Week 15: While you're home, keep asking yourselves complex EEL questions!

Sorry for the late post, moms! It's just been one of those days...

During class yesterday, we diagrammed interjections and complex S-VT-IO-DO sentences. I thought the kids did really well. I showed them the QeQ sheet the guide introduces this week but told them we won't spend any time on it until probably weeks 19-24. QeQ is quite fun; it's like puzzle-solving, so the kids usually take to it with good spirits.

Keep working to identify and diagram those complex sentences using all five of our sentences patterns to date!

IEW requires a bit more explanation this week. We began Lesson 16 yesterday, which uses the "The Sword in the Stone" to teach the story sequence. Basically, the lesson asks the kids to rewrite this story in their own words by breaking it into three sections and asking them to key word outline. The lesson itself is lengthy -- 12 pages -- but don't let it overwhelm you. There's nothing unusual besides its length. Just read the details.

As far as our tackling of it, here's what I think we can do:

At home this week, outline and rough draft Sections 1 and II. You'll find Section I on pages 108 and 109 and Section II on pages 112 and 113. In between, you'll see a brainstorming page for Section 1 (p. 110) and a Level B page on adding conversation to a story (p. 111). There's also a brainstorming page for Section II on page 114. Use those as you see fit.

NEXT week, we'll outline and rough draft Section III (pp. 115-117) and use Lesson 17, which I'll distribute in class next week, to revise and complete our final papers and checklist. If anyone wants to work ahead by outlining and/or drafting Section III this week, go for it. You'll have more time to polish next week.

The following week will be a challenge week to see if the kids can rewrite a three-paragraph story in just one week. Look ahead to Lesson 18 to get a feel for this assignment. ANY FAMILY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEND THREE WEEKS ON LESSONS 16 AND 17, THUS SKIPPING LESSON 18, HAS THE OPTION TO DO SO. Having said that, I think it would be beneficial for those planning to enroll in Challenge A next year to complete the King Arthur assignment in two weeks and the Lesson 18 assignment in one week. They will be responsible for writing multiple paragraphs per week next year, and this assignment would be a good preview of that.

I'm praying for a great week for you all. Don't hesitate to ask if you need me.

Erin