand or how to kick a soccer ball
* describe an item using your hands (and choice words) and have the audience guess what it is - the student can show the item after the presentation
* describe a place that was visited

As always, you are free to choose another topic if you would like.  Try to pick a topic that would lend itself to the use of gesture and other non-verbal communication if possible.

I hope you all have a wonderful week.  See you next Tuesday.
Rhonda

Remember we have picture day next week.

Week 4

Another great round of presentations today!  I am happy to see so many interesting topics being presented. We tried a new system for keeping everyone within their time limit (yellow sign= warning, you are at 2 min. and red sign=wrap it up, time's up.) and it seemed to work great.  There will always be a list of suggested topics, but you are free to present on any topic that you choose and props are always a great addition.  No presentation is due next week, we will discuss more presentation skills.

Here is a link to the 9's trick that I mentioned in class today.  Flashcards at home are a great way to drill those multiplication facts.

I hope you all have a great week.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thanks,
Rhonda

Week 3

Just us girls today, we missed you Jacob!  Everyone seemed to enjoy our new review game, Zap!  It will definitely be making a repeat appearance in a few weeks. We reviewed our presentation skills covered thus far (3 sec. rule, introduction, conclusion) and had fun practicing good eye contact today.  Please come next week with a 2-3 min. presentation on the topic of your choice.  The suggested topics in our presentation schedule are:

1.  Tell me about personal history:  where were you born? when? who are your grandparents? from what country or region is your family? etc.

2.  sing a song

3.  Any memory work of recitation

Hope you all have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you next Tuesday.

Rhonda