Building a Foundation. CC Cycle 3 Week 1

This past Monday was the start of our Classical Conversations Cycle 3, Week 1. I wasn't sure how well Creed would receive the information, let alone retain it. It's a different way of learning through repetition, but when I think about it that's really how we all learn since I've never known anyone to be introduced to new information and instantly retain it. Creed is on the Foundation level, ages 4-11, Classical Conversations believes a great education starts with a firm foundation. Agreed, starting on the foundation of the Gospel. 

Columbus puppet.

We started off with the timeline. From the beginning to present, of course, we are learning it little by little. This week we learned about Columbus. In 1492, Columbus sailed the first of four trips to the Caribbean on three spanish ships named the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. I'm going to be honest. I don't remember much of what I "learned" in school. In fact, I can tell you no facts from history. I am learning alongside my four-year-old child, as well as the other Foundation level students I tutor. I've always loved school. I've always loved learning. Retaining any of the information, however ... that's a different story. Creed made a Columbus paper puppet found from a link at Half-a-Hundred Acre Wood, an awesome resource for fellow Classical Conversations families. To make a Columbus puppet click here:  http://superteacherworksheets.com/cut-outs/columbus-cutout_WMDMN.pdf. You'll also find other free resources for Cycle 3 here: http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com/2014/06/classical-conversations-cycle-3-resources.html. On a more personal level, I'm trying to incorporate learning new grammar into our every day life, such as singing about Columbus in the bath tub, sailing three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. It's only been a couple of days and Creed is asking me to sing him that song. 

Each week the children give three to four minute presentations. I wish I had been able to watch Creed. Their topic was about their summer. We traveled a lot this summer, to Lego Land, a couple of aquariums, the beach.  When asked what his favorite part of the summer was he explained it was our new kitten. Creed went into detail about how we had his claws taken out using his tiny little fingers in claw shape for dramatic four-year-old effect. 

For geography we're working on learning the United States and their capitals, in addition to being able to point them out on the map. During the morning while tutors are setting up the director has them trace the United States map. I was really impressed with what Creed was able to do. I used to be able to name all of the states, but not the capitals. We're not only learning the states and capitals, but where they are located. Each week our "gummies" take a trip to different states and their capitals. This week I included dot-to-dots for each state we learned, which also include the state capital. I encourage you to print them each week from http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/50StateDottoDot.htm. If your child is in Classical Conversations they will need to eventually know how to draw them free-hand, so I also encourage you to have them trace them on their maps with a dry erase crayon or marker. For individual states, click here: http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/50StateTraceandColorPages.html.

For English we learned the definition of an infinitive through song. Much information is introduced through song. We're also learning Latin. When I was younger I found a Latin book and tried to teach myself. I found it very fascinating. I've always been interested in learning different languages. It opens another door, that widens the world a little bit. After seeing the Interpreter by Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, I was hooked, line and sinker. Fascinated yes, very much so. In the beginning I wondered why are we learning Latin. From a student's point of view click here: https://www.classicalconversations.com/article/why-study-latin.

For math we learned 1s and 2s for skip counting. Personally I've never heard it called skip counting. Fifth grade was my first official D, in you guessed it, math. When I moved onto high school I continued to struggle, getting my first F in Algebra, followed by a D the next year. This was even with the help of a teacher. I went on to college and received another F in can you guess this time? Algebra. So, I don't really feel at all qualified in tutoring math, but like history and the rest of it, I"m learning right along with the children. If my four-year-old can skip count, so can I! Every night after story time, singing time, praying time and reciting Bible verses, I "throw" Creed into bed. It's a funny tradition that he and I have. We count one to whatever number he comes up with while I cradle him in my arms swinging him back and forth before the final toss into the fluffy blankets. Where he requests a hug, a squeeze and a kiss. We've now implemented skip counting into the mix. Learning is fun!

During Science we learned the four types of tissue, with the use of hand motions. That's something else I'm really interested in, Sign Language. A large portion of the hand motions seem to be Sign Language. I wish I knew even a little, that would be really helpful. Turns out you can get a free app for your phone if you're interested too.

For Fine Arts we learned OILS, The five basic elements of shape: The five basic elements of shape include the circle (O) anything that is roundish and EMPTY, the dot (above the “i” in OILS) anything that is roundish and colored in, the straight line (the straight part of the “i”) a line with no bend, the angle line (L) a line that bends so much that it comes to a point, and the curve line (S) a line with any degree of bending. After practicing and learning the many ways to make these shapes we put it into practical use drawing Olaf (a snowman Disney character), all the while pointing out the five basic elements of shape.    

Our hands-on Science experiment was exploring the Persistence of Vision: The persistence of vision is a theory where an afterimage is thought to persist for approximately one twenty-fifth of a second on the retina, and believed to be the explanation for motion perception. We first explored this theory using two pieces of paper both containing an image of a 50s era man’s face, one with both eyes open and one with one eye shut. As we rolled the first paper (both eyes open) up and down over the second paper (one eye open) it appeared as if the man was blinking. To further explore we made a thaumatrope, a toy in the 19th century made popular by the probable inventor British Physician John Ayrton Parish. This toy was a disk with a picture on each side attached to two pieces of string. When the strings are twirled quickly between the fingers the two pictures appear to blend into one due to the persistence of vision. Make your own thaumatrope using this template: http://slurpystudios.blogspot.com/2010/01/history-of-pre-animation.html. 

A note of encouragement to those of you who are in the middle of Classical Conversations or curious, your creator has equipped me and you. There are times when I seriously doubt my ability to teach, but I'm holding on to the promises, starting with a firm foundation. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 states "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Jesus tells us to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all else will be added. (Matthew 6:33.) I can tell you that when I start the day off in the Word, I've got the grace to not only get through the day - but embrace it.