Link to YouTube songs for English Grammar, Cycle 2

This is really helpful to let your kids watch over and over. The songs stick and so does the grammar!

Welcome Letter for Essentials, 2016-2017

In Preparation for Essentials

“Ants are creatures of little strength

Yet they store up their food in the summer.”

Proverbs 30:25

Dear Essentials Teacher (yes, parent, you are the teacher),

We are embarking on an incredible journey beginning this September, and now is the time to prepare. It will be an exciting learning adventure for each of us. These are some suggestions to help us all rise to the challenge of Essentials. Please review the following list and prepare accordingly.

Our class starts on Thursday, September 8 at 1pm. We meet for 2 hours and below is a chart that explains how the time is divided.  During Language Arts, we will be studying the grammar of the English language using the Essentials of the English Language Guide.  Our Writing portion will focus on the 9 structures of writing while introducing different stylistic devices as outlined in Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS).  The time allotted for math focuses on drilling the essential math facts necessary for upper level mathematics.

Essentials Class Layout

Language Arts	Writing	Math Games
45 minutes	45 minutes	30 minutes

Here are some items you should prepare prior to our first class meeting:

Purchase the Materials:

• The Essentials of the English Language Guide 4th Edition by Leigh Bortins. This is the parent and student book. It is REQUIRED.
• Trivium Tables: English Grammar and Quit et Quo. (Optional, but amazing!!!)
• The Medieval History Based Writing Lessons in Structure and Style by Lori Verstegen.  This book contains the source texts we will be using in class. (Student and Teacher editions are REQUIRED)
• Institute for Excellence in Writing’s Teaching Writing: Structure and Style (TWSS) Workbook. You can purchase just the workbook for $29 (Syllabus is REQUIRED).  If you purchase it with the DVD’s, it is closer to $200. You know your budget. There is also the option to purchase the upgrade if you already own the older DVD’s for $29. A real bargin!  We will be having Popcorn and Pudewa sessions throughout the year to view the DVDs. The TWSS is the primary writing curriculum used in conjunction with the Medieval History text for Essentials class.

Read and Study

• The Essentials of the English Language (EEL Guide) by Leigh Bortins.  This is our language arts source for parents and students in Essentials.  You will not need another language arts program. Please read The Expedition portion (about 3 pages) prior to our first meeting.  There will be prizes for those who have done their homework. Prior to each class, you will want to read through the lesson for the week so you will be prepared for the new grammar and prepared to teach your student.
• IEW Teaching Writing: Structure and style Syllabus, Units 1 & 2. We will be viewing the Units 1&2  DVD’s together at the Parent Meeting. As a community, we will host evenings called “Popcorn and Pudewa”.  This will give us the opportunity to view the remaining videos together.  They are sure to be inspiring evenings that you will NOT want to miss. 

  

Of course, preparing for our first class is paramount, but I also want to take a moment to give you an overview of what to expect on a weekly basis because two of the most frequently asked questions are: “What do I do at home and how long will it take?”

 Weekly Structure:

• For teaching Essentials of the English Language: Essentials is a 5-day class.  One day will be spent in community and the other 4 will be spent at home drilling with you, the teacher.  The following is a suggested plan to help you get through the EEL work.  Read pages 19-20 of the EEL guide (4th edition) for more detail.

     1.  The first 10-15 minutes should be spent on the Student Mastery Charts, which is also   

     referred to as the “grammar”/memory work portion of the program, the “Grammar     

     Trail” The student can typically do this work independently after the first 6-8 weeks.

           2.  The second 10-15 minutes focuses more on the dialectic trail.  This is where the      

                parent will dictate a sentence and complete the different analytical tasks.  How far         

                your student goes will be determined by you, the teacher.  

• For teaching Writing lessons at home: Incorporating IEW into your day is also laid out in the EEL guide on pages 21-22.  Additionally, I will provide a syllabus for you to know our specific class schedule. The time spent each week varies with the ability of your child.  It usually takes 30-45 minutes a day.  This is a suggested schedule. 

     1.    Day 1: Class day where structure and style is introduced and modeled

           2.    Day 2: Completing outlines and brainstorming activities and teaching any concepts

                             from TWSS that were not fully covered in class

           3.    Day 3: Writing the rough draft

           4.    Day 4: Completion and editing of the rough draft

           5.    Day 5: Completing the Final draft and labeling the paper.

Math is another portion of our Essentials class. My goal is for our class to be ready to participate in the National Number Knockout if a student desires to do so! Just think, one of our students could win $10,000! We can do this and have a great time sharpening our computation skills. At home, you should simply drill the basic mental math facts of adding, subtracting, and multiplying numbers quickly and accurately.  Have fun—don’t make it stressful!! Math drills can take between 5-15 minutes.

Class will begin promptly at 1:00 and end at 3:00 PM each Thursday. It is expected that you will pull up a chair next to your student and help him/her through the lessons each week. You will also be a beautiful example to your child as you model how to be a good student. Remember I am here as a resource for you and an encouragement to your student, but you are still your child’s teacher. Your presence in class is required for the program to be implemented as it was designed. My job is to model how to teach grammar at home. 

I am so encouraged by this curriculum. I know that this information can be overwhelming but rest assured the One who has called us is Faithful.  He has given us the calling to home school our children, a desire to teach our children how to learn, a plan with which to prepare, and someone to help you (other home schooling families and your child’s tutors). Please pray for the Lord to help us and our students walk in the Holy Spirit’s fruit of self-control and self-discipline so we can experience the joy and pleasure of a job well done.

I consider it an honor and privilege to partner with you. Please don’t hesitate to call on me if you have any questions or concerns.  I look forward to working with each one of you.

Your Humble Essentials Tutors,

Bronwyn and Aimee

What To Do At Home, and What To Bring To Class

What in the world do I do at Home???

            When I was first introduced to Essentials, my first question was what in the world do I do with my student at home?  So, this is just a suggestion.  The EEL guide also has some suggestions on pages 19-22. Find which works best for you. YOU are the teacher!!

                                    EEL                                                                 IEW

Day 1:             Attend Essentials class…                              Attend Essentials class

                         Watch, listen and learn!                                 Watch, listen and learn!

Day 2:             Copy Mastery Charts                                      Start and finish outline          

                        Dictate sentences 1-2                                      brainstorm dress ups

                        from Dialectic Discussion.                              sentence openers, etc.

                        (Starts week 3)

                        Editing Exercise. (optional)

Day 3:             Copy Mastery Charts from                             Create rough draft and

                        Memory.  Mom, make note                             have Mom edit.

                        of what needs work.

                        Dictate sentences 2-3 from

                        Dialectic Discussion.

                       

Day 4:             Copy Mastery Charts and                               Correct edits, add dress

                        and review weaker charts                               ups, openers, etc according

                        Dictate sentence 4-5                                       to checklist (EZ+1), type/neatly

write paper for final edit from Mom. 

                       

Day 5:             Review Mastery Charts                                  Correct edits, reprint, properly

                        Task Sheet with dictated                                label all dress ups, openers,

                        Sentences 4 &5                                               etc.. according to checklist                                                                                                                 and attach checklist.  

                       

*** Scale the dictated sentences according to your child’s ability.  If he/she can only do sentences 1 & 2, then drill them until he/she can do them easily.  You also will want to scale the number of tasks your student completes.  Replicate what your tutor modeled, but you set the expectations. I am available to help you understand different ways to scale for your student and how to set attainable goals for your student.

What to Bring to Class Each Week

Student

o   Essentials Gear Section or Trivium Tables

o   Dry erase marker and pens (no pencils)

o   Medieval History Writing Student Workbook and SRN

o   IEW Writing Assignment*

o   Any math aid needed (to help with speed/accuracy)

o   A Happy Heart

Parent

o   YOURSELF!!!  You are key to the success of Essentials.

o   EEL guide or at least that week’s lesson

o   TWSS Workbook and Medieval History Workbook Teacher’s Edition

o   Notebook for notes.  This is teacher education. 

o   A Joyful Spirit!!

o   Cell phones on vibrate and put away

** Turning in IEW Writing Assignments is not required, but, if you would like feedback or accountability, I will gladly accept them.   However, if you choose to have your student turn in his/her work, it needs to be in this format.

                  

§  Double spaced

§  Typed or neatly written

§  Labeled appropriately with stylistic techniques

§  Accompanied by the check list already filled out and graded by the teacher (that is you, mom).

Class Rosters 2016-17

Essentials Roster 

2016/2017

Mrs. Brown’s Class	Mrs. Deiter’s Class
Lacey Brown Ethan Davis Andrea Johnson Noah Langliers Wyatt Locey Caleb Ordway Caleb Smith  Rylen Smith  Payton Sorensen Sydney Spikkeland	Naomi Chavez Alex Cole Roman Deiter Emerson Forrester Jessica Hostler Evelyn Lo Halle Morse Claire Neuman Claudia Neuman Piper Smith Chase Richardson