Planning for Cycle 3

This is my second year tutoring a Foundations class on our local Classical Conversations campus.  Last year I was very nervous about teaching.  Now with a year under my belt, I feel better prepared to know what worked and what was a wash.

For those of you not familiar with Classical Conversations (www.classicalconversations.com) and the ideas of classical education model, here's a very quick intro:

The Classical Education Model has three stages (which they refer to as the Trivium)

1. Grammar: memorizing the words
2. Dialectic: understanding the facts
3. Rhetoric: applying the ideas

The Classical Conversations program that we participate in also has three programs, which match up to the above stages:

• Foundations: K-6th grades (weekly class meets in morning)

"The memory work is divided into 6 subjects: timeline/history, geography, math, science, Latin, and English grammar. In addition to the memory work, students also participate in a fine arts project/lesson, a science project, and an opportunity to practice oral presentation skills each week."

https://www.classicalconversations.com/academic-programs/foundations-program-k4-6th

• Essentials: 4th-6th grades (weekly class meets in afternoon)

"This program emphasizes language and writing "grammar" while also incorporating highly-dialectic lessons, is designed to reinforce language arts and structure, writing, and arithmetic mastery."

https://www.classicalconversations.com/academic-programs/essentials-program-4th-6th

• Challenge A & B: 7th-12th grades

"This curriculum involves Saxon math, Apologia sciences, classic literature, writing, debate, and much more. Students develop and strengthen the life-long learning skills of grammar, exposition, debate, logic, rhetoric, and research."

https://www.classicalconversations.com/academic-programs/challenge-programs-7th-12th

  As I prepare for this year, I notice I'm feeling more relaxed and focused on trying to implement what I learned last year so that our class experience will run smoothly.  For one, I am feeling more confident teaching the Fine Arts this time around.  I was a science/engineering major in college and took engineering drafting and one architecture course, so the idea of teaching children the basics of drawing, classical composers, tin whistle and classical artists/art was intimidating.  Likewise my geography skills were a bit sketchy with some of the European and Asia countries.  However, I found that I learned that I could memorize and present the information to my class, and learned quite a bit in the process.

   

  This year in geography we are studying US States and Capitals and I'm also excited be studying Anatomy and Chemistry in Science as I was a premed major.  I am so happy that Classical Conversations has come out with new Acts and Facts Artists and Composers Cards, for which I've posted the YouTube video on this blog.  These should make introducing the artist or composer we are studying each week much easier to present as I can include this card on my Tutor Board along with the weekly Science card and seven Timeline cards.

  Here's a sample board from another blogging momma, Mandi's Munchkins (http://mandismunchkins.blogspot.com/2010/09/classical-conversations-board.html):

  I love how she has color-coded everything.  I actually write directly on my board but find it helps if I write out my new grammar in different dry erase colors.  It helps to keep the kids (and myself) on track with which subject we are covering and provides a great visual clue for my non-readers.

  Finally for our presentations this year, I am planning to use a timer like the one shown below to help keep my little presenters mindful of their time limits.  Last year, I focused on presentation skills (eye contact, hand movement, starting/stopping, etc.) and allowed the kids in the audience to ask questions at the end.  It was a great success but by the time each child had their turn AND each child asked 1 question, our 30 minute window went too quickly.

http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Tracker-Visual-Timer/dp/B0007DHU0S

  I'll be sure to post more in the upcoming weeks about review games, etc. that seemed to work well for us last year.