Week 10: Oh my! Hasn't this semester been quick?

Do you remember how the Bible tells us there is nothing new under the sun? Well, there is nothing new in Essentials for the rest of the semester! Yesterday's introduction of the S-Vl-PA sentence pattern and in-depth look at adjectives marks the spot where we stop til January. Sometime this week, pause to consider what we've learned thus far by reading the "Words of Encouragement" in the guide on page 166. Then pat yourself on the back, give your student a congratulatory hug -- and settle in for some review time!

The S-Vl-PA sentence pattern is explained well in the EEL guide, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time repeating good information. The adjectives chart is thorough, too. Once you grow familiar with it, I'd suggest working through a children's book to locate adjectives and dialogue through whether they are descriptive, limiting or possessive. You can also practice identifying prepositional phrases as adjectival (which one? what kind? how many? whose?) or adverbial (how? when? where? why? to what extent?).

We began a two-week narrative story assignment on the Boston Tea Party during IEW. The students have two options: They can retell the story as written -- same characters and events with their brainstorming ideas included -- OR they can change or add additional characters and even change the circumstances of the event. If they make changes, they need to keep the basic storyline of children as main characters who plot to protest or "overthrow" unfair rules or laws. AND they need to develop the the IEW story sequence requirements before they begin writing. (Hint: Parents, get involved early on this.) For example, Maggie, when she wrote this story three years ago, decided to write about girls, who were disguised as boys, storming a ship to protest the queen's requirement that all girls wear petticoats at all times. Where did she get the idea? To this day, I don't know. I was quite skeptical, but she was excited about it and developed a working storyline, so I let her do it. It turned out to be one of her best IEW papers.

Students are responsible for rough drafts next week that incorporate all of the brainstorming assigned. Finals will be due the following week. Since it's our last week of the semester, we'll spend more time reading aloud.

Enjoy the fall weather and each other.